Feeling heavy, gassy or bloated after meals is common, and it often comes down to how well food is broken down and how smoothly the gut moves. Digestion & Bloating Comfort gathers the products I commonly use to support digestion, gut motility and after-meal comfort, while my other gut protocols focus on the gut lining and microbes.
Creating a Fullscript account is free, and you can look through every product before you decide anything.
The mechanisms this protocol supports
Digestion depends on enzymes from the stomach, pancreas and small intestine that break proteins, fats and carbohydrates into pieces small enough to absorb. Between meals, a wave of activity called the migrating motor complex sweeps the small intestine clean.
Some people have a more sensitive gut, a pattern called visceral sensitivity, where normal amounts of gas or stretching feel uncomfortable. The gut-brain axis connects stress with gut motility and sensation, and digestive enzyme output tends to decline with age.
Meta-analyses have linked enteric-coated peppermint oil with less abdominal discomfort, and trials have linked ginger with faster stomach emptying and less nausea. This protocol supports those mechanisms alongside slower, relaxed meals.
What is in the protocol
The exact products and directions are listed in the Fullscript plan, and here is what each one is commonly used to support.
- Digestive Enzymes Ultra from Pure Encapsulations provides a broad range of enzymes that support breaking down proteins, fats and carbohydrates.
- Peppermint Oil G.I. from Protocol for Life Balance provides peppermint oil with smaller amounts of ginger and fennel oils in enteric-coated softgels, which are designed to pass the stomach and release in the intestines.
- MotilPro from Pure Encapsulations combines ginger and 5-HTP with other nutrients aimed at supporting healthy gut motility.
- Ginger Extract from Pure Encapsulations provides a concentrated ginger root extract, which has been studied for supporting stomach emptying and easing nausea.
Related protocols you may find helpful include Gut Barrier & Microbiome and Colon Comfort & Lining Support.
How to use it thoughtfully
- Please talk with your provider before starting, especially if you take medications, are pregnant or nursing, or have a health condition.
- This page does not list amounts, so follow the label or the specific guidance your provider gives you.
- When you can, add one product at a time so it is easier to notice how you feel.
- Sleep, nourishing food, daily movement and stress care are the foundation, and supplements are meant to build on them.
- MotilPro contains 5-HTP, so please check with your prescriber before using it with an SSRI or another medication that affects serotonin.
- Peppermint oil can worsen reflux in some people, and it is not advised during pregnancy or breastfeeding or with gallbladder problems unless your provider recommends it.
- Ginger may have a mild effect on bleeding, so mention it if you take a blood thinner.
- Ongoing symptoms, blood in the stool, trouble swallowing or unplanned weight loss need a medical evaluation.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the peppermint oil need an enteric coating?
The coating helps the oil pass through the stomach and release in the intestines, which is where it is meant to work and makes reflux less likely.
When do people usually take digestive enzymes?
Digestive enzymes are usually taken with meals so they are present while food is being broken down, and your Fullscript plan has the exact directions.
Do I need an appointment to order these products?
No, you can create a free Fullscript account and order directly, although I always recommend checking with your own provider first, and a free 15-minute consult is available if you would like to talk it through.
Ready to see the full protocol?
Every product I use for this protocol is waiting for you in my Fullscript dispensary.
Not sure this is the right fit for you? Book a free 15-minute consult and we can talk it through together.
Educational purposes only. This page shares general information and is not medical advice. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, and these products are not intended to replace care from your own healthcare provider. Please talk with your provider before starting any supplement, especially if you take medications, are pregnant or nursing, or have a health condition.
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