Many a time, intestinal gas is a cause for humour. But for the person who experiences gas in a public place, it is no longer a laughing matter. As many as 30 to 40 % of people experiences bloating and gas, which they attribute to gastric trouble. Most of the patients even refrain complaining about flatulence, excessive belching, increased intestinal gas and bloating to the physician, as they are embarrassed. Our intestines cannot digest everything we eat. The leftovers are passed on to the colon.
The processing or fermentation of leftover carbohydrates by the colonic bacteria leads to the formation of intestinal gas. While it may come into view that a few individuals pass too much gas in contrast to others, there may not be any disparity in the quantity of gas shaped in the complainers and the non-complainers. It is just that some people are more responsive and feel it more than others do.
Several factors cause people to ingest air. For instance, if dentures do not fit well, the person tends to swallow more saliva that carries air bubbles with it. If the enduring has post-nasal free, then he tends to swallow more often, carrying more air to the stomach. Smoking a cigar or pipe may also add to the amount of saliva shaped and swallow, causal to surplus gas.
Several individuals have a habit of belching often. To do this, they gulp down air, which they then belch. Unluckily, the patient is by no means able to belch out all of the swallowed air, thus produce intestinal gas. Fast eating adds to the quantity of air that people swallow. Gum chewing and sucking on hard candies also add to the amount of air swallowed. Avoid effervescent drinks. Some gas is also shaped as the carbonated drink enters the mouth.
Though, the most ordinary source of intestinal gas is beans. Beans cause gas, as the body cannot digest the composite sugars they enclose. These starches pass into the intestine, where they convert into food to the bacteria nearby there. While they use the starch as food, gas is passed as a by-product. Similarly, milk is gas forming in adults. Incomplete digestion of milk can lead to gas, stomach cramps, bloating and diarrhea. Some drugs such as narcotics, calcium channel blockers slow the gut, and may lead to gas being attentive in the bowel, due to slow group.
In Ayurveda, flatulence is called as Aadhmaana. Treatment modalities comprise measures to encourage deepana (by carminatives), paachana (by digestives) and vaataanulomana (by gas expellers))
SELF-HELP GUIDELINES
- Drink a cup of warm water with 2 drops of peppermint (pudina), cinnamon (daalchini) or ginger extract.
- Dried ginger and ajwain in equivalent weights should be steep in double the quantity of limejuice, dried and crushed. Add a little black salt to the powder. Two grams should be taken with warm water as and when required. Tie 2 handfuls of bajra and a handful of crystal-salt in a bag, warm it over the hot plate and stir up the stomach.
- If the victim is a child, you can be relevant a pad of yarn wool or cloth steeped in hot water, in which asafetida has been disbanded. Alternately, one part of turpentine oil and 2 parts of castor oil can be useful over the abdomen in tepid condition. Warmed castor leaves can also be wrapping over the stomach.
- Prepare a complex powder by taking equal parts of fried asafoetida (heeng), black salt (souvarcha lavana), cardamom (elaichi), ginger (sonth) and Solanumxanthocarpum (kantakaari). Take in doses of 3 to 5 grams.
- Mixture of 2 parts of celery seeds (ajamoda) and-1 part of fennel seeds (saunf) and sugar, taken in doses of half to one teaspoonful, helps ease flatulence.
- For kids, there is a ‘user gracious’ preparation to apply. Take fine powders of 5 parts of rutagraveolens (sadaab), 4 parts of celery seeds (ajamoda), 3 parts of mint (pudina), 1 part of saffron, 2 parts of black pepper, and 10 parts of honey. Keep in fresh bottle and use as and when requisite,” in a dose of one to half teaspoonful.
- Don’t eradicate all the gas producing foods at once. In its place, avoid one food at a time.
- Dentures should be fitted correctly.
- If you’ve post-nasal discharge, then you should take action for the same.
- Slow down when you eat, avoid gulp food and chew each bite methodically. Don’t talk while eating.
- Avoid consumption through straws or narrow-mouthed bottles. Use a glass or cup in its place.
- Don’t lie down right away after eating. Sit for a while.
- Get rid of carbonated beverages from your diets. Keep in mind that beer also contains gas.
- Cut down on fatty meats.
- Work out regularly. Decrease undue mental stress. Yoga is a good option.
- Don’t use synthetic drugs. Self-medication is dangerous.
- Be watchful about ‘recycled’ restaurant tea, as it irritates the inner lining of intestines, thereby forming gas.
FOODS THAT PRODUCE GAS
- Beans
- Nuts (especially groundnuts and cashew-nuts)
- Pulses (black gram and Bengal gram)
- Vegetables such as potato, cabbage, onions, garlic, cauliflower, radishes, cucumbers, peas
- Prunes such as jujube fruit
- Apples, grapes, bananas
- Bran and whole grains
- Dairy products and milk
- Eggs
- High fat foods
- Fried foods
- Fermented foods such as dosa, dietary fibre and salads
- Fatty meats
- Rich pastries It Uncooked chutneys
- Rich sauces, gravies
- Rich pastries It Uncooked chutneys
- Rich sauces, gravies