Post by Lαrα on Oct 4, 2014 2:49:50 GMT -8
I think its fair to say that at some point most of us will have experienced a bloated stomach due to excess gas. More so with SCI because our bowels arent as effective as they used to be..so food is broken down the same.
Its uncomfortable....so ive heard! lol ( of course i never suffer from this.. 
) Anyways, here are some ideas for relief..all natural and no meds.
1. Drink some peppermint tea
Peppermint is great for soothing churning stomachs and easing gas pains. Its essential oil contains menthol, which has an antispasmodic effect of the smooth muscle of the digestive track. It also soothes nerves, and therefore can soothe stomachs that really feel the effect of nervousness and stress. Drink a cup after dinner to help keep things moving slowly.
You will need…
-1 bag of herbal peppermint tea
-1 cup or so of freshly boiled water
Directions
Steeping tea seems like something that’s simple enough, but there’s a proper way to go about it. We often times let the tea bag sit in the water for several minutes, then pull the bag and drink the liquid. This doesn’t allow all the goodness of the tea to infuse thoroughly, and we’re shorting ourselves a good chunk of the benefits. After you boil your water, pour it over the tea bag in a mug, and then cover the mug (a plate works fine.) Let it sit for a full 10-15 minutes. Remove the cover and take out the tea bag, squeezing it to get out every last bit of the healing mixture. If it’s too hot to grab, press it against the side of the mug with a spoon. Sip, relax, and enjoy (looks yummy?)
.
Crunch on caraway
For centuries caraway has been used to give trapped gas in the digestive track a little shove out the back door. In England from the Middle Ages onward, it has been reported to help gas “caused by wind trapped in the body.” Of course air is only part of it but, if you find yourself puffing up from too much trapped gas, munching on a small handful of caraway seeds straight, or caraway crackers if the taste is too strong, might help.
You will need…
-a pinch of caraway seeds OR several caraway crackers
Directions
When you feel bloated and you’re unable to pass gas, eat a pinch of caraway seeds or a few caraway crackers. If you suffer from regular bloating due to gas, try eating a pinch every morning until you feel you no longer need to. Eat pumpkin
Gas is usually caused by improper food digestion, which is why high fiber foods (like beans) often times create some issues with flatulence. Fiber is hard for us to digest, so it passes through our gut in bulk. When food does not break down in the small intestine, it goes into the large intestine where natural bacteria feasts on it. As a by-product of their munching they produce a variety of gases, which produces a whole range of problems for us. Pumpkin is helpful because it can reduce the amount of gas created. Eat along with any meal to nip your problem in the bud.
You will need…
-Around a cup of pumpkin, baked, steamed, or broiled OR whip up a different pumpkin recipe
Directions
Eat approximately 1 cup of pumpkin with your meal to ward off gas. You can have it baked, steamed, or broiled, or whip up a recipe all your own.
(I love pumkin! Im having tonight 
)
Drink warm lemon water
(great for your bladder too!)
A glass of warm lemon water every morning keeps the doctor away. It may not sound as good as “an apple a day” but it’s still a helpful habit. Lemon is good for you in a number of ways, including lending a hand when it comes to easing your gas pain. The acidity in lemon stimulates the production of HCL (hydrochloric acid) which is what breaks down our food. More HCL = food breaking down more efficiently = less bloating and gas. The water flushes your system and keeps your digesting tract moving along smoothly. This mixture also works as a mighty fine way to detoxify your entire body, because the lemon helps the livers enzymes work more efficiently.
You will need…
-3 fresh lemon wedges OR 1-2 tablespoons of lemon juice
-A cup of water
Directions
When you wake up in the morning, before you eat and when you have an empty stomach, warm up one cup of water. It doesn’t need to be hot-just nice and toasty warm. Cut 3 slices of fresh lemon and squeeze the juice into the water. Give it a little stir and drink the whole glass. If you don’t have fresh lemon, substitute it with a tablespoon or so of lemon juice. You can adjust the amount of lemon you add, really, just make sure the water is cloudy.
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