The main cause of this embarrassing condition is usually due to the diet. High sugar and salt intake, lack of prebiotic and probiotic foods and fibre, easting too fast on the go and not chewing food properly can all cause bloating and lead to trapped wind and flatulence.
Prescription drugs, especially anti-biotics, often throw the body’s inner ecosystem out of balance where pathogenic and disease-causing bacteria, yeasts and viruses can thrive.
These infections take over the digestive system and, if left untreated, can then invade other organs in the body and even enter the blood stream. They may cause the blood to become acidic causing fatigue which contributes to chronic disease and cause gas, belching and bloating.
What can cause flatulence?
Carbonated drinks, indigestible fatty foods causing gut fermentation and improper food combining can all cause flatulence as well as the following factors:
- Aluminium toxicity
- Bacterial infections
- Bacteria Imbalance in the Intestines
- High legume diet (beans, pulses, peas, peanuts)
- Lack of fibre, fruit and vegetables
- Malabsorption caused by medications
- Food allergies
- Processed foods with unnatural additives and artificial sweeteners.
- Refined sugars and processed foods that contain sugar
- Stress and anxiety
- Viruses
- Yeast and fungal infections
What other serious complaints cause flatulence?
- Colon cancer
- Diverticulitis
- Gall bladder disease
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Oesophageal problems
- Cystic fibrosis
- Endometriosis
- Celiac disease
- Malabsorption syndromes
- Pancreatic disease
What are the natural remedies for flatulence?
When food is eaten too fast, a pint or more of air can get trapped in the gut. With slow, careful chewing, less air will be taken in, and the food will become drenched with saliva. Saliva contains enzymes that begin to break down food before it even reaches the gut and chewing helps it to saturate all of the food which in turn aids with proper digestion.
The following natural foods can all alleviate flatulence problems. A tea may be made with the herbs and ground up seeds and spices with the addition of freshly squeezed lemon juice and a teaspoon of honey.
- Amaranth
- Andrographis
- Anise
- Barley
- Basil
- Bay leaf
- Bicarbonate of soda
- Blackberries
- Black pepper
- Brine pickles
- Brown rice
- Burdock root
- Caraway seed tea
- Cardamom
- Cayenne pepper
- Celery seeds
- Chamomile tea
- Chicory
- Cinnamon
- Cloves
- Coconut
- Cumin seeds
- Dandelion root
- Dill
- Fennel seeds
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Goat’s milk
How to make remedies for flatulence
Apple cider vinegar: Add two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar to a glass of warm water. Allow the water to cool to room temperature and then drink it.
Bicarbonate of soda and lemon juice: Put the juice of one fresh lemon in a glass and add some baking soda to it. This will cause fizzing. Add some more baking soda and a cup of water and stir it well so the bicarbonate of soda dissolves completely. Drink this slowly. For instant relief from stomach gas, add a small amount of bicarbonate of soda to a glass of water and drink it on empty stomach. Be aware that bicarbonate of soda is high in sodium.
NOTE: Those with high blood pressure should avoid bicarbonate of soda.
Cardamom, fennel seeds and ginger. Take a quarter of a teaspoon of each and mix them thoroughly then add a cup of water and drink once or twice a day.
Celery seeds and black salt in a cup of buttermilk can relieve flatulence.
Cinnamon: Add one-half teaspoon of cinnamon powder to a cup of warm milk. Stir it well and then drink it. Honey can be added also if desired. Alternatively, make cinnamon tea by adding some cinnamon powder to a cup of boiling water. Let it steep for a few minutes and then drink it.
Cumin seeds, black pepper and garlic: Boil some ground garlic in water for a few minutes then add a small amount of black pepper and cumin seeds. Strain it and let it cool to room temperature. Drink this two or three times a day to see results in a few days.
Garlic: Make a garlic soup to reduce gas and help with proper digestion. For best results, use fresh garlic.
Ginger tea: can help to prevent the formation of gas in the stomach. Boil one tablespoon of ground ginger in water for a few minutes. Drink this tea two or three times a day. Alternatively, chew a fresh piece of ginger regularly after meals or add small amounts of dried or fresh ginger to food.
Sage tea can help reduce flatulence and make digestion easier. It should not be used for more than a week, but during this period, the tea may be taken up to three times per day.
To combat flatulence and bloating eliminate the following from the diet and introduce slowly, one at a time, to find out the cause of the flatulence that may just be an intolerance to certain foods.
- Beans
- Broccoli
- Brussels sprouts
- Cabbage
- Carbonated beverages
- Chewing gum
- Chocolate
- Coffee
- Dairy products
- Fatty or fried products
- Onions
- Red and green peppers
- Sugar
- Wheat
For ways to check for food intolerance see: Allergies
Related subjects
- A-Z of ailments
- Anal fissures
- Anti-microbial healing plants and foods
- Bacterial infections and natural antibiotics
- Constipation and diarrhoea
- Diverticular disease
- Excretory system disorders
- Feed your friendly bacteria
- Haemorrhoids
- Intestinal system disorders
- Parasites
- Sclerosing mesenteritis