Top 5 Homeopathic Medicines For Gas And Bloating

Gas in the abdomen is a very common problem. It can exhibit itself in many ways like a feeling of bloating in the abdomen, passing of excessive gas from the anus (flatulence), and burping. The trapped gas can cause discomfort, heaviness, and pain in the abdomen.

Homeopathy is highly proficient in handling numerous gastric issues including gas problems. Homeopathy along with proper diet and lifestyle management can bring great relief in gas problems. Homeopathy targets the underlying root cause behind excessive gas formation for excellent relief. Homeopathic medicines are sourced from natural substances so there are no adverse effects. These medicines help in reducing gas problems, bloating, excessive burping and abdomen pain due to gas.

Symptom-based prescription

There are numerous medicines in homeopathy to help bring relief in cases of gas problems. The most suitable medicine for each case is selected as per the characteristic presenting symptoms in every individual. A homeopathic physician records all the symptoms in detail and evaluates the important symptoms to select the most appropriate medicine. Such well-selected medicines bring great relief to gas problems.

Natural Treatment Without Side Effects

Homeopathy treats gas problems very safely with natural medicines. The medicines do not contain any toxic chemicals so promote natural healing with no side effects. Even with prolonged use, there are no unwanted after-effects.

Homeopathy treats the root cause

Homeopathy focuses on treating the root cause behind gas problems to give relief for an extended time. Homeopathy can treat the medical conditions that may lead to excessive gas formation like IBS, celiac disease, and lactose intolerance, and manage its symptoms including gas trouble. The regular use of homeopathic medicines under the guidance of a homeopathic doctor can also help to decrease dependency on conventional medicines that give only temporary relief.

Top 5 Homeopathic Medicines For Gas And Bloating

The five most effective homeopathic remedies for gas include Carbo Veg, Lycopodium, China, Asafoetida and Raphanus Sativus.

1. Carbo Veg – Top-Listed Medicine For Gas

Carbo Veg is a natural medicine recommended for excessive gas, suitable for nearly every symptom associated with gas, for example, bloating, belching, flatulence, and pain. In most cases needing it, gas is most marked in the upper abdomen. The problem seems to get worse upon lying down. Burping or passing gas relieves bloating. It is also indicated when anything (even the simplest of food) eaten seems to get converted into gas. There also may occur sour or putrid burps after eating. Carbo Veg helps ease pain in the abdomen due to trapped gas. In some cases, the gas pushes the diaphragm, puts pressure on the lungs, and leads to difficulty in breathing. Here, Carbo Veg proves to be very effective.

When to use Carbo Veg?

This medicine can be used for cases of excessive gas specifically in the upper part of the abdomen along with bloating, burping and abdomen pain due to trapped gas.

How to use Carbo Veg?

Homeopathic practitioners use it in different potencies from low to high. But in the beginning, it is safe to use it in 30C potency two or three times a day as per the intensity of the problem. Higher potencies should be used after consulting a homeopathic physician.

2. Lycopodium – For Gas, Bloating Immediately After Eating

Lycopodium is a plant remedy prepared from a plant ‘club moss’. It is highly useful when the abdomen feels full and distended soon after eating even a small quantity of food. The rumbling of gas in the abdomen is also well-marked. Noisy flatulence may be passed in most cases. For gas problems worsening in the evening time, Lycopodium is a major medicine. It is also a leading medicine in cases where gas in the lower abdomen is more pronounced.

When to use Lycopodium?

The use of Lycopodium is suggested when gas and bloating appear immediately after eating and gas is most marked in the lower abdomen.

How to use Lycopodium?

Though it can be used in low potencies like 30C to high potencies (like 200C, 1M), initially it is advised to go with low potencies. Lycopodium 30C can be taken once or twice a day according to the severity of the problem.

3. China – For Gas In Full Abdomen And Pain From Gas

China is a useful remedy prepared from Peruvian dried bark. It is primarily useful for gas in the entire abdomen that causes excessive bloating. Gas in the abdomen is felt for a long time after meals. Digestion is weak and slow. Secondly, it is beneficial to help get rid of abdominal pain from obstructed gas. It is also an important medicine to relieve gas pain following a surgery of the abdomen. Along with the above-mentioned  symptoms, belching with  bitter taste or taste of the food consumed, along with vomiting of undigested food may be present.

When to use China?

China is considered the best remedy when a person complains of gas in the entire abdomen and also when there is obstructed gas leading to abdomen pain.

How to use China?

China is generally used in 30 C potency. It can be taken two or three times a day in a gap of three to four hours to get relief.

