Maintaining a healthy gut is vital for overall body wellness. Conditions like bloating, flatulence, and nausea can significantly disrupt our daily balance. These symptoms often signal irregularities in gut homeostasis, caused by various factors such as an imbalanced diet, stress, or disruptions in the intestinal microbiota.
Bloating, typically associated with feelings of abdominal distension and discomfort, can arise from ineffective digestion, often accompanied by flatulence and gas accumulation in the intestines. The latter may result from the body’s inability to digest certain foods, leading to excessive gas production during the digestive process. Conversely, nausea might arise from intestinal irritations or irregularities in the digestive tract. [1]
Thankfully, plant extracts such as lemon balm and fennel have demonstrated beneficial properties for gut health. Lemon balm, also known as “melissa officinalis”, is valued for its calming and antispasmodic properties. Its extracts have shown the ability to reduce intestinal cramps and aid digestion, helping to alleviate bloating and flatulence.
A study evaluated the Lemon Balm extract’s capacity to reduce spontaneous contractions in intestinal tracts of mice. [2] These contractions are similar to those occurring in our intestines, which slow down and impede transit and cause intestinal discomfort and pain.
The graph below [Fig 1] illustrates a notable reduction in spontaneous contractions in different mouse intestinal tracts following treatment with the lemon balm extract compared to the control group (untreated).
Figure 1: Reduction in the frequency of contractions in different mouse intestinal tracts a) jejunum and b) ileum. The dashed line represents the group treated with Lemon Balm extract, while the solid line indicates the ethanol-treated group (control). The asterisk denotes significant differences between the two groups.
Similarly, fennel is renowned for its carminative and digestive properties. Fennel extracts have historically been used to alleviate gastrointestinal disorders, thanks to compounds like anethole, which helps reduce intestinal gas and promote intestinal motility.
Scientific research has delved deeper into these herbal extracts. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has released reports highlighting the beneficial properties of lemon balm and fennel for gut health, confirming their efficacy in reducing gastrointestinal disorder symptoms. [3,4]
Several scientific studies have also investigated the positive effects of these extracts on gut regularity. Preliminary evidence suggests that regular intake of lemon balm and fennel extracts may contribute to improving intestinal functionality, reducing symptoms of bloating, flatulence, and nausea.
In conclusion, lemon balm and fennel extracts represent a natural and promising option for enhancing gut health. Scientific evidence and regulatory authority reports confirm their beneficial potential, offering natural support for those seeking to maintain optimal gut balance and reduce discomfort associated with gastrointestinal disorders.
Bibliography
1. Lacy BE, Cangemi D, Vazquez-Roque M. Management of Chronic Abdominal Distension and Bloating. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2021 Feb;19(2):219-231.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2020.03.056. Epub 2020 Apr 1. PMID: 32246999.
2. Aubert P, Guinobert I, Blondeau C, Bardot V, Ripoche I, Chalard P, Neunlist M. Basal and Spasmolytic Effects of a Hydroethanolic Leaf Extract of Melissa officinalis L. on Intestinal Motility: An Ex Vivo Study. J Med Food. 2019 Jul;22(7):653-662. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2018.0154. Epub 2019 Apr 16. PMID: 30990736; PMCID: PMC6653806.
3. Assessment report on Melissa officinalis L., folium – EMA
4. Assessment report on Foeniculum vulgare Miller subsp. vulgare var. vulgare and Foeniculum vulgare Miller subsp. vulgare var. dulce (Mill.) Batt. & Trab., fructus – EMA
