Types of Remedies for Flatulence

There are many causes for flatulence, or gas, from swallowing air to eating certain foods to certain medical conditions. Whatever the case, flatulence can be uncomfortable and embarrassing. But there are many remedies that can help rid you of flatulence.

Cut Certain Foods From Your Diet

• The first place to look when trying to solve a flatulence problem is your diet. There are many foods that are prone to causing gas, and eliminating these foods from your diet can reduce gas.

  Foods high in fibers, malts, amino acids, sulfurs or high amounts of fat (which turn into carbon dioxide when digested) are at the top of the list. Some of the most common of these foods include dairy, beans, cabbage, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli, oats, potatoes and yeast-containing foods such as breads. Carbonated beverages such as sodas also cause gas.

Eat Smaller Meals

• Eating smaller meals may help reduce gas by reducing the intake of flatulence-causing foods. Chew your food slowly, and be sure not to gulp down large chunks. Gulping traps air in your stomach that eventually has to be released, causing gas.

Homemade Medicines

• These are some tested remedies for gas that you can make with ingredients in your home.

  When you have gas:
  Drink a mixture of 1/2 tsp. of ginger powder with a pinch of asafetida and a pinch of rock salt, mixed in a cup of warm water.

  Before Bed:
  Drink a mixture of 2 tsp. of brandy with a cup of warm water.

  After Meals:
  Soak some fresh ginger slices in lime juice, and eat them.
  Put a drop of dill oil in a tsp. of honey, and eat it.
  Grind and mix 1 tsp. pepper, 1 tsp. dry ginger and 1 tsp. green cardamom seeds. Add 1/2 tsp. of this mixture to warm water, and drink it an hour after you eat.
  Chewing peppermint after your meal will freshen your breath and also help with gas.

Lactose Intolerance and Flatulence

• As we age, our body's ability to digest the sugar in dairy, known as lactose, lessens. If you experience gas mainly after you eat dairy, you might be lactose intolerant. But cutting dairy out of your diet can be hard. Try drinking lactose-free milk or eating nondairy cheese. If you can't avoid these yummy treats, take the enzyme lactase, which helps your body break down lactose. It's available over the counter in tablet or liquid form.

Medications

• Some common over-the-counter treatments for gas are Beano, Gas-X, Digestive Advantage, Flatulex and Mylanta.

  If you have tried all the above methods and you are still having problems with flatulence, consult your doctor.