School of Ayurvedic Diet & Digestion
Recipes
Ingredients
Create Your Diet
Digestive Herb Finder
View Cart
SYMPTOMS & AYURVEDIC REMEDIES
BLOATING / DISTENSIONWHAT DOES IT MEAN? WHAT'S CAUSING IT? WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Written by John Immel,
28 likes Written by John Immel,
Are you prone to a problem with 'Bloating / distension'?
Bloating and distension can come from trapped gas, stagnant stools, uterine swelling during menstruation, or other causes. The gas becomes trapped if the muscles of the abdomen are too tense, if bowel tone is too lax, if peristalsis is asynchronous, or if stagnant fecal matter is blocking the release of gas, or if there is some other obstruction. When bloating is severe enough to cause pain, bloating can cause distension, or overstretching of the intestines. Distension can lead to permanent damage and loss of muscle tone. The first step to healing bloating is to release the gas. Carminitives are herbs that help with downward flow of gas. Many carminitives are highly aromatic, like mint. Yoga poses such as 'wind releasing pose' can help relieve gas. Triangle pose can stretch the sides of the colon for release of gas. Try massaging the cecum, hepatic flexure, splenic flexure, sigmoid colon, and behind the pubic bone. Drink warm water. Practice contracting and releasing tension in the abdomen and pelvic floor. The second step is to reduce the production of gas by eating a diet that is right for your constitution, by taking digestives, and perhaps anti-microbials or probiotics to regulate gut flora.
FAVOR HERBS WITH THESE MEDICINAL PROPERTIESIngredient and herbs each have unique effects on the various organs of your body. Herbalists study these effects and categorize them, so it is easy to identify which foods and herbs are most helpful for your unique body type. Click on the medicinal properties below to learn more about them, and to figure out which recipes, ingredients and products will be a good match for you. Individual results will vary depending upon the root cause of your imbalance. The following medicinal properties are useful for a general case of 'Bloating / distension'. You must independently verify whether these medicinal properties address the root causes of your case of Bloating / distension.Digestion: Antispasmodic , ANTISPASMODICHerbs that reduce or inhibit muscle spasms or cramping, such as in asthma, colic or IBS.Carminative , CARMINATIVEStimulates the release of gas. Helpful for bloating or cramping abdominal pain. Propels food downward.Digestive DIGESTIVEHerbs that encourage healthy digestive.Immune System: Antimicrobial ANTIMICROBIALAn agent that kills microorganisms or inhibits their growth. Antimicrobial is an umbrella term that can be broken down into specific categories of target microorganism, such as anti-bacterials, fungals, and virals.Bowel-Poop-Elimination: General Laxative GENERAL-LAXATIVEPromotes a bowel movement. General laxative is an umbrella term that refers to several different types of laxatives...Click here for general Digestion Tips
DISCLAIMER: The pathogenesis of each person's condition is unique, and so the diet must be fit to the individual and the unique root causes of the condition in your body. The best way to do this is with a one on one consultation. DIET TO BALANCE 'BLOATING / DISTENSION'
DO YOU WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR UNIQUE BODY?What aggravates it? What heals it?
Then get your Personal Ayurvedic Body Book!
This book, written by founder and director of Joyful Belly, John Immel,
is individually formatted for your unique body and will help you confidently choose food that restores your
healthy glow to get you feeling like your best self.
Just $19.99!
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES FOR BLOATING / DISTENSIONBrowse these educational resources for 'Bloating / distension'.$19.99 Say goodbye to confusion about food and health with your personal Ayurveda body book, individually and custom formulated for your body. $39.95 Relieve the effects of stress, anxiety & tension in your digestive tract through this unique method to relax your gut. $29.00 Many doctors agree, better health starts in the digestive tract. Why? Because digestion turns food into blood. Healthy blood revitalizes your entire body... $12.00 A solution to your gas & bloating problems is one of the most important steps you can take to restore your health & vitality. $18.95 An practical resource for learning about mindful eating. Identify your eating habits and patterns and tune into the body's own wisdom. By Dr. Jan Chozen Bays. $297.00 Gain deeper wisdom and insight as you balance your Vata diet in a week with this eCourse. Gracefully heal your body. SPECIALITY FORMULAS, AYURVEDIC HERBS, & NATURAL PRODUCTS FOR BLOATING / DISTENSIONWe've specially chosen these products because of their potential for healing imbalances associated with 'Bloating / distension'. Choose a product from this list that also matches your imbalanced doshas and qualities, to ensure a good fit. Please review these products to determine which are right for you. Before making any changes to your health and wellness routine, please check with your medical doctor.$15.95 A gentle laxative tea that promotes smooth & regular elimination where constipation leaves stool dry and hard. Feel clean, clear, fresh and light. Mint Belly Bliss re-awakens and brightens your mood and mind after a heavy meal. $27.50 Contains anti-microbials, laxatives, and digestives to reduce gas and bloating, improve blood flow to the GI tract, and to eliminate stagnant food in the bowels. Additional Herbs & ProductsHingvastak Churna, Chyavanprash Nutritive Jam (9.4oz), Cardamom TinctureREMOVE THE CAUSES OF YOUR IMBALANCEWith Bloating / distension, one or more of the following doshas and qualities may be aggravated. If you have an imbalance of one of these doshas or qualities, Ayurveda recommends avoiding foods and lifestyle habits that aggravate that quality and/or dosha. These imbalanced doshas and qualities will need to be brought back into balance before this condition can be healed. Click on the quality to learn what foods and lifestyle habits should be avoided. If you have a systemic imbalance of one of these doshas or qualities, Ayurveda would generally recommend avoiding foods and lifestyle habits with that quality.BLOATING / DISTENSION USUALLY MEANS THESE |
On Facebook
On Twitter
ADD TO CART
SAVE FOR LATER
| GUNA | FOODS TO AVOID | DO YOU HAVE THIS IMBALANCE? |
|---|---|---|
TOXIC
A substance that causes toxicity in the body, or that harms the body.
