Home Remedies to Relieve Gas and Reduce Bloating

Although everyone experiences gas, some people are troubled by it more than others. At times, excessive gas can become uncomfortable or even painful. But simple changes to your diet can provide gas relief and also aid digestion. In addition to over-the-counter gas relief products, items commonly found in the kitchen may double as gas relievers.

Herbs for Gas Relief

A number of herbs with so-called carminative properties may help ease gas and prevent bloating, according to Angela Lemond, RDN, a dietitian and nutritionist based in Texas and a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. She explains that a carminative is a substance that aids in the expulsion of gas.

Ginger is often considered a carminative for its gastrointestinal effects. A systemic review published in January 2020 in the journal Nutrients found that out of studies that analyzed ginger’s effect on different gastric functions, 85 percent reported ginger as a digestive enhancer. As it relates to gas relief, faster digestion allows gases to move more quickly out of your small intestine to relieve discomfort and bloating.

Additionally, a systemic review published in January 2019 in Food Science & Nutrition found that ginger was an important dietary agent in helping prevent dyspepsia (upper abdominal pain), flatulence, and bloating.

FDgard, a nonprescription formulation designed to help manage dyspepsia, uses other herbs to achieve similar results. The primary active ingredients are caraway and peppermint oils. Some doctors recommend this for gas and bloating, and a study published in March 2022 in BMC Gastroenterology found that this combination also helps with dyspepsia.

Other herbs and spices that may provide gas relief include:

• Chamomile
• Dill
• Fennel
• Basil
• Caraway
• Cumin
• Parsley
• Peppermint
• Spearmint

Lemond notes that you should always get approval from your doctor before taking an herbal supplement. She suggests trying to gain the benefit of carminatives from the food you eat rather than by taking supplements, which she says should be taken with caution. “Some people think of herbal supplements as natural or straight from the earth, so they may be taken at will, but a lot of them have pharmaceutical effects and could interact with medication,” she says.

Gas, Stress, and Probiotics

Gas can be worsened by stress. “There are nerves up and down the GI tract,” Lemond says. “People who have a tendency to be nervous can develop gas, diarrhea, or constipation.” When dietary changes aren’t effective, other treatments such as relaxation therapy may help.

Stress can contribute to causing spasms in the colon and abdominal discomfort, according to a review published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Reviewers noted that progressive muscle relaxation, meditation, yoga, counseling, or changes to daily stressful situations can help reduce stress and have a positive effect on digestive health.

More studies are beginning to explore the role of stress and psychological factors and their impact on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). In a study published in July 2020 in Clinical and Translational Gastroenterology, researchers found that an increase in stress was associated with people with IBS when compared with the study’s control group.

For a time, researchers were exploring the direct connections between the gut, brain, and probiotics, as probiotics were thought to be a way to aid digestion and reduce excessive gas.

But the evidence on probiotics remains thin. In fact, in June 2020 the American Gastroenterological Association released guidelines outlining that for most digestive conditions, there is not enough evidence to support the use of probiotics.

Over-the-Counter Gas Treatments That May Help

If gas doesn’t move quickly enough through the digestive system, it can cause bloating and discomfort. A few changes to your daily routine and habits can bring relief from gas and bloating. Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston suggests these behaviors to help decrease bloating:

• Eat slowly and chew your food thoroughly.
• Eat smaller meals, more frequently.
• Sit up straight after a meal.
• Walk after a meal.
• Drink room temperature beverages.

Products at your local pharmacy to reduce gas and bloating generally contain simethicone, activated charcoal, or a food enzyme known as alpha-galactosidase (the active ingredient in Beano) to help break down hard-to-digest foods like beans and certain vegetables. Although some people find these drugs to be effective, others don’t.

Alpha-galactosidase contains the enzyme that the body lacks to digest certain carbohydrates in beans and certain vegetables, but the enzyme has no effect on gas caused by fiber or lactose. Lactase tablets or drops may provide gas relief for those with lactose intolerance. The tablets are taken right before consuming milk or milk products.

“Occasional excessive gas is normal,” Lemond says. But when gas continues to be a problem despite dietary adjustments and home or over-the-counter gas treatments, it’s a good idea to see your doctor.

Additional reporting by Zachary Smith.

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How to get rid of gas pain fast: 20 natural home remedies

Luckily, many home remedies can help to release trapped gas or prevent it from building up. Twenty effective methods are listed below.

