Carminatives – Herbs to relieve cramping, bloating and gas

Carminatives are herbs that help promote digestion and relieve bloating and flatulence. The word carminative comes from the Latin meaning to “comb out”.  The ancient Greeks stated carminatives “help to relax the gross humours from whence the wind arises, combing them out like knots in wool.”¹ This is a long way of saying carminatives relax smooth muscles to relieve cramping and help expel gas.

Carminatives contain essential oils that impart their medical effects.  After consuming a carminative, one detects a pleasant aromatic taste followed by increased circulation to the digestive tract.  Within a few minutes, smooth muscles and sphincters relax relieving cramping pains and often releasing trapped gas resulting in eructation and/or flatulence. The precise mechanism of carminatives is unknown, but the essential oils have an irritant effect on mucous membranes causing capillaries to dilate and increase blood flow.  In addition, these oils normalize peristalsis (the rhythmic movement of the intestines) and relax sphincters, thereby facilitating the passage of food and also make it easier to expel gas.

What conditions can carminatives help?

Research supports the traditional use of carminatives to improve symptoms of abdominal pain, bloating, distention and irregular bowel habit.^2–6 Due to symptom relief, studies also showed that quality of life was increased in patients taking carminatives.

Carminative can help with several conditions including:

• Flatulence
• Colic
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Indigestion
• Colitis
• Gastric ulcer

What some examples of carminatives?    

Hundreds of plants from around the world act as carminatives including:

• Peppermint (Mentha piperita)
• Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)
• Caraway (Carum carvi)
• Chamomile (Matricaria recutita)
• Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
• Catnip (Nepeta cataria)
• Coriander (Coriandrum sativum)
• Garden angelica (Angelica archangelica)
• Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis)
• Parsley (Petroselinum sativum)
• Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
• Sage (Salvia officinalis)
• Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)

The following carminatives are explained in more detail including the supporting research.

Peppermint

Consuming peppermint (Mentha piperita) after meals has long been a culinary custom to help freshen the breath and facilitate digestion.⁷  Peppermint is the most researched of all the carminatives.  Clinical trials show peppermint improves symptoms in patients suffering from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and dyspepsia.⁸ In addition, peppermint relieves abdominal pain, especially when associated with diarrhea.^9,10  Peppermint may also be a useful adjunct to some modern medicinal procedures. Research shows peppermint relaxes smooth muscles thereby decreasing pain and discomfort in patients undergoing endoscopy and colonoscopy.^11–19

Peppermint

How does peppermint work?

Peppermint is rich in essential oils like menthol that gives it a cool minty aroma.  Breath mints, gum, cough drops and even sports creams for muscle pain contain menthol.  The essential oils in peppermint relieve symptoms by reducing intragastric pressure, proximal phase contractility, and appetite.²⁰ Menthol also decreases abdominal pain by affecting visceral hypersensitivity²¹ and exhibits spasmolytic properties by inhibiting L-type Ca2+ channel responsible for smooth muscle contractions.²²  In addition, peppermint oil reduces nausea by modulating serotonin 5-HT(3) receptor.²³

Lemon balm 

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) belongs to the mint family and contains high amounts of the essential oil geranial²⁵ that gives it a distinctive lemony smell. Herbalist have long used lemon balm to treat stomach problems, especially in stressed and anxious people. Preliminary research shows lemon balm improves anxiety and sleep problems in humans.²⁶   Lemon balm is effective against IBS and peptic ulcer by exhibiting antibacterial activity against E. coli²⁷ and Helicobacter pylori²⁸. In addition, lemon balm in combination with chamomile may be effective in treating colic based on animal studies.^4,29 It also exerts a protective effect against gastric ulcer.³⁰

How does it work?

