Recipes & herbs for Digestion

Turmeric

Earthy, slightly bitter, mustard-yellow

Active: curcumin

0.5–2 tsp powdered (1–3 g curcumin equivalent)

Ginger

Warm, peppery, sweet-spicy, fresh

Active: gingerol

1–2 tsp fresh grated, or 250–500 mg dried extract

Cinnamon

Sweet, warm, woody

Active: cinnamaldehyde

0.5–1 tsp (Ceylon preferred over Cassia for daily use)

Black Pepper

Sharp, pungent, slightly citrus

Active: piperine

Pinch (1/4 tsp) per meal

Thyme

Earthy, slightly minty, lemon undertone

Active: thymol

1–2 tsp fresh, or 1/2 tsp dried

Cumin

Earthy, warm, slightly bitter, smoky

Active: cuminaldehyde

1–2 tsp daily

Cardamom

Floral, citrus, eucalyptus, slightly sweet

Active: cineole

5–10 pods, or 1/2 tsp ground

Fennel

Sweet anise, mild licorice

Active: anethole

1 tsp seeds, or 1 cup raw bulb

Basil

Sweet, peppery, anise, clove

Active: eugenol

1 cup loose leaves fresh

Peppermint

Cool, sharp, sweet menthol

Active: menthol

1 cup tea, or 1 tbsp fresh leaf

Chamomile

Apple-like, slightly floral, mild

Active: apigenin

1–3 cups tea daily

Lemongrass

Bright lemon-citrus, slightly grassy

Active: citral

1 stalk fresh per meal, or 1 tsp dried in tea

Clove

Intensely warm, pungent, slightly sweet

Active: eugenol

2–4 whole cloves, or 1/4 tsp ground

Apple Cider Vinegar

Sharp, sour, slightly sweet

Active: acetic acid

1–2 tbsp diluted in water before meals

Miso

Deep umami, salty, slightly sweet

Active: probiotics

1–2 tbsp daily

Sauerkraut

Tangy, salty, slightly sweet

Active: lactobacillus

2–4 tbsp daily