Natural Remedies for Bloating
Late summer is ruled by the digestive system in Chinese Medicine, and people can feel extra “damp” this time of year, with digestive imbalances like bloating, gas, and loose stool being common.
Tips for Bloating
In Chinese Medicine, the most common pattern for bloating and gas is Spleen Qi Deficiency.
What does Spleen Qi Deficiency look like? Well, it looks like gas, bloating, loose stools, fatigue, food sensitivities, difficulty waking up in the morning, excessive worry, and toothmarks along the sides of your tongue.
When it comes to your skin, this can look like puffiness when you wake up, as well as sagging (the Spleen energy lifts the qi, and also rules the muscles).
For bloating, I recommend the following:
Eat warm, cooked foods. These are easiest for your Spleen to digest.
Eat regularly. The digestive system loves a regular schedule!
Take a short walk after a meal. There's a saying in TCM: “The Spleen loves 100 steps after every meal.”
Fennel and Chamomile teas are amazing for helping the digestive system. I love fennel tea plain; I simply use about 1 teaspoon of fennel seed in 8 oz of water and let steep for a few minutes. It is very delicious with honey! Sipping on fennel throughout the day, or even chewing on the seeds, can be really helpful for bloating.
Warming spices like cardamom, ginger, and cinnamon are lovely this time of year, and help with digestion, bloating, and gas, as they warm the digestive fire.
Dandelion root and chicory root teas and herbal “coffees” provide pre-biotic inulin, support a healthy microbiome, and act as a mild diuretic to help with puffiness around the abdomen. A lot of clients love Teeccino or this blend called Adapt and Chill. I make my own using this recipe on my blog :-)
Finally, acupuncture and custom herbal medicine are amazing if these tips aren’t enough!
I hope this helps.
-Lizzie