Five Essential Oils That Help Relieve Digestive Issues

essential oils Jan 22, 2020

Digestive woes can make you want to curl up in the comfort of your bed and not roll out for a few days, but the demands of life do not allow for such a convenience nor do you want to feel miserable!! You don’t want digestive issues to slow you down, so you’re forced to reach for something to eliminate your constipation, diarrhea, wretched pain, nausea or vomiting. 

The chalky or pink stuff is rarely appealing when your stomach is already feeling a bit queasy, nor is it the best option. Many people, myself included, choose a more natural approach to improving digestion. 

In this article we’ll discuss five essential oils that help relieve digestive issues.

Essential oils act as an alternative therapeutic approach to improving digestion. Essential oils have properties that can either calm or stimulate the central nervous system and reverse the effects of the condition or disease causing your symptoms. 

Essential oils also decrease inflammation which can be especially helpful to those experiencing irritable bowel syndrome or gastroenteritis. They rarely produce side effects and most include additional side-benefits.

Essential oils can be used multiple ways to relieve digestive issues and support and sooth the digestive system.

Inhalation

I recommend using essential oils as aromatherapy agents. Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils to improve your spiritual, mental or physical well-being. There are a few tools that can help to support aromatherapy practices including the use of a diffuser, spray bottle, or simply inhaling straight from the bottle of oil.

Topical

You can apply diluted forms of essential oils to your skin by way of massage or merely rubbing oil on your abdomen for relief as well. Take care when applying oils to your skin. Always test a small area before using an essential oil over a large area of the skin. 

For sensitive skin, dilute the oil in a carrier oil like coconut oil. When applying citrus oils, avoid sun exposure to that area of the skin as citrus oils increase photosensitivity. 

Oral

Before taking an oil orally, make sure you read the label to confirm that it is safe for internal consumption. Several essential oils are also available in the form of an enteric-coated capsule. 

Which oils are best for specific digestive issues? 

Knowing which oil will improve your stomach or intestinal problems can go a long way to support your efforts in managing your symptoms. Here is a list of top oils for managing digestive problems. 

Ginger Oil

Ginger oil can provide diarrhea and constipation relief by regulating the movement of food through your digestive tract. It acts as a prokenetic, so it helps to restore proper motility in the GI tract. It’s a great oil for SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth). Also, ginger contains analgesic properties which enables it to relieve stomach pain, reducing inflammation of the gut while reducing symptoms of nausea. 

Add a drop of doTERRA essential oil to your herbal tea or apply diluted over your abdomen. Alternatively, add 2 drops of ginger oil to a veggie capsule and take with water as needed.

Peppermint Oil

Peppermint oil in enteric-coated capsules receives high marks for treating symptoms associated with irritable bowel syndrome. In a 2014 systematic review and meta-analysis, peppermint oil was found Peppermint oil was found to be significantly superior to placebo for global improvement of IBS symptoms and improvement in abdominal pain. [1] As an inhalant, peppermint oil can be just as beneficial to treat nausea. 

Clary Sage

Clary sage benefits the overall health of the gut. This essential oil stimulates the digestive juices when applied topically to the abdomen. It helps to calm the gastrointestinal tract, relieving it of painful cramps and spasms.

It’s also a wonderful oil for soothing symptoms of PMS such as cramping and abdominal discomfort.

Lemon Essential Oil

Lemon essential oil can help you combat nausea and constipation. Just rubbing this oil on the abdomen with other oils can help you to manage stomach woes effectively. This sweet-scented oil also works just as well as an aromatherapy agent as it’s been shown to reduce stress.

Add a couple drops of doTERRA lemon essential oil to your water or tea and drink throughout the day.

Roman Chamomile Oil

Chamomile is a wonderful herb for upset stomachs. Chamomile essential oil contains compounds that allow for it to act as an antispasmodic agent that can help to manage diarrhea, gas, acid reflux, indigestion and vomiting.

You can apply roman chamomile oil topically to the stomach area to soothe the stomach and relax the intestinal muscles, relieving it of cramps. 

These are just a few of the essential oils that can act as digestive aids. If you are seeking a natural remedy for your stomach or intestinal problems, this alternative way of managing gut issues may be a fantastic next step for you.

Click here to discover more about the highest medicinal quality essential oil brand that I use and trust.

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