A Carminative, also known as carminativum (plural carminativa), is an herb or preparation intended to either prevent formation of gas in the gastrointestinal tract or facilitate the expulsion of said gas, thereby combatting flatulence.
Varieties:-
Carminatives are often mixtures of essential oils and herbal spices with a tradition in folk medicine for this use. Some examples for oils and spices with carminative actions are:
- Angelica
- Ajwain
- Anise seed
- Asafoetida
- Basil
- Calamus
- Caraway
- Cardamom
- Cinnamon
- Coriander
- Oregano
- Parsley
- Реpper
- Pennyroyal
- Peppermint
- Rosemary
- Saffron
- Sage
- Triphala
- Savory
- Spearmint
- Thyme
- Valerian
- Wintergreen
- Wormwood
Modern drugs used for the same purpose include simethicone, which simply lowers the surface tension of gas bubbles rather than having physiological effects.
About Gas: The presence of excessive amount of air or gases in the stomach or intestine, leading to distention of the organs.
Classification :-
Antifoaming agents
- Simethicone
Enzyme-based dietary supplements
- Beano
- Lactase (brand Lactaid)
- Marmite
Herbal antiflatulents
- Epazote is claimed to have antiflatulent properties.
- Asafoetida reduces the growth of indigenous microflora in the gut thereby reducing flatulence.
In detail :-
- Simethicone is an anti-foaming agent used as an Carminative, to reduce bloating, discomfort or pain caused by excessive gas.
- Beano is an enzyme-based dietary supplement that is used to reduce gas in the digestive tract, thereby improving digestion and reducing bloating, discomfort, and flatulence caused by gas.
It contains the enzyme alpha-galactosidase (a-GAL). It was introduced as a liquid, but that has been discontinued and it is now available only as tablets and strawberry-flavored “Meltaways”.
- Lactase is an enzyme produced by many organisms. It is located in the brush border of the small intestine of humans and other mammals.
Lactase is essential to the complete digestion of whole milk; it breaks down lactose, a sugar which gives milk its sweetness. Lacking lactase, a person consuming dairy products may experience the symptoms of lactose intolerance.
Lactase can be purchased as a food supplement, and is added to milk to produce “lactose-free” milk products.
- Dysphania ambrosioides, formerly Chenopodium ambrosioides, known as wormseed, Jesuit’s tea, Mexican-tea, epazote, mastruz, or herba sanctae Mariae, is an annual or short-lived perennial herb native to Central America, South America, and southern Mexico.
- Asafoetida is the dried latex (gum oleoresin) exuded from the rhizome or tap root of several species of Ferula (F. foetida and F. assa-foetida), perennial herbs growing 1 to 1.5 m (3.3 to 4.9 ft) tall. They are part of the celery family, Umbelliferae.
It is use to relieve stomach gas.
Preventing gas :
- Enzymes – Enzyme-based dietary supplements breakdown indigestible substances and prevent these substances from reaching the large intestine intact – where anaerobic bacteria produce gas.
Substances indigestible by humans are usually present in foods associated with flatulence, like beans. When these substances reach the large intestine intact, they may be fermented by intestinal bacteria, thereby causing gas production.
These supplements are usually taken with foods associated with flatulence. It is important to take the appropriate enzyme with the appropriate food.
When consuming beans and other vegetables high in complex carbohydrates, it may be helpful to take a product that contains alpha-galactosidase, such as Beano or kombu.
Additionally, for individuals with lactose intolerance, taking a lactase-containing product with lactose containing foodstuffs may reduce flatulence
- Herbal inhibitors – Many herbal substances have been observed since antiquity for reducing flatulence, particularly gas from eating legumes. Cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, and garlic are potent in reducing gas.The potency of garlic increases when heated, whereas the potency of cinnamon decreases.
Other spices have a lesser effect in reducing gas, including turmeric, black pepper, asafoetida and ginger.
Other common Indian spices= Cumin, aniseed, ajwain, and cardamom do inhibit gas production, in fact they exacerbate it significantly.
