Simple Home Remedies For Bloating

Introduction:

Do you feel like a balloon in your stomach? This is because you have the issue of stomach bloating! And if you are looking for some home remedies to help with your bloating, then yes, you have visited the right place. Bloating is a condition that causes the abdomen to feel tight and full, as well as the stomach to appear swollen.¹ The feeling of bloating can range from slightly uncomfortable to extremely painful. It usually goes away in some time, but it can be a recurring issue for some people.² 

What Causes Bloating?

Excessive intestinal gas is the most common cause of bloating.² Other common causes of bloating include the following: 

• Overeating and eating too quickly.² 
• Constipation (due to diet or lifestyle factors): Due to improper passing of stools, freshly digested food remains in the intestines for a longer period, waiting to go down. Everything expands to accommodate the extra volume, resulting in bloating.² 
• Gases can be ingested by swallowing air or drinking carbonated beverages.² 
• Weight gain usually affects your abdominal volume. Because of weight gain, there is less space for normal digestive processes; even a regular meal can cause you to feel abnormally bloated during digestion.^1,2 
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a digestive disorder in which the stomach acid comes up and irritates the oesophagus (food pipe)¹ 
• Small bowel bacterial overgrowth: This happens when bacteria from the colon (part of the large intestine) overflow into the small intestine. These bacterial overgrowths can also overload other bacteria that are supposed to balance them, resulting in stomach bloating.² 
• Irritable bowel syndrome is a colon disorder characterised by diarrhoea or constipation, abdominal pain, and mucus passage in stools. 
• Lactose intolerance (inability to digest sugar) and problem in digesting other food items 
• The menstrual cycle may cause temporary bloating² 

Bloating can sometimes be caused by more serious medical conditions that include:  

• Celiac disease (caused due to immune reactions to gluten-containing food items. Gluten is a protein found in many grains, and it doesn’t provide any nutrition) 
• Ascites (a swelling caused by fluid accumulation in the abdomen) and tumours 
• Ovarian cancer 
• Dumping syndrome (a condition that can develop after surgery to remove all or some part of the stomach) 
• Pancreatic insufficiency is a condition in which the pancreas is unable to produce specific enzymes for digestion.¹ 

It might be a serious problem if your bloating is accompanied by abdominal pain, cramps, nausea or vomiting. Persistent bloating that doesn’t improve with lifestyle changes, such as eating smaller meals or avoiding certain foods, may also point to a more serious issue.

Dr Ashish Bajaj, M.B.B.S M.D. in Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology

Symptoms of Bloating:

Common Symptoms of Bloating Include

• Stomach discomfort 
• Stomach pain 
• Gas formation in the stomach 
• Frequent burping (belching) or abdominal rumbling or gurgling (squeaking noise from the abdomen)³ 

Severe Symptoms of Bloating Include

• Nausea 
• Vomiting 
• Blood in the stools 
• Heartburn (a burning feeling in your chest due to the backing up of stomach acid in the food pipe) 
• Fever because of any infection 
• Vaginal bleeding (postmenopausal or between your periods) 
• Diarrhoea  
• Noticeable weight loss (without trying)³ 

Suggested Home Remedies for Bloating:

The following are some of the home remedies that may help you relieve bloating: 

1. Herbal Teas

Herbal teas may aid in digestion and relieve gas. Some of the herbal teas that might benefit you for bloating are chamomile, peppermint, turmeric, ginger, and fennel tea. Dandelion tea may help to relieve water retention, thereby reducing bloating.²  

2. Pan (Tambulam/Betel Leaf)

According to Ayurveda, pan is a post-meal digestive stimulant.⁴ You can chew betel leaves after meals; this can help with digestion. It may stimulate the secretion of digestive juices, relieve constipation and aid in reducing stomach bloating.⁵ 

3. Elaichi (Cardamom)

Traditionally, cardamom was used as a stomachic (helps digestion and promotes appetite), anti-flatulent (prevents gas accumulation) and for managing indigestion.⁶ You can take some cardamom, shunti (dry ginger), and rock salt and make a fine powder of it. You can take this with warm water. This might be helpful in bloating and indigestion.⁵  

4. Chakra Phool (Star Anise)

The star anise fruit acts as a carminative (to relieve gas from the intestine) and is used for indigestion and to relieve bloating.⁷ You can take some anise powder and mix it with honey. It helps with digestive issues like bloating, flatulence, stomach pain, and colic (abdomen pain).⁵ The fruits of this tree are also used for making tea and might be helpful in stomach bloating and indigestion. 

5. Ginger

Ginger is an essential dietary agent that has carminative properties. It has been used for a long time to manage digestive issues like bloating, constipation, indigestion, discomfort, etc.⁸ You can prepare ginger tea by adding ginger to the water and boiling it. This may help manage stomach bloating.  

6. Hing (Asafoetida)

Hing is a popular ingredient in several foods. Its health benefits are that it helps to reduce bloating, menstrual pain, and indigestion.⁹ You can take warm water with some hing in it. This may help with bloating.  

