Indulge Joyfully, with Herbal Digestive Support

St Francis Herb Farm

The holidays are here – and we’re making merry with many of our favorite holiday foods.

Unfortunately, digestive issues frequently arise during the seasonal festivities – resulting in bloating, heartburn, gas, or pain from indulging – or overindulging!

Herbs have helped treat a wide range of digestive maladies throughout history and across cultures. In this tradition, we harnessed the unique benefits of plant medicines in 3 targeted formulas that address common digestive issues.

Canadian Bitters® – Supports Optimal Digestion

For those having digestive problems including gas, bloating, burping and indigestion.
Supports poor digestion associated with stress.
Stimulates and tonifies the digestive system in preparation for mealtime.

We’ve all been there, feeling like food is just sitting heavily in the stomach after overindulging, or eating when stressed out. But certain traditional herbs contain unique bitter compounds that help to relieve uncomfortable symptoms of indigestion like stomach upset, gas, bloating, and heartburn.

These “bitters” stimulate the vagus nerve that communicates to the digestive system to kick into action – helping to support the body in processing food throughout the entire digestive tract while working to help regulate blood sugar, reducing energy crashes and sugar cravings.

Bitters also help to switch the nervous system into “rest and digest” – where it concentrates its resources on digestion, helping to optimize the nutrient absorption that’s essential to maintaining many bodily systems, including a strong immune system.

Our Canadian Bitters® contain a spectrum of traditional bitter herbs including globe artichoke, dandelion, and gentian root that can be taken daily to help support and strengthen organs of digestion. This traditional formula also contains cardamom and chamomile, which are carminative herbs — meaning they help to calm the digestive tract, alleviating gas, and bloating.

Bitters are, well… bitter, but that’s why – and how – they work! For a version with a hint of sweet, try Canadian Bitters® Maple, which includes a touch of maple syrup.

How to Take: Ideally, take Canadian Bitters® 5- 10 minutes before a meal. While best to take them before eating, it’s “bitter late than never!”: if you forget to take it before meals, you can always take it during or after.

Unlike formulas that can create dependence or irritate tissues, Canadian Bitters® and Canadian Bitters® Maple are both natural, non-habit-forming formulas that encourage the digestive system to function more efficiently on an on-going basis, instead of merely providing a temporary solution.

Learn More about Canadian Bitters® – Improved Digestion: Why You Need Bitters in Your Life

Acidux – Quenches the Fires of Heartburn

For those that suffer the pain and burning of heartburn and reflux (GERD)
Works with antacid, anti-inflammatory action
Settles the stomach and soothes the digestive tract

Burning, chest tightness, pain, and inflammation. Heartburn and reflux can be irritating or downright painful – affecting approximately 1 in 5 adults. Heartburn/ GERD occurs when stomach acid backs up into the tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach (esophagus).

Unfortunately, many foods and beverages around the holidays can trigger heartburn, including chocolate, peppermint, alcohol, and fatty foods.

Acidux uses a unique blend of 6 herbs that help to relieve inflammatory conditions of the digestive system.

Calendula and meadowsweet offer antacid, anti-inflammatory effects; chamomile, licorice, and ginger settle the stomach; and marshmallow soothes the tissues of the digestive tract in a powerful combination that helps to quench the fires of heartburn.

How to Take: Take 2 mL (60 drops) 3 times daily, in a little water, on an empty stomach. Acidux can also be taken after eating when symptoms flare for effective relief of discomfort.

Ginger Capsules – To Prevent Nausea and Vomiting

For those experiencing nausea from indigestion, pregnancy or motions sickness.
Helps relieve stomach upset after eating and the discomfort of cramping.

Ginger has been used for millennia both as a food and as a medicine in virtually all major traditional healing systems. It has used traditionally as a warming, digestive stimulant that relieves spastic conditions of the intestines, colic, gas, bloating, and indigestion.

Our high potency Ginger Capsules can help bring relief if you’re trying to cope with an upset stomach or other digestive disturbances.

It’s also great for pregnant mothers dealing with unsettled stomachs and for anyone suffering from nausea and vomiting, including those affected by motion sickness/seasickness.

How to Take It: Adults, adolescents, and children 6 and over: For anti-nausea use, take 1 capsule 30 minutes before travel and, optionally, every 4 hours as necessary.

Other uses: Take 1 capsule, 2-3 times daily on an empty stomach- can also be taken after eating to help relieve nausea, gas and cramping.

Gallbladder Support – Eases Gallbladder Congestion

For those suffering with gallbladder issues*.
Helps to reduce gas, spasms, and nausea.
Stimulates bile flows and relieves gallbladder congestion.

Gallbladder issues affect many people, whether it is inefficient bile flow, gallbladder congestion or gallstones – that occur in up to 20 percent of Canadian women and 10 per cent of men by the age of 60.

Gallbladder problems can flare up as pain, gas, spasms, nausea, or diarrhea and can be exacerbated by rich, fatty foods, dairy products, fried foods, and refined sugars.

Galbladder Support specifically works to reduce congestion in the gallbladder and helps to relieve discomfort that can arise from gallbladder issues. 7 herbs work together in synergy, including:

Cholagogue (bile promoting) herbs dandelion root and barberry that increase bile flow, helping to relieve congestion in the gallbladder –an effective preventative against gallstones*.
Carminative (gas relieving) herbs peppermint and sweet fennel helps to alleviate gas and bloating.

How to Take: To relieve gallbladder irritation and digestive discomfort, take 2 mL (60 drops) 3-4 times daily, in a little water, after meals or as needed.

* Not for use for those who already have gallstones (cholagogues can mobilize a stone that clogs the bile duct – causing issues). Consult a healthcare provider if you have gallstones, prior to use.

So, indulge joyfully this holiday season, knowing that there is effective herbal support to help prevent and relieve common digestive disturbances. Happy Holidays!