You may remember hearing your mom say something like, “Don’t eat too much candy or you’ll get a stomach ache.” Although that is true for most candies, there may be some that can actually relieve abdominal discomfort.
A friend of mine recently reminded me of this while telling me of how her grandmother would give her a candy cane as a child when she had an upset stomach. Although this may sound counter-intuitive to many people, when considering the main ingredient, it makes a lot of sense. Peppermint is an excellent remedy to help calm down an upset stomach. People may also notice similar effects when eating black licorice when feeling nauseous, as fennel is one the main ingredients in this candy.
Several peer-reviewed studies demonstrate the relieving effects of peppermint in digestion, constipation, and diarrhea. One research study even determined the benefit peppermint oil capsules had on children suffering from irritable bowel syndrome*. In fact, there was a 75% reduction in severity of pain reported after 2 weeks.
Now, if you’d like to avoid the sugar in candy, which is definitely better for you, lucky for you there are many great options to find peppermint and fennel today. Essential oils are a great form that’s easy for your body to digest and use immediately. Not all oils are the same, so you’ll want to make sure it is at least of a certified pure therapeutic grade in quality. Another option is sipping a peppermint or fennel tea. And of course, there is always the option of eating it in its raw plant form as a leafy garnish and adding it to a dish.
If you want more practical ways of decreasing your stomach issues and healing your digestive tract, you’re in luck because we are teaming up with Ricardo Bannatyne, a pharmacist turned alternative pharmacist to teach you how. Ricardo has been a pharmacist for 20 years and utilizes herbs and other natural remedies as alternatives to many common medications. We’ll be hosting an in-office lecture Thursday August 11th @ 6:30pm.
Here are a few topics we’ll be covering:
- What are probiotics and which is the right one for me?
- How are my emotions involved with my digestive discomfort?
- How does my nervous system contribute to the health of my digestive organs?
- And other practical and nutritional insights…
We’re excited to share this empowering information with you so you can have more comfortable digestion and work towards healing your digestive system. Seating is limited, so we do need for you to RSVP by Aug 9. Call us at 407-286-5926 or email us at clearroutehealth@gmail.com.
In the meantime, enjoy some peppermint and happy digesting!
Dr. Crystal Nix
Chiropractic Physician
*Cline, Robert, et al. "Enteric-coated, PH-dependent Peppermint Oil Capsules for the Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Children." The Journal of Pediatrics 138.1 (2001): 125-28. Web.