Did you know that there are more neurons in your Gut Brain (Enteric Nervous System) than there are in your spinal cord?
Amazingly, we hadn't hear a lot about our stomach and the millions of micro-organisms that live inside it until recent years. Now we're seeing articles on it everywhere, often affirming that the state of our gut health is one of the most critical factors in our overall wellbeing.
The good news is that there are many ways you can help your gut flora flourish. Simple things like foregoing antibiotics (when possible) and getting active outdoors can really make a difference.
And of course, we can't exclude the importance of eating things that strengthen the microbiome. Adding fermented foods to your diet - like yogurt, sauerkraut, and kombucha - help to introduce healthy bacteria (probiotics) to your gut that keep it healthy and balanced.
And there are specific herbs that are effective as well:
Gentian
Gentian root (Gentiana lutea) is the most classic digestive herb.
It’s commonly used as a base for aperitifs. This old school tradition was popularised in France and spread like wildfire.
Gentian kick-starts the digestive system by stimulating saliva, which travels down your throat and gets your body ready to process your meal. Its intense bitter taste helps your body secrete bile which aids you in breaking down fats and storing that energy for later. It’s also an astringent herb which tones the internal tissues of your gastrointestinal(GI) tract. You can simply add the tincture into water or tea or squeeze a few drops directly under the tongue for quick effect. Or have an aperitif!
Ginger
Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is famous for its ability to calm down nausea and fend off the flu. But did you know that ginger is an all around digestive friend?
Ginger tones your GI tract just like gentian does, but has an anti-inflammatory and analgesic aspect that makes ginger your go-to herb no matter the stomach complaint. Added bonus… it’s delicious!
Ginger is so powerful that it boosts your immune system and detoxifies your body while regulating your gut.
On top of adding ginger to your cooking whenever possible, regularly drink ginger tea. Tea is one of the simplest and most effective ways to introduce healing herbs to your diet for immediate and long term results.
Fennel
This delightful herb is typically known for its culinary flavours and for its affinity for helping new mothers. But if you ever have a bout of gas in your stomach that can sometimes can be painful, fennel is the perfect herb for you.
Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) relaxes the muscles and soothes the lining of the gut. Incorporating fennel into your daily life helps your body absorb the nutrients from your food better, develop more regular bowel movements and heal underlying issues like leaky gut or IBS.
Using all or any combination of these amazing healing remedies is an excellent way to support your tummy and get your gut health back on track.