Do you ever feel gassy, bloated, or feel you have a ten-pound bowling ball stuck in your gut? Try a tea made with green cardamom and fennel.
Cardamom is one of the best and safest digestive stimulants. It treats gastralgia (upset stomach), enuresis (involuntary urination), phlegm, indigestion, and gas. This herb is also an excellent warming, anti-mucous stimulant to add to lung tonics.
In The Yoga of Herbs, Doctors Lad and Frawley write that Cardamom "stimulates the mind and heart and gives clarity and joy."*
Fennel is also used in treating indigestion. It is especially good for eliminating gas and flatulence, spasms of the gastrointestinal tract, and abdominal pains. Fennel also helps bring up phlegm from the lungs. Fennel is also a tonic for the nervous system. That means you can try fennel to help relax you and calm the mind.*
You can purchase fennel and cardamom at a health food store or a store that carries foods from India.
Recipe: Put one tablespoon of fennel and 5-6 pods of cardamom (crack the pods open with your fingers) into two cups of simmering water for about 15-20 minutes. Strain and drink, both as a preventative or when you're feeling any stomach distress.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The information on this website is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For more information pertaining to your personal needs please see a qualified health practitioner.
