Essential Oils: Digestive Ailments

There are various types of digestive disorders and essential oils for digestive issues from gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD), ulcers, diverticulitis and diverticulitis, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) that are produced by a wide range of factors and require very different therapeutic approaches in allopathic medicine, ranging from changes in lifestyle to the use of a variety of medications to surgery. Practitioners of alternative medicine often recommend treatments that may complement allopathic therapies such as aromatherapy.

The use of essential oils to treat simpler forms of digestive disorders has been relied upon for centuries. A tea made of Peppermint or Ginger is widely recognized as being helpful in treating disorders such as nausea, stomach upsets, bloating, morning sickness, and simple forms of food poisoning. Just a drop of essential oil usually does the trick since the oils provide a much more concentrated dose of it healing constituents than do the leaves, flowers, or stems used in making tea.

Clinical Aromatherapists may also recommend the use of essential oils for the treatment of more serious types of digestive disorders. For example, one treatment that has been recommended for irritable bowel syndrome is a mixture of Roman Chamomile in a carrier oil that is massaged over the abdomen or added to a warm bath.

Some of the essential oils for digestive issues and those commonly recommended for digestive disorders include Bergamot, Lemon, Grapefruit, Ginger, Lemongrass, Fennel, Patchouli, and Peppermint. Lemon is a digestive and gall bladder aid and stimulates the liver and detoxifies the body. Grapefruit also serves to detoxify the body and purify it as well. Both of these help with weight loss and dissolve cellulite. Ginger, Lemongrass and Peppermint soothes the digestive system and calms nausea. Fennel aids in eating disorders and is used for dieting. Several essential oil blend combinations that can be used are listed below.

Appetite, Loss of

Bloating

Candida

Colic

Constipation

Cramps/Spasms

Diabetes

Diarrhea

Flatulence

Food Poisoning

Heartburn

Hemorrhoids/Piles

Hiccups

Hypoglycemia

Indigestion

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Nausea/Vomiting

Motion Sickness/Traveler’s Diarrhea

Parasites, Intestinal