Home Remedies For Gas ( Flatulence )

In most cases, gas is not a matter of concern, except for some discomfort when in public. However, it may turn into a serious condition when it leads to pain. 

Symptoms Associated With Gas

• Pain - gas lead to a sharp pain in the abdomen, which often feels like getting punched. It may also be a tearing sensation. The person may clench his or her fist and twist inwards to relieve the pain. 
• Abdominal distension - Swelling of the lower abdomen which is nothing but bloating. 
• Burping feeling - If you recently had food, there may be some nausea. 
• Acid reflux - It commonly occurs along with gas. If the gas finds an escape route through the oesophagus, and the person suffers from acid reflux, the gas becomes acidic and scars the oesophagus. This leads to chest pain, sore throat and burning sensation. 
• Referred pains to other parts of the body, like the urinary system, kidneys, back and the liver because of a swollen abdomen. 

The aim of home remedies is to minimize the symptoms and provide greatest relief from the pain. The best thing is to facilitate the passing of stored gas in any way possible. Many of these remedies are difficult to perform in public. But they are very effective. 

1. Cool Milk
Drink about 1/2 glass of cool milk if you are not allergic or intolerant to lactose or milk products. It provides very quick relief from gas pain. Milk is a natural antacid [1]. It relieves acidity and thus neutralizes stomach acid. Now, the intestinal gas cannot become acidic and thus lead to pain that comes because of acidic gas. This should neutralize the gas of its acidity and it becomes much less painful then.
Do not try this on babies as they may allergic to milk.



2. Yellow Mustard for Gas Pains
Mustard is a very powerful remedy for gas pain any time. And it works for most people, thus enjoying worldwide popularity. In fact, including mustard sauce in every meal may help to curb acidity and gas pain in people who are prone to it.
Ingredients
Yellow mustard
Directions / How to use
Chew 1 tablespoon of yellow mustard straight away. It quickly relieves gas pain and any large gas bubbles emerging up. Mustard helps the body in neutralizing the acidity of this gas and allow it to pass from the rear end of the food canal.
Why it works ?
Mustard is an antispasmodic. It prevents the intestinal organs from going into painful spasms on account of the excess gas production. It is also a carminative [2], that is it aids in expelling excess digestive gas in in the body.



3. Do Sit Ups
Seriously, this is pretty simple and highly effective. Unless you are in very sharp pain that you are unable to get up from the bed, this is a worthwhile remedy. It is quick to perform and doesn't need anything to be eaten.
Just perform about 10 sit ups very slowly. The very movement of the body in a sit up promotes the intestinal muscles to funnel out the gas stored. For some added relief, sit on the floor with your knees touching your chest. This further helps to release more stored gas.



4. Apple Cider Vinegar
ACV is definitely the master of all home remedies. It is also a digestive tonic, as it helps to improve the secretion of gastric acid from the stomach. One can use it to reduce a gas pain. Take about 2 tablespoons of ACV ( organic with the mother in it ) and add it to about 1/2 a glass of water. Drink the water and walk around for a while. Sitting actually worsens gas pains. Strolling allows ACV to perform its job. It relieves excess acidity and provides relief from gas pain, although it might take upto half an hour for it to take effect.



5. Ginger Ale ( most powerful remedy )
This is the most powerful and highly effective remedy for many intestinal disorders, including gas pain. Ginger is the best herb for treating indigestion [3]. In fact, the true cause of excess gas production in some people may lie in indigestion and incomplete digestion of foods. Drinking a cup of ginger tea also provides much relief, but ginger ale is absolutely awesome.
Drink about 1 glass of ginger ale and stroll around a bit. One should witness large volumes of burping and belching, which relieves much of the gas and provides relief from gas pain. Even though it is a carbonated beverage and increases total amount of gas, but it actually brings out all the gas with itself.



6. Prune Juice 
If gas pain occurs in the lower abdomen and there is increased pressure around the bladder region, then it is possibly because of constipation. In that case, intestinal gas stored in large intestine can be relieved by using a powerful remedy for constipation, that is prune juice .
Drink about 1 glass of prune juice, warm. Lay down straight, if you can. Otherwise move around a bit. If you really suffer from constipation [4], the juice would bring down all the constipation causing mass. The stool is often liquid and does not have a normal stool consistency. One should pass large amounts of gas which provide immense relief from gas pains and pressure.



7. Nutmeg powder 
This popular spice is a powerful carminative and has been used traditionally to alleviate gas pain. If you sufer from gas pains often, try adding a small amount of this spice powder in your recipes. It adds to the taste and aroma of the dish, stimulates appetite and helps to curb gas pain.



8. Black Pepper
One of the finest carminatives known to man is black pepper [5]. It is also great for upper digestive system health and a stimulant of gastric acid production. One can make use of it to relieve a gas pain and bloating .
Take 1 glass of water and add about 1/2 teaspoon of crushed black pepper. Stir this water and drink it slowly. It should provide relief from the pain in a few minutes.



