What tea is good for digestion? 6 of the best herbs for gut health

There are so many herbs for digestion that it can feel overwhelming to choose the right one for your needs. From traditional remedies to modern blends, herbs that aid digestion comes in many forms such as capsules, tinctures, creams or in my favourite form, as a herbal tisane.

Whether you're exploring the best herbs for digestion or curious about time-tested options like Chinese herbs for digestion, there's a wide variety of herbs that can help with gentle, natural digestive support.In this article, we’ll explore some of the most effective herbs for digestive support, reveal what a tisane is and the difference between tea vs. tisane, how to use them and why they’ve stood the test of time.

What is the best tea for digestion? Tea vs. tisane

If you’ve ever wondered what is the best tea for digestion, the answer often lies in the herbal world. Many herbs can be brewed into a comforting tisane that not only soothes the stomach but also supports overall digestive wellness.A herbal tisane is what most people refer to as a herbal tea. A tisane however, is the correct term as the word “tea” implies that the drink contains the plant camellia sinensis. All true teas contain camellia sinensis and regardless if your tea is white, black, green, yellow or oolong, it’s made from this one plant.Herbal tisanes on the other hand are made using herbal ingredients that are infused with hot water and then enjoyed for their flavour and health benefits.Whilst I’m going to concentrate on the digestive benefits of herbs, I do want to mention that camellia sinensis is also a beverage that is supportive for your health. In fact, camellia sinensis has been utilised in traditional Chinese medicine for over 3000 years for an array of health benefits.Numerous studies link the benefits of tea but as we’re on the topic of digestive health, green tea has been reported to benefit the gut microbiota by stimulating the growth of specific species and hindering the development of harmful ones.Therefore, traditional tea might not be the first drink of choice when it comes to soothing an upset stomach, however making it a part of your routine could benefit your overall health and gut.

6 more powerful herbs for digestion

Here are six more of the best herbs for digestion you might consider adding to your routine, each one known for supporting digestive health in their own way.

Lemon Balm

Lemon Balm, or Melissa officinalis as it is known traditionally, is a beautiful herb with a lovely lemon scent. Lemon Balm has the herbal actions of being a carminative, spasmolytic, diaphoretic and a mild sedative.It’s a great herbal tisane to choose if you are wanting help with sleep, anxiety, irritability, flatulence and intestinal colic.

Marshmallow root

Marshmallow root or Althaea officinalis is a root that has demulcent and emollient actions. It’s very soothing for patients with inflamed mucous membranes of the digestive tract.Whilst the name suggests a marshmallow flavour the taste is more earthy, woody and only slightly sweet. A lovely combination for a tisane flavour and health wise is marshmallow and liquorice root. It's also important to enjoy marshmallow root away from any pharmaceutical medications as it can impact absorption.

Liquorice

Liquorice or Glycyrrhiza glabra is a pungent sweet flavoured plant that polarises people.People either love or hate the taste of liquorice root. Taste aside—some of the actions of this root include being anti- inflammatory, mucoprotective, a demulcent, adrenal tonic and a mild laxative.Some conditions that could benefit from the use of liquorice root include gastritis, peptic ulcers, constipation, coughs and colds, reflux and adrenal stress. It's also important to know that if you have too much liquorice it can raise your blood pressure so it's good to enjoy this with caution in the elderly or those with cardiac, renal or hepatic disease.

Peppermint

Peppermint or menthe x piperita is a go to remedy for many to soothe an upset stomach. Not only does this herb have carminative properties it is also a spasmolytic so it can relive muscle spasms and reduce bloating. It is a great choice for individuals suffering from flatulence, intestinal colic, gastritis, nausea or gallbladder dysfunction.Whilst peppermint tisanes are relatively safe for all its important to know that peppermint can inhibit lactation so be mindful of this if you are breastfeeding. Peppermint tea can also trigger reflux conditions so be mindful of this if you are someone that suffers from acid reflux.

Fennel

Fennel or foeniculum vulgare is a go to remedy for stomach discomfort and if you enjoy liquorice it has a similar smell with a slightly bitter aftertaste.Fennel again has carminative and spasmolytic properties as well as being anti microbial, an expectorant and a galactagogue. What this means is that it is great for phlegmy coughs, it can be soothing to the stomach and can even support milk production in breastfeeding mothers.

Chamomile

Chamomile or matricaria recutita is a well known herb and a go to for supporting sleep for people all around the world. In fact, in Italy chamomile infusions are given to babies to induce calm, support sleep and ease intestinal spasms.Chamomile is a great choice for those suffering from travel sickness, feeling restless, nervous, anxious or struggling to sleep. Chamomile also has a lovely aroma which is earthy and subtly sweet. This is a great herb to introduce to children to help them wind down and soothe upset stomachsThere are many more herbs that you might consider using to support digestion. These are just a small taste to get you started and reap the benefits of herbal medicine in an easy and enjoyable way.Alongside picking up these herbs at health food stores or bulk food shops you could even try to grow some in your kitchen garden and thus gain an even deeper love and understanding of herbal medicine.