1. Let it out

Holding in gas can cause bloating, discomfort, and pain. The easiest way to avoid these symptoms is to simply let out the gas.

2. Pass stool

A bowel movement can relieve gas. Passing stool will usually release any gas trapped in the intestines.

3. Eat slowly

Eating too quickly or while moving can cause a person to take in air as well as food, leading to gas-related pain.

Quick eaters can slow down by chewing each bite of food 30 times. Breaking down food in such a way aids digestion and can prevent a number of related complaints, including bloating and indigestion.

4. Avoid chewing gum

As a person chews gum they tend to swallow air, which increases the likelihood of trapped wind and gas pains.

Sugarless gum also contains artificial sweeteners, which may cause bloating and gas.

5. Say no to straws

Often, drinking through a straw causes a person to swallow air. Drinking directly from a bottle can have the same effect, depending on the bottle’s size and shape.

To avoid gas pain and bloating, it is best to sip from a glass.

6. Quit smoking

Whether using traditional or electronic cigarettes, smoking causes air to enter the digestive tract. Because of the range of health issues linked to smoking, quitting is wise for many reasons.

7. Choose non-carbonated drinks

Carbonated drinks, such as sparkling water and sodas, send a lot of gas to the stomach. This can cause bloating and pain.

8. Eliminate problematic foods

Share on PinterestCarbonated drinks such as sparkling waters and soda send a lot of gas to the stomach, which can cause bloating and pain.

Eating certain foods can cause trapped gas. Individuals find different foods problematic.

However, the foods below frequently cause gas to build up:

• artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame, sorbitol, and maltitol
• cruciferous vegetables, including broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower
• dairy products
• fiber drinks and supplements
• fried foods
• garlic and onions
• high-fat foods
• legumes, a group that includes beans and lentils
• prunes and prune juice
• spicy foods

Keeping a food diary can help a person to identify trigger foods. Some, like artificial sweeteners, may be easy to cut out of the diet.

Others, like cruciferous vegetables and legumes, provide a range of health benefits. Rather than avoiding them entirely, a person may try reducing their intake or preparing the foods differently.

9. Drink tea

Some herbal teas may aid digestion and reduce gas pain fast. The most effective include teas made from:

• anise
• chamomile
• ginger
• peppermint

Anise acts as a mild laxative and should be avoided if diarrhea accompanies gas. However, it can be helpful if constipation is responsible for trapped gas.

10. Snack on fennel seeds

Fennel is an age-old solution for trapped wind. Chewing on a teaspoon of the seeds is a popular natural remedy.

However, anyone pregnant or breast-feeding should probably avoid doing so, due to conflicting reports concerning safety.

11. Take peppermint supplements

Peppermint oil capsules have long been taken to resolve issues like bloating, constipation, and trapped gas. Some research supports the use of peppermint for these symptoms.

Always choose enteric-coated capsules. Uncoated capsules may dissolve too quickly in the digestive tract, which can lead to heartburn.

Peppermint inhibits the absorption of iron, so these capsules should not be taken with iron supplements or by people who have anemia.

12. Clove oil

Clove oil has traditionally been used to treat digestive complaints, including bloating, gas, and indigestion. It may also have ulcer-fighting properties.

Consuming clove oil after meals can increase digestive enzymes and reduce the amount of gas in the intestines.

13. Apply heat

When gas pains strike, place a hot water bottle or heating pad on the stomach. The warmth relaxes the muscles in the gut, helping gas to move through the intestines. Heat can also reduce the sensation of pain.

14. Address digestive issues

People with certain digestive difficulties are more likely to experience trapped gas. Those with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or inflammatory bowel disease, for example, often experience bloating and gas pain.

Addressing these issues through lifestyle changes and medication can improve the quality of life.

People with lactose intolerance who frequently experience gas pain should take greater steps to avoid lactose or take lactase supplements.

15. Add apple cider vinegar to water

Apple cider vinegar aids the production of stomach acid and digestive enzymes. It may also help to alleviate gas pain quickly.

Add a tablespoon of the vinegar to a glass of water and drink it before meals to prevent gas pain and bloating. It is important to then rinse the mouth with water, as vinegar can erode tooth enamel.

16. Use activated charcoal

Activated charcoal is a natural product that can be bought in health food stores or pharmacies without a prescription. Supplement tablets taken before and after meals can prevent trapped gas.