7. Ajwain

In Iran, ajwain has been used as an herbal remedy for a variety of gastrointestinal conditions, including bloating. It also has anti-inflammatory properties that also might be beneficial for bloating.¹⁰ You can chew some ajwain seeds. You can also boil some ajwain in water, allow it to cool and then drink it.  

8. Turmeric

Turmeric is considered one of nature’s most potent healing agents. It acts as a digestive stimulant as well as a carminative. It is added to a variety of dishes to improve digestion and reduce gas and bloating. You can take turmeric as a dry powder mixed in plain water or buttermilk, which is highly beneficial for stomach issues.¹¹    

It is essential to educate patients on the benign course of this disorder, to establish long-term care and expectations for treatment. If red flag signs like unintentional weight loss, persistent vomiting, or dysphagia are present, further evaluation is recommended.

Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS MD(Pediatrics)

Preventive Measures:

• Avoid foods that can create gas, including cabbage, Brussel sprouts, beans, lentils, and turnips. 
• Avoid chewing gum and carbonated beverages.  
• Eat your food slowly. 
• Quit smoking 
• Avoid milk and other dairy items that contain lactose¹ 
• Drink plenty of water 
• Avoid processed foods 
• Eat food items rich in fibre. Fibre aids in promoting good bacteria in the gut; it helps clean out the faecal matter that is lodged, reducing constipation and helping to relieve bloating. 
• Exercise regularly² 

For more tips to reduce bloating CLICK HERE

When to Seek Medical Help?

Seek medical help if your stomach bloating: 

• Causes pain continuously 
• Continued for more than a week 
• Worsens gradually² 

You must also seek medical help if you notice other symptoms along with bloating, like:  

• Vomiting 
• Heartburn which is progressing and getting worse 
• Abdominal pain 
• Diarrhoea 
• Dark stools that look like tar 
• Blood in the stools 
• Weightloss¹ 

Also Read: Home Remedies For Immediate Relief From Constipation

Conclusion:

Bloating is a common experience and a very unpleasant feeling. However, it can be managed using some of the above-mentioned tips that may help to prevent stomach bloating from worsening. Additionally, home remedies such as herbal teas, elaichi, pan, star anise, ginger, hing, ajwain, and turmeric may be beneficial in reducing bloating. However, if the bloating persists for more than a week and you have other symptoms, which are worsening your condition, then in such cases, you must consult your doctor.  

Also Read: 5 Instant Home Remedies For Gastric Problem

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

References:

1. Abdominal bloating. [Internet]. MedlinePlus National Library of Medicine. 2022. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003123.htm 

2. Bloated Stomach [Internet]. Cleveland Clinic. 2021. p. 1–13. Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/21740-bloated-stomach 

3. Bloating [Internet]. American Academy of Family Physicians. 2021. p. 1–4. Available from: https://familydoctor.org/condition/bloating/ 

4. Betel leaf [Internet]. Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences. 2022. Available from: http://ccras.nic.in/node/1376 

5. AYUSH. Ayurveda Offering Herbal Healing [Internet]. 1–128 p. Available from: https://www.esic.nic.in/attachments/publicationfile/7d11b02e5abb4717d53b4ce05efabd21.pdf 

6. Sengottuvelu S. Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum Linn: Maton) Seeds in Health [Internet]. Nuts and Seeds in Health and Disease Prevention. Elsevier Inc.; 2011. 285–291 p. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780123756886100349 

7. Gonzalez-Stuart AE, McCallum RW. Medicinal Plants Used for Digestive Disorders- What the Gastroenterologist Needs to Know. Pract Gastroenterol [Internet]. 2015;39(9):12–25. Available from: https://practicalgastro.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Medicinal-Plants-for-Digestive-Disorders-What-Gastroenterologist-Needs-to-Know.pdf 

8. Nikkhah Bodagh M, Maleki I, Hekmatdoost A. Ginger in gastrointestinal disorders: A systematic review of clinical trials. Food Sci Nutr [Internet]. 2019 Jan 1 [cited 2022 Mar 25];7(1):96. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6341159/ 

9. Shahrajabian MH, Sun W, Cheng Q. Asafoetida, Natural Medicine for Future. Curr Nutr Food Sci [Internet]. 2021;17(9):922–6. Available from: https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/ben/cnf/2021/00000017/00000009/art00005 

10. Yazdian M, Agah S, Minaii B, Ansari R, Hosseini H, Vazifekhah S, et al. Evaluation of Efficacy of Carum Copticum on Gaseous Symptoms in Patients With Abdominal Bloating. Int J Biosci [Internet]. 2014;5(9):372–8. Available from: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.657.2548&rep=rep1&type=pdf 

11. Bhowmik D, Chiranjib, Kumar KPS, Chandira M, B. Jayakar. Turmeric: A Herbal and Traditional Medicine. Sch Res Libr [Internet]. 2009;1(2):86–108. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Debjit-Bhowmik-3/publication/268268687_Turmeric_A_Herbal_and_Traditional_Medicine/links/5552dedf08aeaaff3bf001f1/Turmeric-A-Herbal-and-Traditional-Medicine.pdf 

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