Holistic Bloating Relief

Bloating--the uncomfortable sensation that the abdomen is larger than normal--is a common symptom after eating. Bloating can be continuous or intermittent and is caused by gas in the stomach. If you have persistent or unexplained bloating for more than 3 days or if you have abdominal pain, see your medical doctor immediately to rule out dangerous diagnoses. Many people turn to holistic medicine for help with simple, intermittent bloating caused by dietary intolerances and indiscretions. Discuss with your doctor if a holistic treatment could be right for you.

Features of Bloating and Distention

• Bloating is usually perceived in the upper abdomen as a sensation of fullness and pressure. Sometimes, but not always, bloating is accompanied by distention, in which the abdomen visibly protrudes. Bloating can be continuous or intermittent. Continuous bloating with distention is usually caused by medical conditions, such as tumors, fluid around the abdomen or obesity. Intermittent bloating is normally due to excessive production of gas, and there are many causes, including poor digestion and absorption, celiac disease, bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine, temporary obstruction, irritable bowel syndrome and lactose intolerance. Dietary factors can also contribute; anything that slows digestion, such as fatty or oily foods, can cause bloating. Other common dietary culprits are beans, cabbage and common sweeteners such as xylitol and fructose. Bloating can also be brought on by eating too quickly, which causes air to get into the digestive tract.

Philosophy of Holistic Medicine

• Holistic medicine strives to view the patient as a whole--not merely a disease or collection of symptoms--and to focus on the role of interconnected influences such as emotional, nutritional, social, spiritual and environmental factors. The emphasis is on helping the immune system to heal itself, and to bring the patient back into a state of balance.

Holistic Remedies

• If you see a holistic practitioner for help with your bloating symptoms, he will probably question you about your dietary, lifestyle and exercise habits. Natural treatments he might recommend include taking a walk--exercise releases hormones that encourage bowel activity--and making dietary changes. He may advise you to cut out coffee, tea and chocolate, as these can overstimulate the digestive tract, and tell you to avoid fatty foods, excess sugar and salt, and artificial sweeteners. He may also advise adding liquid lactase to dairy products, or substituting dairy products that produce less gas, such as aged cheeses and yogurt. In addition, he has an arsenal of carminative, or gas-reducing, herbs at his disposal. He may advise you to drink a tea made from peppermint, caraway or fennel. According to The Green Pharmacy Herbal Handbook, these herbs contain high levels of gas-reducing compounds such as camphor, carvone, eugenol, menthol and thymol. He may also recommend the use of chamomile, traditionally used in herbal medicine as a digestive aid. Other herbs he might prescribe to relieve bloating include pulsatilla vulgaris, or pasque flower, arctium lappa, or burdock, dandelion, gentian and ginger.

Precautions

• Never embark on any herbal regimen without first consulting your physician; these substances can interfere with prescription medicines. Don't stop or reduce your dosage of prescription medicines, even if you feel better, unless you doctor tells you to. Holistic medicine is considered a complementary treatment to medical care, not a replacement therapy.