Flatulence

Anise (Aniseed) is an annual plant that grows to less than one metre in height, with delicate leaves and white flowers. It is an aromatic plant and in Greece and Egypt it is used medicinally. It should not be confused with Star Anise (Illicium Verum).

Action of Anise

This herb contains a potent and volatile oil which is mostly made up of the terpenoid anethole. The oil is carminative, expectorant, oestrogenic and anti-parasitic in action.

Anise Uses

Historically anise has been used to treat a number of conditions including:

| Bronchitis – To reduce coughing spasm
| Catarrh
| Colic
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
| Dry coughs and breaking up mucous
| Flatulence
| Indigestion
| Intestinal griping when using potent laxatives
| Painful periods
| Tracheitis
| Whooping cough

Tags: Bronchitis, Catarrh, Colic, Cough, Digestion, Flatulence, Indigestion, Lactation, Lice, Pain, Periods

Several types of savory (a small shrubby plant) exist. The main ones are summer savory (S. hortensis), a herbaceous annual, and winter savory (S. Montana), a perennial woody shrub. Both species are native to Southern Europe and N Africa, but now grow world-wide. The whole herb is used in cooking and herbal medicine. In Germany it is known as the ‘bean-herb’ as it is reputed to reduce wind and gas.

Medicinal Properties of Savory

The main active compound in savory is the volatile oil, which contains a variety of different compounds. It is said to be carminative (wind relieving), expectorant, astringent, aphrodisiac, emmenagogue (stimulates menstruation), antifungal and vermifuge (expels worms). Summer savory is also antimicrobial and antispasmodic.

Tags: Asthma, Catarrh, Colic, Digestion, Flatulence, Indigestion, Lactation, Menstrual, Nausea, Parasites, Skin, Sore, Throat, Worms

This small, aromatic, evergreen shrubby plant is native to the Mediterranean region and now cultivated world-wide. It has been used for thousands of years to improve memory and aid digestion, and as a preservative for meats. The leaves and terminal twigs are used in cooking and herbal medicine, the extracted oil is also commonly used in aromatherapy.

Medicinal Properties of Rosemary

It contains a wide variety of compounds, including flavanoids, diterpenes, volatile oil and phenolic acids, in particular rosmarinic acid, which is antioxidant in action. The volatile oil consists of a variety of active constituents that have potent anti-microbial and antispasmodic properties. Historically it is said to be antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, anticancer, circulatory stimulant tonic, diuretic, sedative, mild astringent, analgesic and a brain tonic.

Tags: Anxiety, Cancer, Candidiasis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Circulation, Depression, Digestion, Flatulence, Headaches, Heart, Heartburn, High Blood Pressure, Indigestion, Infections, Lactation, Lice, Liver, Memory, Migraine

Is native to the Molucca Islands and New Guinea, but is now also found in Sri Lanka and the West Indies. The large oval seed kernel is used as a culinary spice and in herbal medicine. The husk (known as mace) is also used as a spice.

Medicinal Properties of Nutmeg

It contains around 10% volatile oil which is made up of a variety of medicinal compounds. It is carminative (wind relieving), a digestive tonic, antiemetic (reduces nausea), antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, sedative, diaphoretic (induces sweating) and is also said to be a brain stimulant and a prostaglandin E2 inhibitor.

Nutmeg Herbal Remedies

Historically Nutmeg has been used to treat a number of conditions including:

Tags: Colic, Crohn’s Disease, Diarrhoea, Digestion, Flatulence, Headaches, Indigestion, Lactation, Muscle, Nausea, Rheumatism, Tension, Vomiting

Neroli or orange blossom is the flowers of the plant, bitter orange (Citrus aurantium). Neroli is the name of the essential oil that is mainly used for aromatherapy, rather than in herbal medicine. It was named after the princess of Nerola in Italy, who loved to wear it as a perfume. The flowers were used in bridal bouquets and wreaths to calm nervous tension before the honeymoon night. A distillation can also be made from the flowers and is called orange flower water.

Medicinal Properties of Neroli

This herb contains approximately 34% linalol, 6%-17% linalyl acetate, 15% limonene and various volatile compounds. The oil is antidepressant, antiseptic, antispasmodic, aphrodisiac, carminative (wind relieving), deodorant, nervous stimulant, heart and circulatory tonic, digestive tonic and a mild hypnotic.

Tags: Anxiety, Circulation, Colic, Depression, Diarrhoea, Digestion, Flatulence, Heart, Indigestion, Lactation, Nervous, PMS, Stress, Tension, Wrinkles

Peppermint is a natural hybrid of garden spearmint (Mentha spicata) and water mint (Mentha aquatica) and was first cultivated in England in the middle ages. It now grows everywhere in Europe and is also cultivated in the USA. The two most popular varieties are white peppermint (green stems, light green leaves) and black peppermint (deep red stems, purple tinged dark green leaves). Both varieties produce purple flowers, but it is the leaves that are used medicinally.

Medicinal Properties of Peppermint

Peppermint contains up to 1% volatile oils, mostly menthol and menthone, as well as the flavonoid menthocide. These compounds are carminative, antispasmodic and choleretic (stimulate bile). They also act as an external analgesic and nasal decongestant.