9. Think about passing gas 
I know this sounds very strange, but one has to admit that our mind is very powerful. Instead of trying to force the belly to expel the gas, one can divert his or her attention to the mind. Firstly, try to relieve the stress on your mind. This way, the mind is not preoccupied. Then think about expelling gas from the abdominal cavity. It is like thinking about a delicious food and our mouth starts watering. In a similar way, this thought process can aid the body in expelling excess acid without much stress. It may not be as effective as a natural carminative or antiflatulent, but it helps.



10. Yogurt
Taking yogurt at room temperature can relieve gas pain and flatulence. In the long run, consuming yogurt regularly can help one get rid of this condition for life. How? Yogurt contains high amounts of healthy bacteria, called lactobacillus. There are many varieties of lactobacillus bacteria. These are good for our body, specifically for intestinal health [6]. They displace unhealthy organisms from the gut. As the gut flora ( composition of micro-organisms in our intestine ) improves, gas production is  regulated and more coordinated. This prevents exces gas production in a quick span of time.
To relieve gas pain, eat 1 cup of full fat yogurt. Wait for some time and see if it helps. You may add helpful spices like nutmeg, black pepper, mustard or oregano to this for increased potency.

"Even though yogurt is dairy, it is still helpful even for people who are lactose intolerant in small amounts. "



11. The wonderful herb Oregano
Our favourite pizza herb Oregano comes to the rescue in case of gas pain. Does that mean eating pizza may relieve gas pain ? I do not know. However, Oregano is a powerful herb that combats excess gas and abdominal distension ( severe bloating ). If your belly feels too full and there is slight difficulty in breathing because of the diaphragm getting pulled, this herb provides much relief.
One can take oregano in the form of a herbal tea.
Ingredients
Dried oregano leaves
Water
Directions / How to use
Add 2 tablespoon of dried herb in about 500 ml water. Let the water boil repeatedly. Once the water has reduced to about 200 ml, keep the tea covered on the top with a lid and remove the heat. Let the tea steep for about 20 minutes. Then strain it out and drink the herbal tea. It helps to relieve lower abdominal distension and gas pain. It is natural pain reliever (analgesic), so it helps to alleviate pain anywhere else in the body too.



12. Baking Soda with Lemon Juice 
This is a simple alternative to the commercial acidity relieving formulations. One can try them as well, specially the herbal ones. But, for a quick bubbling drink, this is great solution. Mixing baking soda with lemon juice creates effervescence, because it is a reaction between a strong acid and strong base.
Ingredients
Lemon juice
Baking soda
Water
Directions / How to use
Put 1 tablespoon baking soda in an empty glass. Add little water. Then squeeze out the juice of two lemons over this. There is strong effervescence ( bubbling ). Add some more water quickly, shake the glass and gulp down this liquid.
Why this works ? 
Combination of baking soda and lemon juice helps to dissolve out the gas and aid the body in taking it out. In most cases, this is done through belching. It also relieves gas pain by lowering excess acidity in the gas.



13. Heated salt in a cloth
Heat up salt in the microwave. Just make sure it is mild hot and not too hot. Then place this in a cloth, tie a knot at the end and put it under your shirt. Lie down with this cloth on your belly. Heat sent by the salt reaches the abdomen. This helps to get things moving in the intestine. The gas becomes warmer and starts rising up. It may come out through as a belch or as a flatulence.
One can also use heated rice, or a hot water compress to the belly.


14. Fennel Seeds 
In certain parts of the world, Fennel seeds are eaten right after a meal. This was actually devised by the ancient native people as a digestive aid. Fennel seeds are great for reducing flatulence, thus overcoming the gas pain.
Ingredients
Fennel seeds
Non- refined sugar or jaggery.
Directions / How to use
Take 1 teaspoon each of fennel seeds and jaggery. Munch them down together. It tastes sweet and reduces gastric complaints. Fennel helps the body digest food better and reduces flatulence [7]. It also expels phlegm from the throat.


15. Peppermint Tea
Drink a cup of warm peppermint tea. It feels cooling and soothing to the abdomen. It also relieves a gas pain.


Home remedies for Chronic Gas Pain, Flatulence and Abdominal Distension
This kind of pain may happen to anyone occasionally. However, if it occurs frequently, then it becomes quite troublesome for the person. It may take the joy out of eating, which affects appetite and finally on the health of the person. These are some things that can be done to improve the condition.

• Avoid foods that aggravate flatulence. Some of these foods are cabbage, broccoli, beans, legumes, whole grains, milk products and other such foods. 
• Add Asafoetida in your cooking - This aromatic spice improves appetite and helps the body lower down its gas production. It actually reduces the number of micro-organisms in the gut, which leads to lesser gas production. 
• Triphala - This is a very Ayurvedic formulation which is exceptionally good for digestive health, mentioned in Charak Samhita which is probably 3000 years old. It is made from the powders of three fruits - Amla, Bibhitaki and Haritaki. These fruits are astringent, analgesic and improve overall health of the lower digestive tract. Taking this powder as a health aid may relieve gas pains and any flatulence. It is also excellent for relieving constipation. 
• Use cardamom seeds to curb nausea which may occur with gas issues.