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When food lingers in the stomach too long, it can cause gastric distension, excessive acid secretion, and symptoms such as heartburn, chest discomfort, belching, and nausea. In more severe cases, indigestion can increase intestinal gas, intensifying abdominal bloating.
While over-the-counter digestive remedies are available, herbal teas offer a gentler, natural approach to promote digestion and ease discomfort. Warm teas, in particular, help relax gastrointestinal muscles, promote circulation, and support smoother digestion. Effective options for relieving indigestion include peppermint, ginger, chamomile, plum, and honey teas. Below, we detail their benefits and recommended consumption methods.
Peppermint Tea: Relieving Bloating and Gas
Peppermint tea is a trusted herbal remedy for swiftly alleviating bloating and aiding digestion.Its menthol content relaxes gastrointestinal muscles and may help reduce gastric acid secretion, easing indigestion and bloating. It is especially effective when the stomach feels overly distended after overeating or when intestinal gas causes discomfort, as it promotes gut motility and facilitates gas expulsion.
Ginger Tea: Enhancing Digestion and Easing Nausea
Known for its warming properties, ginger tea helps stimulate digestive function. Compounds such as gingerol and shogaol protect the gastric mucosa and boost gastric motility, aiding the movement of food through the digestive tract. Ginger may enhance gastric blood flow and stimulate digestive enzyme secretion, making it helpful for relieving bloating and heaviness after overeating.
Ginger’s anti-inflammatory properties also promote gut health, easing not only indigestion but also abdominal pain and nausea. Research from Chang Gung University in Taiwan found that ginger accelerates gastric emptying and reduces digestive discomfort. However, excessive intake may irritate the stomach lining, so those with ulcers or acid reflux should use it sparingly.
Chamomile Tea: Soothing Tension and Heartburn
Chamomile tea, prized for its gentle floral aroma and calming effects, supports digestion by relaxing gastrointestinal muscles. Its apigenin content provides anti-inflammatory and calming benefits, making it effective for easing gastric discomfort after overeating. Chamomile may also help reduce gastric acid secretion, making it useful for relieving indigestion with heartburn.
A study in Molecular Medicine Reports found that chamomile extract reduces gastric acidity, reinforcing its digestive benefits. Additionally, chamomile’s calming effects help mitigate stress-related indigestion, as anxiety can hinder digestive function. By stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system, chamomile tea promotes smooth gastrointestinal motility and alleviates indigestion symptoms.
Plum Tea: Balancing Acid and Combating Bacteria
Plum tea, a time-honored Korean remedy, is valued for its ability to support digestion and relieve indigestion. Plums promote gastric acid and enzyme secretion, helping break down stagnant food in the stomach and ease indigestion. They also foster beneficial gut bacteria, reducing gas production and abdominal bloating caused by poor digestion. Plums are particularly effective in easing the gastric burden after heavy or greasy meals, a quality that has cemented their role in traditional Korean medicine.
Plums also contain compounds with antibacterial properties, including picric acid, which may help inhibit foodborne pathogens. To prepare plum tea, dilute 1–2 tablespoons of plum extract in 200 ml of warm water. While it can be consumed cold in summer, warm plum tea is more effective for relieving indigestion.
Honey Tea: Protecting the Stomach and Easing Discomfort
Honey tea is a natural remedy that supports digestion while safeguarding the gastric mucosa. As a natural sweetener, honey may help neutralize gastric acid, easing heartburn and soothing indigestion-related discomfort. Its glucose and fructose components are rapidly absorbed, providing energy without taxing the stomach. Rich in flavonoids and polyphenols, honey offers antibacterial and anti-inflammatory benefits that support gastrointestinal health.
Warm honey tea can relax stomach muscles, promote gastric motility, and aid digestion. By encouraging the growth of beneficial gut bacteria, honey helps alleviate indigestion, reduce bloating, and prevent constipation. Its calming properties also ease stress-related digestive issues. However, due to its high sugar content, those with diabetes or blood sugar concerns should consume honey tea cautiously.
Haeun Oh, HEALTH IN NEWS TEAM
press@hinews.co.kr
