7 healthy home remedies for digestive distress

You will be happy to discover that these recipes for digestive distress can make a real difference in how you or a family member feels. Best of all, you can make all of these from home using natural ingredients.

• 250 ml (1 c) water
• 5 ml (1 tsp) grated liquorice root
• 5 ml (1 tsp) chopped fresh ginger
• 5 ml (1 tsp) dried chamomile flowers

  1. In a small pan, bring the water to a boil. Add the liquorice and ginger. Simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and add chamomile. Cover and steep for 10 minutes.

  2. Strain into a teacup and drink.

• 250 ml (1 c) boiling water
• 5 ml (1 tsp) dried peppermint
• 5 ml (1 tsp) dried chamomile

  1. In a small pot, pour boiling water over the dried peppermint and chamomile. Cover and steep for 10 minutes, then strain into a teacup.

  2. Drink up to 750 millilitres (three cups) a day to help ease intestinal cramps.

• Juice of 1 lemon
• 250 ml (1 c) boiling water
• 5 ml (1 tsp) honey
• 1 crushed sprig spearmint or peppermint

  1. In a large cup, combine lemon juice, boiling water and honey. Stir to mix and add spearmint or peppermint.

  2. Sip as needed. Keep warm in a thermos when travelling.

• 10 ml (2 tsp) dried raspberry and/or blackberry leaves
• Boiling water

  1. In a teacup, steep the berry leaves in freshly boiled water for at least 10 minutes. Strain.

  2. Drink a small cup three times a day along with other fluids to prevent dehydration.

• 250 ml (1 c) apple juice
• 500 ml (2 c) water
• 2 to 5 ml (1/2 to 1 tsp) salt
• Juice from a lemon or a lime

  1. In a pitcher, combine apple juice, water, salt and the lemon or lime juice. Store in the refrigerator.

  2. Drink throughout the day to maintain hydration and proper balance of electrolytes.

• 5 to 15 ml (1 to 3 tsp) psyllium husks
• Warm water

  1. Stir psyllium husks into a 250 millilitre (eight ounce) glass of warm water and drink once a day. Follow with a glass of plain water.

  2. Drink six to eight additional glasses of water throughout the day.

• 5 ml (1 tsp) dried chamomile
• 2 ml (1/2 tsp) dried peppermint
• 5 ml (1 tsp) dried catnip
• 5 ml (1 tsp)  dried basil
• 2 crushed fennel seeds
• 2 ml (1/2 tsp) dried marjoram

  1. In a large cup, mix the herbs. Pour in 175 to 225 millilitres (six to eight ounces) of boiling water and steep, covered, for 10 minutes. Strain and drink tea.

  2. Drink 750 millilitres, or three or more cups a day.

• Some common kitchen spice seeds contain oils that soothe spasms in your stomach and relieve nausea — without costing too pretty a penny.
• Just chew five millilitres (one teaspoon) of aniseed, dill or caraway seeds for a minute, then spit them out without swallowing any.
• Repeat three times a day.

• Ginger is a traditional tummy settler for nausea and motion sickness, and crystallized ginger — the candy version of it — may save a trip.
• Chew on a lump of crystallized ginger as needed.
• Keep a packet in the car or your purse so you always have it handy.

• You can't even find a remedy for hiccups in the drugstore, but you can make one yourself.
• Use 10 millilitres (two teaspoons) to 15 millilitres (one tablespoon) sugar or dry drink mix.
• Swallow the dry sugar or drink mix, which isn't easy.
• Trying to get it down will short-circuit the hiccups.