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Can Peppermint Tea Sooth An Upset Stomach? |
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Can Peppermint Tea Sooth An Upset Stomach?
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Darrell Miller | 08/03/15 |
Date:
August 03, 2015 08:02 PM
Author: Darrell Miller
Subject: Can Peppermint Tea Sooth An Upset Stomach?
Almost everyone has experienced upset stomach at some point in life. There are various possible causes of upset stomach including food and drink, lifestyle factors, and medical issues.
Food and Drink
Upset stomach often results from the food or drinks that we take. According to C. Health (2015), upset stomach might result from food poisoning. For example, food contaminated with bacteria, viruses, or parasites can cause upset stomach or vomiting. Overeating and drinking can also lead to upset stomach. C. Health (2015) warns that if an individual drinks or eats too much, he/she can get upset stomach or indigestion. Similarly, some types of foods such as fatty, greasy, or spicy food, can cause upset stomach.
Lifestyle
Upset stomach can also result from a number of lifestyles including emotional stress, eating too fast, or smoking (C. Health, 2015). The other possible lifestyle causes of upset stomach include too much alcohol or caffeine.
Medical Reasons
There are various medical problems associated with upset stomach. These include gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), or intestinal infections (C. Health, 2015). The other possible medical causes of upset stomach include lactose intolerance or ulcers.
There are various treatments for upset stomach. These include peppermint tea.
Peppermint Tea
Peppermint is a common flavoring for tea and toothpaste (UMMC, 2015). Peppermint tea helps to soothe upset stomach in various ways.
Indigestion
Peppermint tea calms stomach muscles and improves the flow of bile that helps in digestion of fats (UMMC, 2015). As such, food passes through the stomach more quickly. However, it is not advisable to use peppermint if the indigestion symptoms result from GERD.
Bloating
Peppermint tea relaxes stomach muscles thus allowing digestive gas to pass.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Peppermint tea treats irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) including, diarrhea, pain, bloating, and gas. UMMC (2015) found that patients who took peppermint flavored tea 3 to 4 times daily for one month rarely experienced upset stomach.
Overall, peppermint kills some types of viruses, bacteria, and fungi implying that it has antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties. UMMC (2015) asserts that the main ingredients of peppermint include menthol and methyl salicylate which have calming effects on the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, peppermint tea can soothe upset stomach.
References
C. Health. (2015). Digestive health. Retrieved from, //chealth.canoe.com/channel_section_details.asp?text_id=5293&channel_id=1017&relation_id=76888
University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). (2015). Peppermint. Retrieved from, //umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/peppermint#ixzz3hn1seQSm
