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Banish the Bloat!
By Dr. Helen Thomas, D.C. | November 19, 2008
Revealed in this week’s issue…
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Oh, My Stomach! Don’t Let Abdominal Bloat Get the Best of You… |
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What’s Going On In There? The Ayurvedic and Western Views of Bloating… |
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Forget Over-The-Counter Bloat Band-Aids: Fix the Problem the Holistic Way with Ayurveda… |
It can strike anyone at any time: abdominal bloating! The discomfort can disrupt our lives and make it difficult to work and to have fun - and no one wants that. Before you invest in a supply of stretch-band pants, ease your bloating with the help of Ayurveda!
Abdominal bloating occurs when the abdomen distends and gas builds up in the abdomen or the intestines. It’s the cardinal sign of dysfunction in the “agni” - the digestive fire - and it’s usually caused by a Vata imbalance. In Ayurveda, we describe it as the first sign of an imbalance in the “gastrointestinal consciousness.”
Bloating occurs when the gastrointestinal tract is unable to split food into its smallest particles and release the nourishing enzymes into the system. If your body doesn’t have strong enough enzymes, it cannot break down food. This disrupts the normal peristalsis (muscle movement) in the intestines, causing gas to form and bloating to occur.
ABDOMINAL BLOATING: THE WESTERN VIEW
According to WomenFitness.net, digestion results in waste materials that are “odourless gases and under normal circumstance the amounts are managed easily by the elasticity of the intestinal canal. That is, the small volumes of methane, oxygen and nitrogen do not overly stretch the gut wall and pass along painlessly.” While this is the normal process, when there’s a disruption in digestion or when we eat foods that we can’t tolerate, “different gases are produced…often at higher temperatures and pressures…” bloating and flatulence can then become the result.
The website’s article goes on to list some of the possible causes of bloating, including: too much salt and/or processed foods, too little protein, carbonated beverages, lactose intolerance and other food intolerances, too much fatty food, and even diseases like Crohn’s disease or colon cancer.
I also discovered an interesting report by Syed Thiwan, M.D. at the UNC School of Medicine - UNC Center for Functional GI & Motility Disorders. It is reported that abdominal bloating affects “10-30% of people…In a US household survey, 16% of the population reported having bloating or distension, and three quarters of them found it to be moderate to severe. Almost half (43%) reported using a medication for it.”
When people are suffering from bloating - as well as indigestion and gas - they often treat the symptom with antacids designed to reduce the acidity in the stomach. That may work in the short-term, but then it’s on to the next meal to begin the eat-pain-medication cycle all over again.
STOP THE CYCLE WITH AYURVEDA!
The number one way to combat abdominal bloating is to follow the appropriate Daily Lifestyle Regimen for your dosha, paying close attention to your diet and eating habits. Eat a light diet of primarily vegetables and rice, or kicharee. Follow the 10-Day Ginger Treatment is also recommended.
I’ve described the dosha Daily Lifestyle Regimens, outlined the 10-Day Ginger Treatment, and included a delicious recipe for kicharee in my pamphlet “What Is Ayurveda? Understanding the Principles of Ayurveda and the Ayurvedic Body Types.” The PDF downloadable version is available right now for only $5.00, and you can order your copy here (ordering provided by The Cove Group, Inc. and Michelle Y. Drake).
In addition to diet and ginger treatments, yoga can be an effective way to release the build-up of gases in the body. There are several yoga movements that can accomplish this, including toe bending, ankle bending, ankle rotation, hand clenching, wrist bending, leg rotations, and the posture known as Rocking and Rolling pictured below:
Rocking and Rolling: Sit on the floor and pull both legs up to your chest. Interlock your hands over your knees. Roll your body backward and forward ten times in each direction, keeping your elbows close to your legs.
Herbal Treatment:
Triphala treats the entire digestive tract. Take 1/2 teaspoon of triphala mixed with a 1/2 cup of warm water every evening at bedtime.
Five-Senses Therapies:
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Taste: Emphasize sweet, sour, bitter, and salty foods, spices and herbs. Consuming the summer churna with a little salt and lemon flakes is an easy way to get all these tastes in the appropriate proportions.
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Smell: Use warm, sweet, and sour essential oil aromas, such as rose, cloves, cinnamon, basil and orange.
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Sight: Green and blue are recommended to relieve bloating.
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Hearing: Listen to the midmorning raga between 10 AM and 1 PM or the midday raga between 1 PM and 4 PM.
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Touch: Apply a drop of warm sesame oil and pressure to the marma point known as Oorvee (see illustration below)
If you have persistent abdominal bloating or if it’s accompanied by severe discomfort or pain, this could be an indication that you have a possible obstruction of the bowel. This is a serious condition and should be checked out by your physician.
However, if you’re plagued by occasional abdominal bloating, utilize the treatments found in Ayurveda to relieve it now and in the future!
Until next time!
P.S. Don’t forget to order your copy of my “What Is Ayurveda? Understanding the Principles of Ayurveda and the Ayurvedic Body Types”. It’s available now - in an easy-to-download PDF file - for only $5 here! (Ordering is safe, easy and provided by The Cove Group, Inc. and Michelle Y. Drake.)
Topics: Ayurveda and Digestive Health, Ayurveda and Modern Times |
2 Responses to “Banish the Bloat!”
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November 19th, 2008 at 10:11 am
[…] Vote Banish the Bloat! | Effortless Ayurvedic Living […]
November 20th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
I love this stuff. Sooo much better than a pill. Thank you.