Ayurvedic Treatments for Gas

The Ayurvedic term for gas problem is Adhmana. Among Ayurvedic cures for gas, Hingavastaka is an important medicine to treat the problem. According to Ayurvedic view, an aggravation or vitiation of the vata dosha or the air body humor is believed to be bloating, belching or flatus. There are various Ayurvedic cures for relief from gas trouble, some of which are discussed in this article.

There are various causes for gas troubles. Some foods like legumes, roots vegetables like potatoes and turnips and other vegetables like radish, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumber and asparagus etc can cause gas problems. Carbonated beverages also cause gas problems. Ayurveda also prohibits drinking cold drinks with meals and eating ice cold foods.

Ayurvedic Cure for Gas
Following are some of the ways to cure gas troubles –

• Pound dried ginger, ajwain and black salt and make a mixture taking equal parts of each. Take 1 gm twice with warm water after meals.
• Take 2-3 cloves of garlic with warm water first thing in the morning.
• Sprinkle a few drops of fresh lemon juice on a piece of ginger and black salt. Take it with meals for a few days.
• External application of hing on the umbilicus in case of abdominal discomfort for infants and children provides relief.
• If there is an extreme production and expulsion of foul smelling gas, take freshly ground 5 or 6 peppercorns along with a glassful of water mixed with a few drops of lemon juice, in the early morning on an empty stomach.
• Grate radish along with its leaves and extract the juice. Take approx. 30 ml once or twice.
• Pound a piece of cinnamon and boil in a glass of water. Take this drink lukewarm at least half an hour before meals.
• Hot fomentation of stomach is recommended.
• Pound 1 to 2 gm of hing and mix in warm water, take approx 20 ml twice a day.

Ayurvedic Herbs for Gas Trouble

• Asparagus ( Asparagus racemosa)
• Bitter Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla)
• Cardamom (Elattaria cardamomum)
• Ginger (Zinziber officinale)
• Indian Gooseberry (Emblica officinalis)
• Rhubarb (Rheum emodi)
• Sandalwood (Santalum album)

Some other Ayurvedic medicines to cure gas troubles:

• Tripahala or Amalaki choorna — 3 gms should be taken thrice a day.
• Avipattikara choorna — 2 tsp at bedtime should be taken.
• Chandrakala rasa
• Sootashekhara rasa
• Sukumara ghrita
• Amalapittantaka rasa
• Dhaatri loha

The above are some of the Ayurvedic cures for gas troubles.

Characteristic Symptoms of Gas

• Belching, bloating or flatus.
• Pain in the abdomen in some cases.
• Expulsion of wind which may have offensive odour.