4. Asafoetida – When Gas Pushes Upwards

Asafoetida (commonly called ‘heeng’) is very suitable for treating excessive gas in the abdomen when all gas passes in the upward direction and none downwards. Loud burps appear forcibly with difficulty. The abdomen feels full and greatly distended with colic. There appears a sensation as if the abdomen would burst. Gurgling and rolling are felt in the abdomen, and a throbbing pain within small regular intervals may be felt in the pit of the stomach. Burps may have a foul smell like garlic. They leave a bad taste in the mouth.

When to use Asafoetida?

This medicine is beneficial when gas in the abdomen moves upwards followed by loud burps occurring with much difficulty.

How to use Asafoetida?

This medicine can be taken in 30C potency twice a day for good results.

5. Raphanus Sativus – For Gas Trapped In Abdomen 

Raphanus Sativus is prepared from the fresh root of ‘Black Garden Radish’. Raphanus is one of the best prescriptions for gas stuck in the abdomen. The gas accumulates and is retained in the abdomen. It neither pushes upwards nor downwards. The abdomen gets enlarged, inflated, and distended. Griping pain around the navel is felt. Any pressure on the abdomen is unbearable. A burning sensation in the abdomen, stomach pain, and intense nausea may also be present.

When to use Raphanus Sativus?

Raphanus can be selected for any case where obstructed gas that neither moves up nor down is the main complaint. This medicine helps to release gas and relieve pain.

How to use Raphanus Sativus?

This medicine works in different potencies ranging from low to high as per the intensity of the pain. For gas problems, the most recommended is 30C potency which can be used two to three times a day as per the severity of the gas problem.

Note One may consider the use of any of these medicines only in the above-recommended potency and dose for about a month. Do not exceed the potency or dose by yourself. To continue using these medicines beyond a month or for use of high potencies, it is advised to take the opinion of a homeopathic expert.

Reason Behind Gas Formation In Abdomen

It is important to realize that some amount of gas formation is very normal and is produced naturally during the process of digestion. The passing of gas from the anus is mostly related to the food that we eat or with the kind of bacteria that we have in our intestines.  Flatulence is generally produced when undigested food is acted upon by bacteria in the large intestine. When the digestive system is not able to digest certain carbohydrates (like sugar starches and fiber found in many foods) due to shortage or absence of certain enzymes, the undigested carbohydrates (when they reach the large intestine) are broken down by harmless bacteria to produce gas (carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and methane). Certain food substances produce more flatulence than others because they contain more indigestible carbohydrates. Some of the substances that lead to the overproduction of gas are – beans, dairy products, onions, celery, carrots, sprouts, fruits (raisins, bananas, apricots), and complex carbohydrates like dals. Gases like methane, hydrogen, and hydrogen sulphide are the main component of flatulence. Hydrogen sulphide is responsible for the odor of the flatus. Though the symptoms are usually bloating, abdominal pain, belching, and flatulence, not everyone experiences all of them. The amount of gas produced and the sensitivity of the gastrointestinal tract to gas determines the kind and the intensity of the symptoms.

Why do some individuals suffer more from gas than others do?

The answer lies in the fact that some of us are biologically more prone to have this problem whereas in others, eating habits contribute majorly to this disorder. Increased gas formation may also occur from certain gastric problems as follows:

1. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS):It is a disorder of the large intestine that causes altered bowel movements(diarrhea, constipation, or alternating diarrhea and constipation), gas, bloating, and cramps in the abdomen. The cause of IBS is unknown but may involve abnormal movements and contractions of intestinal muscles and increased pain sensitivity in the intestine. People with IBS have this increased sensitivity of the intestinal walls. This sensitivity may even cause little gas formation to give the impression of excessive bloating of the abdomen.

2. Lactose intolerance:  Gas formation also increases in people who suffer from lactose intolerance. In lactose intolerance, the sufferer cannot completely digest lactose in milk. Gas, diarrhea, and bloating happen after consuming milk or other dairy products.

3. Celiac disease (gut allergy to wheat): Those with a wheat allergy also suffer from excessive flatulence. In celiac disease, eating gluten(a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley) triggers an immune reaction in the small intestineleading to damage of the lining of the small intestine with the passage of time and hampers nutrient absorption. The symptoms of this disease include diarrhea, fatigue, bloating, weight loss, and anemia.

4. Crohn’s disease: It is an inflammatory bowel disease inwhich any part of the digestive tract gets inflamed dueto an autoimmune response. It can cause gas, and bloating along with other main symptoms of abdomen pain, diarrhea, weakness, and weight loss.

5. Chronic constipation: In constipation the digestive process slows down due to which stool remains in the colon for an extended time period. Hence the bacteria gets more time to ferment stool leading to gas and bloating.

6. SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth): It refers to a condition that results from an imbalance of the gut bacteria. It happens when excessive bacteria or the wrong type of bacteria grows in the small intestine. It can lead to various symptoms including gas, bloating, abdomen pain, nausea, diarrhea, or constipation.