Summary

see also diarrhea, diverticulitis, dysentery, food poisoning, gastroenteritis, heartburn, morning sickness, stomach flu.

An “upset stomach” is a common symptom for a number of problems. The discomfort can stem from a food source, possibly a virus, or even a stress or nervous situation. Addressing the symptom in many situations will relax and relieve the person enough that they can be comfortable while the body does its natural work of dealing with the underlying problem. In the case of a virus, essential oils are very good antiviral agents and can be used to that end. During those periods when viral infections are being spread among school children and the work place it is good to use the essential oils precautions described under cold and flu, to limit exposure to the common viruses. If someone has a viral infection, taking diluted essential oils like Cinnamon and Oregano in capsule form can be very effective.

Oils, blends & products recommended:

Oils & Blends:  DigestZen^C, Fennel^E, Ginger^EC, Peppermint^EC

Essential oils based products: TerraZyme

Also consider: Basil^EC, Coriander^EC, Cinnamon^E, Eucalyptus^E, Frankincense^EC, Grapefruit^C, Lavender^EC, Marjoram^EC, Myrrh^EC, Roman Chamomile^EC, Rosemary^EC, Thyme^C, Wild Orange^C

Note: to understand the E and C superscript go to Home and scroll to New Helps.

Suggested protocols:

Constipation, Diarrhea, Upset Stomach - 1 - 5 drops of DigestZen.  Ginger, Fennel, or Peppermint can be applied in a similar way if DigestZen is not available.  Consider any of the following application techniques:

•  Take internally with water, juice, or a teaspoon of honey or agave. 

•  Add oil or blend to a capsule,

•  Rub on the abdomen, or for children and those more sensitive rub on the tummy with a carrier oil. 

•  For small infants or very sensitive skin apply to the bottoms of the feet.

Repeat as soon as 10 - 15 minutes if no relief is experienced from the initial application.

Motion Sickness, Nervous Stomach - The same applications are very effective for some such as travelers who suffer from motion sickness, people who tend to get a “nervous stomach” before a public presentation, or other nervous stomach situations.  Also consider one of these following procedures an hour or so before or during the occasion:

•  Use 3-5 drops of Peppermint and/or Ginger or DigestZen in a tissue cup or inhaler and breathe it occasionally to help settle the stomach.

Chronic Indigestion - Add Fennel to the regular use of the TerraZyme supplement for a gentle way to help indigestion. Simply add 2 - 3 drops of Fennel to a glass of water and drink daily in addition to the regular use of TerraZyme.

 

Experiences and Testimonials of others

See Especially for Kids tab also.

Submissions directly to  EverythingEssential.me.  Our thanks to:

       Kathryn
       mydoterra.com/essentiallywell
       chicabee@skymesh.com.au 

Kathryn - I have a friend 'Dani', who has a lot of intestinal problems which cause her much pain and discomfort. A couple of months ago I gave her a small vial of DigestZen and told her to try a drop in water when she felt she needed it. The next time I saw her she told me it repeated on her and she wouldn’t take it as she did not like the taste so I thought well that’s that although I did say she could try rubbing a drop on her tummy.

I have not spoken to her about this again until today. I was talking to another friend today about how I used some DigestZen on my tummy for a 'windy belly' and Dani overheard me and exclaimed 'isn’t it amazing how it works.’ I turned to her and asked if she had been using it and she said only when she is in pain and only one drop, rubbed on her tummy, and in a short time she could feel and even hear it starting to work. She loves it!!! She has tried many things with no success till now. I just love these oils and was so excited I had to share.

 

Denise - I travel for a living and get motion sick every time. So I'm taking Lavender with me to help me get off Dramamine.

Rob - Ginger is also great for motion sickness.  Internal, behind the ears or topically on the stomach and cup and inhale.

Pat - You can use Peppermint and/or DigestZen for nausea.

 

Editor's comment - Some comments on stomachaches.

April - My sister-in-law has Celiac disease so she can't eat wheat products, among other things. She came and had some crackers and a Peppermint brownie which of course she knew she was being naughty and she knew she would later pay the price with a terrible stomach ache. When she started to feel it, I gave her some DigestZen in a little water for her to drink. She was grabbing at her stomach still and in quite a bit of pain, so I gave her some more (a little stronger this time). Within about 10 minutes she didn't even have a stomach ache anymore! Now I told her that does not excuse her from eating like she's supposed to, but isn't it great that she has something that will make the pain subside if she accidentally eats something she's not supposed to eat? Nothing she had ever taken before had helped her stomachaches, so I know DigestZen is a miracle in itself!

Brooke - Just the other night, I must have eaten something that my stomach didn't appreciate, I woke up at 2:30 with the worst cramping in my abdomen ever!  I suffered for 30 minutes trying to figure out what to do...I wasn't at home, but remembered I had a few oils with me and I found my purse, and looked through what I had grabbed from home.  I about yelled out loud as soon as I saw DigestZen!  I rubbed it all over my abdomen and put a few drops under my tongue and it took almost 30 minutes for the pain to subside (that's how bad it was!) - but it did! And I slept like a baby the rest of the night!  What a blessing!

