Why use Essential Oils for digestion?
Bloating, intestinal gas, stomach cramps, nausea, acid reflux or sluggish digestion: digestive discomfort affects a large portion of the population and can significantly impact daily life. Essential Oils offer a natural solution for lasting digestive comfort. Thanks to their antispasmodic, carminative and tonic properties, they act on the different mechanisms of digestion and help soothe the discomforts of the digestive system.
Whether you are looking for an Essential Oil for occasional stomach pain or a more comprehensive approach to improve your transit, aromatherapy offers a range of solutions for digestion and transit suited to every situation. In this guide, discover the 12 most effective Essential Oils for digestion, how to use them and our synergies for each digestive issue.
The 12 Essential Oils that ease digestion
Here are 12 Essential Oils from our Essential Oils range that can support you with most digestive troubles, relieve pain and improve comfort after meals.
Peppermint Essential Oil
Peppermint Essential Oil is arguably the most renowned for digestion. Its antispasmodic, anti-nausea and analgesic properties make it a valuable ally for relieving stomach aches, stomach cramps, bloating, nausea, vomiting, indigestion, motion sickness and the aftermath of heavy meals.
How to use:
- Oral use: 1 to 2 drops in a spoonful of honey or on a cane sugar cube.
- Topical use: 1 to 2 drops in a Vegetable Oil (VO) applied to the stomach area with gentle massage, or on the forehead after excessive meals.
- Inhalation: directly from the bottle in case of nausea.
Contraindications: not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women, people with epilepsy and children under 6 years old.
Lemon Essence (zest)
The toning, carminative and purifying properties of Lemon Essence, extracted from the zest of the fruit, stimulate the digestive system, facilitate the elimination of intestinal gas and help relieve gastric acidity, heartburn, bloating and abdominal pain.
How to use:
- Oral use: 2 drops, 3 times a day, in honey, olive oil or on a cane sugar cube, under the tongue.
- Topical use: 2 drops mixed with 2 drops of hazelnut VO, applied locally, twice a day.
Contraindications: not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women and children under 6 years old. May cause skin irritation if used undiluted. Avoid any application before sun exposure (photosensitising).
Tangerine Essence
Tangerine Essence has digestive tonic, carminative and mild laxative properties, making it an excellent choice for dyspepsia, aerophagia and constipation.
How to use:
- Oral use: 2 drops of Tangerine Essence, 3 times a day, in a little honey, olive oil or on a cane sugar cube, under the tongue.
- Topical use: 3 to 4 drops mixed with 3 to 4 drops of VO, rubbed on the inner wrists or solar plexus, 3 times a day.
Contraindications: not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women and children under 6 years old. Do not apply before sun exposure (photosensitising). May cause skin irritation if used undiluted.
Ginger Essential Oil
Ginger Essential Oil has tonic, digestive, carminative and stomachic properties, making it an excellent support for dyspepsia, flatulence, indigestion, loss of appetite and constipation. It is also recognised for its effectiveness against nausea and vomiting.
How to use:
- Oral use: 1 to 2 drops in honey, 3 times a day, for intestinal gas, nausea and dyspepsia.
- Topical use: 3 to 4 drops mixed with 4 drops of VO, massaged onto the abdomen to relieve constipation.
Contraindications: not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women and children under 6 years old. May cause skin irritation if used undiluted.
Exotic Basil Essential Oil
Exotic Basil Essential Oil has toning, stimulating, anti-inflammatory and anti-infectious properties. It helps relieve bloating, colitis and gastroenteritis, while soothing the symptoms of sluggish digestion and calming intestinal inflammation.
How to use:
- Oral use: 1 to 2 drops on honey or Vegetable Oil, 3 times a day.
- Topical use: 3 to 4 drops of EO mixed with 3 to 4 drops of a VO, then massage the stomach area.
Contraindications: not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women and children under 6 years old.
Fennel Essential Oil
Fennel Essential Oil is recognised for its antispasmodic, stomachic and carminative properties, making it particularly beneficial for various digestive and hepatic disorders.
