Supplements are a bit controversial. Some people love taking natural herbs, minerals and vitamins while others can’t stand the idea of swallowing a pill.
The best way to get nutrients is through food but sometimes the body needs extra support in times of stress, depletion or malabsorption.
Most of the vitamins we take in pill form are synthetic, manufactured in labs and binded with additives like glycerin or protected with preservatives. Some supplements may even contain gluten so it is very important to read labels.
I believe the body has the natural ability to heal itself if you provide the right environment (whole food, positive thoughts and lots of rest). But when the body needs a little extra help, supplements may help speed up the healing process.
I’ve had a lot of experience with taking supplements. While healing my digestion, my nutritionist prescribed an average of 60 pills a day.
This is excessive by anyone’s standards (perhaps bordering on insane?) but at the end of the year I had a new balanced digestive system, no more food allergies and never a relapse.
And when I was taking those pills, people often told me my skin glowed.
Those supplements were strategically used to detoxify my liver, balance my hormones, remineralize my body and chelate heavy metals.
I don’t think that healing comes in a pill form. My diet and lifestyle played a big role in my recovery. But sometimes we can all use just a little help. Not 60 pills a day, but a few well needed herbs or tea to get our energy aligned with the healing process.
Here is a snapshot of some of the pills I took regularly to heal myself and the ones I use today.
What I used to take….
For the liver
Chlorella: When I was healing I took chlorella every day for a year to support and detoxify my liver.
It’s an highly nutritious algae, packed with protein, minerals and vitamins.The liver is cleansed by green bitter foods and chlorella is about as green and bitter as they come. I swallowed it in pill form so I didn’t taste the bitterness.
Dandelion tea: This tea is an amazing for detoxifying the liver. While dandelion greens are bitter, the tea is mild and earthy. A detoxified liver improves metabolism (weight loss), elimination (constipation) and makes skin glow.
To mineralize the body
Seaweed capsules: I also took seaweed capsules daily to replace the depleted mineral levels in my body. People with IBS are typically very low in essential minerals and seaweed is one of the best sources. Particularly, seaweed is packed with iodine, which is essential for healthy thyroid function.
Eating more seaweed, like nori wrapped veggies, wakame salad or powdered kelp sprinkled on food is another way to add minerals.
As a relaxant and natural laxative
Magnesium citrate: Magnesium is nature’s laxative. Not only will it help you go to the bathroom but it’s a great muscle relaxant, will promote sound sleep and tame anxiety.
Many women crave magnesium before their monthly cycle and find it in sources like chocolate. Taking magnesium citrate may ease PMS-related constipation and irritability.
To balance my hormones
Chaste Tree Berry (also called Vitex): This herb has been used since ancient times to balance hormones and the reproductive system. Particularly to relieve PMS. However, it needs to be taken daily to produce it’s balancing effect on female hormones.
A well functioning and detoxified liver also has a big effect on balancing estrogen levels because the liver processes excess estrogen and sweeps it out of the body via the bowel.
If the liver is sluggish and toxic, excess estrogen will recirculate through the body, which can lead to estrogen dominance and symptoms of PMS.
For inflammation and vitamin D…
Cod Liver oil: Fish oil is famous for taming inflammation and cod liver oil not only tames inflammation but is also a wonderful source of vitamin D.
Vitamin D is fat soluble so cod liver oil is a great delivery system for this crucial vitamin. Lack of vitamin D can cause depression and digestive issues.
As natural antibiotic to fight infections …
Oregano oil: This is nature’s strongest antibiotic. Oregano oil kills the bad bags in the belly without decimating your system like antibiotics can.
This is wonderful for people who want to naturally fight candida or other intestinal infections without using antibiotics. It is important to start slowly with this oil because the detox reaction can be intense. This stuff works too well.
What I take Now ….
To help me sleep
Melatonin: Melatonin is my favorite natural sleep aid. I have been reading lately about how artificial blue light from TV, computers and smart phones can disrupt the body’s ability to produce it’s own melatonin, a natural sleep hormone.
My husband and I like to watch movies at night before bed and when my nervous system is too jacked up from a movie or late night computer use, melatonin is a natural fix.
I also use it to recover quickly from jet lag. It helps me sleep on airplanes and my body adjusts to the time change faster. It also helps me sleep when my mind is racing and my body is wired.
