Carminative Explained

A carminative, known in Latin as carminativum (plural carminativa), is a herb or preparation intended to combat flatulence either by preventing formation of gas in the gastrointestinal tract or

Name

The word carminative is a derivative of Latin Latin: cārmen "card for wool", according to Hensley Wedgewood, on the humoral theory that carminatives "dilute and relax the gross humours from whence the wind arises, combing them out like the knots in wool".^[1]

Varieties

Carminatives are often mixtures of essential oils and spices with a tradition in folk medicine. Some examples include:

• Agasyllis
• Angelica
• Ajwain
• Anise seed^[2]
• Asafoetida
• Basil
• Calamus
• Caraway^[3]
• Cardamom
  • Cinnamon Coriander
• Coscoll
• Cnidium monnieri (She Huangzi)
• Cumin
  • Dill Epazote
• Eucalyptus
• Fennel
• Garlic^[4]
• Ginger
• Goldenrod
• Haritaki
• Hops
• Lemon balm
• Liquorice
• Lovage
• Marjoram
• Motherwort
• Muña
• Mustard
• Nigella
• Nutmeg
• Onion
  • Orange Oregano
• Parsley
• Pepper
• 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

See also

• Antiflatulent
  • Anti-foaming agent
• Dalby's Carminative

References

1. https://archive.org/details/adictionaryengl03wedggoog/page/n334 Hensleigh Wedgwood, A Dictionary of English Etymology, s.v.
2. Pitasawat. B. Choochote. W. Kanjanapothi. D. Panthong. A. Jitpakdi. A. Chaithong. U. Screening for larvicidal activity of ten carminative plants.. The Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health. Sep 1998. 29. 3. 660–2. 10437975.
3. Harries. Nicola . James, K. C. . Pugh, W. K. . Antifoaming and Carminative Actions of Volatile Oils . Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics . 1 July 1977 . 2 . 3 . 171–177 . 10.1111/j.1365-2710.1977.tb00087.x.
4. Book: The Living Gut. 2008. Nottingham University Press. 9781904761570. W.N. Ewing. Lucy Tucker .