Solutions That Aid Digestion Quickly

Before you eat

Digestive bitters are herbs with a bitter taste that, when taken 10-15 minutes before a meal, will cause you to eat less, and will cause your body to release more saliva and gastric juice. If you recall, both help break down the food you eat, so can help with digestion, and lower the chances of heartburn, cramping and indigestion. We like  Bitter Tonic from Winter Sun Trading Company. (That said, note that our very own Dr. Cole’s Digestive Support Balm can be applied prior to eating to help with digestion, too.)

Another option: one capsule of digestive enzymes taken with each meal optimizes digestion by helping your body absorb nutrients and convert food to energy. This is a favorite of ours.

Hydrochloric acid and pepsin both help to break down food in the stomach. Sometimes, especially when we get older, our stomach’s ability to secrete acid and other digestive enzymes weakens. Taking a supplement with each meal supports healthy stomach acidity.

After you eat

If you’ve over-indulged on Turkey Day and need some relief, massage Dr. Cole’s Herbal Digestive Support Balm into your belly button, across the abdominal area, under your nose, on your temples and behind your ears. Ingredients such as ginger root, peppermint, black horehound, and lemon balm help ease pain and discomfort from indigestion.

And, if you’re really feeling ill after eating a huge meal, apply Dr. Cole’s Herbal Anti-Nausea Balm as described above. It’s perfect for treating nausea, a nervous stomach, or digestive stagnation caused when you overeat heavy, rich meals. Thanksgiving, anyone?

When constipation strikes

When your food moves too slowly through your digestive tract, your stools may end up dry and hard, making any bowel movement painful from stools that are difficult to pass. Dr. Cole’s Constipation Balm can help alleviate your symptoms and get you back to regular bowel movements quickly and painlessly. Simply massage the balm deeply into the lower intestine area to promote peristalsis. Then, to increase the intensity of the balm, lay plastic wrap over the massaged area and put a heating pad over the wrap for about 10 minutes.

If you suffer from hemorrhoids

When straining to pass stools, you may cause a hemorrhoid—a swollen vein in your anus or lower rectum. This may cause pain or itching in your anal region, swelling, or even bleeding. The best way to prevent hemorrhoids is to prevent constipation. Eat foods that are high in fiber. Drink lots of water. Don’t strain—only try to go when you feel the urge to have a bowel movement.

Hemorrhoids are very treatable, and can improve greatly after even just a week of good home care. Start by taking a 20-minute soak in a warm bath infused with Dr. Cole’s Herbal Sitz Bath Salts. Once dry, massage a dime-sized amount of Dr. Cole’s Herbal Balm or Cream directly onto the affected area. Apply the balm or cream 3-4 times a day for best results.

When stress gets the better of you

The holidays can be a stressful time of year. Yes, there’s tasty food, friends, and fellowship, but somebody’s got to make the food and clean up afterward, and then there’s Uncle Eddie who insists on talking politics and religion at the dinner table. Pretty soon, you’re too stressed out to even digest your food well.

When you’re feeling overwhelmed by stress, fill the tub with warm water, add a half-cup of Dr. Cole’s Stress Relief Soaking Salts and take a soothing 20-minute bath. Then, massage Dr. Cole’s Stress Relief Cream or Balm into the back of your neck, across the shoulders, over the top of the chest or into the wrists. You even can rub it on your feet just before bedtime to enjoy a restful night’s sleep.

We hope you’ve enjoyed our newsletters this month, and encourage you to reach out to us at info@coleherbals.com with questions or to share your success stories. We always love hearing from you!