Debbie - That's a great testimonial Brooke.  Reminds me of when I was once doubled over literally in stomach pain and grabbed the Oregano.  Put only one drop in my mouth.  Of course I felt it all the way down but literally the cramps were gone as fast as I swallowed the drop. Last night I had stomach cramps off and on but this time I just put a bunch of Oregano, Melaleuca and Lemon in a capsule! Woke up feeling fine.  What's amazing is that so many different oils can work for the same problems.  I really do feel that these oils just somehow do what they need to do!

Protocols folks recommend for children

Mara - I have a (just barely) 1 year old who has just started showing serious sensitivity to dairy products. She started having serious diarrhea and bad rashes.  She tested a 10 for goats milk, which made her severely constipated for a week, then we switched to soy, and now she is back with the diarrhea. I tried DigestZen in bottles of Pedialite for her, but still the symptoms persist. What other oils can help the diarrhea to stop, so that we can begin again at ground zero to find what works for her.

Wendy - I would not have an infant drink DigestZen.  I would use a carrier and put it directly on her abdomen, rubbing clockwise.  You could also put it on her feet... right on the arch.  Also apply Frankincense on both places.  There are many underlying problems that might be the problem, and it may take some trial and error of not only foods but essential oils.

Jan - These symptoms are consistent with Candida and/or inadequate digestive enzymes. For adults, we know the Oregano, Melaleuca, and Lemon capsules are fantastic in dealing with Candida. Obviously capsules wouldn't work in this case. Perhaps a drop of that blend on the bottom of the baby's feet a few times a day would be helpful. Even with application to the soles of the feet, I would use a coconut oil carrier. I would also put socks or shoes on after application to prevent transfer of the oils to the eyes. Lifelong Wellness VM contains digestive enzymes. If it were my child, I would mix part or all of the contents of a capsule in food and include foods high in digestive enzymes.

Kathy - I am a big proponent of Organic Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO).  Do a little online research of VCO and babies milk, you'll be surprised how many recipes, studies, and testimonials there are about how VCO can help a babies diet. I would not hesitate to add VCO to a baby's diet. I have seen it help diarrhea, constipation, thrush, Candida, and other rashes.  Probably the majority of rashes are not contact rashes, but have an internal cause.  With the digestive problem you baby is having, I would guess that her rash problems could be more internal.

If you feel comfortable trying VCO. That is what I would do.  The oils mentioned above are good and can be a powerful help for an infant also.  If things don't get better take her to a good pediatrician.

 

Editor's note - Another experience with a stomachache.

Ramona - I just have to share a quick story that happened last night. I was awakened at about 4 am by my 8-year-old daughter who was sick to her stomach and soon after threw up.  I don't know about the rest of you, but for me, this is probably one of the most unpleasant things to be awakened to, especially with 6 kids and the thought of a bug passing through everyone.  And personally, I hate throwing up!

As soon as I was lucid enough, I grabbed my DigestZen and rubbed it onto her tummy, her hands, etc.  Within seconds, she stopped throwing up and said she felt a bit better.  We sent her back to bed, and just for my own peace of mind, I rubbed DigestZen all over my hands and feet!

About 10 minutes later she was back, feeling sick again, we rubbed some more on her, set up the diffuser next to her bed and put DigestZen in it.  We didn't hear from her again.  Not only that, but this morning, she woke up feeling perfectly fine.  She ate a normal breakfast and headed off to school.  I am completely amazed, yet again, by the power of these oils!

Ron, Dean and Michael were on a trip to a convention in San Diego.  Dean and Michael were both from the same city and used essential oils, but they were not ‘big” users.  Their wives were much more into them than they were.  Ron on the other hand was as much into the oils as his wife, and he carried them with him wherever he went.

After a long day of meetings, Ron, Dean and Michael decided to get a late dinner.  San Diego had a great choice of cuisine, and it didn’t take long for them to find what was obviously a popular Mexican grill restaurant. 

Soon the table was filled with chili rellenos, enchiladas, fajitas, chimichangas, tacos and chips.  The plates were cleaned off just in time for sopapillas, fried ice cream, and tres leshes.  

The three made their way back to the car and found their seats with moans and groans.  The suffering continued in the hotel room.  They all found spots on the beds, and laid on their backs, rubbed their bloated stomachs, grunting and moaning.

“I can’t believe we ate the whole thing!”  Ron moaned.  Dave chucked but it made him think about Pepto-Bismol and indigestion. 

Ron finally rolled off the bed and grabbed his oils bag from his brief case.  He pulled out his DigestZen and Peppermint oils.  He grabbed three glass cups from near the sink and filled them with about a 1/2 inch of water.

“Ok guys!  It’s time to prove our wives right or wrong,” Ron announced.

