How To Relieve Gas Pain Under Ribs? Natural Ways To Get Rid Of Gas Pain!
Do you struggle with that sharp, stabbing pain on the left or right side of your ribs? Sometimes the pain is so gripping that you may even mistake it to be a heart attack, appendicitis, or gallbladder.
Now it is time to clear the air. The discomfort and pain you are experiencing may be due to trapped gas. Let’s find out the reasons that cause gas pain under your ribs.
What Are The Causes Of Gas Pain Under Your Ribs?
When the gas gets trapped inside the flexures or curves in your colon, it leads to a condition termed Splenic flexure syndrome. Your splenic flexure is situated adjacent to your spleen.
To be precise, it is the sharp bend that comes between your transverse colon and descending colon in the upper abdomen.
The accumulation of gas will cause the trapped air to push on the inner lining of the stomach and digestive tract in your body. As a result, pressure mounts on the surrounding organs, leading to pain and discomfort.
Though passing gas can offer great relief from the pain, it gets too tough with this condition.
Symptoms Of Splenic Flexure Syndrome
A common symptom of splenic flexure syndrome is the pain and discomfort that you experience in the upper left abdominal area. Apart from that, you may also go through the below symptoms.
| Chest pain |
| Feeling of fullness |
| Cramping or sharp abdominal spasms |
| Bloating or abdominal distention |
| Flatulence or excessive gas |
| Belching |
| Constipation |
| Fever |
| Diarrhea |
| Nausea |
Top 9 Natural Ways To Get Rid Of Gas Pain Under Ribs Fast
Let’s check out some natural tips using which you can quickly get rid of gas pain under your ribs.
1. Let the gas go out – If you hold the gas, it can cause bloating, pain and discomfort. Hence, the best technique to eliminate these symptoms is to allow the gas to go out.
2. Pass stool – For relieving gas, a bowel movement can be quite helpful. When you pass the stool, it will naturally release the gas that is stuck inside your intestines.
3. Apply heat – When you are suffering from severe gas pain, place a heating pad or hot water bottle on your stomach. The warmth causes the muscles in your gut to relax, thus pushing gas to move through the intestines. Heat also helps in bringing down the sensation of pain.
4. Have tea – Some herbal teas make digestion easy. They can offer quick relief from gas pain. The most effective of them are teas made using ginger, peppermint, anise, and chamomile. Anise acts as a mild laxative and it is not recommended if there is diarrhea accompanied by gas. However, it works well if constipation is the reason behind your trapped gas.
5. Chew fennel seeds – Fennel is a popular solution for dealing with trapped wind. When you are experiencing pain, chew on a teaspoon of fennel seeds. However, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, stay away from this practice. The reason is that there are conflicting reports regarding safety.
6. Take peppermint supplements – Some research reports suggest peppermint oil capsules to get relief from trapped gas, bloating, and constipation. However, make sure that you have enteric-coated capsules. Consuming uncoated capsules can cause heartburn as they get dissolved quickly in your digestive tract. Also, note that you should never have peppermint oil capsules with iron supplements. The reason is that peppermint prevents the absorption of iron. Due to the same reason, these capsules are not recommended for people with anemia as well.
7. Consume clove oil – Clove oil comes with ulcer-fighting properties. Having clove oil after your meals can increase the number of digestive enzymes and eliminate the gas in your intestines.
8. Have apple cider vinegar with water – Apple cider vinegar aids in the generation of stomach acid and digestive enzymes. It is a popular remedy to alleviate gas pain quickly. Before your meals, add a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to a glass of water and drink it. Don’t forget to rinse your mouth after having the drink, as vinegar can cause damage to your tooth enamel.
9. Try deep breathing – Some people vouch for the effectiveness of deep breathing techniques in providing quick relief from the pain and discomfort caused due to trapped gas. However, it may not work out for all, as excessive amounts of air can increase the amount of gas in your intestines.
Top 7 Tips To Naturally Avoid Gastric Problems Inside Your Body
Now let’s delve deep into some effective techniques that you can adopt in your daily routine to prevent gastric problems.
Eat slowly – When you eat too fast or while moving, you end up taking in both air and food. It can cause gas-related pain. If you are a quick eater, you can make a conscious attempt to slow down. The best method is to chew each bite of your food 30 times. Breaking down food can enable better digestion and helps in preventing several issues, such as bloating and indigestion.
Say no to chewing gums – If you are used to the habit of chewing gums, kick that habit. While chewing gums, you tend to swallow air that increases the chances of trapped wind and gas pains. To add on, sugarless gum is also made using artificial sweeteners that cause gas and bloating.
No more straws – When you drink using a straw, you will end up swallowing air. You may also take air inside when you drink directly from a bottle, depending on the size and shape of the bottle. It is always better to sip from glass so that there are absolutely no issues of gas pain and bloating.
Bid goodbye to smoke – Be it traditional or electronic cigarettes, when you smoke, air enters inside your digestive tract. As smoking also leads to several other health issues, it is always recommended to quit smoking.
Have non-carbonated drinks – Consuming carbonated drinks such as sparkling water and sodas ultimately results in a lot of gas entering your stomach. Thus, the best solution to eliminate bloating and pain are to have non-carbonated drinks.
