A carminative, known in Latin as carminativum (plural carminativa), is a herb or preparation intended to either prevent formation of gas in the gastrointestinal tract or facilitate the expulsion of gas from the gastrointestinal tract, thereby combatting flatulence.
Name
The word carminative is a derivative of Latin cārmen "card for wool", according to Hensley Wedgewood, on the humoral theory that carminatives "dilute and relax the gross humours from whence the wind arises, combing them out like the knots in wool".
Varieties
Carminatives are often mixtures of essential oils and herbal spices with a tradition in folk medicine for this use. Some examples for oils and spices with carminative action are:
Agasyllis
Angelica
Ajwain
Anise seed
Asafoetida
Basil
Calamus
Caraway
Cardamom
Cinnamon
Coriander
Coscoll
Cnidium monnieri (She Huangzi) Cumin Dill Epazote Eucalyptus Fennel Garlic Ginger Goldenrod Haritaki Hops Lemon balm Liquorice Lovage Marjoram Motherwort Muña Mustard Nigella Nutmeg Onion Orange Oregano Parsley Pepper Pennyroyal Peppermint Rosemary Saffron Sage Triphala Savory Spearmint Thyme Valerian Wintergreen Wormwood
Modern drugs used for the same purpose include simethicone, which simply lowers the surface tension of gas bubbles rather than having physiological effects.