Abdominal pain, cramps and bloating? A help comes from the linden, scientific name Tilia tomentosa. In fact, this plant with a sweet and fascinating scent acts with antispasmodic properties, by relaxing the muscles and at the same time counteracting inflammation of the intestine. This action was studied and demonstrated for the first time only recently and the research results were published a few weeks ago in the journal Nutrients, thanks to the work of a team from the Universities of Padua and Verona (Cerantola et al, Nutrients, 2021).
How to treat abdominal pain?
Intestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome cause cramps, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea and bloating and can significantly worsen your lifestyle. That is why scientists are devoting themselves to studying remedies and treatments to counter or at least mitigate these ailments. In folk medicine, linden has always been considered an antispasmodic, calming and anti-inflammatory remedy for gastrointestinal disorders. However, to date, no scientific studies have verified these properties and demonstrated the mechanism of action.
The experiment, this is how linden works in case of abdominal pain
To fill this gap, the Italian researchers performed a series of laboratory experiments designed to evaluate the action of linden extracts on intestinal muscles. What emerged is that the linden has evident beneficial effects in the case of intestinal disorders through different mechanisms. First, linden contains the antioxidants quercetin and kaempferol that protect the intestinal barrier, counteract inflammation and support the intestinal microbiota. Not only that, the linden works by relaxing the intestinal muscles, thus calming spasms and pains and normalizing intestinal motility. This effect is due to the fact that the linden stimulates the release of a substance, nitric oxide, which has a strong relaxing action on smooth muscles.
How to take linden
So, here is a further proof that nature can become a precious ally when it comes to counteracting the various ailments that can affect us, such as irritable bowel or abdominal cramps. The linden, as science was able to understand, can help relieve pain and relax muscles, bringing relief and restoring intestinal activity. You can take linden in the form of an infusion. In this case, bring a cup of water to a boil, remove from heat and add a tablespoon of dried linden. Cover with a lid and leave to infuse for ten minutes, then filter and drink. Alternatively, you can use linden glycerine macerate, 30 drops a day in a little water and away from meals for a month.
