Author
Kimberly Kushner
Naturopath and Nutritionist
We kick off our regular series, looking into the medicinal power of herbs, with an antidote to one of modern life’s most irksome maladies…
We’ve all been there. Over-indulgence seems to be a common symptom of big city life. Long days, longer nights and endless food and drink options all contribute to a less than healthy outlook, and while ‘bottomless brunch’ may have seemed like a good idea Sunday morning, by the evening you not only have classic pre-working week fear but also a fair bit of indigestion. But before heading to your medicine cabinet, you might be far better off raiding the pantry and picking your pot plants.
Creating your own digestive settler in the form of a tea can be effective, fun, and resourceful.
You will need:
• A bunch of peppermint leaves, roughly chopped (lessen if you suffer from acid reflux), or a tablespoon of dried peppermint leaves
• A thumb of ginger, smashed
• 1 tsp fennel seeds
• A small bark of cinnamon, or 1/4 tsp of cinnamon powder
Boil approximately 500ml of water on the stove, add ginger, fennel seeds, and turn heat down, leave for 5 minutes. Add cinnamon bark and peppermint leaves. Turn stove off and leave for 10 minutes before pouring through a strainer.
![1 Floom Magazine Nutritionist Settling Tea Ginger 1](https://floom.imgix.net/products/1_floom_magazine_nutritionist_settling_tea_ginger_1.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=1440&s=c7cd45533be0d25cedc1f20108d599af 1440w, https://floom.imgix.net/products/1_floom_magazine_nutritionist_settling_tea_ginger_1.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=1000&s=6cc1d0b9f1d429e0d27e8f94d8835ca7 1000w, https://floom.imgix.net/products/1_floom_magazine_nutritionist_settling_tea_ginger_1.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=600&s=657abefc136d180c1bf82a62c4c4f113 600w, https://floom.imgix.net/products/1_floom_magazine_nutritionist_settling_tea_ginger_1.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=400&s=31260d081f64cc9a91a803bf78defe0f 400w)
Ginger
Ginger is widely known for its anti-emetic property, meaning, it can help settle the stomach if you’re feeling nauseous. It’s also an aromatic digestive, and warming herb, aiding with circulation throughout the body.
![1 Floom Magazine Nutritionist Settling Tea Mint 1](https://floom.imgix.net/products/1_floom_magazine_nutritionist_settling_tea_mint_1.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=1440&s=d9ebb4515fa362d058ba64e5554adbcd 1440w, https://floom.imgix.net/products/1_floom_magazine_nutritionist_settling_tea_mint_1.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=1000&s=237bae37031855c34342a38c053456e3 1000w, https://floom.imgix.net/products/1_floom_magazine_nutritionist_settling_tea_mint_1.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=600&s=8ffcf2f683a72380bfe88fd91ff902a4 600w, https://floom.imgix.net/products/1_floom_magazine_nutritionist_settling_tea_mint_1.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=400&s=5d154eb05041d6f615936f969a092e4c 400w)
Peppermint
Minty flavours are always refreshing and they’re great for cleansing the palate after a meal. Peppermint as a herb elicits its action as a carminative, which means it is effective at reducing gastrointestinal bloating and gas. Just be wary if you suffer from reflux - too much mint can worsen those less than pleasant symptoms.
![1 Floom Magazine Nutritionist Settling Tea Cinnamon 1](https://floom.imgix.net/products/1_floom_magazine_nutritionist_settling_tea_cinnamon_1.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=1440&s=b82e9ba0e4d8fa01d72bdc426b75477c 1440w, https://floom.imgix.net/products/1_floom_magazine_nutritionist_settling_tea_cinnamon_1.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=1000&s=34cd3103c616921d52fdf51fda59a7f0 1000w, https://floom.imgix.net/products/1_floom_magazine_nutritionist_settling_tea_cinnamon_1.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=600&s=446c8f12be52151dfcb3a1d29ea17dae 600w, https://floom.imgix.net/products/1_floom_magazine_nutritionist_settling_tea_cinnamon_1.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=400&s=2175ff8089bd64dc888d7a62057b899a 400w)
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a beautiful aromatic herb which won’t just add flavour to your tea. It possesses warming, anti inflammatory, and digestive properties. A great herb to incorporate into an after dinner infusion.
![1 Floom Magazine Nutritionist Settling Tea Fennel Seeds 1](https://floom.imgix.net/products/1_floom_magazine_nutritionist_settling_tea_fennel_seeds_1.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=1440&s=95cae2176ae5d82452690f49a4f4cc63 1440w, https://floom.imgix.net/products/1_floom_magazine_nutritionist_settling_tea_fennel_seeds_1.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=1000&s=46c414d24282fc9786f99428194b4278 1000w, https://floom.imgix.net/products/1_floom_magazine_nutritionist_settling_tea_fennel_seeds_1.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=600&s=d8143c3b788230685f09691eb4935663 600w, https://floom.imgix.net/products/1_floom_magazine_nutritionist_settling_tea_fennel_seeds_1.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=400&s=913efacca4290768375465e31700a080 400w)
Fennel Seeds
Fennel seeds contain volatile oils which act as an anti-spasmodic and carminative. This means that the seeds can help reduce pain and discomfort in the digestive tract caused by gas and bloating. The seeds are also a digestive stimulant and can help stimulate the release of bile and enzymes, helping to prevent bloating and discomfort in the first place.
Kimberly Kushner BHSc (Nutritional Medicine), BHSc (Naturopathy) is a clinical nutritionist and naturopath who aims to provide you with the finest holistic health care. Her approach in assisting you to optimal health is practical, compassionate, empathic, and scientific. Kimberly treats acute and chronic health conditions and her main areas of expertise include, but are not limited to: reproductive health (women’s and men’s), digestive complaints, food allergies, healthy weight management, detoxification, and more.