Tags: Appetite, Cold, Colic, Cramp, Digestion, Fever, Flatulence, Headaches, Heart, Heartburn, Indigestion, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Liver, Nasal, Tension

Is common wild plant in Britain, throughout Europe and parts of Asia. It is also found in North America. The flowers, leaves and finer stems are used in herbal medicine. It is often called the herbalists ‘bicarbonate of soda’ due to its antacid action.

Medicinal Properties of Meadowsweet

This herb contains a variety of compounds including flavanol glycosides (quercitin in particular), phenolic glycosides, 0.2% volatile oil and polyphenols (tannins). The volatile oil contains a range of salicylates which are broken down in the body to form salicylic acid, a compound very similar to the pain killer – aspirin. It has mild analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as antacid, diuretic, astringent and stomich (relieves stomach pain) benefits.

Tags: Arthritis, Cold, Cystitis, Digestion, Dyspepsia, Flatulence, Flu, Gastritis, Heart, Heartburn, Indigestion, Influenza, Pain, Rheumatism, Stomach, Ulcers, Water Retention

This evergreen conifer is native to the northern hemisphere growing mainly in Scandinavia, Siberia, Canada, northern Europe and northern Asia. The berries are used to make the alcoholic spirit – Gin.

Juniper is of course also used in herbal medicine, especially for urinary problems.

Medicinal Properties of Juniper

Juniper contain volatile oil, tannins, resin, grape sugar, diterpene acids and vitamin C. The main active is the volatile oil – terpinol, which acts as a diuretic on the kidneys and a urinary antiseptic. It is also a digestive tonic, emmenagogue (stimulates menstruation), carminative (wind relieving) and external parasitic.

Juniper Herbal Remedies

Historically Juniper has been used to treat a number of conditions including:

Tags: Amenorrhoea, Cystitis, Digestion, Flatulence, Gout, Heart, High Blood Pressure, Indigestion, Kidney, Periods, Rheumatism, Urinary, Water Retention

Also known as colic root or Chinese ginger, this is a reed-like plant that is native to south east China, especially in the island of Hainan. It is now cultivated in China, Indonesia, Thailand and Japan. It is closely related to ginger (Zingiber officinale) and to the large Galanga (Galanga officinalis). The root and rhizome are used in herbal medicine, but also may be used as a spice in curries.

Medicinal Properties of Galangal

Galangal contains a volatile oil and a compound called galangol. This herb is carminative (wind relieving), stimulant, stomach tonic, anti-emetic (reduces nausea) diaphoretic, anti-fungal and antiseptic.

Galangal Herbal Remedies

Historically Galangal has been used to treat a number of conditions including:

Tags: Colic, Digestion, Flatulence, Indigestion, Infections, Lactation, Nausea, Stomach, Ulcers, Vomiting

This is a plant native to Mediterranean and Black Sea regions. It is now cultivated all over the world, and its name comes from the Saxon word meaning “to lull”. It has a calming effect on the digestive system and provides the active ingredient in gripe water. It is the seeds that are mainly used herbally.

Medicinal Properties of Dill

The herb contains a variety of compounds including coumarins, volatile oil, flavanoids and zanthone derivatives. The oil is 30%-60% carvone. The herb is carminative (wind relieving), anti-spasmodic, and a stomach tonic.

Dill Herbal Remedies

Historically dill has been used to treat a number of conditions including:

Aerophagy (constant desire to swallow air)
Colic
Flatulence
Halitosis
Indigestion
Sluggish lactation (improves the flow of breast milk)

Tags: Colic, Digestion, Flatulence, Indigestion, Lactation, Stomach

This is a strongly aromatic annual herb that grows about a metre in height. It is native to Europe and Western Asia, but is now naturalised in North America and cultivated all around the world. The Persians grew this herb over 3,000 years ago and used it to add fragrance to the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Both seed and leaf are used in herbal medicine.

Medicinal Properties of Coriander

The herb contains a variety of compounds including volatile oil, sterols and phenolic acids. It is a stimulant, carminative (wind relieving) and warming.

Coriander Herbal Remedies

Historically coriander has been used to treat a number of conditions including:

Aerophagy (constant desire to swallow air)
Colic
Flatulence
Gastroenteritis
Hypoglycaemia
Measles
Nausea
Piles
Poor digestion
Toothache

Tags: Colic, Digestion, Flatulence, Gastroenteritis, Hypoglycaemia, Nausea, Pain, Piles, Rheumatic, Toothache

Cinnamon is a tree native to various tropical regions of the world, and has been used since the times of the ancient Chinese. It is a popular sweet spice used widely in cooking, and the inner bark (sticks) and leaves are used in herbal medicine..

Medicinal Properties of Cinnamon

Cinnamon contains a variety of compounds including volatile oil, coumarins and tannins.

The Cinnamon oil contains active constituents known as terpenoids such as eugenol and cinnamaldehyde.

These give the herb medicinal properties.

Cinnamon is anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-histamine, carminative (wind relieving), antispasmodic, anti-worm, anti-diarrhoea, warming and a stimulant to the stomach.

Cinnamon Herbal Remedies

Historically Cinnamon has been used to treat a number of conditions including:

Tags: Appetite, Cold, Colic, Diarrhoea, Digestion, Flatulence, Flu, Heart, Heartburn, Indigestion, Influenza, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Lice, Rheumatism, Stomach