Less research exists for the health benefits of lemon balm compared to other carminatives.  Presumably, the essential oils in lemon balm have a similar effect on the digestive tract as peppermint. Limited research shows lemon balm modulates intestinal motility and possesses antibacterial activity, which explains some of its medicinal effects.^4,27–29

Lemon balm

Fennel & Anise

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) and anise (Pimpinella anisum) are closely related plants in the Apiaceae (carrot family).  Both herbs are rich in anethole, an essential oil that imparts these carminatives with their distinctive sweet licorice taste.  Cultures around the world have used these two plants interchangeably for both culinary and medicinal purposes.  After dinner, Indian restaurants serve “mukhwas” a carminative mixture of fennel, anise and other seeds that help freshen the breath and settle the stomach.³¹  Fennel and anise are found in licorice tasting aperitifs, like ouzo and sambuca, that are used in the Mediterranean region to promote digestion.  Mother’s may be familiar with “gripe water” a traditional herbal mixture containing fennel that relieves colic in infants, whose efficacy has now been confirmed by science.²

Research supports the use of fennel in patients with gastrointestinal disorders such as IBS because it reduces abdominal pain and bloating.⁶  Furthermore, the essential oil of fennel helps provide protection against harmful enteric organisms such as Campylobacter jejuni³² and Helicobacter pylori.²⁸

How do fennel and anise work?

The essential oils of fennel and anise have antispasmodic effects, increase gastric secretions³³ and enhance gastric emptying.³⁴ Moreover, due to its high polyphenol content, fennel was also found to be effective in reducing and preventing gastric lesions.⁵

Fennel

Caraway 

Caraway is closely related to fennel and anise in appearance and medicinal properties, however, cumin has a distinctive earthy, musky aroma that flavors Indian curries and Mexican dishes. Although caraway tastes different than anise and fennel, the essential oils are very similar and can be used for essentially the same purposes. Research shows the combination of caraway and peppermint treats dyspepsia⁸ and IBS.^35,36 In animal studies, caraway improved colic.³⁷ Finally it appears to possess antibacterial activity against ulcer causing H. pylori.²⁸

How does it work?

Caraway has an antispasmodic effect that relaxes smooth muscles of the duodenum, stomach and gall bladder.^38–40 The synergistic effect of peppermint and caraway also modulates post-inflammatory visceral hyperalgesia, providing gastrointestinal symptom relief.³⁵

Caraway

Chamomile 

Chamomile has long been consumed as a caffeine-free herbal tea to calm the nerves and settle an upset stomach.    In the Germanic herbal tradition, chamomile has an affinity for the stomach is the primary herb recommended for gastritis and stomach ulcers. Also, parents often give chamomile tea to irritable children to relieve tummy aches.

Most clinical trials conducted on chamomile for digestive disorders use mixtures of chamomile with other herbs. When combined with coffee charcoal and myrrh, chamomile was found to be effective in improving symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).^41,42 Specifically, this combination reduced symptoms of nausea/vomiting, stool frequency, flatulence, and pain. Meanwhile, in combination with lemon balm, chamomile was found to reduce intestinal motility, thereby suggesting its effectiveness in treating colicky infants and diarrhea.^4,29

Chamomile

How does it work?

The flowers contain essential oils and flavonoids that are responsible for its medicinal actions.   Chamomile is rich in antioxidants which also plays a role in protecting against gastric ulcer.^43,44 Chamomile acts as an anti-inflammatory agent by reducing interleukin (ie. IL-6), TNF (ie. TNF-alpha) and prostaglandins while improving IL-10.^45,46 Moreover, chamomile exerts antispasmodic effect thereby providing relief from cramping abdominal pain.^47–51

Safety Concerns with Carminatives

In general, carminatives are considered very safe.  Because carminatives relax sphincters some patients may complain of reflux, especially if carminatives are consumed immediately before lying down.  High amount should not be given to pregnant and breastfeeding women due to lack of safety studies.^21,24

Summary of Carminatives

Carminatives relieve bloating, cramping and gas.  These herbs are rich in essential oils that relax smooth muscles and increase circulation to the digestive tract.  Herbal carminatives are used to treat indigestion, colic, IBD and IBS.  Although carminatives are relatively safe, excess amounts can cause reflux and heartburn.

Author & Photographer: Matt Gowan, BSc, ND
All images are copyright of Matt Gowan ©2017 Reference

Disclaimer: This content is subject to change. The information is intended to inform and educate; it does not replace the medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional. www.nhpassist.com © 2017 NDAssist Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.

References: Carminatives – Herbs that relieve indigestion, bloating and gas