Gas pains are a very common problem and affect all of us at some point, while some people have this problem on a daily basis. Gas pains are often accompanied by uncomfortable bowel sounds emanating from the intestinal tract.
Having gas is usually not a point of concern for most people but can be an indication of other bowel health issues.
Related: Gas pain in chest: What causes pain in chest when stomach is bloated and how to get rid of it
How to get rid of gas immediately and naturally
Hot water
Drinking warm or hot water can help get rid of gas immediately. Your body uses less energy to break down food when warm water is consumed, which allows for improved digestion and less gas.
Yogurt
Eating yogurt can relieve gas pain immediately. Yogurt contains probiotics, which help promote a healthy gut. On the other hand, if you have a lactose intolerance, yogurt can cause the problems you’re trying to solve.
Ginger
Eating ginger root or drinking it in a tea can help relieve bloating. Ginger is a natural carminative, which is an agent that relieves gas.
Lemon juice
Drinking lemon juice can be a great choice for getting rid of gas instantly. Citric acid found in lemons helps break down gas-causing foods when they enter the digestive tract.
You can drink a small glass of lemon juice mixed with some water to relieve gas. Or you can mix lime juice with baking powder in water to relieve gas. This mixture further helps to break down food and improve digestion.
Deep breaths
Deep breathing can help ease stomach pain when practiced on a regular basis. Deep breathing increases blood flow, which provides additional oxygen to the digestive tract. This is needed for healthy digestion along with eliminating bloating and gas.
Peppermint
Peppermint is known to settle the stomach and relieve gas quickly. Peppermint can help prevent spasms and cramping of the digestive organs. It also helps to stimulate the gallbladder to release more bile and improve digestion.
Antibiotics
While these drugs should be taken under the guidance of a trained medical professional, antibiotics can be an effective treatment option in cases of uncontrollable and unbearable gas pains. Antibiotics can clear out gas producing bacteria found in the gut, but can also clear out healthy bacteria needed to keep the gut working properly. Antibiotics used for the treatment of gas pains should be taken with extreme caution.
Pass wind
The simplest solution for treating gas pains, but often the one most of us try to avoid. Passing gas is a natural bodily occurrence, but one that is often shunned by society. It is best to find a place where you are alone and then pass your gas when nobody is looking.
Move your body
Participating in regular exercise helps to move the muscles of the abdomen and subsequently the muscles of the gastrointestinal tract. Exercise is a great way to help your body relieve gas faster and more quickly, reducing pain that is often associated with it.
Simethicone
An over the counter medication that goes under many different brand names such as Gas-X, Mylanta Gas, and Phazyme. It works by consolidating gas bubbles in the stomach, helping you expel them easily. It is advised to discuss the use of this type of medication with your doctor before incorporating them into your treatment plan.
Activated charcoal
Activated charcoal traps chemicals and prevents their absorption, which helps treat gas and bloating. Activated charcoal is made by heating charcoal in gas to create pores to trap chemicals. Other uses for activated charcoal include lowering cholesterol, preventing hangovers, and treating bile flow problems.
Black pepper
Black pepper is a carminative, which means it prevents gas and bloating from occurring.
To effectively treat gastric irritation, take powdered black pepper with jaggery. Black pepper can also be used in combination with buttermilk for synergistic effects.
Caraway seeds
Caraway seeds relieve bloating and gas and promote healthy digestion. Pour one to two teaspoons of crushed caraway seeds in a cup of boiling water and steep for 10 to 15 minutes. Consume this beverage a few times a day between meals to promote healthy digestion.
Buttermilk
Helps to heal gastric problems as well as keeping the gastrointestinal track fit and healthy. Freshly churned buttermilk is one of the best remedies for curing indigestion.
Cloves
Eating a few raw pieces can help relieve gas pain almost immediately. Cloves increase saliva production, peristalsis, boosts digestion, and can relieve heartburn. You can chew on cloves to obtain relief.
Clove oil is also effective at relieving gas, bloating, and other digestive issues.
Apple cider vinegar
Adding a few teaspoons of apple cider vinegar to water can help relieve gas and bloating. Drinking apple cider vinegar when experiencing heartburn symptoms can halt heartburn too.
Cardamom
Cardamom helps accelerate the digestive process to help reduce gas. You can add cardamom to your favorite dishes or chew on it for gas and bloating relief.
Cinnamon
Adding cinnamon to tea can help treat gas. Large consumption of cinnamon can have a laxative effect.
Coconut water
A great source of electrolytes including protein, coconut water can provide relief for gas pain as well. You can drink coconut water on a regular basis to help reap its beneficial effects.
Celery leaves
Chewing on this vegetable stock raw can help relieve gastric pain and irritation. The chemicals in celery can prevent fluid retention, which contributes to bloating. Celery can help regulate bowels along with control gas.
Onion
Onions contain fiber, which regulates bowels and prevents gas and bloating. The fiber in onions promotes good bacteria in the gut. The extracted juice from an onion can give you relief from gastric problems.
Papaya
Papayas help prevent gas in the stomach. They are also high in fiber, which relieves bloating and regulates digestion.
Yoga and sleeping positions
Yoga can stretch the stomach and digestive tract to release trapped gas and relieve bloating. Yoga poses that relieve gas include wind-removing pose, supine twist, cat-cow pose, and happy baby.
The best sleeping positions to relieve gas include keeping your head elevated, sleeping on your left side, and lying face down.
Read more: Yoga and sleeping positions to relieve gas and bloating
How to prevent gas
Gas pain can just be a nuisance or be due to a medical condition such as celiac disease or irritable bowel syndrome, possibly requiring the aid of a medical professional. But in general, preventing gas pain is something that can be prevented by altering lifestyle habits and diet. The following are some tips you can start doing today to prevent stomach pain:
- Stop chewing gum, as you tend to swallow more air doing so
- Avoid smoking
- Chew with your mouth closed to avoid swallowing excess air
- Cut out gas triggering foods from your diet
- Avoid straws, as they are sucking a lot of air in as well
- Incorporate more exercise into your daily routine
- Avoid the consumption of carbonated beverages and food known to cause stomach upset
- Eat fewer fatty foods
- Read labels
- Temporarily cut back on high-fiber foods
These 23 natural remedies can help you finally get relief from embarrassing gas and painful bloating.
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