Herbs for people with stomach pain, ulcers, and heartburn

What’s the biggest mistake people make with stomach pain?

Calling it a stomach ache. The stomach (fortunately) does not hurt. Usually when people say their stomach hurts, they mean they have gas pain. Gas pain can be severe pain. My friends who work in emergency rooms say you wouldn’t believe how many people come in for what turns out to be gas pain.

What herbal allies would you recommend for those dealing with:

ACIDITY?

Herbalists, myself included, view heartburn as a lack of HCL (hydrochloric acid) in the stomach, rather than the widely held view that it is caused by too much acid. So instead of trying to shut down HCL production (as drugs try), herbalists look to herbs that increase HCL, like dandelion (Taraxacum officinale).

You can use any part of the dandelion: the flowers make dandelion wine, you can cook the vegetables or eat them in a salad, you can even cook the root, or make a vinegar with it (my favorite), or dye it. Some people make a coffee substitute from roasted dandelion root. Either way you take it, it seems to work. (A standard dose would be 10-20 drops of the root tincture taken at the beginning of the meal.) Dandelion and her friend chicoryCichorium intybus), which is a good substitute if you have access to one and not the other, they are true tonics. That is, the more you take them, the less you will need them. You do not have to keep taking this remedy forever. After 3-6 weeks, you will find that you need it less and less.

In Europe it is customary to take bitters before a big meal. Most mild bitters, such as yellow dock (Rumex crispus), cronewort / mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), gentian (Gentiana lutea), barberry (Berberis vulgaris) and Oregon grape are liver tonics and digestives. They aid in digestion and decrease the risk of heartburn by increasing the production of HCL and bile.

Some more tips for heartburn sufferers:

• Eat less at each meal
• Stay upright after eating; no loafing or sleeping
• Avoid eating late at night
• Reduce the amount of coffee you drink
• Don’t go overboard with the orange juice, either.
• Use slippery elm lozenges (available in health food stores) for immediate relief from heartburn

2B. ULCERS?

Herbs that increase HCL in the stomach, such as dandelion, also decrease ulcers, which are the result of a bacterial infection. When stomach acid increases, that bacteria have a harder time and are less likely to cause ulcers.

Isn’t it funny that medical science says “Okay, there must be a connection between the mind and the body, because gastrointestinal ulcers are caused by stress”? only to find out what my herbal teachers taught me long ago: bacteria cause ulcers.

Here’s a way to kill those bacteria (in addition to taking medicine): Get a food grater with a very fine grid side. Grate a large potato as finely as possible. In another bowl, grate ¼ to ½ of the cabbage. Let them sit for 10-15 minutes, until the liquid begins to collect at the bottom of the bowls. Use your hand, or something hard, to press and squeeze the potato until it is dry. Discard the pulp and keep the liquid. Repeat with the cabbage. Don’t use a juicer. There are plant starches that you don’t get when you use a juicer. A food processor is fine.

Place the liquids in separate jars in the refrigerator, taking 1-3 tablespoons 2-3 times a day. The more severe the symptoms, the higher and more frequent the dose. I expect symptomatic relief within 36-48 hours. But this remedy is safe for weeks if necessary.

If you can’t make the potato runny, you can buy potato starch and mix it with water. Instead of the cabbage liquid, you can buy coleslaw. It is not the same as grating potato and cabbage, but it is better than nothing. And even if it doesn’t work that fast, if that’s what is available to you, use it.

2 C. STOMACH ACHE?

For me, this means gas pain. Herbs that relieve gas pain are called “carminatives” because they make you “sing” (carmen). Many aromatic herbs are carminative, especially the seeds of members of the Apiaceae family, including dill, caraway, fennel, anise, coriander, and cumin seeds. Just put a large tablespoon in a cup, cover tightly with boiling water, steep for five minutes, sweeten if desired, and drink.

Ginger is another readily available carminative. Especially by warming the intestine. You can make a tea with powdered ginger or use up to a tablespoon of fresh ginger per cup of water for a strong brew. Ginger works best sweetened with honey. NASA found that it would counteract the nausea of ​​space sickness. You can also buy crystallized or candied ginger to take on a trip.

The quickest remedy for gas pain is two capsules of acidophilus. I hope the pain goes away in 5-10 minutes. And I don’t pay much attention to the expiration date. I keep mine in the fridge and use them so rarely that I often have a bottle for ten years, and they still work.