For adrenal support
Holy Basil (also called Tulsi): This is an adaptogenic herb, which means it supports the body’s ability to deal with stress. It helps tame inflammation as well a lowering blood sugar and cortisol levels. This herb is supportive to the adrenal cortex which manufactures cortisol.
Cortisol is a hormone responsible for regulating energy production, blood sugar, immune function and speed of healing/recovery.
To keep my hormones balanced
Because I no longer have terrible PMS I don’t use Vitex and prefer these herbs to balance my hormones, but don’t use them on a daily basis.
Raspberry Leaf Tea: This tea is full of vitamins like A, B complex, C, D and E. It is also full of minerals like calcium; manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, silicon and sulfur.
This tea eases emotional symptoms of PMS and cramps and also can help relieve stress and anxiety because it contains B complex vitamins.
It is also eases nausea, stomach aches, diarrhea and helps regulate blood sugar. And pregnant woman use it to reduce morning sickness and prevent miscarriage. This tea has helped clients tame hormonal disturbances as they get off the birth control pill.
Maca: This herb has been used since ancient times to balance hormones, boost libido, fertility and natural energy. It supports the thyroid and the adrenals and helps balance sugar cravings. I put maca powder into my smoothies.
For stress relief:
Siberian Rhodiola Rosea: This is also an adaptogenic herb. It helps tone and balance the body’s fight or flight response (sympathetic nervous system). It also can uplift mood by increasing serotonin production.
Other benefits: It helps in weight loss, improves memory and boosts the immune system.
Lavendar essential oil or Lavendar tea: Lavendar is known for it’s calming effects. And my favorite way to use this oil is in my bath, sprinkled on my eye pillow or dabbed on my wrist. Sometimes I just open up the container and take a sniff. It is such a pleasant way to calm down.
Another way to use lavendar is in a tea. Simply steep some lavendar leaves in hot water, strain and drink. Mix with skullcap tea for an extremely powerful insomnia buster.
The best probiotic for digestive healing:
I didn’t take probiotics during my year of healing IBS. I ate lots of yogurt, sauerkraut and drank kombucha.
But I am most commonly asked about my favorite brand of probiotic supplements…
The probiotic I recommend for digestive healing has produced great results for friends and in clinical trials.
The probiotic is called Mutaflor. According the to the website, “Mutaflor is indicated to normalize stool frequency and consistency in diarrhea and constipation and to reduce abdominal pain and cramping.” Metaflor is not sold in the U.S. but can be ordered online from Canada.
I recommend this probiotic because I’ve heard and read very good things about it, though I have not tried it personally. My friend was able to heal inflammatory bowel disease using Mutaflor (along with other natural treatments). Mutaflor has also been shown to help people with IBS.
Two of the best brands that have been recommended to me by other digestive health experts is Natren’s Healthy Trinity probiotics ( a combination of three strong strains) and Udo’s adult probiotic blend, because they are guaranteed to be gluten-free.
Spices with medicinal properties
These spices multitask as flavor enhancers and also have healing properties.
Cinnamon: This yummy spice has been used throughout history to improve digestion and has gained popularity for it’s ability to regulate blood sugar.
Cardamom: This sweet Indian spice is a great source of iron, potassium, magnesium and manganese and has been used historically to ease nausea and settle the stomach. You can try it on the same foods that call for cinnamon. If you haven’t tasted this spice you’re missing out. Truly one of my favorites.
Tumeric: The benefits of this savory spice is too many to name. If you want to read about the 20 health benefits of tumeric then check out this article. Some highlights: It’s anti inflammatory and antibacterial and guards against cancer and Alzheimer’s. Tumeric is used to spice curry dishes.
What are some of your favorite medicinal herbs, spices or supplements? Please share below…
Angela Privin is proof that IBS is NOT an incurable disease or a disease at all. IBS is a body out of balance. It’s an invitation for change. After solving her own IBS mystery more than a decade ago Angela trained as a health coach to help others.
Angela uses both science and intuition to help people figure out what’s out of balance in their body. She works with lab tests, dietary changes, supplementation and nervous system rebalancing. Get help rebalancing your digestive system and solving your IBS mystery here.
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