Gut Heal Gummies & Gut Heal Tea
Traditional medicine systems the world over agree that digestion is the root of health. Sadly, our modern population is plagued with digestive issues- gut dysbiosis, IBS, Leaky Gut, food sensitivities, poor digestion, malabsorption and the myriad of autoimmune disorders which can stem from the inflammation that often arises from a leaky and irritated gut.
Gut Heal Gummies and Gut Heal Tea, are both great ways to repair the micro-injuries that inflame and irritate the gut, caused by inflammatory foods, allergens, chemicals in our foods and environment, stress and more. Often described as a formula that helps “heal and seal” the gut, these herbal gummies, made with Gut Heal Tea as their base, are a great way to get a daily dose of soothing, anti-inflammatory, vulnerary, and demulcent herbs.
Additionally, the high gelatin content makes this a good choice for folks engaged in a gut-healing protocol to address autoimmunity issues or inflammation in the gut in general, as the proteins and amino acids found in gelatin help build and support the mucosal layer lining our intestinal walls. Maintaining the integrity of this lining is crucial and, luckily, it’s very responsive to herbs and nutrition. And with the support of the herbs in this blend, as well as the gelatin itself, often the healing results can be felt quite soon! Gelatin is also very nourishing to the skin, hair, nails, and joints. This recipe is very versatile and just about any herb can be made into herbal gummies.
Gut Heal Gummies
Ingredients:
3 cups unsweetened juice (cherry, grape, cranberry or pomegranate are all nice choices)
1 cup dried herbs (use Gut Heal Tea herbs- see recipe below)
½ cup unflavored, grass-fed gelatin powder (Great Lakes and Vital Proteins brand are both great choices)
¼ cup raw honey (optional)
Directions:
1. Simmer the juice and the herbs, covered, on medium-low heat for about 20-30 minutes
2. Strain into another pan and let cool until it’s still warm but not hot
3. Mix in the honey (if using)
4. In a separate bowl, mix the gelatin powder in ½ - ¾ cups cold water (or cold juice) and mix. It may begin to gel and that’s ok, as it will dissolve in the warm herb-infused juice
5. Add the gelatin powder-water mix into the pan with warm, herb-infused juice. Gently re-warm the juice if it’s gotten too cold for the gelatin and honey to dissolve, but not bringing to a boil
6. Pour the mixture into a pyrex dish or cookie sheet. You can line it with parchment paper if desired but this isn’t necessary. You may also choose to use silicone gummy molds for cute shapes. Put into fridge and allow to cool, where it will solidify into a jello-like consistency. Cut into 1 inch sized cubes or remove from the molds and store in fridge for up to 2 weeks. Freeze them if you make a super large batch!
5. Medicinal dose is three 1 inch-sized gummies/day
Gut-Heal Tea
Based on the Paul Bergner classic formula
Ingredients:
Plantain Lf (Plantago spp)- 1 part
Calendula Fl (Calendula officinalis)- 1 part
Dandelion Rt (Taraxacum officinalis)- ½ part
Peppermint (Mentha piperita)- ½ part
Marshmallow rt (Althea officinalis)- ½ part
Fennel Sd (Foeniculum vulgare)- ½ part
Directions:
Combine the herbs, making 1 part whatever amount you’d like depending on how much tea you’d like. For instance, 1 part could be 1 cup, ½ cup, etc. Store in a glass jar or heavy duty ziplock out of direct light.
Use:
1 heaping tbsp: 1 cup H20. Steep 4 hrs minimum up to overnight. Strain. Drink 2-4 cups/day.
Note:
This is a basic Gut Heal Tea recipe. The foundation of this formula relies on vulnerary herbs, demulcents, liver-supporting herbs, and carminatives. Feel free to use the same basic ratios above to customize for your particular constitution and issues or those and your client or community member you’re working with.
I generally start with Plantain and Calendula as the foundation and then work from there. Nervines with an affinity for the digestive tract, such as Chamomile, Catnip, Skullcap, Passionflower, and Rose work well in Gut Heal Tea if there’s a nervous system component. The amount of Marshmallow Root can be increased if needed and, in addition to or in lieu of the Fennel, other warming digestive herbs such as Cinnamon, Ginger and Cardamom may be added as well!
REFERENCES & FURTHER RESOURCES
Herbal Formularies for Health Professionals Volume 1: Digestion & Elimination
By Dr Jill Stansbury, ND
Paul Bergner, Medical Herbalist and Clinical Nutritionist
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