Stay away from problematic foods – Eating certain foods is one of the common reasons for trapped gas. It varies from individual to individual. However, the below foods often lead to gastric issues.
- Artificial sweeteners like sorbitol, aspartame and maltitol
- Cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower
- Fried foods
- Fiber drinks and supplements
- Dairy products
- High-fat foods
- Onions and garlic
- Spicy foods
- Legumes, including beans and lentils
- Prunes and prune juice
Since cruciferous vegetables and legumes come with a lot of health benefits, don’t avoid them completely. Instead of that, cut down their intake or prepare those foods using a different method.
Maintain a food diary – To find out the foods that cause gastric problems in you, the best way is to maintain a diary. It may be easy to keep some items, such as artificial sweeteners, out of your diet.
Does Exercise Help You Solve This Issue?
Are you looking out for some exercises to get relief from gastric pain? There are certain yoga poses that help you in releasing air. Moreover, yoga provides relaxation for your entire body. When your bowels and intestine are relaxed, it naturally helps you in passing gas.
Yoga Poses To Get Relief From Gas Pain
1. Wind-Relieving Pose (Pawanmuktasana)
This yoga pose offers relaxation for your abdomen, thighs, hips, and buttocks.
a. Lie on your back and keep your legs in a position straight up to 90°.
b. Bend both your knees and bring your thighs towards your abdomen.
c. Make sure that your knees and ankles are kept together.
d. Keep your arms around your legs.
e. Clasp both the hands together or take hold of your elbows.
f. Lift your neck up and bring your chin towards your chest or bring it onto your knees.
Start practicing by being in this pose for 20 seconds. Gradually, increase the duration for up to 1 minute. If you find it more comfortable, place your head on the floor. This pose can also be performed with one leg at a time.
2. Child’s pose (Balasana)
Doing this asana provides relaxation for your lower back, legs, and hips. It also offers a massage for your internal organs.
a. Be in a kneeling position so that you sit back on your heels.
b. Move your knees so that they are hip-width apart or a little wider.
c. In a slow movement, walk your hands out in front of you as you bend at your hips.
d. Make sure that your torso is resting on your thighs.
e. Lengthen the back of your neck and let your forehead touch the floor.
f. Let your arms be in an extended position or keep them alongside your body with your palms facing up.
g. Let the belly fall heavy on your legs. There should be gentle pressure on this area.
H. Ensure that you stay in this pose for up to 5 minutes.
Make fists with your hands so that the pressure on your abdomen increases. Before you bend forward, keep them on either side of your lower abdomen.
3. Seated Forward Bend (Paschimottanasana)
The benefits of doing this pose are better digestion and relaxation for your body.
a. On a folded blanket or cushion, sit on your bottom and extend your legs in front of you.
b. Press through your heels and pull your toes back toward the shins. It is fine to have a slight bend in your knees.
c. Keep your hands alongside the body and press into the floor while you lengthen your spine.
d. Open your heart center while you root into the sit bones.
e. When you are exhaling, slowly hinge at the hips and fold forward.
f. Walk your hands alongside the body. Let the hands rest on the floor or on your legs. It is also fine to clasp your hands around your feet.
g. During each inhale, lift your torso a bit and lengthen your spine.
h. With each exhale, make sure that you lower yourself deeper into the pose.
Be in the same pose for up to 3 minutes. If you prefer to deepen the stretch, a strap can be used around the feet of the soles.
4. Two-Knee Spinal Twist pose (Supta Matsyendrasana)
This pose aids in enhancing digestion through massaging, stretching, and toning the internal organs.
a. Lie on your back. Slowly bend your knees and bring your legs towards your chest.
b. Stretch your arms to the side so that they are in line with the shoulders.
c. Let your palms face down.
d. Exhale while you bring the legs over to the right side.
f. Ensure that both your knees are close to each other. The knees should be at hip level.
g. With the right hand, press into your right knee.
h. Be in such a position that you gaze to look over to the left side. You can either keep your neck in a neutral position or look to the right.
Be in the same pose for a minimum of 30 seconds. Then repeat this pose on the opposite side.
5. Happy Baby pose (Ananda Balasana)
This pose stretches your lower back and inner groin. The benefits include relieving stress and calming your mind.
a . Lie on your back and bend your knees along the side of your body. In this position, the soles of your feet should face toward the ceiling.
b. Let your lower back flatten along the floor. Never roll back toward your shoulders.
c. Bring your hands towards the outer part of your feet.
d. Using your hands, pull your legs down as if you want to stretch your knees down towards the floor.
e. In order to build resistance, press up into your hands through the foot soles.
Remain in this pose for 1 minute. If you feel more comfortable, place your hands on your thighs or lower legs.
Dr. Edward Zelman
Dr. Edward Zelman works as a Neurologist with the expertise of over 15 years, helping more than thousands to get back in complete health through his research-proven treatments. He earned his Masters from Harvard University and completed his Ph.D. from Columbia University. Dr. Edward Zelman is one of the notable names in the medical industry for his work in pain management, chronic disorder, and so on. He is also a former faculty at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). At present, Dr. Edward Zelman is researching safe and effective natural remedies that can restore as well as maintain the youthful functioning of the body.
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