A carminative, also known as carminativum (plural carminativa), is an herb or preparation that either prevents formation of gas in the gastrointestinal tract or facilitates the expulsion of said gas, thereby combatting flatulence. Carminatives have been shown to decrease lower esophageal pressure, which on the other hand increases the risk of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) with 'heartburn' as the most common symptom.[1]
Varieties [edit]
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 action are:[citation needed]
Modern drugs used for the same purpose include simethicone, which, rather than having physiological activity, simply lowers the surface tension of gas bubbles. See anti-foaming agent.
Literary references [edit]
- The English author Aldous Huxley includes a long passage (chapter 20) about the word "carminative" in his novel Crome Yellow. The character Denis explains how unfortunate it is that some words don't mean what they ought to mean.
- The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has stated that "Carminative" is his favorite word.[2]
References [edit]
- ^ Castell, D. O. (1975). "Diet and the lower esophageal sphincter". The American journal of clinical nutrition 28 (11): 1296–1298. PMID 1190108. edit
- ^ Rosanna Greenstreet. "Q&A: Boris Johnson, Conservative candidate for the London mayoral election". The Guardian. Retrieved 2013-04-03.
External links [edit]
