Do you feel heavy after meals? Tired? Bloated? Do you suffer from gas, acid reflux or simply digestive discomforts that are difficult to manage on a daily basis?
First and foremost, when faced with recurring digestive symptoms that have a strong impact on your life, we advise you to consult a doctor in order to rule out any organic causes. This may be due to a liver, biliary or stomach problem. It is important to check with a health professional.
If all the tests are good, it's quite possible that your digestive system is a bit sluggish or dysfunctional for a number of reasons:
- stress,
- fatigue,
- poor nutrition,
- unsuitable diet, ...
We advise you to consult a naturopath to take stock of the situation. However, in the meantime, you can still turn to essential oils. Indeed, many oils are proving to be of great help for the whole digestive sphere. In this article, you will find the best essential oils to help you overcome your bloating and digestive disorders.
Avoiding bloating: some basic tips
In order to avoid suffering from bloating, the first thing to do, the most important thing, is to MASTICATE. Indeed, it is necessary to chew your food a lot and to eat slowly. This way, your food will already be pre-cut and your digestive enzymes will be well activated.
In order to optimize the function of your digestive enzymes, it is preferable not to drink during the meal so as not to "drown" your enzymes. Drink before, or at a distance.
Finally, if you are prone to digestive discomfort, we recommend not eating raw fruit for dessert. Indeed, each food has a different digestion time. A fruit that comes "last" will remain in the stomach until the rest of the meal has been digested: a significant fermentation then occurs that can cause discomfort.
In this sense, it is interesting to no longer eat your raw fruit at the end of the meal (dessert) but rather as an appetizer or at a distance. However, for cooked fruits, such as compote, there is no problem to eat them at the end of the meal.
Intestinal bloating: 6 essential oils that relieve
Now let's see which essential oils can be beneficial for you.
Le basilic tropical
The basilicum is an essential oil essential for all the digestive problems. It is its richness in methylchavichol which confers its powerful antispasmodic properties.
It is thus particularly indicated for bloating, nausea, aerophagia or digestive spasms. The essential oil of tropical basil is not recommended for pregnant and breastfeeding women, or for children under the age of six.
People with epilepsy, asthma and under anticoagulant treatment should also avoid using this oil. It can be used internally at a rate of one drop on a neutral tablet after the meal (in punctual use) or externally in massage on the belly, in the direction of the clock, at a rate of four drops diluted in a tablespoon of vegetable oil of black cumin.
The cardamon
Elettaria cardamomum is an essential oil that is described as a digestive tonic. It allows :
- to activate digestion,
- to promote the expulsion of gas and to stimulate the appetite.
It will be used by people with slow digestion, swollen stomach and a lot of gas after meals. Cardamom is not recommended for pregnant women under three months and breastfeeding women, for children under three years old as well as for epileptic or asthmatic people.
You can use it orally at a rate of one drop in a tablespoon of olive oil after the meals (specific use). Or in massage of the abdomen, at a rate of one drop diluted in a tablespoon of vegetable oil of black cumin.
Peppermint against digestive spasms
Mentha x piperitaIt is its richness in menthol that gives it its powerful antispasmodic properties. The essential oil of peppermint comes to end the digestive spasms, but also intestinal. It acts on the sphincter of Oddi and on the muscular contractions of the small intestine often responsible for bloating, stomach cramps or nauseas. Its richness in menthone also enables him to facilitate the evacuation of the bile towards the intestine and the secretion of the bile by the liver.
Peppermint should not be used by pregnant and breastfeeding women, children under six years of age as well as by epileptics or asthmatics. In case of biliary lithiasis, inflammation of the gall bladder, serious liver disorders, high blood pressure or cardiovascular problems, we advise against the use of this oil.
Finally, it should not be used over a long period. In the event of distensions, we advise you to consume the essential oil of peppermint by oral way at a rate of a drop on a neutral tablet after the meal.
Fine lavender, an effective natural remedy
Lavandula angustifolia has carminative virtues, i.e. it stimulates salivary and gastric secretions and contributes to the good motricity of the intestine. It is thus an essential oil interesting in case of bloating and digestive disorders. It will allow a faster evacuation of gases and will calm the intestinal spasms. The essential oil of fine lavender is a fairly safe oil that can be used by everyone except pregnant women under three months and babies under three months. Caution is advised for asthmatics and people with low blood pressure: ask a doctor before use.
As for its use, we advise you to use it rather in massage, you will be able for example to add a drop of fine lavender to your mixture of essential oil of tropical basil and vegetable oil of nigella quoted above.
Lemon to aid digestion
Citrus limonum produces an essential oil which facilitates the overall digestion. Like la lavande fineIt is a carminative essential oil that stimulates secretions and gastric mobility. It also plays a protective role for the liver thanks to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
The essential oil of lemon should not be used in pregnant women under three months, breastfeeding women, children under three years of age, as well as in people with epilepsy.
This oil must be used sparingly because of its long-term nephrotoxicity. It is mainly used orally, with one drop on a neutral tablet in case of symptoms.
The essential oil of tarragon
The essential oil of Artemisia dracunculus has the particularity of stimulating the digestive secretions. Thus, it allows food to be digested more quickly, not to "stagnate" in the digestive system and thus to avoid all the inconveniences such as bloating, heaviness, gas, acid reflux, etc. The essential oil of tarragon should not be used by pregnant or breastfeeding women and by children under six years of age, and is not recommended for people on anticoagulant therapy.
We can use this oil by mouth, on a short time, at a rate of one drop on a neutral tablet after the meals. But also by cutaneous way, in massage of the abdomen at a rate of a drop associated with a drop of peppermint and a tablespoon of vegetable oil of black cumin.
Bloating and essential oils: here are the precautions to follow
Essential oils are not without danger and must be used with care. Although they are available over the counter, you should still be careful with these small, concentrated bottles:
- Essential oils are volatile, be sure to close your bottles after each use.
- Never leave essential oils within the reach of children.
- Concerning the children, all the oils are not appropriate for them, take care to inform you well before using them.
- If you are taking any type of medication, seek the advice of a health professional before using essential oils. There are many interactions with drugs.
- Be sure to wash your hands before and after using essential oils.
- Unless otherwise indicated, it is preferable not to administer essential oils to pregnant / breastfeeding women as well as to epileptic or asthmatic people.
We hope that this article will help you overcome your bloating and other digestive problems. Please remember that our advice is published for information purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for a consultation with a health professional.