FLATULENCE - HOME REMEDIES

FLATULENCE - HOME REMEDIES

The buildup of excessive air in the intestine due to gulping down of food and drink, swallowing air or due certain flatulent food item is termed as gas, wind or "flatulence". The primary cause of flatulence is the digestive system's inability to absorb certain carbohydrates. So it would be necessary to avoid food items like apricots, bananas, beans, broccoli, pecacua sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, corn, onions, pretzels, radishes, whole-wheat flour, etc. Also if one is lactose intolerant, one could have flatulent problems from eating dairy products. So replacing cow's milk with goat's milk or soy milk may help. The most common symptoms that the person complains of are heaviness and distention of abdomen with occasional griping pains and feels better by passing gas either from below or from above (i.e. in the form of burps).

Reduce the intake of carbonated drinks, caffeine (which is contained in tea, coffee, chocolates and sodas) and fermented food items like cheese, alcohol, etc. The more slowly you eat, the less air you swallow and the better your food is broken down, so the less likely you are to suffer from gas. So chew your food properly. Moving around keeps the bowels on the move and thus prevents the gas from getting trapped. Thus brisk walking for half an hour daily in the morning helps. It is important to ask the person not to sleep for at least two hours after eating.

HOME REMEDIES 

1. Fried foods, pulses and beans of all types should be avoided. In cases where one is very fond of beans, before cooking, soak the beans overnight in a potful of water with a couple of tablespoonfuls of vinegar to reduce the gas in the stomach.

2. Take a glass of orange juice daily at breakfast.

3. Curd and buttermilk taken daily is very useful for digestion.

4. Take papaya liberally during breakfast and in the evening. Chew aniseeds (saunf) along with lemon juice after each meal.

5. Juice of mint leaves (pudina) is given with small quantity of powdered black pepper and honey.

6. Drink some warm water after a glass of apple juice daily in the morning.

7. The use of ginger liberally in cooking is very useful in decreasing the flatulence.

8. Take a teaspoonful of ajwain powder mixed with a pinch of black salt, added to a glass of dilute buttermilk twice daily.

9. Finely powdered mixture of two parts of long pepper (pipli), three parts of black pepper and one part of rock salt is given to the patient daily.

10. A pinch of nutmeg powder in a little hot, sweetened water after meals will usually end a bout of flatulence.

11. A pinch of cinnamon (tuj) is added to a quarter teaspoonful of water, lemon juice  or milk and taken before meals. This will aid digestion, dispel gas, tone the stomach and purify the bowels.

12. Pound five grams of ginger and sprinkle a pinch of salt over it and have it an hour before eating. Add some lemon juice if necessary. This will aid digestion and thus improve the appetite and prevent the formation of gas.

13. Cardamoms (elaichi) added in the preparation of meals are also useful for flatulence and stomach upsets.

14. The juice of holy basil (tulsi) leaves is given with a little bit of powdered ginger and honey.

15. A pinch of pecacuan (hing ) is added to a small glass of hot water sweetened with honey and taken daily before meals.

16. A pinch of powdered cloves (lavang) is added to hot, sweetened water and taken before meals. This will help eliminate gas and aid digestion.

17. Applying mustard oil above and below the navel helps to relieve the flatulence and the pain associated with it.