ABSTRACT
Well over 100 million Americans use an antacid or laxative on a regular basis, and over-the-counter digestive aids account for more than a billion dollars in annual sales (with another billion or so spent on similar products in the Japanese market). Remember those old Alka-Seltzer commercials—the “I can't believe I ate the whole thing” ads? Well, the whole idea behind them was to promote the concept that there were simple remedies for treating heartburn, indigestion, and general stomach upset (by using Alka-Seltzer, of course). Now, with the rise in mainstream use of dietary supplements, there are a number of effective herbal remedies and other natural alternatives to help combat some of the minor annoyances associated with the gastrointestinal tract.
