Your gut is the foundation of your overall health. It influences everything from digestion and nutrient absorption to immune function and even mental well-being. When your gut is imbalanced, it can lead to issues like bloating, inflammation, leaky gut, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and even chronic disease.

For centuries, nature has provided powerful medicinal plants to heal and nourish the digestive system. Many of these traditional remedies are still used today to soothe the gut, reduce inflammation, and promote microbial balance. If you’re looking for a natural way to improve your digestion, these six powerhouse plants can help restore balance and optimize your gut health.

Plantain: The Gut Soother and Healer
Plantain (Plantago major) is not the banana-like fruit you may be thinking of—it’s actually a wild medicinal herb that has been used for centuries to treat digestive issues, wounds, and inflammation.

How Plantain Supports Gut Health
✔ Rich in mucilage, a soothing compound that protects the gut lining and helps heal leaky gut.
✔ A powerful anti-inflammatory, reducing irritation in the stomach and intestines.
✔ Contains tannins, which help tone the intestinal walls and reduce diarrhea.
✔ Supports gut bacteria balance by acting as a prebiotic.

How to Use Plantain for Gut Health
✔ Make a gut-healing tea by steeping dried plantain leaves in hot water.
✔ Add it to soups or broths for added digestive support.
✔ Use plantain powder in smoothies or herbal blends to strengthen the gut lining.

Reishi Mushroom: The Immune Booster and Gut Protector
Reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum) is known as the “mushroom of immortality” due to its ability to strengthen the immune system, reduce stress, and support gut health. A healthy gut microbiome plays a key role in immunity, and reishi is one of the best natural allies for maintaining this balance.

How Reishi Mushroom Supports Gut Health
✔ Reduces gut inflammation and helps calm conditions like IBS and leaky gut.
✔ Acts as a prebiotic, feeding beneficial gut bacteria and promoting microbial diversity.
✔ Supports stress reduction, which is crucial because stress negatively impacts gut health.
✔ Protects against gut infections by enhancing immune function.

How to Use Reishi for Gut Health
✔ Drink reishi tea by simmering dried mushroom slices in water.
✔ Take reishi tinctures or capsules for easy daily support.
✔ Use reishi powder in smoothies, coffee, or soups for an immune-boosting effect.

Marshmallow Root: The Ultimate Gut Coater
Marshmallow root (Althaea officinalis) is a powerful demulcent, meaning it creates a soothing, protective coating over the digestive tract. It’s one of the best herbs for healing leaky gut, acid reflux, and ulcers.

How Marshmallow Root Supports Gut Health
✔ Forms a protective barrier over the gut lining, preventing further damage.
✔ Reduces acid reflux and heartburn by soothing inflamed tissues.
✔ Helps heal ulcers and gastritis with its high mucilage content.
✔ Supports a healthy gut microbiome by feeding beneficial bacteria.

How to Use Marshmallow Root for Gut Health
✔ Make a marshmallow root infusion by steeping in cold water for several hours.
✔ Take marshmallow root tea before meals to protect the stomach lining.
✔ Use marshmallow root powder in smoothies or herbal gut-healing blends.

Turkey Tail Mushroom: The Gut Microbiome Enhancer
Turkey tail mushroom (Trametes versicolor) is one of the most researched medicinal mushrooms for gut health and immune function. This colorful, fan-shaped fungus is packed with compounds that feed beneficial gut bacteria and protect against harmful pathogens.

How Turkey Tail Mushroom Supports Gut Health
✔ Acts as a prebiotic, increasing the population of good bacteria in the gut.
✔ Supports immune function, which is crucial because 70% of the immune system is in the gut.
✔ Reduces inflammation and supports gut lining integrity, preventing leaky gut.
✔ Has anti-cancer properties, particularly for the digestive tract.

How to Use Turkey Tail Mushroom for Gut Health
✔ Make a turkey tail mushroom tea by simmering dried mushrooms.
✔ Take turkey tail supplements in powder or capsule form for daily gut support.
✔ Use turkey tail mushroom extracts in herbal formulas for gut and immune health.

Slippery Elm: The Gut Repair Herb
Slippery elm (Ulmus rubra) is another mucilage-rich plant that has been used for centuries to heal digestive disorders and coat the gut lining. It’s particularly helpful for people suffering from IBS, acid reflux, Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis.

How Slippery Elm Supports Gut Health
✔ Coats and soothes the digestive tract, providing relief from irritation and inflammation.
✔ Aids in healing ulcers, leaky gut, and acid reflux by strengthening the stomach lining.
✔ Helps regulate bowel movements, easing both constipation and diarrhea.
✔ Feeds beneficial gut bacteria, promoting a balanced microbiome.

How to Use Slippery Elm for Gut Health
✔ Mix slippery elm powder with warm water and drink before meals.
✔ Use it in herbal teas to soothe and protect the gut lining.
✔ Take slippery elm lozenges to relieve heartburn and digestive discomfort.

Lion’s Mane Mushroom: The Brain-Gut Connection Healer
Lion’s mane mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) is best known for its brain-boosting benefits, but it also plays a crucial role in gut health. The gut and brain are deeply connected, and an unhealthy gut can lead to anxiety, depression, and brain fog.

How Lion’s Mane Mushroom Supports Gut Health
✔ Promotes nerve regeneration, which helps repair nerve damage in the gut lining.
✔ Supports digestion and gut motility, preventing constipation and bloating.
✔ Reduces gut inflammation, which can improve conditions like IBS and leaky gut.
✔ Enhances brain function and mood, reinforcing the gut-brain connection.

How to Use Lion’s Mane Mushroom for Gut Health
✔ Take lion’s mane capsules or tinctures for daily gut and brain support.
✔ Drink lion’s mane tea by steeping dried mushroom slices in hot water.
✔ Use lion’s mane powder in smoothies, coffee, or cooking.

Final Thoughts: Healing the Gut Naturally
Your gut health is the key to overall wellness, affecting everything from digestion and immunity to mental clarity and inflammation levels. By incorporating these powerful plants into your routine, you can nourish your gut, repair the digestive lining, and support microbial balance.

Plantain, Reishi, Marshmallow, Turkey Tail, Slippery Elm, and Lion’s Mane Mushrooms each offer unique gut-healing benefits. Whether you choose to drink them as teas, take them as tinctures, or add them to your meals, they can play a crucial role in restoring balance to your digestive system.

Nature has provided us with everything we need to heal—it’s time to embrace these ancient remedies and take control of your gut health naturally!