As an Emergency Medicine doctor, I spend my days (and nights) at the front lines of health. ⅓ of all emergency attendances have gastrointestinal issues as their cause, I suspect for many it is an unsatisfactory experience as too often from an emergency perspective once we have ruled out all the life or health threatening concerns there is nothing else we can offer from the acute angle. We discharge people home to their GP for further management and often people feel they are in a perpetual cycle of discomfort and struggle. I wish I could offer my patients what I can offer my clients as simple things can help not just the symptoms but the cause too. I love to help people understand the "Chain of Digestion" before it ever gets to the stage of needing help. 
True wellness isn't just about what you eat—it’s about how your body processes, absorbs, and eliminates. Let me take you through the digestive system and look at how we can support each link in the chain.
1. The Gateway: It Starts in the Mouth
Most people think digestion begins in the stomach, but it actually begins the moment you smell food.
- Mechanical Support: Your teeth are the first step. Proper chewing (mastication) is essential to prepare food for the journey ahead and 40% of digestion happens with chewing. How many of you take your time eating a meal and chewing thoroughly? Make time for mindful eating and enjoy the sensation and taste of your food in a relaxed manner.
- The Chemical Spark: Saliva contains enzymes like salivary amylase that begin breaking down carbohydrates immediately and this digests a further 10% of your meal.
- Clean Living: Maintaining a healthy oral environment is vital. We want to disrupt the "sticky" biofilms that naturally form on teeth. An easy tip is to either pop a drop on your toothbrush or in a cup of water and swill your mouth out after brushing. The essential oil Clove (make sure it is safe for internal use - my choice is doTerra for that reason) or my favourite is the On Guard blend.
I recommend using the On Guard range of oral care too —specifically the toothpaste with Hydroxyapatite—to support enamel integrity and keep the "gateway" clean.
2. The Highway: Supporting the Flow
Once you swallow, food travels down the oesophagus. At the bottom lies a crucial muscle—the "gatekeeper - the oesophageal sphincter.
- Valve Health: Maintaining the tone of this lower esophageal valve is key to ensuring everything stays moving in the right direction - when it relaxes too much - spicy foods, fizzy drinks, obesity and pregnancy all help to relax that valve make you experience an uncomfortable burning sensation.
- Physician’s Tip: While many love the cooling sensation of Peppermint, it is a powerful muscle relaxant so you want to avoid this oil in situations like this. For those looking to support upper digestive comfort, I often suggest more "warming" options like Ginger or Lemon in water to keep things moving smoothly without over-relaxing that gatekeeper. And the lovely ZenGest - a drop or 2 in water or applied topically over the affected area can help soothe you.
3. The Cauldron: Harmonizing the Stomach
The stomach is where food is transformed into a bioavailable liquid. It requires a delicate balance of acidity and a strong mucosal lining - meds designed to ease the complications we just spoke about lower the acidity of the stomach so you food is not digested as well - leading to other problems further down the system.
- Soothing the Lining: When the stomach feels "firey" or overworked, we want to provide soothing support.
- The Power of ZenGest: This blend again is my favourite because it combines Cardamom, Fennel, and Ginger. These oils are known for their ability to soothe the stomach lining and ease occasional feelings of heaviness or "churning" after a meal. Much loved by my colleagues at 3am and I certainly wish I had had this blend in my Flight Attendant years prior to medicine as it would have made those night flights more comfortable. A drop or 2 in water - hot or cold after meals is just what the doctor ordered.
4. The Laboratory: Nutrient Absorption & Enzymes
- The small intestine is where the "magic" happens—90% of your nutrient absorption occurs here.
- The Enzyme Connection: As we age or face high stress, our natural enzyme production can dip. This can lead to undigested food fermenting, which causes that uncomfortable "stretched" feeling and gas.
- Strategic Support: To support this process, I recommend Terrazyme. It is a proprietary blend of active whole-food enzymes that supports the body’s natural process of breaking down proteins, fats, and complex carbohydrates. By assisting with the efficient digestion of nutrients, it helps minimize the occasional bloating or gas that can occur, ensuring your "internal laboratory" runs smoothly.
