HERBAL CARMINATIVES: NATURAL REMEDIES FOR RELIEF FROM EXCESSIVE GAS AND FLATULENCE

Sumiya Bashir*, Nahida Tabassum and Mohd. Umar Sofi

ABSTRACT

Currently, several typically consumed drugs originate from herbs. Around 25% of the recommended drugs consist of at least one herbally originated active substance or synthetic constituent, which resembles a plant-extracted compound. More than 80,000 herbs are being used for their therapeutic uses throughout the globe. Typically, a particular plant part is utilised for medicinal preparations such as creams, extracts, tablets, tinctures, infusions or ointments. Carminatives prevent the collection of gas in the Gastrointestional tract or assist in their elimination. Plant based preparations containing different phytoconstituents have been traditionally used to relieve gastrointestinal symptoms by enhancing digestion, relaxing the digestive tract and expel the trapped gas. Nowadays, people prefer herbal plants over allopathic drugs, as they provide safe and effective treatment for the discomforts. Some Plant families such as Apocynaceae, Cucurbitacea, and Zingiberaceae etc, are recognised for their carminative activity, as they have been scientifically validated for the relief of digestive problems especially for flatulence and bloating.

Keywords: Bloating; Flatulence, Belching; Carminative, Plants, Apocynaceae, Umbelliferacea.