Relieve Intestinal Gas Pain Instantly With These Remedies
Experiencing occasional bloating and
flatulence is part of normal human digestion. In fact, an average adult
passes gas between 13 and 21 times a day. Problems begin when the
abdominal gas produced in the gut becomes trapped, which sometimes feels
like a sharp stabbing pain in your belly or chest. This pain can
sometimes be so severe that people mistake it for appendicitis or even a
heart attack. Treating the problem as fast as possible can help relieve
the pain before it becomes severe. The home remedies listed in this
article can effectively relieve trapped gas pain.
Symptoms and causes of trapped wind
Symptoms and causes of trapped wind
People who experience trapped gas describe
it as acute discomfort in the belly. Bloating and stomach cramps can be
present too. Sometimes, trapped wind bubbles can cause a sudden sharp
and stabbing pain in the abdomen and chest that can be confused with
other serious health conditions, such as appendicitis, gallstones, or a
heart attack.
Trapped gas can occur for a vast variety of
reasons. Certain foods, such as beans, cabbage, and bran can also make
your gut bacteria produce more carbon dioxide gases in the intestinal
tract, which can lead to bloating excess gas.
People suffering from food intolerance,
chronic constipation, ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and other
digestive issues are more likely to experience the inability to pass gas
too. But even healthy people can experience trapped wind if they happen
to eat too fast, smoke, chew a lot of gum, or have a stuffy nose, which
makes them swallow a lot of air.
Therefore, knowing how to address the issue
rather than focusing only on prevention is key when it comes to trapped
intestinal gas, bloating, and constipation.
Home Remedies For Trapped Gas
Home Remedies For Trapped Gas
We list several effective home remedies for
expelling trapped wind below. Do keep in mind that different remedies
work best for different people, so trying a few of these or combining
them is probably the best strategy to find quick relief.
1. Move Your Body and Bowels
Walking around the house, doing some light
housework, playing, or taking a child or a pet for a walk all help
tremendously to expel the trapped gas. Activity moves and engages the
abdominal and intestinal muscles, which can help you release the gas and
speed up a bowel movement, which can also encourage the gas to make its
way out of the digestive system.
2. Give your belly a massage
If moving around is difficult and painful, a gentle self-massage can
help stimulate the digestive system and promote peristalsis - wave-like
muscle contractions that move food and abdominal gas through the GI
tract. Gently massage the tender spot or massage the entire abdominal
cavity by moving your palm in counter-clockwise circles.
3. Apply heat to the area
The sensation of warmth can be very soothing and relaxing, which can
help relax you emotionally and ease the spasm of the muscles in your gut
that cause the pain. You can take a warm bath, use a heating pad, or
just a hot water bottle for that purpose. Make sure not to use excessive
heat and wrap the heating pad or hot water bottle in a towel or blanket
to protect the skin from a burn.
4. Drink herbal tea
4. Drink herbal tea
Drinking warm herbal tea or any
noncarbonated liquid can help relieve the pain for many people. The
advantage of herbal teas is that they combine the warming action with
medicinal properties. Mint, ginger, anise, or chamomile tea all calm the
gut from the inside out, relieving bloating and hydrating your body to
promote digestion.
5. Explore your spice drawer
Certain spices have been used as a natural kitchen remedy for trapped
gas for millennia. Here are a few of such herbs as:
Coriander
Caraway
Fennel
Ginger
Turmeric.
Steeping these seeds in a glass of warm water and drinking the mixture
can help you expel the trapped wind and reduce abdominal discomfort and
pain. Fennel seeds, in particular, are an ancient solution for trapped
gas. Simply chew on 1 teaspoon of the seeds to find relief. One
traditional Persian remedy suggests that you mix 1 teaspoon ground
fennel and cumin seeds each with ½ teaspoon of ground anise, and soaking
them in 1 cup of boiling water for 15 minutes.
6. Try the knee-to-chest yoga pose
6. Try the knee-to-chest yoga pose
Yoga stretches are an excellent option for helping the trapped gas be expelled from the intestines. There are several yoga poses that target this specific concern. We discuss 6 of such poses in this article - 6 Yoga Stretches to Relieve Bloating. But if you’re looking for just one simple option that you can even when you’re experiencing abdominal discomfort and pain, apanasana is probably the best choice. This yoga stretch is literally translated as “wind-relieving pose” from Sanskrit. Here’s how to do it:
1. Lie down on your back, legs and arms extended.
2. Bend the knees and place your hands on the knees.
3. Use the hands to guide your knees up and towards the chest. Your knees and chest don’t have to touch, but you should feel a gentle stretch in the back body.
4. Lift the head and neck off the ground and move towards your knees, engaging your core muscles. Breathe deeply and hold this pose for 20 seconds. Then return to the initial position. Repeat if necessary 2-3 times.
In summary, trapped wind can be extremely uncomfortable and painful. But the good news is that it’s highly treatable using home remedies and lifestyle tweaks. If the tips we mentioned didn’t help or you’re experiencing other symptoms, make sure to consult your doctor to rule out any serious health conditions and find a treatment that works for you.
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