Causes of Flatulence
Sometimes flatulence is caused by a digestive disorder, such as lactose intolerance or celiac disease.
Medical Treatments
Normally, treatment is necessary only if a gastrointestinal disorder, a rare occurrence, causes the excessive flatulence. However, if a change in lifestyle does not sufficiently reduce a flatulence problem, a doctor may recommend a nonprescription product containing simethicone, an agent that breaks up small gas bubbles that form in the stomach and intestines.
Alternative Therapies
Herbal Medicine
European herbalists often recommend angostura bitters or a tincture of gentian root. A teaspoon of bitters one or more times a day is said to ease flatulence; it can be taken straight or in sparkling water to make a refreshing beverage to drink before or after meals. Other herbal remedies include teas made from crushed and steeped anise seeds, basil leaves, cinnamon, hyssop, and peppermint.
Homeopathy
Practitioners may prescribe nuxvomica for gas.
Nutrition Therapy
Large doses of vitamin C can cause flatulence as well as diarrhea. If you are taking supplements of more than 500 milligrams, reduce the amount and increase dietary vitamin C by eating more citrus fruits and other fresh fruits as well as potatoes, sweet peppers, and other vegetables.
Yoga
The knee to chest position can be helpful in relieving flatulence. While reclining on your back, bend your knees, bringing them up to your chest. Grasp the knees and rock gently, then lower the legs. Repeat the movement, but this time move one leg at a time. Inhale as you begin. When the knee is fully bent, lift your head to touch your nose to that knee, and hold for a count of 10. Exhale as you lower the head and return the leg to the floor. Do this five times with each leg. Then raise both knees again, lift your head until your nose touches your knee, and breathe as instructed for the single leg lift.
Self Treatment
You can control your gas production to some extent by dietary changes. Through trial and error, identify foods that cause excessive gas in your intestinal tract, then reduce or eliminate them. For example, certain dried beans can result in flatulence because the intestinal bacteria needed for their digestion give off methane. In particular, soybeans and pink beans tend to produce more methane than Anasazi and black beans. Other foods associated with increased gas include cabbage, spinach, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, eggplant, onions, celery, carrots, raisins, apricots, wheat germ, prune juice, and bran and other high-fiber foods. You may also want to try the following tactics:
- Reduce fat intake. The digestion of fats sometimes contributes to the problem.
- Eliminate dairy products if you are unable to digest lactose . Alternatively, use products in which lactose has already been partially broken down, as in Lactaid milk. You can also take lactase pills, which contain enzymes needed to digest lactose.
- Minimize the swallowing of air by eating more slowly and not talking with food in your mouth. Some doctors also suggest eliminating carbonated beverages because they introduce extra air into the gastrointestinal tract.
- Avoid overeating. Eating too much at one time or eating while under stress can also inhibit normal digestion and lead to excessive gas production.
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