Dave looked over.  “That can’t help us because we ate too much.”

”My wife say’s that DigestZen and Peppermint will help with digestion,”  Ron said as he put three drops of DigestZen in each cup.

He then put 2 drops of Peppermint with the DigestZen.  He was only doing it because he had seen his wife do the same thing.  She had also seen her use DigestZen and Peppermint alone and separate.

Ron handed the cups to Michael and Dave.  Dave drank the serum down quickly. 

“NO WAY!”  Michael said after a whiff of the cocktail.   “I can’t get that down.”  Ron threw the bottle of DigestZen toward Michael.

“Rub some drops on your stomach then.”  Ron announced.

Michael murmured as he placed a few drops on his stomach.

“Rub the drops clockwise from your belly button.”  Ron instructed.

Michael began rubbing in a circle around the center of his belly button, gradually working into bigger circles.

Ron also drank down his oils.  He then turned on the television and the room grew quiet except for the TV.

It was about 5 or 10 minutes later that Ron realized that bloating, stuffed almost achy feeling in his stomach was much better.  He grabbed Michael’s unused glass and drank it.

“Dave… how are you feeling?”  Dave put his hand over his stomach and looked toward the wall next to him.;  “hmmm… that’s weird.  I think I feel better.   Way better!”

Ron looked over toward Michael.  He was sound asleep.

After 10 more minutes, the stuffed feelings Ron had been feeling were completely gone.   He put the oil bottles back in his bag, with a little thankful smile, and crawled into bed.

(based on an actual experience with 3 guys)

Diet and Nutritional complements to essential oils

 

What Science & Research are saying

Should nursing take aromatherapy more seriously?

British Journal of Nursing, 16, (2), 116-120. Buckle, J. (2007).

This article discusses the expansion of aromatherapy within the U.S. and follows 10 years of developing protocol and policies that led to pilot studies on radiation burns, chemo-induced nausea, slow-healing wounds, Alzheimers and end-of-life agitation. This article outlines pilot studies, carried out in the U.S. by nurses, that subsequently led to the integration of aromatherapy in hospitals.

 

Benefit of dietary integrators for treating functional dyspepsia: a prospective pilot study.

Minerva Gastroenterol Dietol. 2009 Sep;55(3):227-35.  Pellicano R, Strona S, Simondi D, Reggiani S, Pallavicino F, Sguazzini C, Bonagura AG, Rizzetto M, Astegiano M.  University Department of Gastro-Hepathology, Molinette Hospital, Turin, Italy.

Abstract

AIM:

Because of the multifactorial pathogenesis of functional dyspepsia, strategies alternative to antacid therapy are being sought for treating the disorder. This prospective study evaluated the benefit of treatment with a dietary integrator composed of sodium alginate, sodium bicarbonate, bromelin and essential oils.

METHODS:

The study population included 53 consecutive patients (22 males, 31 females; mean age, 54+/-2.5 years) with functional dyspepsia and negative for Helicobacter pylori infection. The patients were categorized into four subgroups according to predominant symptom: ulcer-like dyspepsia, motility-like dyspepsia, reflux-like dyspepsia, and nonspecific dyspepsia. All received TUBES gastro (0.80 g oral tablets bid) for a minimum of 3 months (range, 3-11). Treatment efficacy was measured by means of a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).

RESULTS:

Two patients were lost to follow-up; of the remaining 51 patients who completed the study, 35 (68%) showed an improvement in VAS score. The difference in scores between the initial and the final visit was -1.9+/-2.1 cm (range, -6 to +3), or 23.8+/-40.8% (range, -150% to 100%) compared to the scores at the baseline visit (P=0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS:

The study results indicate that in the short term TUBES gastro can significantly improve dyspeptic symptoms in dyspeptic patients negative for H. pylori infection through the synergistic action of its components: alginate buffers gastric acid; bicarbonate helps to eliminate gas and rebalance pH; essential oils regulate motility; and bromelin stimulates enzymatic activity.

 

Herbal remedies for dyspepsia: Peppermint seems effective.

Prescrire Int. 2008 Jun;17(95):121-3. [No authors listed]

Abstract

(1) Functional dyspepsia is extremely common, yet few if any treatments have been shown to be effective. This review examines the potential benefits and risks of using herbal products in treating symptoms of dyspepsia. (2) About forty plants have been approved in France in the composition of products traditionally used for dyspepsia. (3) The clinical efficacy of most of these plants has not been assessed. Some essential oils can cause severe adverse effects, including seizures. Herbal teas appear to be safe when used appropriately. (4) A few randomised controlled clinical trials suggest that Peppermint essential oil is effective in reducing abdominal pain, flatulence and diarrhea in patients with "irritable bowel syndrome". Peppermint tea, containing essential oil, has no known adverse effects. (5) There is no sound reason to discourage patients from using herbal teas made from plants such as Lemon balm, German Chamomile or star anise.