When considering the whole kaleidoscope of problems that could be discussed under the banner of digestion disorders, I must ask if you have heard the saying (by Caroline Myss) that ‘your psychology becomes your biology’?
A very interesting thing is, that in addition to all the digestion organs, the same area of the body also ‘houses’ the adrenal glands. These glands are stimulated to produce certain hormones such as adrenaline in response to what is going on around us – they produce the fright, fight or flight response and can be understood as managing our ‘gut instinct’.
In fact, our digestion is the seat of certain emotions such as anger, fear, anxiety and those relating to fear and intimidation, trust issues, self-esteem, confidence, self-respect, sensitivity to criticism. Those of us living in big cities, for instance, may need to use our ‘gut instinct’ more than someone living in more tranquil surrounds. Our day-to-day lives therefore impact directly on our digestion.
Now we can start to understand why a child gets a sore tummy before their first day of school, or a teenager before an exam; why the fast-lane executive sleeps with a large pack of anti-acid tablets next to his bed, and an important public speech would bring on an untimely bout of diarrhoea for the nervous presenter.
Other day-to-day issues which impact on our digestion include poor life-style habits such as excesses in drink or food, poor choice of foods, poor quality of foods and nutrition – possibly even bad cooking! Foods that are high in toxicity such as preservatives, pesticides, pollutants also contribute to digestive disorders. Homeopathy takes all these issues (including possible causes) into account, and one should always select a remedy that most closely matches your specific symptoms – emotional, physical and mental.
We have put together a selection of polychrests (remedies of many uses) that assist with the healing of a range of digestion disorders from IBS, gas and flatulence to colic and diarrhoea:
Great remedies for good digestion
Nux Vom (gas, indigestion, nausea) – for digestive disorders such as nausea, vomiting and retching. You may want to vomit but cannot. Heaviness and pain felt in the stomach with lots of gas and indigestion. Great bloatedness. Very irritable and fault-finding. This remedy is excellent after over-indulgence in rich, spicy foods and stimulants.
“Nux Vom is a brilliant hangover remedy for symptoms (whether you have overindulged or not!) such as headache, nausea, dizziness, an upset stomach, constipation, irritability, and feeling stressed and impatient.”
Cuprum (colic, cramps, diarrhoea) – the greatest remedy for nausea with severe colic/cramps, abdominal spasms. Spasmodic, watery diarrhoea. Giddiness often accompanies ailments.
“This is an excellent remedy for colic, cramps or spasms anywhere in the body; extremely helpful for nausea and diarrhoea. Helpful where giddiness accompanies ailments. A long-trusted remedy for colicky babies.”
Arsenicum Alb (diarrhoea, vomiting) – the first remedy for vomiting and diarrhoea. For cases of mild food poisoning or gastric flu with nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, anxiety, fever with cold sweats, feeling cold, weak, trembling and faintness. Possible burning sensation in stomach. Cannot bear the sight or smell of food. Great thirst for frequent small sips.
“Use for nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, fever with chills and any symptoms of food poisoning or gastroenteritis. This is a great remedy for heartburn and burning pain in the oesophagus or stomach.”
Carbo Veg (flatulence, distention, burping) – use when the stomach is extremely bloated and you need to burp constantly. You feel faint and short of breath and need lots of fresh air in spite of feeling cold. For constrictive pains in the stomach extending to the chest, with great bloating, flatulence and distention of the abdomen. Burping may give temporary relief. The pain makes you bend over double. Foul flatulence.
“This remedy is helpful where the upper part of the stomach and abdomen feel bloated You may feel that you must have air, and need to open all the windows. The abdomen is greatly distended/bloated and you cannot bear anything tight around your waist.”
Eupatorium (vomiting, diarrhoea) – for nausea, vomiting and purging of bile. Vomiting preceded by thirst. Avoids tight clothing. Frequent, green watery stools. Cramps. Constipated, with sore liver.
“This is a great remedy for gastric flu accompanied by bone pain, vomiting (especially of bile), diarrhoea and great thirst.”
Lycopodium (gas, flatulence) – very helpful where there is bloating of the lower abdomen after only a light meal or pastries, bread or other carbohydrates; you may experience heartburn and much flatulence. Symptoms are usually worse between late afternoon and early evening.
