Herbal Tea for Digestion

Digestion issues can be caused by a number of things; eating too quickly, taking in too much gas when you eat, stress or even medical conditions such as IBS. But one things for sure, whether you’re suffering from bloating, constipation or pain in the stomach, it’s something we all want rid of.

So can herbal tea help with digestion?

The answer is yes – and below you’ll find out why, as well as the best herbal teas to drink.

An important thing to note before we get stuck in is that some digestion issues can be caused by food intolerances, so rather than treating the problem, make sure you’ve fully considered the cause first. If you notice that you always seem to have issues when eating a certain meal, test different ingredients within that meal to see if that could be the problem.

Why does herbal tea help with digestion?

Herbal teas contain natural ingredients, many of which are known for soothing the stomach and balancing things out. You’re also consuming mostly water, which we already know works wonders for the body. For digestive issues specifically, water helps to break down food while allowing your body to absorb the nutrients. It can also help some of the symptoms of digestive issues, such as constipation, by softening the stool.

Side note: some well known tea brands do add artificial ingredients to their herbal teas, so if in doubt, check the label or even better, buy loose leaf herbal teas instead.

What herbal teas are the best for digestion?

Peppermint Tea

There are limited scientific studies linking digestion issues in humans to the relief peppermint tea can offer, however there is more conclusive evidence that peppermint oil helps. In fact there are studies that show peppermint oil can offer short term relief for IBS sufferers.

While these studies relate to peppermint oil, many claim that peppermint tea has the same benefits. There are also studies on animals that show peppermint tea can have relaxing effects on the digestive system.

Well known author and health coach, Elizabeth Rider is an advocate for peppermint tea, claiming:

“Peppermint tea has been used for centuries to aid digestion. Studies have shown that it helps relieve gas and bloating, and can reduce heartburn and indigestion as well.”

Shop our elderberry and peppermint herbal tea here.

Chamomile Tea

Chamomile Tea is claimed to have so many health benefits, with many scientific studies even backing up these claims; these range from helping with symptoms of depression to chamomile containing anti-cancer properties.

However, it is most commonly known for its calming properties, which is why so many drink it before bed. This calming quality is linked to antioxidant found in chamomile, called Apigenin.

While most people claim that chamomile tea does help, in some instances people have stated that chamomile tea has actually caused heartburn – we want to make it clear that chamomile should never cause this and if its has, it’s usually due to the tea consumed containing other ingredients, or even additives and preservatives.

Shop our lavender and chamomile herbal tea here.

Ginger Tea

Ginger is another ‘super ingredient’ which contains many health benefits. In terms of digestive health it’s thought to speed up the movement of food through the gastrointestinal tracts, leading to reduced wind, bloating and cramps.

Other natural ingredients that help with digestion

There are of course well known medicines you can take for indigestion, however we always prefer to try the natural way first. Plus if drinking tea does relieve the symptoms, you have the added bonus of adding extra hydration to your body as well.

Non tea related remedies include:

• Coconut Water
• Natural Yoghurt
• Chai Seeds
• Papaya
• Whole Grains

Have any other natural ingredients we’ve not mentioned that you absolutely swear by? Let us know in the comments below.  ⬇︎