“Stress can often lead to changes in our digestive system, sometimes making our system sluggish other times speeding it up. Looking after your stomach is very important for your overall health” explains Jo Kellett, Tisserand Aromatherapy Wellbeing Collective Essential Oil Expert.

With more and more people searching for natural alternatives, Jo gives her guide on the best essential oils that can provide a natural digestive tonic, or can be applied to the stomach to aid in digestive balance.

For a classic Fix:

Peppermint, Mentha piperita. One of its main actions is an anti-spasmodic, it relaxes the smooth muscles of the digestive system to bring relief to abdominal pain and spasms.

For over indulgence:

Grapefruit – Citrus paradise. Helpful after eating rich food and when the digestion is sluggish.

For system soothing:

Ginger – Zingiber officinale. A digestive tonic, soothing for all imbalances, from constipation to diarrhoea.

For when you feel it in your stomach:

Cardamom – Ellettaria cardamomum. Good for when the digestive system is directly affected by the emotions, also an effective anti-spasmodic.

For nerves:

Neroli – citrus aurantium. Like Cardamon this essential oil is wonderful for a ‘tense’ tummy, e.g. pre-exam nerves, interview, etc.

How to use:

A blend for physical symptoms

Add 1 drop of Peppermint, 1 drop of Ginger and 3 drops of Grapefruit to 10ml of base oil and massage into the abdomen, circling around the navel in a clockwise direction - this is following the natural path of the large intestine.

A blend for an emotional stomach

Add 3 drops of Cardamon and 2 drops of Neroli to 10ml of base oil and massage into the abdo- men, circling around the navel in a clockwise direction – again following the natural path of the large intestine.

Tisserand Aromatherapy Essential Oils are available from Tisserand.com

Grapefruit Organic Pure Essential Oil, 9ml, £6.30

Ginger Organic Pure Essential Oil, 9ml, £12.25

Cardamom Ethically Harvested Essential Oil, 9ml, £19.60

Neroli (Orange Blossom) Ethically Harvested Pure Essential Oil, 2ml, £37.20

Peppermint Organic Pure Essential Oil, 9ml, £6.60