5. The Ecosystem – Cultivating Your Internal Garden
- Beyond enzymes, the "health" of your digestive tract is largely determined by the trillions of beneficial bacteria living within you. This is your microbiome—an ecosystem that supports everything from your immune system to your daily mood.
- To maintain this balance, I recommend a dual approach. PB Assist+ is a brilliant foundational tool; its double-capsule technology ensures that the live cultures survive the stomach's "cauldron" to reach the intestines where they are needed most. For those looking for a more comprehensive reset, PB Restore offers a Probiome Complex that goes even further, providing 30 specific pre-, pro-, and post-biotic strains to help diversify and "restore" the entire gut landscape. Supporting your microbial diversity is one of the most effective ways to ensure long-term digestive resilience.
6. Calming the Storm & Supporting Natural Rhythm
Sometimes the digestive tract can feel "stuck" or experience occasional, sharp discomfort—that localized cramping that makes you want to curl up. As a physician, I look at this as a matter of motility and smooth muscle tone.
When the gut experiences occasional spasms, it can lead to a "stalled" system, often resulting in feelings of bloating and sluggish transit. Peppermint oil is a clinical powerhouse in this area. It acts as a natural way to support the relaxation of the smooth muscles in the lower intestinal tract. By easing these occasional spasms, Peppermint helps "unblock" the flow and supports the body’s natural rhythm, helping to keep things moving comfortably and regularly.
Whether you choose a targeted drop of Peppermint in water or diluted over your abdomen or use the ZenGest blend (which combines Peppermint with other motility-supporting oils), you are giving your gut the signal it needs to relax and resume its normal, healthy pace.
7. The Great Reclamation: Fibre, Water, and Flow
The final stage of the journey happens in the colon, where the body reclaims water and prepares for elimination.
- The 10g Rule: Clinical research (including the massive EPIC study) shows that for every 10 grams of fibre you add to your daily routine, you significantly support the long-term health of your lower digestive tract. Sorry Keto & carnivore diet lovers the studies that your gurus love to promote was a Cochrane Review that occurred 8 years before the EPIC Study and so is quite out of date!
- Hydration is Non-Negotiable: Fibre acts like a sponge. To keep things moving, you must have enough water. Adding a drop of Lemon or Wild Orange to your glass can make hydration more enjoyable and support gentle detoxification.
The Doctor’s Reality Check: When to Listen
While essential oils and lifestyle changes are incredible tools for supporting daily wellness, they are not a substitute for professional medical care.
As an Emergency Medicine doctor, I want you to listen to your body’s "Red Flags." If you experience sudden, severe abdominal discomfort, significant changes that persist, or an inability to keep fluids down, it’s time to skip the oils and go see a professional.
The Bottom Line
As Dr. Eric Zielinski famously said, “You can’t live a fast-food lifestyle and expect essential oils to fix everything.” Oils are your allies, but your daily habits—the water you drink, the fiber you eat, and the enzymes you supplement—are the foundation of your health. Take care of your "Chain of Digestion," and it will take care of you!
My top tip to get you started is take drop of Lemon oil in a mug of hot water to uplift you, and get your gut working this will set you up successfully for the day - if you know what I mean.
Ready to Optimize Your Health Journey?
Understanding the "Chain of Digestion" is the first step, but applying it to your unique lifestyle is where the transformation happens. If you’re ready to move beyond "quick fixes" and want to build a sustainable, physician-supported foundation for your vitality, I’m here to help.
Let’s create your Personalised Health Optimisation Plan.
By combining clinical insights with the power of dōTERRA’s pure essential oils and targeted supplementation, we can design a strategy tailored specifically to your body's needs—from the gateway to the finish line.
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Please remember: Information shared is for educational purposes and not a substitute for medical or veterinary advice. Always consult with a qualified professional for specific health concerns.