If you have ever seen an herbal medicine Melbourne practitioner, you will know that there is an abundance of herbs with medicinal benefits that go beyond the culinary herbs. These herbs can be taken as a liquid formula, which is one of the most potent forms of administration. Alcohol is used to extract the active ingredients within the herb. Naturopath Melbourne will then hand pick the most appropriate herbs that address your complaint and mix together a personalised formula.
Herbs can also be taken as a capsule or tablet, though these preparations require the digestive system to do some work before the medicine inside can be accessed. Herbal tea is another way to take herbal medicine, which is a gentle and enjoyable way to ingest herbs. For gut related complaints, Melbourne naturopathy clinic Narayani Wellness will use a mixture of these preparations, with a preference for liquid herbs for potency and accessibility in the gut.
How can herbs help your digestive system?
Herbs have multiple actions in your gut. They can be used to calm muscle spasms which lead to colic, reflux and cramping. Examples include chamomile and fennel. Conversely, they can be used to activate the muscles in the digestive tract for sufferers of constipation or ‘sluggish bowel’. Ginger is a wonderful example of a ‘gut motility agent’. Herbs with high amounts of tannins in them, such as green tea or witch hazel, can help tighten the mucous membranes of a loose bowel, preventing water from flooding into the digestive space which would otherwise causes diarrhoea.
Bitter herbs such as gentian and andrographis can stimulate the vagus nerve, the primary nerve responsible for gastric acid and digestive enzyme secretions. Taking bitter herbs before meals can greatly assist digestion of your meals. Great for people who experience indigestion.
Herbs can be used for their prebiotic fibres, which feed beneficial bacteria in the gut. Some of our favourite prebiotic herbs include slippery elm, aloe vera and psyllium husk.
Finally, herbal antimicrobials are often used by gut health naturopath Melbourne in treating diagnosed gut infections or overgrowths. Some examples of common overgrowths include candida (yeast) in the large or small bowel, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), excessive amounts of Citrobacter or Escherichia coli, or parasitic infections of Blastocystis hominis or Dientamoeba fragilis. The antimicrobial herbs used to treat such an overgrowth is dependent on the organism (the bug) responsible and herbs will often be rotated to ensure it is adequately addressed.
Common herbal antimicrobials include oregano, garlic, thyme and propolis. If you are suspecting you have a microbial gut overgrowth, it is best to get a diagnosis from a gut health doctor Melbourne, who can also select the most appropriate herbs to treat your issue. Such a practitioner will also ensure that your beneficial gut bugs are being supported while using antimicrobial treatments.
Naturopath Melbourne 