It is best to build up the intake of activated charcoal gradually. This will prevent unwanted symptoms, such as constipation and nausea.

One alarming side effect of activated charcoal is that it can turn the stool black. This discoloration is harmless and should go away if a person stops taking charcoal supplements.

17. Take probiotics

Share on PinterestGentle exercises can relax the muscles in the gut, and yoga poses can be especially beneficial after meals.

Probiotic supplements add beneficial bacteria to the gut. They are used to treat several digestive complaints, including infectious diarrhea.

Some research suggests that certain strains of probiotics can alleviate bloating, intestinal gas, abdominal pain, and other symptoms of IBS.

Strains of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus are generally considered to be most effective.

18. Exercise

Gentle exercises can relax the muscles in the gut, helping to move gas through the digestive system. Walking or doing yoga poses after meals may be especially beneficial.

19. Breathe deeply

Deep breathing may not work for everyone. Taking in too much air can increase the amount of gas in the intestines.

However, some people find that deep breathing techniques can relieve the pain and discomfort associated with trapped gas.

20. Take an over-the-counter remedy

Several products can get rid of gas pain fast. One popular medication, simethicone, is marketed under the following brand names:

• Gas-X
• Mylanta Gas
• Phazyme

Anyone who is pregnant or taking other medications should discuss the use of simethicone with a doctor or pharmacist.

Trapped gas can be painful and distressing, but many easy remedies can alleviate symptoms quickly.

People with ongoing or severe gas pain should see a doctor right away, especially if the pain is accompanied by:

• constipation
• diarrhea
• fever
• rectal bleeding
• unexplained weight loss

While everyone experiences trapped gas once in a while, experiencing regular pain, bloating, and other gastrointestinal symptoms can indicate the presence of a medical condition or food sensitivity.

Read the article in Spanish.

Doctors discussed folk remedies for bloating

November 24, 2021
13:07

Flatulence is an unpleasant phenomenon that everyone must have encountered. In the program “About the Most Important” on the channel “Russia 1”, the spectators told how they are struggling with this condition. Sergey Agapkin and Mikhail Ginzburg commented on their favorite folk remedies for flatulence.

Bloating, flatulence, discomfort – all this pretty much poisons our lives. Many people use folk remedies to combat excessive accumulation of gases in the intestines. However, are they really that effective? Can they relieve your discomfort? Due to what properties? Dr. Sergei Agapkin and actor Mikhail Politseymako, together with nutritionist Mikhail Ginzburg, discussed the most popular folk remedies in the program “About the Most Important” on the Russia 1 channel.

Peppermint tea

According to Ginsburg, mint contains essential oils that can inhibit the growth of microflora and reduce gas formation. Sergey Agapkin added that menthol is a strong antispasmodic. It relieves the painful and unpleasant sensations associated with flatulence. So mint tea is a very effective folk remedy.

Chamomile tea

Mikhail Moiseevich noticed that chamomile has a mild antibacterial effect. In addition, this plant stimulates the secretion of digestive enzymes. Why is it good? One of the reasons for the development of flatulence is that insufficiently well-digested food fragments sometimes enter the large intestine. There, bacteria break them down, and a lot of gases are formed. By stimulating the stomach, small intestine, and pancreas, food will be digested more efficiently, which will also reduce the likelihood of flatulence.

Garlic

Garlic stimulates digestion and also has an antibacterial effect. Sergei Agapkin said that garlic should be divided into several parts and swallowed like a pill without chewing. In such an unusual way, you can extend its positive effect. “If you took and simply swallowed this piece, then it passed almost undigested through the small intestine, got into the thick one – and there the essential oils will have an antibacterial effect,” the doctor said. “A tablet of garlic for flatulence? An amazing fact,” Mikhail Politseymako admitted.

Fennel

A fan of the “About the Most Important” program Lilia reported that she is being treated with fennel decoction. Mikhail Moiseevich Ginzburg noted that fennel also has an antibacterial effect and helps reduce gas formation.

Even more interesting news – in our Instagram (banned in Russia) and Telegram channel @smotrim_ru.

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why bloating occurs and what to do about it

Published:

10 February 2023, 15:45

• nur.kz/health/medical-conditions/1774033-vzdutie-zivota-priciny-i-lecenie-narodnymi-sredstvami/”>

Girl presses her hands to her stomach: Pexels / Sora Shimazaki

Gas is a normal part of human digestion. However, flatulence causes discomfort. M.D. Minesh Khatri and medical publications PubMed and WebMD have described methods of dealing with it.

