How to Get Rid of Indigestion Fast: The 10-Second Mealtime Habit

Worried about your gut? You're not alone.

That heavy, too-full feeling after dinner. The burping. The bloat that makes you want to unbutton your jeans. If indigestion after meals feels normal, you're in good company. A Rome Foundation global study of 73,000+ adults in 33 countries found that up to 40% deal with ongoing digestive issues.

But common doesn't mean normal. And with the holidays coming, you don't have to choose between the foods you love and feeling good afterward. Here's one small step you can take at your very next meal.

What indigestion feels like (and why it keeps coming back)

Indigestion shows up differently for everyone. Watch for:

• Feeling uncomfortably full after a normal-size meal

• Food that seems to "sit" in your stomach

• Burping, gas or bloating after eating

• Pressure or an ache in your upper belly

• Feeling sluggish or foggy after you eat

Quick fixes can take the edge off, but they don't support how your body handles the next meal. That's why the same discomfort keeps coming back.

The Chinese Medicine view: your digestive fire

In Chinese Medicine, digestion depends on the Spleen and Stomach. Think of them as your digestive fire. They "cook" your food and turn it into energy, or Qi.

When that fire runs low, a pattern called Spleen Qi deficiency, food lingers instead of moving along. Iced drinks, raw salads, eating on the run, stress and eating too close to bedtime all dampen the flame. The result is a familiar trio: fullness, gas and bloating after eating. (More on how Traditional Chinese Medicine approaches bloating.)

So the goal isn't to suppress symptoms. It's to support the digestive fire.

The 1 small step: warming herbs with every meal

Take digestive herbs before or after you eat.

Cultures worldwide have long ended a big meal with a digestif, a small sip of herbs to settle the stomach. Chinese Medicine has relied on herbs like ginger, orange peel and hawthorn berry at mealtime for centuries. Modern research is catching up, too. In two small clinical trials, ginger taken before a meal helped the stomach empty faster: about twice as fast in a ginger trial in healthy adults, and faster in a ginger trial in people with frequent indigestion.

Why this step sticks:

• It takes about 10 seconds. No meal plans, no food rules.

• It rides on a habit you already have. Every meal is your cue.

• It works with your body. Herbs support your body's natural digestion.

What to take for occasional indigestion: meet Herbal Digestif

Herbal Digestif is Elix's bloating and digestion formula, crafted by Doctors of Chinese Medicine. Seven herbs, one easy liquid:

• Ginger (Jiang): warms digestion and helps the stomach empty faster

• Hawthorn Berry (Shan Zha): traditionally used after rich, heavy meals

• Orange Peel (Chen Pi): keeps Qi moving to help ease occasional bloating

• Cardamom (Sha Ren): helps ease occasional fullness after meals

• Cinnamon (Rou Gui): a classic warming herb for digestion in Chinese Medicine

• Poria (Fu Ling): calms and strengthens the digestive system

• Atractylodes (Bai Zhu): boosts Spleen Qi and supports nutrient absorption

Many of these herbs also appear in classical formulas like Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi, studied in a placebo-controlled clinical trial of Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi. And a review of 14 systematic reviews on Chinese herbal medicine for indigestion found that Chinese herbal formulas eased overall indigestion symptoms more than standard motility medications.

It's non-alcoholic, sugar-free and made with a traditional decoction method. It made Fashionista editors' favorite wellness products of August 2025, and Bon Appétit named it one of the best digestive bitters (back when it was called Zoey's Digestif).

How to take it: Squeeze 3 droppers (½ tsp) straight into your mouth, or into a little warm or room-temperature water or tea.

• Before a meal: to prep your digestion for something rich or heavy

• After a meal: when occasional fullness or bloating creeps in

• How often: up to 3 times a day, as needed or daily for ongoing support

What people are saying

"I've officially ditched Tums in favor of these warming herbal drops that quickly and effectively soothe my occasional post-meal indigestion, bloating and general discomfort. Best of all, it genuinely tastes delicious so I can just squeeze the drops right into my mouth — no need to mix them with a beverage." —Dhani Mau, Editor in Chief, Fashionista

"So helpful before greasy or heavy meals! The taste is lovely too; I take it straight or add it to warm water before eating." —Ellie F.

"Even my mom, 83 years, love it. Very useful when feel too full after eating or bloating." —Mayli P.

"I have struggled with indigestion for years… I don't go anywhere without it." —Elizabeth M.

3 more ways to ease indigestion

• Go warm. Swap iced drinks for warm water or tea with meals. Your digestive fire loves warmth, so it may be time to ditch iced drinks for better digestion, especially at mealtime.

• Slow down. Sit, chew well and stop at about 80% full.

• Eat dinner earlier. Give your body a few hours to digest before bed.

Indigestion FAQs

How do you get rid of indigestion fast? 

Warming herbs, a short walk after eating and smaller portions can all help. Many people also reach for Herbal Digestif right after a heavy meal for in-the-moment comfort.

Should I take digestive herbs before or after a meal? 

Either works. Before a meal, herbs help prepare your digestion. After, they support you through fullness.

What can I take for bloating and indigestion together? 

Warming herbs like ginger, cardamom and orange peel, which Chinese Medicine has long used for both. Herbal Digestif combines all three.

When should I see a doctor? 

If indigestion is frequent or severe, or comes with weight loss, vomiting, trouble swallowing or chest pain, talk to your healthcare provider.

Your next meal is your first step

You don't need a cleanse or a strict diet. Just one small step at your next meal. Try Herbal Digestif, an organic Chinese herbal formula for occasional indigestion.

This article was medically reviewed by Dr. Megan MacLaggan, L.Ac., DAcCHM. 

Dr. Megan MacLaggan is a Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine, licensed acupuncturist, and certified clinical Eastern and Western herbalist specializing in women's health. In addition to clinical practice and coaching, she writes, teaches, develops curriculum, and consults at the intersection of East Asian Medicine and biomedicine.

Sources

1. Sperber AD, et al. Worldwide Prevalence and Burden of Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders, Results of Rome Foundation Global Study. Gastroenterology. 2021;160(1):99–114.
2. Wu KL, et al. Effects of ginger on gastric emptying and motility in healthy humans. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2008;20(5):436–40.
3. Hu ML, et al. Effect of ginger on gastric motility and symptoms of functional dyspepsia. World J Gastroenterol. 2011;17(1):105–10.
4. Lv L, et al. Efficacy and safety of Xiangsha Liujunzi granules for functional dyspepsia: A multi-center randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical study. World J Gastroenterol. 2017;23(30):5589–5601.
5. Chu MHK, et al. Chinese herbal medicine for functional dyspepsia: systematic review of systematic reviews. Ther Adv Gastroenterol. 2018;11:1756284818785573.

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.