Carminatives' main action is to soothe the gut wall, easing griping pains and reduce the production of gas in the digestive tract. This is usually due to the complex of volatile oils present, which have a locally anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic and mildly anti-microbial effect upon the lining and the muscle coats of the alimentary canal.
Although the carminative action is directly upon the intestinal tract, this leads to a more generalized effect on body systems. For example, carminatives may occasionally ease apparent heart symptoms through removing the pressure of flatulence and digestive pain.
Herbal Carminatives
Angelica
Aniseed
Balm
Caraway
Cardamom
Celery Seed
Chamomile
Cinnamon
Dill
Eucalyptus
Fennel
Garlic
Ginger
Hops
Motherwort
Mustard
Parsley
Pennyroyal
Peppermint
Sage
Thyme
Valerian
Wintergreen
Wormwood
Carminatives that are also Alternative : Garlic
Carminatives that are also Anti-Catarrhal : Chamomile, Eucalyptus, Garlic, Peppermint, Sage, Thyme
Carminatives that are also Anti-Inflammatory : Angelica, Balm, Celery Seed, Chamomile, Peppermint, Wintergreen, Wormwood
Carminatives that are also Anti-Microbial : Aniseed, Chamomile, EucalypTus, Garlic, Hops, Peppermint, Sage, Thyme, Wormwood
Carminatives that are also Anti-Spasmodic : Angelica, Aniseed, Balm, Caraway, Chamomile, Dill, Eucalyptus, Garlic, Motherwort, Peppermint, Sage, Thyme, Valerian, Wormwood
Carminatives that are also Astringent : Caraway, Cinnamon, Hops, Sage, Thyme, Wintergreen
Carminatives that are also Bitter : Chamomile, Hops, Wormwood
Carminatives that are also Cholagogue : Garlic, Wormwood
Carminatives that are also Demulcent :
Carminatives that are also Diaphoretic : Angelica, Balm, Garlic, Ginger, Pennyroyal, Peppermint
Carminatives that are also Diuretic : Angelica, Celery Seed, Juniper, Mustard, Parsley, Wintergreen
Carminatives that are also Emmenagogue : Caraway, Motherwort, Parsley, Pennyroyal, Wintergreen
Carminatives that are also Expectorant : Angelica, Aniseed, Caraway, Eucalyptus, Parsley, Thyme
Carminatives that are also Galactogogue : Caraway, Dill, Eucalyptus, Wintergreen
Carminatives that are also Hypotensive : Balm, Garlic, Valerian
Carminatives that are also Laxative :
Carminatives that are also Nervine : Balm, Celery Seed, Chamomile, Hops, Motherwort, Peppermint, Valerian
Carminatives that are also Rubifacient : Eucalyptus, Garlic, Mustard, Parsley
Carminatives that are also Tonic : Chamomile, Garlic, Wormwood
Carminatives that are also Vulnerary : Chamomile