How to use:
- Oral use: 2 drops in a little honey or apricot kernel Vegetable Oil, 3 times a day.
- Topical use: 4 drops mixed with 4 drops of apricot kernel Vegetable Oil, applied 3 times a day.
Contraindications: not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women and children under 6 years old.
Caraway Essential Oil
Caraway Essential Oil has stimulating, carminative and cholagogue properties: it stimulates digestion and helps expel gas. It is particularly effective for relieving flatulence, belching, bloating and intestinal and stomach cramps.
How to use:
- Oral use: 2 drops on a neutral support (honey or Vegetable Oil), 3 times a day.
- Topical use: 3 to 4 drops mixed with a VO, massaged onto the stomach area, 3 to 4 times a day if needed.
Contraindications: not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women and children under 6 years old.
Coriander Essential Oil
Coriander Essential Oil is renowned for its benefits on digestive disorders. Its antibacterial, antiviral and antiparasitic properties make it very useful for relieving bloating, gas, indigestion and gastritis.
How to use:
- Oral use: 2 drops, 3 to 4 times a day, in honey, olive oil or on a piece of cane sugar, under the tongue.
- Topical use: 4 drops of EO mixed with 4 drops of hazelnut Vegetable Oil, massaged onto the stomach.
Contraindications: not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women and children under 6 years old.
Tarragon Essential Oil
Tarragon Essential Oil has antispasmodic and carminative properties that help relieve bloating, gastrointestinal spasms and gas. It is also valued for its ability to calm intestinal fermentation.
How to use:
- Oral use: 1 to 2 drops on a neutral support (honey, Vegetable Oil or cane sugar), 2 to 3 times a day.
- Topical use: 2 to 3 drops mixed with a VO, massaged onto the stomach, 2 to 3 times a day if needed.
Contraindications: not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women and children under 6 years old.
Cardamom Essential Oil
Cardamom Essential Oil is carminative and has antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory and soothing properties. It is effective against bloating, aerophagia, fermentation and gastrointestinal spasms. It supports digestion by reducing gas formation and facilitating its elimination.
How to use:
- Oral use: 2 drops in honey, Vegetable Oil or on a neutral support, 3 times a day.
- Topical use: 4 drops mixed with 4 drops of VO, massaged onto the stomach in a clockwise motion, 3 to 4 times a day.
Contraindications: not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women and children under 6 years old.
Cumin Essential Oil
Cumin Essential Oil is essential for any digestive issue. Its eupeptic, carminative and calming properties make it an excellent natural solution for dyspepsia, colitis, flatulence, constipation and aerophagia.
How to use:
- Oral use: 2 drops on a neutral support (honey, Vegetable Oil or under the tongue), 2 to 3 times a day.
- Topical use: 3 drops mixed with 7 drops of a VO, massaged onto the abdomen in a clockwise motion, up to 3 times a day.
Contraindications: not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women and children under 6 years old. May cause skin irritation when used undiluted (dermocaustic). Always dilute for topical use.
For everyday digestive comfort, Oleocaps+ 3 BIO from Pranarôm, formulated with Essential Oils of Peppermint, Cardamom, Ginger, Chinese Cinnamon, Caraway and Lemon, has been specially designed to support you with digestive troubles, to prevent the effects of heavy meals and motion sickness. Find this product and the full Oleocaps+ range on our website.
Chinese Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil
Chinese Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil is a powerful digestive support. Its antibacterial, antifungal and antiparasitic properties make it effective against intestinal parasites and other gastrointestinal discomforts.
How to use:
- Oral use: 1 drop mixed with 10 drops of hazelnut Vegetable Oil, up to 4 times a day for bacterial and parasitic infections.
- Topical use: 1 drop diluted in a VO applied to the stomach, with caution as it can be irritating.
Contraindications: not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women and children under 6 years old. Do not use without professional advice. May cause skin irritation when used undiluted, always dilute.
