The feeling of being bloated is not pleasant. Gas, water retention, swollen joints, and gut inflammation create feelings of discomfort and mild nausea. Most women will feel like they gained three dress sizes overnight. There are many different causes of bloating; menstrual cycles, diet, and lifestyle choices all play a role in developing bloat.
Bloating is treated with diuretic medications and NSAIDs as prescribed after a confirmed diagnosis by your physician.
However, people have had to deal with the effects of bloating for centuries. Natural remedies for bloating existed long before modern Western medicine developed pharmacological treatments for the condition.
Traditional medicine provides all sorts of natural remedies for relieving the adverse gastrointestinal effects of bloating. Fortunately, many of them are remarkably effective at reducing the symptoms associated with the condition. The next time you find yourself feeling bloated, try out a few of these natural alternatives to help relieve the symptoms of discomfort.
1. Chamomile Tea
Chamomile derives from the dried flowers of the Asteraceae family of plants, chamomile has beneficial use in various natural herbal remedies and healing poultices. The plants come in different forms, and their characteristics differ depending on the environmental conditions in the regions in which they grow. Chamomile produced in the eastern parts of the world bears different polyphenol properties to plants grown in the European continent.
Studies show that Roman and German variants of chamomile have the highest concentrations of beneficial plant compounds. The flavonoids found in chamomile tea provide a potent antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory effect on the gut. These compounds decrease inflammation of the intestinal wall, one of the primary causes of bloating and other conditions like IBS.
Consuming two to three servings of chamomile tea throughout the day reduces the symptoms of gas, cramping, and nausea associated with bloating. To supercharge your chamomile tea, add a tablespoon of organic, raw honey.