How to Support Healthy Gut Motility Naturally

Gut motility is influenced by many interconnected systems, so there is rarely a single solution that improves digestion for everyone. The most effective approach depends on the underlying cause of the symptoms and should always begin with a thorough assessment.

From a naturopathic perspective, the aim is to support the body's natural digestive function by addressing the factors that influence gut motility, rather than simply suppressing symptoms.

Part 3 of the 3 part Gut Motility Series

What Does Prokinetic Mean

​You may come across the term prokinetic when reading about digestive health. A prokinetic is simply a substance that helps stimulate or support the normal movement of the digestive tract. Some prescription medicines act as prokinetics, and research suggests that certain nutrients and herbal medicines may also support healthy gut motility. 

Magnesium

Magnesium plays an important role in normal muscle and nerve function, including the smooth muscle that helps move food through the digestive tract. If magnesium intake is inadequate, restoring healthy magnesium levels may help support normal gut motility in some people.

It is important to distinguish between the different forms of magnesium. Magnesium oxide is poorly absorbed and much of it remains within the bowel, where it draws water into the intestine and acts as an osmotic laxative. This can be helpful for occasional constipation, but it is not the same as supporting the normal muscle and nerve function involved in gut motility by improving magnesium status.

By contrast, better-absorbed forms such as magnesium glycinate, bisglycinate and malate are generally used to increase the body's magnesium levels. Magnesium citrate is also reasonably well absorbed but may still have a mild laxative effect, particularly at higher doses. The most appropriate form depends on the individual's symptoms, digestive function and overall health.
​
From a naturopathic perspective, magnesium is selected according to the person's clinical presentation rather than simply choosing the strongest laxative effect.

free 10 minute chat

B Vitamins

The nervous system plays a central role in regulating gut motility, making an adequate intake of key B vitamins important for digestive health.
​
Vitamins B1 (thiamine), B6 (pyridoxine) and B12 (cobalamin) help support healthy nerve function, neurotransmitter production and energy metabolism. Together, these nutrients contribute to the normal function of the enteric nervous system, the network of nerves that coordinates movement throughout the digestive tract.

Ginger

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is one of the best-researched herbal medicines for digestive health.

Clinical studies suggest that ginger may help support gastric emptying and promote normal upper gastrointestinal motility. It has also been widely studied for its ability to reduce nausea, making it a valuable herb in a variety of digestive conditions.
​
Although ginger has a long history of traditional use, it may not be appropriate for everyone. Herbal medicines should always be prescribed with consideration of the individual's health history, existing medical conditions and any medications they may be taking.

Bitter Herbs

Bitter herbs have been used in traditional Western herbal medicine for centuries to support digestion.

They work by stimulating bitter taste receptors, which trigger a reflex increase in digestive secretions, including saliva, stomach acid and digestive enzymes. This may help prepare the digestive system for a meal and support efficient digestion.

Traditional bitter herbs include gentian (Gentiana lutea), dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) and globe artichoke leaf (Cynara scolymus). While their traditional use is well established, direct clinical evidence demonstrating improvements in gut motility is currently more limited than for ginger.

Emerging research suggests that globe artichoke leaf extract may also support upper gastrointestinal motility, particularly when combined with ginger. Encouraging findings that will hopefully stimulate more research to validate globe artichoke as an evidence-based prokinetic in its own right.
​
From a naturopathic perspective, bitter herbs are generally selected as part of an individual's overall digestive support plan rather than simply to increase gut motility.

smartgenes naturopathic clinic

A Whole-Person Approach to Gut Health

One of the most important messages emerging from research is that gut motility is influenced by far more than the digestive tract itself.
The nervous system, hormones, immune system, gut microbiome, nutrition, hydration and lifestyle all interact to regulate the movement of food through the digestive tract. A change in one area can influence many others, which helps explain why digestive symptoms often have multiple contributing factors.
​
This whole-body perspective aligns closely with naturopathic philosophy. Rather than focusing solely on relieving symptoms, naturopathy aims to understand why digestive function has become disrupted and identify the factors contributing to the imbalance.

Conclusion

Healthy digestion depends on more than simply breaking down food. It relies on the smooth, coordinated movement of the entire digestive tract, allowing nutrients to be absorbed, waste to be eliminated and the gut microbiome to remain in balance.

When gut motility becomes disrupted, symptoms such as bloating, constipation, reflux, nausea and changes in bowel habits can develop. While these symptoms are common, they should not be dismissed as something you simply have to live with. They may be important clues that the digestive system is not functioning as efficiently as it could.

Modern research continues to deepen our understanding of the many factors that influence gut motility, from the gut-brain axis and nervous system to hormones, inflammation and the microbiome. Rather than acting independently, these systems work together continuously to regulate digestive function.

From a naturopathic perspective, this reinforces the importance of taking a whole-person approach. Supporting gut health is not simply about treating individual symptoms or relying on a single supplement or herb. It involves understanding the interconnected nature of the body and creating the conditions that allow healthy digestion to occur.
​
By recognising the importance of gut motility and addressing the factors that influence it, we can move beyond symptom management and work towards supporting long-term digestive health and overall wellbeing.
​

Explore the complete Gut Motility series

​Part 1: What Is Gut Motility? Understanding the Key to Healthy Digestion – Learn how gut motility works and why it's essential for healthy digestion.
​
Part 2:  What Affects Gut Motility? Understanding the Causes of Digestive Symptoms – Discover how stress, hormones, the gut microbiome and other factors influence gut motility.

contact us

​​​​Vanessa Winter
​Naturopath & Medical Herbalist
BHSc (Deans Award for Academic Excellence), BED, Adv.Dip.Nat., Adv.Dip.Herb.Med., NMHNZ
​Registered with Naturopaths and Medical Herbalists of NZ (NMHNZ)