Eating yogurt helps prevent gas pain and can be used as a remedy, but it is not as fast as acidophilus. One liter of yogurt a week is a good goal. And buy plain yogurt. You don’t need to pay an outrageous price for white sugar and poor quality fruit. Add maple syrup or honey and fruit of your choice, fresh or frozen at home. Make your own fancy yogurt creation.

And the bitter tonic herbs mentioned above are also great long-term allies to take if you have frequent gas pains.

When I was in Spain, I often had to eat late at night. Then he would take a sip of his very strong coffee, served in tiny cups. I had just the right amount of pressure to get that food into my digestive tract and still allow myself to fall asleep in a reasonable amount of time.

But most people in America drink coffee in the morning on an empty stomach. Could this be one of the reasons why so many people suffer from such digestive problems? Instead of coffee, try this:

• Put one ounce by weight of dried peppermint leaf in a quart jar and fill it to the top with boiling water.
• Cover tightly and let stand for 4-8 hours. (It’s okay to let it sit while you sleep.)
• Strain the plant material after the allotted time, squeezing it out well.
• Then drink the liquid: hot or cold, salty or sweetened, with milk or whiskey or whatever you want.
• Refrigerate what you don’t drink then. This will keep well in the refrigerator for up to three weeks.

Peppermint helps move your bowels and makes you feel really awake, just like coffee. I wouldn’t use it if someone was nauseous as it tastes awful on the way back.

3. CAN PEOPLE EXPECT A QUICK RELIEF FROM THESE RESOURCES?

(See above)

With dandelions, results are often seen in the first 24 hours.

4. HOW OFTEN SHOULD I TAKE THESE RESOURCES?

(See above)

5. DO YOU THINK THE PUBLIC DISMISSES HERBAL REMEDIES AS THE LAST RESOURCE?

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that 90% of the medical care provided on any given day is provided at home by the woman of the home. Just by cooking dinner, a woman can heal her family and keep it healthy. She can protect her husband’s heart by using a lot of garlic. And protect your libido by serving less soy.

Many Americans have food phobias. Think about how many people are afraid of drinking milk. How many will not eat bread? I go into the health food store to buy bread and there are flourless, yeast-free, and wheat-free breads, and I wonder where all the bread has gone.

We have a national history of food phobias, starting with Graham (inventor of the healthy graham cracker), continuing on to Kellogg (of breakfast flake fame), and up to today’s current fads (fat-free? no carbs ?, all protein? raw?). Not much has really changed. More and more people are learning about herbal medicine, but I am sure many of them think it is difficult and arcane. They may not know that herbal medicine is medicine for the people, of the people, and by the people.

6. ARE THERE ANY WARNINGS ABOUT ANY OF THE HERBAL REMEDIES TAKEN TO RELIEVE STOMACH PAIN?

I specialize in safe food-like herbs. I prefer them to drug-like herbs. The remedies I have suggested here are as safe as food, taken in amounts similar to food. When herbs are pulverized and encapsulated, they can be dangerous. They are more like a drug and you have to be more careful. I use herbs because they are not drugs.

7. ARE THERE FOODS THAT CAN INITIATE A STOMACH PAIN?

Beans! The magic fruit. Very good for us, but very hard on the guts. And even worse when they are soybeans. The gas people get from tofu, tempe, and soy drink is outrageous.

For regular beans, try this simple five-step approach, which is guaranteed to reduce the amount of “toc”

• Soak the beans overnight in a generous amount of cold water. Add a piece of wakame or kombu if you like.
• Rinse beans well in cold water (retain algae).
• Cover beans with cold water, add retained seaweed, and cook until tender.
• Cool.
• Reheat beans to serve.

8. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD?

Yes, I believe that all bell peppers cause digestive tract discomfort. I suggest avoiding black pepper and cayenne, jalapeno and all the others if you are prone to heartburn, have frequent gas pains, or suffer from irritable bowel or even simple diarrhea.

Green Blessings!

Legal note: This content is not a substitute for conventional medical treatment. Any suggestions made and all herbs listed are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, condition, or symptom. Personal instructions and use should be provided by a clinical herbalist or other qualified healthcare professional with a specific formula for you. All material in this document is provided for general information purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice or consultation. Contact a trusted doctor if you need medical attention. Exercise self-empowerment by seeking a second opinion.