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Why have bismuth compounds been used in indigestion medicines?

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A labeled periodic table element box for bismuth shows atomic number 83, symbol Bi, atomic weight 208.9804, electron configuration, and properties including solid state, rhombohedral crystal structure, and weakly acidic oxides. — bismuth Properties of bismuth.

Bismuth compounds, such as bismuth subsalicylate, have been used for centuries in medicine to treat various gastric disorders, including indigestion, nausea, and diarrhea.1

These compounds are effective in these applications because they are typically utilized in slightly soluble or insoluble salt forms, which allow them to act therapeutically within the alimentary tract. Bismuth is considered the least toxic of the heavy metals, which supports its historical and continued use in pharmaceutical preparations. In addition to treating indigestion, these properties have also historically been applied in antisyphilitic drugs and for outlining the digestive tract during X-ray examinations.1