Gas

When undigested foods move from the stomach through the small intestines, and into the large intestines, gas, or flatulence, can be caused. The large intestines contain bacteria, whose function is to process that undigested food, so it can be absorbed into the blood stream or be eliminated from the body as waste.

By-products of this process are methane, hydrogen, and hydrogen sulfide. Hydrogen sulfide is the gas associated with flatulence, or passing gas.

There are several things that can exacerbate, or worsen the problem. Sensitivity to certain foods, such as dairy products, for those who are lactose intolerant, or fiber rich foods such as cabbage, beans, broccoli, brussels sprouts, onions, cauliflower, radishes, bananas, apricots, pretzels, fiber cereals, muffins, and fiber laxatives or additives cause excess gas, which can be offensive, if not controlled.

Home Remedies for Gas:

Over The Counter:

There are many over the counter, and even some prescription medications that can control gas. Lactose intolerance produces gas due to a lack of the enzyme lactase that allows the body to digest dairy products. If lactose intolerance is the cause of your gas, you can take a supplement found in health food stores, or pharmacy sections of department stores, to eliminate the problem.

Diet:

The discomfort and embarrassment of excess gas is due to a food intolerance called Complex Carbohydrate Intolerance, or CCI. Complex carbs are the sugars found in the healthy foods we discussed earlier. CCI is caused by a deficiency of the intestinal enzyme, alpha-galactosidase, which causes gas, bloating, cramping, and abdominal pain.

You can buy alpha-galactosidase in health food stores, or in a popular brand name, Beano, in the antacid section of pharmacies. Taking this before you eat can eliminate gas completely.

Simethicone:

Other over the counter gas treatments containing simethicone, such as Gas-X, Maalox Plus, Mylanta II, and Mylicon are popular remedies for gas.  Taking activated charcoal tablets, also available in health food stores is reported to filter the unpleasant odor from gas.

Body Cleansing:

Colon cleansing regimens have been known to remove excess wastes that have clogged the intestines, and eliminate gas. Colon cleansing begins with certain herbs, like black walnut hulls, wormwood, pau d’ arco, garlic, yellow dock, pumpkin seed, male fern root, false unicorn, fenugreek, grapefruit seed extract, and prickley ash bark,  that clean out all the toxins, waste, and parasites living in your colon. Then, you replenish the good bacteria that aids in breaking down waste, so it can be eliminated. Colon cleansing is said to eliminate gas by eliminating the toxins and restoring the natural good bacterial balance in your colon.