Some teas that can be used for intestinal colic are lemon balm tea, peppermint tea or fennel tea. These teas contain substances with anti-inflammatory, analgesic, calming and antispasmodic effects, which help to alleviate symptoms such as abdominal discomfort, excess gas, nausea or a feeling of a bloated belly.
Intestinal colic can be caused by food intolerance or allergy, excessive consumption of foods that cause intestinal gas, or even by more serious conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease or diverticulitis, for example. See the main causes of intestinal colic.
These teas can be used to alleviate the symptoms of intestinal colic, but if there is no improvement within 2 days, it is recommended to consult your general practitioner or gastroenterologist so that treatment with medication can be started, if necessary.
The main teas that help relieve intestinal cramps are:
1. Boldo tea
Boldo tea, prepared with dried Chilean boldo leaves or fresh Brazilian boldo leaves, is rich in boldine and rosmarinic acid, substances with digestive, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and astringent properties, which help reduce acidity. stomach and aid in the digestion of fats. Therefore, this tea is very useful for relieving intestinal colic in situations of poor digestion or food intolerance, for example.
Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon of chopped boldo leaves;
- 150 ml of water.
Preparation mode:
Add the chopped boldo leaves to 150 mL of boiling water. Let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes, strain and drink warm immediately, 2 to 3 times a day, before or after meals. Another option is to drink a cup before bed to help digestion after dinner.
Boldo tea is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women, people with hepatitis, kidney, pancreas or gallbladder problems. It is also not recommended for people with high blood pressure and children.
2. Peppermint tea
Peppermint tea has oils in its composition, such as menthol, menthone and limonene, which have analgesic and antispasmodic action, helping to relax the intestinal muscles and reduce gas formation, which reduces contractions that cause colic. intestinal.
Ingredients:
- 2 to 3 tablespoons of fresh or dried, crushed peppermint leaves;
- 150 mL of boiling water.
Preparation mode:
Place the peppermint leaves in a teacup and fill with boiling water. Let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes and strain. This tea should be drunk 3 to 4 times a day.
3. Fennel tea
Fennel tea contains substances with anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antispasmodic and digestive effects, such as anethole, ursole and alcamphor, which help to relieve intestinal inflammation, reducing intestinal colic, diarrhea and gas.
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon of fennel seeds;
- 1 cup of boiling water.
Preparation mode:
Add the fennel seeds to the cup of boiling water. Cover and let it cool for 10 to 15 minutes. Strain and then drink 2 to 3 cups a day, 20 minutes before a meal. Another option for preparing this tea is to use a fennel tea bag. Find out other ways to use fennel.
Fennel tea should not be used by pregnant or breastfeeding women. Likewise, this tea is not recommended for people with a history of epilepsy, hyperestrogenism and for women with heavy menstrual flow.
4. Chamomile tea
Chamomile tea is rich in phenolic compounds such as apigenin, quercetin and patuletin, with anti-inflammatory and calming properties, which reduce stimulation of the gastrointestinal tract, relieving colic.
Ingredients:
- 2 teaspoons of dried chamomile flowers;
- 250 mL of boiling water.
Preparation mode:
Add the dried chamomile flowers to a cup of boiling water, cover, let it rest for about 5 to 10 minutes. Strain and drink up to 4 cups of this tea per day.
Another way to prepare chamomile tea is using tea bags, which can be found in supermarkets or pharmacies. Check out other ways to prepare chamomile tea.
This tea is not recommended for babies under 6 months. Additionally, people who are using anticoagulants, sedatives, painkillers or other medications should speak to a doctor before drinking chamomile tea, as this plant can alter the effects of some medications.
Tea with simple chamomile (Matricaria recutita) can be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding. However, Roman chamomile tea should be avoided, as there are still no studies that prove the safety of using this type of plant during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
5. Lemon balm tea
Lemon balm tea, prepared with the medicinal plant Melissa officinalis, is rich in citral, rosmarinic acid, geraniol and beta-caryophyllene, components with antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory and carminative action, which inhibit the production of substances responsible for increasing intestinal contraction. Furthermore, this tea helps relieve nausea, vomiting and poor digestion.
Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons of lemon balm leaves;
- 1 cup of boiling water.
Preparation mode:
Add the lemon balm leaves to the boiling water, cover and let it rest for 5 minutes. Then, strain and drink 3 to 4 cups of this tea per day.
Lemon balm tea can interfere with the effect of thyroid medications and should only be done with a doctor’s advice in these cases. Furthermore, it is recommended that pregnant or breastfeeding women consult their obstetrician before consuming lemon balm.
6. Ginger tea
Ginger, scientifically called Zingiber officinalishas phenolic compounds, such as gingerol, chogaol and zingerone, which have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiemetic properties, being very useful for relieving the symptoms of intestinal colic.
Ingredients:
- 1 cm of ginger root;
- 1 cup of water.
Preparation mode:
Peel the ginger slices and cut into smaller pieces. Add the ginger to a pan, add the water and let it boil for 5 to 10 minutes. Let cool, strain and drink up to 3 cups of tea per day.
This tea is not recommended for those who have gallstones, hemorrhagic diseases or who use anticoagulant medications. People who use medications to control high blood pressure and diabetes should only consume ginger under the guidance of a doctor, as it can interfere with the effect of these medications, potentially causing low blood pressure and hypoglycemia.
During pregnancy, the maximum consumption of ginger should be 1g per day and for a maximum interval of 3 consecutive days. However, ginger should not be consumed close to labor as it may increase the risk of bleeding.
7. Dill tea
Dill tea, prepared with the medicinal plant Aneethun graveolensis rich in oils such as limonene, carvacrol and thymol, with anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties, which help relieve colic and intestinal gas, caused by irritable bowel syndrome.
Furthermore, this tea also helps to relieve nausea and treat diarrhea and constipation.
Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon of dill seeds;
- 1 cup of boiling water.
Preparation mode:
Place the dill in the cup of boiling water. Let it rest for 10 minutes, strain and drink afterwards.
Dill tea should not be used by children, pregnant or breastfeeding women, or by people who have diabetes or hypothyroidism, or who are being treated with lithium.
8. Cardamom tea
Cardamom tea is a good option for a home remedy for intestinal colic as it is rich in essential oils that stimulate the production of acid in the stomach, regulating bowel movements and facilitating the elimination of intestinal gases.
Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon of cardamom seeds;
- 1 cup of boiling water.
Preparation mode:
Place the cardamom seeds in a cup of boiling water and let it rest for about 10 minutes. Then strain and drink the cup before meals.
Cardamom tea should not be used by people with gallstones.
Furthermore, this tea should not be consumed by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, as there are no studies that prove its safety in these cases.
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