Essential Oil synergies for digestive discomfort
Here are our recipes for specific digestive issues. These Essential Oil synergies harness the complementarity of several active ingredients for more comprehensive results. For the Vegetable Oil, we have chosen Macadamia oil which suits all preparations.
Essential Oils to relieve stomach aches, colic or cramps
A soothing synergy to massage in case of discomfort (bloating...)
- 50 drops of Tangerine Essence
- 50 drops of Ginger Essential Oil
- 100 drops of Macadamia Vegetable Oil
- A pipette bottle
Topically, apply 12 drops to the stomach and massage 3 to 4 times a day for 5 days.
Apply 3 to 4 drops and massage the stomach in a clockwise motion, 3 to 4 times a day.
Essential Oils for constipation
A massage synergy to support transit in case of sluggish bowels:
- 30 drops of Ginger Essential Oil
- 20 drops of Tangerine Essence
- 50 drops of Macadamia Vegetable Oil
Apply 6 to 8 drops to the stomach and massage 3 to 4 times a day, and/or 4 drops orally twice a day.
Essential Oils for slow digestion
A synergy to support transit and ease sluggish digestion:
- 20 drops of Coriander Essential Oil
- 15 drops of Fennel Essential Oil
- 15 drops of Peppermint Essential Oil
- 50 drops of Macadamia Vegetable Oil
Apply 12 drops to the stomach and massage 4 times a day, and 4 drops orally 3 to 4 times a day. For a complementary approach, also discover our detox and slimming solutions.
Essential Oils for nausea and motion sickness
The synergy that will quickly overcome nausea, motion sickness, indigestion or heaviness after a heavy meal. Always keep it close at hand.
- 2 drops of Peppermint Essential Oil
- 4 drops of Lemon Essence
- 2 drops of Ginger Essential Oil
- 1 inhaler stick
Add the drops to the inhaler stick. Breathe in whenever the need arises.
The Pranarôm choice
Our Pranarôm Laboratory, expert in aromatherapy for over 30 years, offers chemotyped Essential Oils that are 100% pure and organic. Choosing Pranarôm means opting for superior quality Essential Oils that guarantee maximum efficacy and purity to rebalance your digestion and regain natural digestive comfort.
Sources:
- Ma routine beaute naturelle et bio, Amyris Edition, 2022
- Do It YOURself aux Huiles Essentielles, Amyris Edition, 2020
- Huiles essentielles Chemotypees, Amyris Edition, Dominique Baudoux, 2019
- Aromatherapie tout simplement, Amyris Edition, 2019
Frequently asked questions about Essential Oils and digestion
What is the best Essential Oil for digestion?
Peppermint Essential Oil is considered the benchmark for digestion. Its antispasmodic and anti-nausea properties make it effective against a wide range of digestive troubles: bloating, stomach cramps, nausea and indigestion. For daily support, Oleocaps+ 3 BIO combines several digestive Essential Oils in a convenient capsule.
How to use Essential Oils for stomach aches?
Two approaches are possible. Topically, dilute 3 to 4 drops of Essential Oil (Ginger, Fennel or Exotic Basil) in a Vegetable Oil and massage the stomach in a clockwise motion. Orally, place 1 to 2 drops on a neutral support (honey, Vegetable Oil or cane sugar). In both cases, do not exceed 3 to 4 applications per day.
Can you take Essential Oils for digestion every day?
Daily use of Essential Oils for digestion is possible over short periods (7 to 10 days), provided the recommended dosages are respected. For prolonged use, food supplements based on Essential Oils such as the Oleocaps+ range offer a dosage suited to regular intake. In case of persistent digestive troubles, consult a healthcare professional.
Are Essential Oils for digestion suitable for children?
Most digestive Essential Oils are not recommended for children under 6 years old. Tangerine Essence and Cardamom Essential Oil are among the gentlest and may be considered from the age of 3, always diluted in a Vegetable Oil and for topical use only. Always seek the advice of a healthcare professional before any use on children.
