“Bloating and indigestion can be epic on Thanksgiving, and they can put a major damper on otherwise joyous celebrations.”
I’ve just contributed to another collaborative article with several acupuncturists around the world in honor of the upcoming holidays and some of the less desirable symptoms that often come along with them.
My favorite at-home cure for bloating that I shared for the article is a cup of ginger tea, ideally before a meal. Using freshly sliced ginger root is best, but a medicinal-grade prepared tea also works well. For the fresh ginger root, just pour boiled water over the sliced root, cover, and steep for about 5 minutes. From a Western perspective, ginger helps stimulate saliva, bile and gastric juice production, reducing the chance that food will ferment in the digestive tract due to inadequate digestive power or poor food combining. This is why it is best used before a meal. Additionally, it helps relax the muscles within the digestive tract releasing trapped gas and for this reason may help after a meal as well. From an Eastern medical perspective, ginger is warming as it increases circulation. This warmth nourishes the abdominal organs, alleviating digestive symptoms such as bloating, loose stools, fatigue and poor appetite.
If indigestion is something you experience frequently, and not just after an exceptionally decadent meal, acupuncture or a custom herbal formula might be the way to go.
