The Natural Secrets of Herbs for Intestinal Health

The entire intestinal tract is sensitive to the action of the many herbs for intestinal health. They exert two main effects on the intestinal mucosa:

1. Laxative—Herbs for intestinal health promote or accelerate intestinal transit. Moreover, laxative herbs are also emollient, soothing the intestinal mucosa.
2. Astringent—Medicinal herbs dry and constrict the skin and mucous membranes. By diminishing mucous secretion, they exert an antidiarrheic action. They also thicken the bleeding of tiny blood vessels (antihemorrhagic movement).

Almost all astringent herbs owe their properties to the tannins they contain. Tannins clot proteins of the surface cells, drying, hardening, and reducing the inflammation of the skin and the mucosa. Most herbs for intestinal health that act on the intestine can regulate transit, thus improving the body conditions so that healing will be complete, not only symptomatic. But we have to bear in mind that correct, healthy habits are required to treat intestinal afflictions effectively.

Top Herbs For Intestinal Health

Alder buckthorn	Apple tree	Beech tree
Black alder	Bladder senna	Burnet	Carob tree
Cascara sagrada	Castor bean	Chestnut	Common buckthorn
Early purple orchid	Five-finger grass	Flax	Globe flower
Great burnet	Guanabana tree	Guava tree	High mallow
Jalap	Loosestrife	Male fern	Mouse-ear
Patience dock	Pomegranate	Psyllium
Purslane		Rhubarb	Rowan
Tamarind	Tansy		Tormentil
Walnut	Wild lemon	Willowherb

Purgative Herbs

These herbs for intestinal health produce a diarrhea-like evacuation. They exert an extreme laxative action, usually accompanied by intestinal irritation. They must be carefully used, and medical supervision is recommended to ascertain the causes of constipation. These herbs are not allowed for mechanical intestinal occlusions (tumors, intestinal torsions, volvulus, etc.).

Iris	Bindweed
Jalap	Globe flower	Common buckthorn
Alder buckthorn	Cascara sagrada	Rhubarb
Castor bean	Aloe	Safflower

Antidiarrheic Herbs

These herbs can stop diarrhea. Their action employs one or several of the following properties: astringent, absorbent, or adsorbent, intestinal antiseptic, or intestinal antispasmodic (which relaxes the muscles of the digestive tract).

Carrot		Vervain
Tea	Rhatany	Bistort
	Garlic
Bilberry	Horseweed	Nettle
Myrtle	Wild clover	Mullein
Catnip	Silverweed	Blackthorn
Winter savory	Colombo	Rock’s tea
Cassava	Black alder	Guanabana tree
Chestnut	Carob tree	Willowherb
Beech tree	Mouse-ear	Walnut
Loosestrife	Early purple orchid	Apple tree
Tormentil	Five-finger grass	Guava tree
Pomegranate	Burnet	Great burnet
Rowan	Bramble	Grapevine
Arbutus	Heather	Wild strawberry
Goldenrod	Lady’s mantle
Rose	Sage	White willow
Hound’s tongue	Prickly pear	Elm tree
Black poplar		Garden raspberry
Thyme

Laxative Herbs

These herbs ease the evacuation of feces by increasing their water, stimulating the intestine’s peristaltic activity (contractions), or increasing bile secretion. Unlike chemically synthesized laxative substances, which exert an irritant action on the intestinal wall, these laxative plants do not provoke residual colitis as a side effect.

Cactus	Olive tree	Alfalfa
Irish moss		Barberry
Hemp agrimony	Fumitory	Boldo
Female fern	Dandelion	Papaya tree
Chicory
Bladder senna	Flax	High mallow
Apple tree	Psyllium	Purslane
Patience dock	Tamarind	Wild strawberry
Cherry tree	Pumpkin	Mugwort
Shepherd’s purse	Asparagus
Fig tree	Pansy	Garden raspberry
Black elder

The laxative effect of plants is basically due to three mechanisms:

• An increase in the amount of water that feces contain makes them more voluminous and softer. These are hydrophilic laxative substances whose most crucial active component is mucilage (as in the case of flax, plantain, high mallow, pansy, and psyllium).
• By stimulating peristaltic activity (contractions). The most important active components of these plants are anachronic glycosides. When taken in high doses, they act as purgative (as in the case of tinnevelly senna, purging cassia, alder buckthorn).
• By provoking the emptying of the gall bladder (cholagogue action). The bile flows into the small intestine (duodenum), which is most needed for digestion. In high amounts, bile has a laxative effect (as in the case of dandelion, boldo, fumitory).

The beech tree provides the desired wood due to its charcoal, antidiarrheic, and antitoxin action.

Flaxseeds are one of the most effective and safe laxative substances known.

Some medicinal herbs are very effective as laxatives and astringents. Others, such as apples, normalize the passage through the intestines.

DISCLAIMER: All content on this website is presented solely for educational and informational objectives. Do not rely on the information provided as a replacement for advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified medical expert. If you are pregnant, nursing, or have any preexisting medical concerns, talk to your doctor before using any herbal or natural medicines.

REFERENCES

1. George D. Pamplona-Roger, M.D. “Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants.” George D. Pamplona-Roger, M.D. Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. Ed. Francesc X. Gelabert. vols. 2 San Fernando de Henares: Editorial Safeliz, 2000. 476, 477, 480, 481, 484. Print. [herbs for intestinal health]
2. https://www.rupahealth.com/post/top-10-herbs-for-intestinal-inflammation
3. https://www.eatingwell.com/article/8047957/best-spices-for-gut-inflammation/

Last update on 2025-04-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API