Nurturing Your Second Brain: Which Herbs are Best for Gut Health

They say the gut is our second brain. Indeed, over the years, more and more modern research confirms that the gut is not only related to digestive processes, but also connected with our mental and physical well-being. 

There is another, the so-called ‘enteric’ nervous system that lies within our gut. It’s a vast network of neurons that can operate independently of our usual central nervous system. This “second brain” of ours produces things that can influence our mood, stress responses, and even decision-making. 

Moreover, the gut microbiome communicates with the brain through the vagus nerve, hormones, and immune pathways. 

Of course, our predecessors didn’t have the right scientific language to describe the gut–brain relationship. But they, nonetheless, couldn’t help but notice the vital role gut health plays in well-being. From the Indus River to the rocky cliffs of modern-day Peru, people of old turned to herbs that were best for gut health, digestion, vitality, and balance. In concoctions, warm teas, or simply added to food, these herbs stayed relevant for many generations because they worked. 

In our days, science finally explains what they sensed: many of these herbs contain special compounds. They nurture the microbiome, promote a healthy inflammatory response and healthy digestion. This is why they were so cherished. And this is why we are ready to highlight the very best of them to support your gut in a natural, time-tested way.

So let’s see which herbs are best for gut health. 

Understanding the Importance of Gut Health

We often see the gut as just a place where food goes. In, out, done. But it’s far more than that. The gut is a busy system, and it’s constantly active. It affects the majority of our daily lives — how we feel, how we think, how much energy we have.

Divide and Digest

The gut’s first and most obvious role is to break down what we eat. With the help of our tireless digestion, food is reduced into nutrients — carbohydrates into sugars, proteins into amino acids, and from fats you get fatty acids. These are absorbed through the gut wall and carried into the bloodstream, where they become your fuel. Without this, our bodies couldn’t build muscle, repair tissue, or sustain themselves for long. So the ancient proverb ‘you are what you eat’ is surprisingly right in this regard.

A Home for Life

Inside the gut lives the microbiome — trillions of microorganisms. While many of us get a bit squeamish when hearing the word ‘bacteria’, most of them are actually on your side and don’t want to cause any trouble. On the contrary, they help digest fibers we can’t handle on our own, create vitamins like B and K, and produce some fatty acids that nourish the gut. 

The Center of Neural Activity

The gut contains around 500 million neurons. And they all connected through the enteric nervous system. This network communicates with the brain through the vagus nerve. Almost all of serotonin, the one we hear so much about being linked with mood and calmness, is produced in the gut. That’s why stress and digestion are so connected: because when one is off, the other feels it immediately.

The Keeper of Balance

About 70% of your immune system is located in the gut. Lots of special cells in the intestinal lining are sort of your gatekeepers. They decide what goes into the body and what is left out. Every day, the gut faces bacteria, toxins, and new food particles. 

Why It Matters Now

In the past, people lived closer to nature. They ate fresher, simpler foods, with no artificial meddling involved. They walked, worked outside, and rested when the sun went down. Today, life seems different. Processed food, constant stress, long hours sitting. All of this puts pressure on the gut. That’s why caring for it is not just a nice idea — it’s something essential for modern living. 

Top 4 Herbs That Are Best for Gut Health

People have always looked to plants for comfort when their stomachs were uneasy. Long before science, our ancestors trusted certain roots, seeds, and barks to support their search for better gut health. Today, we know more about the compounds inside them — and suddenly their old wisdom makes perfect sense. Here are four herbs that have stood the test of time for gut support.

Marshmallow Root

From the times of Ancient Egypt and maybe even a bit earlier than that, marshmallow root has been brewed into teas and syrups to calm achy throats and support upset stomachs. Old herbalists prized it for its soft nature. It felt like a balm on the inside. 

Now we know why, and plenty of people agree on its softness. But why is that? Turns out marshmallow root is rich in mucilage — a thick, gel-like substance that forms when the root is mixed with water. This mucilage can coat the lining of the gut, acting as a gentle shield. It doesn’t “fix” digestion in some magical way, but it promotes comfort and helps things move smoothly. Today, you can harness its benefits fully in the form of Marshmallow Root tincture. 

Slippery Elm

Slippery elm bark was a staple in North American herbal traditions since the dawn of time. People used it as a gruel, tea, or poultice for anything inflamed or sore, inside or out. Settlers and Indigenous peoples in North America alike leaned on it for digestion, sore throats, even wounds. 

Modern science shows us its secret. Like marshmallow, slippery elm is also full of mucilage, but with a slightly different texture and effect. When taken with water, it swells and forms a protective film. This helps support the gut lining. It also contains antioxidants and tannins, which may explain why it was always seen as something of a tender, soothing nature. In our days, there is no need to go looking for its bark. All the benefits of this herb are now in our slippery elm bark.

Coriander

Coriander — known to most of us as the seed of cilantro — has been a kitchen spice for thousands of years. Ancient Egyptians buried it with their dead. Romans carried it across Europe. In India and the Middle East, it flavored curries and breads, but it was also trusted as a digestive aid. Generations sprinkled it into meals to ease bloating, gas, and heavy stomachs.

Today, studies point to coriander’s essential oils — especially linalool and borneol. These compounds have a gentle supportive effect on the muscles of the gut. That’s why coriander tea or spice blends were always said to “lighten” a meal. And now coriander can be not only a part of your cooking but also a great wellness ally, especially if you take it as a Coriander tincture or Coriander seed capsules.

Licorice Root

Licorice root has been loved across cultures: from Chinese medicine to ancient Greece to Middle Eastern sweets. Healers gave it to support the stomach, lungs, and even promote natural energy. Its naturally sweet taste made it easy to take, and people came to see it as both medicine and treat.

Science gives us the “why.” Licorice root contains glycyrrhizin and flavonoids. They sound complicated, but basically, these compounds influence the gut lining and support its natural defenses. That’s why it still appears in herbal blends today or as its own Licorice tincture, carrying thousands of years of reputation behind it.

Now You Know Which Herbs Are Best for Gut Health

Caring for the gut is about remembering what people have always known — when the stomach is at ease, the whole body is, too. Herbs that support your gut health when it needs it the most are not new discoveries but old companions, trusted for generations and now better understood through science. So, your gut is a wonderful natural machine that is quite complex. In a way, it’s almost a whole different, separate world hidden in our bellies. But we have to do everything to help it work correctly. Supporting it doesn’t have to be something complicated or mysterious. It’s about turning back to nature, listening to the body, and honoring the simple herbal helpers that have always been there for us.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.