This article was updated for accuracy and relevance on November 11th, 2020

Few things are as uncomfortable or embarrassing as digestive issues. Whether it’s an upset stomach, gas, bloating, leaky gut, IBS symptoms or constipation—indigestion can quickly derail your day.

A person’s gut health is determined by a variety of factors, including diet, weight, genetics, age, and personal decisions. Although some of that may be out of your control, there are steps you can take to support your overall digestive health and alleviate digestive issues. How? By supplementing your daily routine with the right essential oils for digestion support. 

What is the best essential oil for digestion and how can essential oils help you soothe occasional stomach upset and support your digestive system? Let’s review. 

The Digestive System 

Your digestive system plays a crucial role in breaking down food and absorbing nutrients into the bloodstream. These nutrients are your source of energy and an essential component to your continued health, wellness, and vitality. 

In the U.S., gastrointestinal issues and occasional stomach problems are quite common. In fact, one nationwide study on more than 71,000 individuals discovered that more than 61% had at least one gastrointestinal symptom in the past week alone, with the most common symptoms being:

• Heartburn or acid reflux (30.9%)

• Abdominal pain (24.8%)

• Bloating (20.6%)

• Diarrhea (20.2%)

• Constipation (19.7%)

• Nausea/vomiting (9.5%)

• Dysphagia (5.8%)

• Bowel incontinence (4.8%) 

Aside from the direct impacts of stomach pain and discomfort, there are direct links between your digestive system’s health and your brain. They form a two-way bridge where the current health of one can adversely affect the other. For instance, a Harvard Health study found that: 

“The brain has a direct effect on the stomach and intestines. For example, the very thought of eating can release the stomach's juices before food gets there. This connection goes both ways. A troubled intestine can send signals to the brain, just as a troubled brain can send signals to the gut. Therefore, a person's stomach or intestinal distress can be the cause or the product of anxiety, stress, or depression. That's because the brain and the gastrointestinal (GI) system are intimately connected.” 

Because your brain health impacts your gut health and vice versa, essential oils can support your digestive system on multiple levels. 

The Top Essential Oils for Stomach Aches and Indigestion 

Essential oils for stomach pain are most effective when inhaled or used topically. 

For a skin application, mix two or three drops of pure essential oil into one oz of carrier oil (try Hemp Seed or Jojoba). Then softly massage the blend onto your abdomen. When using a diffuser, add 15 drops of your chosen essential oil to an Edens Garden Personal Pocket Inhaler and softly breathe in as needed.

Curious what essential oils are best suited for a queasy stomach? The following oils may help you manage the issues that cause stomach pains:

• Ginger– Is your stomach roiling? Do you feel blocked up? Ginger essential oil has been used to help soothe an upset stomach for centuries. Ginger essential oil stimulates the digestive system, which increases gastric activity, thus helping to prevent and alleviate constipation. 

• Green Mandarin– If you love the citrusy aroma of a mandarin tree, Green Mandarin essential oil is just the thing for you. Extracted from the rind of the mandarin peel, the oil helps ease the mind and induce sleep. And since stress and anxiety contribute to stomach problems, it may also provide secondary digestive benefits. 

• Peppermint– Few aroma therapeutics are quite as effective at quelling nausea as Peppermint. In fact, Peppermint essential oil is frequently used as a dietary supplement for irritable bowel syndrome and other digestive problems. When Peppermint essential oil is diffused or used topically, it too can help ease stomach aches. 

• Digest Ease– When your stomach starts to ache, your ability to go about your life is significantly hampered. You don’t have to let stomach troubles ruin your plans. For that, there’s the Digest Ease synergy blend. Exuding a strong woodsy aroma, Digest Ease is a carefully formulated blend of the best digestive aids, including: 

• Cardamom

• Lemon

• Ginger

• Lavender

• Fennel

• Carrot Seed

• Spearmint

• Vanilla 
  
  

Dilute and apply topically, or put a few drops in your diffuser.  

• Fennel essential oil – Fennel essential oil has been used in traditional medicine for digestive issues for centuries. It has laxative properties that help prevent and alleviate constipation. Simply mix with a carrier oil and massage it directly into the abdomen in order to enjoy its digestive benefits. 

• Clove Bud– If you’re looking for a way to relax and soothe the muscular lining in your digestive tract, then Clove Bud essential oil can help. Traditionally, it’s been used to ease digestive upset, relieve stomach aches, and calm indigestion caused by acid reflux. Additionally, it can help relax your mind and calm your nerves, which in turn, help soften stomach issues. 

• Tangerine– Few essential oils have a softer, sweeter, and more pleasant citrus aroma than Tangerine. Thanks to its sedative and relaxing properties, Tangerine can help soothe both your mind and your digestive tract. 

• Lemon– Lemon essential oil is rich in antioxidants which help fight inflammation and fortify your digestive system. This helps ease the digestion process and prevent constipation from occurring. A recent study found that abdominal massages using Lemon essential oil helped alleviate constipation. 

Note: Essential oils for indigestion have specific uses and applications. They are not meant to be ingested as is, particularly if your goal is to alleviate gastrointestinal issues. Swallowing a highly-concentrated and pure essential oil could cause serious bouts of nausea. We recommend consulting with your doctor and an aromatherapist before ingesting essential oils.  

If you frequently have digestive complaints such as an upset stomach or indigestion, essential oils for gut health may help to put those issues to rest. To see what works for your stomach, start trying them out for yourself, whether it's Tea Tree oil, Ginger oil, Mandarin oil, or an essential oil blend like Digest Ease. Shop our selection of oils today to support a healthy gut microbiota!

Sources:

1. Practice Update. Prevalence of Gastrointestinal Symptoms in the General Population of the United States. https://www.practiceupdate.com/content/prevalence-of-gastrointestinal-symptoms-in-the-general-population-of-the-united-states/74968

2. Harvard Health. The Gut-Brain Connection. https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/the-gut-brain-connection

3. Ginger. The Amazing and Mighty Ginger. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92775/

4. NIH. Peppermint Oil. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/peppermint-oil

5. NCBI. Foeniculum vulgare Mill: A Review of Its Botany, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, Contemporary Application, and Toxicology. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4137549/

6. Pubmed. Effect of aromatherapy massage for the relief of constipation in the elderly. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15778557/