Soothing an upset stomach...naturally

by Mary Calvagna, MS

Soothing an upset stomach Youve had this uncomfortable pain before. Last time, that second helping of bacon was the culprit. Tonight though, it was probably the big bowl of too-spicy southwestern chili. Or maybe ordering the chocolate decadence cake for dessert was not the best idea. Whatever the cause, your stomach is rumbling and grumbling, and you are in need of some relief.

Before reaching for the bottle of antacid, you might want to think about an alternative option

Chamomile

Often seen nestled next to the wasabi on a plate of sushi, ginger has been a popular culinary herb for thousands of years. But ginger is on the plate for more than just flavor; it has long been thought to relieve stomach upset and treat nausea. Ancient Greeks wrapped ginger in bread and ate it after meals to help soothe their stomachs.

Warnings

The American Herbal Products Association recommends not using ginger medicinally if you are pregnant or have gallstones. Ginger is not normally associated with side effects, but too much may cause heartburn. Experts recommend taking no more than 2 to 4 grams of ginger per day.

How to use it

• As a fresh root - grate 2 to 3 grams and take daily
• As a tincture - take 1.5 to 3.0 ml daily

Although it may be a flavor that you associate with childrens candy, licorice is actually one of the mainstays of Traditional Chinese Medicine. For more than 3,000 years, the Chinese have used licorice root to treat ulcers, rejuvenate the heart and spleen, and help skin disorders. Although scientific evidence is sparse, studies completed so far seem to support some of the claims, particularly licorices effectiveness in treating peptic ulcer.

Warnings

Licorice is considered a potentially harmful plant. When taken in high doses for long periods, licorice can cause headache, lethargy, sodium and water retention, loss of potassium (hypokalemia), and high blood pressure.

To minimize the risk, the German Commission E recommends that licorice be used for no longer than four to six weeks. If you are pregnant or have liver problems, severe muscle tension, kidney diseases, hypokalemia, or cardiovascular disease, you should not use licorice. Even if you do not have any of these conditions, check with your doctor before taking licorice medicinally. Many of the adverse effects attributed to licorice are most likely due to a component of licorice called glycyrrhizin. A deglycyrrhizinated formulation (DGL) is available that is believed to be safer, yet still effective for treating peptic ulcers.

• As an infusion - take 1 to 5 grams of dried licorice root in 150 ml of water three times a day
• As a tincture - take 2 to 5 ml of licorice three times a day
• If using DGL, the recommended dosage is 0.3 to 0.6 grams three times a day (this form is usually prescribed for people with chronic peptic ulcer disease)

As you pass the bowl of after-dinner peppermints, make sure you grab one

All of the herbs listed above are on the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) GRAS list, which stands for generally recognized as safe. To be on the GRAS list, an herb is determined safe either through scientific testing or widespread use dating before 1958. However, even though the herbs are GRAS, it is still important to know and understand the special cautions for each one.