|
AVOID THESE TOXIC FOODS THAT MAY AGGRAVATE BLOATING / DISTENSION |  Status UnknownTake these quizzes to find out if you have an imbalance of 'Toxic' guna |
HEAVY
Heavy is identified by sedation, sluggishness, or increased weight.
|
AVOID THESE HEAVY FOODS THAT MAY AGGRAVATE BLOATING / DISTENSION | Status UnknownTake these quizzes to find out if you have an imbalance of 'Heavy' guna |
DIFFICULT
Difficult refers to anything that is difficult to digest, or takes a long time to digest.
|
AVOID THESE DIFFICULT FOODS THAT MAY AGGRAVATE BLOATING / DISTENSION | Status UnknownTake these quizzes to find out if you need to decrease Difficult to digest foods |
To learn more about the symbols above, click on them.
Are you prone to a problem with 'Bloating / distension'?
Find your imbalances and create a diet for your Digestion by taking the
free digestion quiz.
STAGE OF DISEASE: 1 - AFFECTING DIGESTION
If you have symptoms in this category, your body is sending you a warning sign. Since digestion is so metabolically intensive and sensitive to stress and emotions, the earliest warning signs of imbalance usually appear in the digestive tract first. You may have gas and bloating, for example, or acid reflux. Ayurveda recommends paying careful, close attention to warning signs. They indicate that an imbalance is starting to accumulate. Correct these warning signs before they accumulate further and weaken your body's resistance. This is usually accomplished by removing diet and lifestyle habits that aggravate your imbalanced doshas and qualities.HOW AYURVEDA WORKS
ARE YOU WONDERING HOW AYURVEDA CAN HELP YOU?WHY IS AYURVEDA THE RIGHT SOLUTION?
Ayurveda strengthens the body, in addition to addressing the disorder. It take a holistic, systemic approach, instead of myopically focusing on the disorder in question. Ayurveda shows a person how to interpret signs and symptoms of imbalance, and how to address them using materials from home, so they can optimize their health on a continual basis. You can't take the doctor home with you, but you can take Ayurveda home with you. Ayurveda is the most advanced and easy to use home system for self healing with an exceptional focus on digestion.HOW DOES AYURVEDA WORK?
Ayurveda works by first discerning your body type, which identifies certain tendencies in your body to get sick (as well as identifying your strengths). It uses body type to determine the likely root causes of your disorders. Next, Ayurveda works by analyzing the nature of your disorder. It fits all your signs and symptoms into a pattern, expressed as a combination of gunas / quali- ties. For example, you may have a heat disorder, a cold disorder, or an oily disorder, etc. This simple categorical approach shows you how to correct systemic imbalances and strengthen your body as a whole.On Joyful Belly, we've created an extensive categorization of food in relation to qualities (gunas). By eating an optimal diet that balances your gunas, your whole body is strengthened and the conditions that created the disorder are removed. Once the root causes of the disease are removed, the disease lessens in strength or disappears altogether. Additional remedies - such as herbs and lifestyle practices - focused on the specific disorder, can greatly enhance your healing.
Want to learn more about Ayurveda and its step-by-step approach to healing? Click below.
LEARN MOREGET STARTED
To get started on your Ayurvedic journey, we first recommend that your find your body type by taking our free quiz. In Ayurveda, every solution is based on your unique body type, so by taking this quiz, you’ll get the best results.5 WAYS TO HEAL YOUR BODY
WITH AYURVEDA - FREE eBOOK!
RELATED SYMPTOMS & HABITS
The following symptoms & habits may be related to 'Bloating / distension'. See your quiz results for a computerized assessment of your body type. Please click on the symptoms below to learn more about them.
About the Author
John Immel, the founder of Joyful Belly, teaches people how to have a healthy diet and lifestyle with Ayurveda. His approach to Ayurveda exudes a certain ease, which many find enjoyable and insightful. His online course Balance Your Ayurvedic Diet in a Week provides tools for gracefully healing with Ayurveda to thousands. John also directs Joyful Belly's School of Ayurveda , which specializes in digestive tract pathology & Ayurvedic nutrition. John and his wife Natalie recently published Explore Your Hunger: A Guide to Hunger, Appetite & Food.John's interest in Ayurveda and digestive tract pathology was inspired by a complex digestive disorder acquired from years of international travel, including his public service work in South Asia. John's commitment to the detailed study of digestive disorders reflects his zeal to get down to the roots of the problem. His hope and belief in the capacity of each & every client to improve their quality of life is nothing short of a personal passion. John's creativity in the kitchen and delight in cooking for others comes from his family oriented upbringing. In addition to his certification in Ayurveda, John holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Harvard University.
John enjoys sharing Ayurveda within the context of his Catholic roots, and finds Ayurveda gives him an opportunity to participate in the healing mission of the Church. Jesus expressed God's love by feeding and healing the sick. That kindness is the fundamental ministry of Ayurveda as well.
Comments & Personal Experiences
How does 'bloating / distension' affect your quality of life? What aggravates it? What has helped you? Is there something you'd like to know about 'bloating / distension'?28 likes
BOOKS
BY JOYFUL BELLY
Say goodbye to confusion about food and health with your personal Ayurveda body book, individually and custom formulated for your body. $19.99 $7.95 introductory offer 3 days only
Join Joyful Belly.
Become a part of the Joyful Belly community! Users get access to exclusive web features, priority notification for special promotions and product discounts. You will also receive our weekly newsletter with recipes, insightful health tips, and practical techniques for incorporating Ayurveda into your diet and lifestyle.