How To: Freedom of Thanksgiving Digestive Distress

We have much to be thankful for here at The Herbalist: fabulous customers, a devoted team of herbalists, radiant health, and of course, the healing herbs themselves. Each morning when I walk in and each evening when I leave I take a moment to breathe in the exquisite smell and bask in the energy of the healing plants which I am fortunate enough to be in the presence of daily – for this I am grateful! My gratitude for herbs expands each year as I delve deeper into their endless medicine. This gratitude grows each Thanksgiving – of course in appreciation for how they have enriched my life, but additionally because each year my digestion of the infamous meal improves… and THAT is something to be grateful for - freedom from gas, bloating, heartburn, constipation and general digestive distress.

Below is an Indigestion-Prevention Protocol for tackling the Thanksgiving meal.

Pre-Meal Digestive Prep:

Say a blessing, offer thanks and gratitude, and take 10 deep breaths before beginning to eat.  Taking the time to relax before eating switches to parasympathetic ("rest and digest") mode, which prepares the body for food and improves overall digestion.

A digestive bitters
blend to improve digestion

Digestive Enzymes: Take 1-2 capsules before meal. I like to add the capsules to everyone’s nut cups! The poor food combining that characterizes Thanksgiving throws off the delicate balance of digestive enzymes and juices, resulting in poor digestion. Adding extra enzymes helps restore balance to the distressed state of the gut.

Digestive Bitters: Bitter is better! When the tongue tastes bitter, a signal is sent to the brain which responds by triggering the entire digestive system to get ready to digest. It increases the secretions of digestive enzymes, bile and stomach acid; stimulates the function of the liver and gallbladder and increases peristaltic contraction of the intestines to move food through more quickly.

• Tummy-Ease Tincture: An herbal blend of digestive bitters that improves digestive power. Take 30-60 drops 10 min before meal. 

• Bitter greens: Start the meal off with a salad that includes seasonal bitter greens – kale, endive, dandelion, escarole 

Dessert Prep: After your second or third helping of dinner, that feeling can begin to set in that there is no chance you will ever eat again… yet dessert is lingering in the near future…Yikes! Adding a soothing digestive tea or tincture can be just the trick to prep your gut for another round.

Tummy-Ease Tincture: Contains angelica, fennel and ginger – all soothing digestive herbs that deter heartburn, acid indigestion, gas and nausea.

Tummy-Ease Tea: A soothing digestive tea with peppermint and chamomile that relaxes the digestive tract, deters gas and acidity.

Place a dish of fennel seeds on the table
and encourage guests to chew after meal
to relieve indigestion.

Aromatic Seeds: including fennel, caraway, dill, anise: Taking a tip from Indian cooking (you may have noticed small bowls of seeds at Indian restaurants), chewing these carminative seeds after a meal speeds the digestive process and allays any indigestion.



The Aftermath

LBT Caps: Take 1-3 caps before bad. After Thanksgiving meal, taking a gentle laxative agent ensures that the digestive system continues to move smoothly, and nothing is left in the gut to cause future problems. Wake up the next morning with a clean digestive slate with which to tackle ensuing days of leftovers!

For more information visit TheHerbalist.com and discover the herbal remedies best suited for your needs.

Shared by Lauren H. @ The Herbalist