DiGize is an essential oil blend made by Young Living that’s marketed primarily for digestive comfort. It combines eight botanical oils: tarragon, ginger, peppermint, juniper, lemongrass, anise, fennel, and patchouli. People use it topically on the abdomen, inhale it through diffusion, or (in its “Vitality” version) take it internally as a dietary supplement. Here’s what each use looks like in practice and what the science says about the ingredients.
What’s in the Blend
Each of the eight oils in DiGize has a long history in traditional herbal medicine, and several have been studied individually for their effects on the gut. Ginger is the most researched of the group. In animal studies, ginger extract normalizes antioxidant enzymes in the stomach lining and protects against damage to the mucus layer that shields the stomach wall. Ginger also contains gingerol, a compound that has shown activity against certain strains of the bacterium H. pylori, a common cause of stomach ulcers.
Peppermint contributes menthol, which acts as a natural antispasmodic, helping to relax smooth muscle in the intestines. Anise and fennel both contain anethole, a compound that can influence intestinal motility and has mild antimicrobial properties. Anise has also been shown in lab studies to help replenish the stomach’s protective mucus layer after it’s been depleted. The remaining oils (tarragon, juniper, lemongrass, and patchouli) round out the aromatic profile and contribute additional plant compounds, though they have less direct digestive research behind them.
Digestive Comfort and Bloating
The primary use people reach for DiGize is relief from occasional stomach discomfort, bloating, gas, and that general “heavy” feeling after a meal. The logic behind the blend draws on how several of its ingredients affect gut motility. Research on herbal-essential oil combinations containing peppermint and anise has found that at effective doses, these blends can decrease pain, reduce excess intestinal tone, and slow abnormally fast colonic transit. This profile suggests potential benefit for people dealing with cramping or overactive gut motility, similar to symptoms seen in irritable bowel syndrome.
Importantly, these effects appear to be selective. The herbal-oil combinations studied affected the lower intestine and colon without disrupting normal stomach contractions or influencing blood vessel smooth muscle, which reduces the risk of unrelated side effects. However, most of this research has been done on isolated compounds or different blends in lab and animal models, not on DiGize specifically. No published clinical trial has tested the DiGize formula as a whole.
How People Apply It Topically
The most common method is rubbing diluted DiGize onto the abdomen when you feel digestive discomfort. You’ll want to mix it with a carrier oil like coconut or jojoba before applying it to skin, as the undiluted blend can cause irritation. A typical ratio is one to two drops of essential oil per teaspoon of carrier oil, though people with sensitive skin should start even more conservatively.
Abdominal massage with essential oils has some clinical backing. In one study of older adults, 15-minute aromatherapy massage sessions using ginger oil applied to the abdomen for five days a week over four weeks reduced constipation. The combination of the massage itself (which physically stimulates gut movement) and the oil absorption through the skin likely both contribute. For DiGize, most users apply it in a clockwise circular motion over the belly, following the natural direction of the digestive tract.
Diffusing and Inhaling
Some people add a few drops to a diffuser when they’re feeling nauseated or unsettled. Ginger and peppermint are both commonly used aromatherapy oils for nausea, so inhaling the blend can provide a calming sensory effect even without direct contact with the digestive system. This approach is the gentlest option and carries the lowest risk of skin reactions or other side effects.
Internal Use
Young Living sells a separate version called DiGize Vitality, which is labeled for internal consumption as a dietary supplement. The suggested use is to dilute one drop with four drops of a vegetable oil complex, place it in a capsule, and take it once daily. Some users add a drop or two to warm water with honey and lemon to make a tea, or simply add it to water while traveling.
Internal use of essential oils is the most debated application method. Essential oils are highly concentrated plant extracts, and ingesting them puts potent compounds in direct contact with your mucous membranes and digestive lining. If you choose to use it this way, sticking to the recommended single-drop dose and always diluting first is important.
Safety Considerations
DiGize contains anise oil, which includes anethole and related compounds that can be problematic in excessive or prolonged use. Research has shown anise oil can interact with central nervous system medications and may reduce the effectiveness of certain antidepressants. If you take prescription medications, this is worth knowing before adding the blend to your routine.
Children, older adults, and people with compromised immune systems may respond differently to essential oils than healthy adults. The product label also warns to avoid direct sunlight or UV exposure on skin where the oil has been applied for up to 12 hours, since some components can cause photosensitivity reactions. Pregnant or nursing women should check with a healthcare provider before using it, as fennel and anise have mild estrogenic properties that could theoretically be relevant during pregnancy.
Store DiGize (and all essential oils) out of reach of children. Accidental ingestion of concentrated essential oils is a common cause of poisoning in young kids, and even small amounts can cause serious reactions.
What DiGize Won’t Do
DiGize is not a treatment for any diagnosed digestive condition. It won’t resolve chronic acid reflux, heal an ulcer, treat inflammatory bowel disease, or replace medications prescribed for these problems. The individual ingredients have promising laboratory findings related to stomach protection and gut motility, but “promising lab findings” is a long distance from “proven therapy.” What many users report is modest, temporary comfort for everyday digestive complaints like post-meal bloating, travel-related stomach upset, or occasional gas. That’s a reasonable expectation for a well-formulated herbal blend, and also its realistic ceiling.