Causes of flatulence

What is flatulence? Flatulence is excessive gas formation and accumulation of gases in the gastrointestinal tract. Excessive gas is considered to be more than 20 times a day.

Why does flatulence occur? Gases can enter the body from outside or be formed during digestion. In view of this, MD Minesh Khatri highlights the following causes of flatulence:

1. Swallowing air. Chewing gum and lollipops, drinking drinks through a straw, frequent yawning, biting a pen or nails, sleeping with an open mouth and snoring cause air to be swallowed.
2. Carbonated drinks. Sweet and alcoholic drinks with bubbles are sources of additional gases in the body.
3. Eating high fiber foods. Beans, peas, broccoli, leafy greens, whole grains, and various dietary fiber supplements cause increased gas production.
4. Food allergy. Celiac disease, lactose intolerance and other features of the digestive system lead to flatulence.
5. Artificial sweeteners. Sorbitol, xylitol in the composition of products increase the risk of excessive gas formation.
6. Constipation, slow digestion. This can be caused by medication, age, diseases. In this case, the bacteria have more time to produce gas.
7. Too many bacteria. If there are more bacteria than necessary, then there is an excess of gases.
8. Diseases. Excess gas is a symptom of diseases (irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, diabetes, and others).

What are the causes of flatulence in women? In addition to common causes, flatulence in women occurs during pregnancy, before menstruation and ovulation, as well as during uterine prolapse and menopause.

Girl has a stomach ache: Freepik

According to health writer Erica Chirino, some people experience symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, including excessive gas, when stressed. A reaction to stress is a slowdown in the release of digestive enzymes and digestion, a slowdown in intestinal motility, as a result of which gases accumulate.

What to do about flatulence

Constant pain and discomfort, embarrassment, discomfort and stress are the main complications of flatulence. In most cases, excessive gas can be controlled by diet and lifestyle changes.

How to treat flatulence? Take advice from health writer Yvette Brazier:

1. Avoid foods high in fiber and carbohydrates. Legumes, citrus fruits, grapes, bananas, foods with lactose increase gas formation. PubMed notes that soaking legumes does not solve the problem or reduce the risk of flatulence.
2. Eat small meals. Symptoms improve if eating 4 to 6 small meals a day rather than 3 large ones.
3. Eat slowly. Digestion begins in the mouth, so you need to chew food thoroughly before swallowing.
4. Avoid chewing gum and soda to limit air swallowing.
5. Quit smoking. Smoking makes people swallow more air and can also irritate the digestive system.
6. Get active. Physical education improves the functioning of the digestive system, reduces gas formation and bloating.
7. Take probiotics. Consult your doctor to restore a healthy gut microflora with probiotics.

Dry herbs in a deep bowl: Pixabay

In the book of medicinal recipes the author suggests the following remedies:

1. Dandelion root infusion. Relieves inflammation, improves metabolism, fights constipation. Dandelion root is poured with cold boiled water, insisted for 8 hours, filtered and taken before meals.
2. Parsley infusion. Parsley seeds are poured with water, insisted for several hours, filtered and taken throughout the day.
3. Infusion of dill seeds. Crushed dill seeds are poured with boiling water, insisted, then filtered and taken three times a day.
4. Eucalyptus infusion. Dry eucalyptus leaves are crushed, poured with boiling water and infused for 30 minutes. Drink several times a day.

Peppermint tea and chamomile tea can help relieve the symptoms of bloating. This is not a drug, but a useful addition to complex treatment. If lifestyle changes don’t help and bloating continues to bother you, see your doctor.

Flatulence is a common problem, which is most often associated with disorders of the gastrointestinal tract and malnutrition. Gas formation is facilitated by the use of soda, smoking, chewing gum, eating foods high in fiber. Try to make lifestyle changes to help manage your symptoms, or seek help from your doctor.

Attention! The material is for informational purposes only. You should not resort to the methods of treatment described in it without first consulting a doctor.

Sources:

1. K. R. Price, J. Lewis, G. M. Wyatt, G. R. Fenwick. Flatulence – causes, relation to diet and remedies // PubMed. – 1988. – 32 (6): 609-26. — Mode of access: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.