Always struggling with indigestion? Choose 'this tea' based on your symptoms | Teas for Indigestion

Teas for Indigestion

Do you feel bloated after every meal, with a stuffy, blocked sensation in your epigastric region? Do digestive aids only provide temporary relief, leaving you frustrated as chronic indigestion has somehow become your daily norm? You might feel your body's fundamental digestive power has weakened, and you're at a loss for what to do.

Hello, I'm Choi Yeon-seung, a Korean medicine doctor who has been treating gastrointestinal dysfunction for 15 years, restoring it through food and medicinal herbs. In this article, instead of relying solely on medication, I will fully explain how to find a 'customized natural digestive aid' tailored to your symptoms, using three types of 'tea' (茶) easily accessible around us. If you read to the end, you'll no longer wonder which tea to drink.

My Blocked GI Tract: You Need to Know the Cause First

Not all indigestion is the same. To find the 'key' that's right for you, you must first understand why your stomach is struggling. We can divide this into three main categories.

1. My Stomach Muscles are Tightly Knotted (Stress-Induced Tension)

Just as our shoulder muscles can become as stiff as a rock when we're tense, our stomach also becomes rigid and knotted when under stress. Since the stomach can't move properly even when food enters it, you'll mainly experience a sensation of a tightly blocked epigastric region (like a stone), gas, and bloating.

2. The Spark of Digestion Has Weakened (Cold Stomach)

This is a state where the 'spark of digestion' within your stomach has weakened. Frequent exposure to cold foods or cold energy can dampen the activity of digestive enzymes and decrease overall stomach function, much like a fire in a hearth dying out. In such cases, digestion is generally slow, you feel full after eating only a small amount, and symptoms like cold hands and feet and a lack of energy are often present.

3. Food is 'Stuck' (Food Stagnation)

While usually fine, you might feel like the greasy pork belly or flour-based foods you ate last night are still sitting in your stomach. It's like a 'traffic jam' on the road. You might feel a stuffy sensation, nausea, and in severe cases, acid reflux or headaches.

Revealing 'Customized' Digestive Teas (茶) for Each Symptom

So, do you now have a better idea of which cause your discomfort most closely aligns with? I will now introduce three teas that can serve as the 'key' for each specific cause.

1. When You're Completely Blocked by Stress? 'Peppermint Tea' (Natural Gastrointestinal Relaxant)

Just as you'd massage tense shoulder muscles, peppermint helps gently relax stomach muscles that are rigid from stress. Menthol, the key component of peppermint, directly relaxes the smooth muscles of the gastrointestinal tract, alleviating that stuffy, blocked sensation and helping gas pass more easily.

BEST FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS: For those who get a sudden blocked feeling in their epigastric region when stressed, and those who frequently experience gas and bloating after meals, this is the best choice.

2. When Your Stomach is Cold and Digestive Power is Weak? 'Ginger Tea' (The Stomach's Boiler)

For a stomach that has become cold due to a weakened digestive spark, it's crucial to infuse it with warmth. Ginger tea acts as precisely that 'boiler'. Gingerol, a key compound in ginger, promotes blood circulation to warm the stomach and aids in the secretion of digestive fluids, thereby vigorously boosting weakened digestive function.

BEST FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS: For those who usually have cold hands and feet, or experience stomach upset or diarrhea even after eating a small amount of cold food, ginger tea is a much better choice than peppermint.

3. When You've Overeaten and Feel "Stuck"? 'Maesil Tea' (Natural Digestive Enzyme)

The solution to that 'traffic jam' caused by fatty foods or eating too quickly is Maesil (Korean plum). The abundant 'organic acids' in Maesil normalize gastric acid secretion, directly aiding in food breakdown. It acts much like a natural digestive enzyme. Furthermore, its excellent detoxifying action helps eliminate harmful bacteria that cause stomach upsets.

BEST FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS: This is most effective when you've overeaten, or when you feel stuffy and congested after eating greasy foods.

How to Drink Tea Most Effectively and 'Precautions'

Even the best tea can have varying effects depending on 'when' and 'how' you drink it. The best time to drink it is 30 minutes to an hour after a meal, and it should be consumed warm. This is because drinking it immediately after a meal can dilute digestive fluids, and drinking it too cold can put a burden on your stomach. Additionally, knowing the 'precautions' for each tea based on its properties will help you manage your health more safely and effectively.

1. Peppermint Tea: Caution for These Individuals!

Q. I have reflux esophagitis (GERD). Can I drink peppermint tea?

A. That's a good question. While peppermint is excellent at relaxing stomach muscles, it can also relax the 'sphincter' between the esophagus and stomach. Therefore, individuals with severe reflux esophagitis symptoms should be cautious when consuming it excessively, as it could worsen acid reflux. In such cases, ginger tea, introduced below, might be a safer choice.

2. Ginger Tea: Caution for These Individuals!

Q. I have a body constitution that tends to be hot. Is it okay for me?

A. Ginger is very warm in nature and excellent for expelling cold energy from the body. However, for those who generally have a lot of body heat, feel hot, and experience frequent thirst, it can add unnecessary heat. Additionally, if you have severe inflammation of the gastric lining due to acute gastritis, ginger's pungent nature can be irritating, so it's best to avoid it.

3. Maesil Tea: Just Confirm This!

Q. Are commercially available Maesil drinks okay?

A. This is the most crucial point. Most commercially available Maesil drinks contain an unimaginable amount of sugar or high-fructose corn syrup. Excessive sugar, far from aiding digestion, can actually be a primary cause of intestinal gas and bloating. It is wise to always check the sugar content or dilute a small amount of Maesil-cheong (Maesil syrup) that you've made at home with less sugar.

Listen to Your Body and Find 'Your Own Tea'

Just because you have indigestion doesn't mean you have to stick to one method. As we've learned today, the 'tea' that's right for your body can vary depending on whether your discomfort is due to stress, a cold stomach, or overeating. Today we looked at lifestyle management through 'tea', but if indigestion persists despite these efforts, sometimes a structural issue like 'Damjeok' (a traditional Korean medicine concept referring to internal accumulation or stagnation) might be hidden. I will cover this in more detail if the opportunity arises soon.

The most important thing is to experiment with various teas based on today's information and find 'your own solution' that your body responds to most comfortably. A warm cup of tea can be a more effective remedy than a digestive aid bought from the pharmacy. I wish you a day with a comfortable stomach.

[References] Khanna, R., MacDonald, J. K., & Levesque, B. G. (2014). Peppermint oil for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of clinical gastroenterology, 48(6), 505–512.