Calming carminatives? Herbs to help ease gas, bloating, spasms when you're stressed, anxious or irritated

Herbal Womb Wisdom

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I think many of us just accept the discomfort we have in our guts without question.
I was talking to a client recently and I actively had to ask her if she ever notices any symptoms after eating for her to remember that she commonly experiences sharp pain in her belly and doesn't know why.
The fact that it wasn't top of mind for her because she's just accepted that as part of her day-to-day life is indicative of how much we normalize digestive upset.
Some folks have chronic loose stools, endless gas, bloating after almost every meal, alternating constipation and loose stools or even painful, sharp spasms regularly in their bellies... and they don't pay any attention.
I had another client who told me she's had gut symptoms her entire life, and her mom has them too, so it's not something she even thinks of as a "symptom."
I want to call bullshit on this way of thinking.
Our bodies are wisdomkeepers, and your gut is giving you information. Which is not to say that you need to wallow in suffering because of your symptoms, but instead that it's a good idea to start taking note of what they are, and when they show up.
Herbs like relaxing carminatives can be especially helpful at easing some of the gas, bloating and spasms - and when we narrow in on the *relaxing* carminatives they are even more specific for times when you notice stress, anxiety or irritability in relation to your gut symptoms (which is exceedingly common).
The gut-brain connection is real, so when you're having those digestive symptoms, you mood and mind will no doubt be impacted.
Unfortunately relaxing carminatives won't get to the ROOT of the problem, but they can help your belly calm down and soften to ease symptoms along the way.
And they can be worked with intentionally in times of increased stress (like the current global situation), or heightened anxiety (like perhaps holiday gatherings), or cyclic hormonal shifts that mess with your gut (like, say loose stools the first day of your moon).
The better we feel in our bellies, the more steady and strong we can show up in the world.
Listen to learn:

• what carminatives are and how to add them into your daily life
• when you would want to consider RELAXING carminatives
• how muscle tension might increase pain sensations (+ how carminatives can help)
• a basic overview of 8 relaxing carminatives (why, when, how you might use them)
• how to add some carminatives into your holiday meals (or anytime)

Resources:

• Today's shownotes: Get the links I mentioned in the episode
• Sign up for the Natural Contraception (Jan 2024) waitlist!
• Episode 4: Herbal Spotlight on Tulsi
• Episode 44: Bitters and hormonal balance
• Episode 58: Gut - hormone connection

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DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalis

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