Herbal Tea Therapy for Digestion

Herbal tea therapy for digestion uses infusions or decoctions of plants traditionally indicated for the gastrointestinal tract, including peppermint (Mentha piperita), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), ginger (Zingiber officinale), chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla), anise (Pimpinella anisum), liquorice and lemon balm.

Bioactive constituents include essential oils (menthol, anethole), flavonoids, gingerols and bitter principles, with proposed effects of antispasmodic action on smooth muscle, prokinetic activity, mild anti-inflammatory and carminative effects on bowel gas.

Clinical evidence supports peppermint oil for irritable bowel syndrome and ginger for nausea (including pregnancy and chemotherapy-induced nausea); other indications such as functional dyspepsia and mild bloating have moderate evidence; many traditional uses lack robust trials.

Adverse effects are usually mild but include heartburn aggravation by peppermint in patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, allergic reactions, blood thinning and hypertension with liquorice; numerous drug interactions are described (warfarin, ciclosporin, statins, anti-epileptics).

In Turkey herbal teas are widely consumed and are also offered through GETAT phytotherapy practice; they should be considered an adjunct to lifestyle and medical management of digestive disorders, never a substitute for evaluation when alarm features are present.