| If you're like me, you've suffered from stomach | | | | 2. Undigested food which reaches the lower intestine |
| bloating, excess wind and flatulence for as long as | | | | and stays there. This can occur for all sorts of |
| you can remember. The symptoms are unpleasant: | | | | reasons: poor diet, eating too quickly or drinking too |
| you feel sluggish, uncomfortable and unattractive, and | | | | much fluid while eating, for example. The undigested |
| it happens seemingly at random. One minute you feel | | | | food then ferments, producing excess gas which |
| great, the next minute you feel completely full of | | | | results in wind and bloating. |
| wind, with your stomach bloated to two or three | | | | Peppermint oil naturally contains thymol and eugenol, |
| times its normal size. | | | | both of which balance intestinal flora (the 'good' |
| There are many plausible causes for it and any | | | | bacteria which is an important factor in healthy |
| number of recommended bloating remedies too. | | | | digestion) and reduce the fermentation of undigested |
| What if told you about one such remedy? A natural | | | | food. |
| essential oil, totally harmless, with no side-effects. | | | | How do I take peppermint oil? |
| What if I said that this remedy has been used | | | | It is important to take the 'essential oil', as it is |
| medicinally for centuries across the world and is | | | | believed to be 70 times more potent than just the |
| readily and cheaply available? | | | | plant itself. |
| What if I also said that this bloating remedy would | | | | For the purposes of reducing bloating, you have 2 |
| likely wave goodbye to your flatulence, markedly | | | | options: buy the oil in capsules which you swallow, or |
| ease your uncomfortable bloating, without any of the | | | | drink it as peppermint tea. |
| side-effects associated with antacids (such as acid | | | | 1. Peppermint tea simply comes as tea bags, made in |
| reflux or increased risk of kidney stones)? | | | | much the same way as you would make a normal |
| This wonder remedy is peppermint oil. | | | | cup of tea (but without the milk). I find it best to |
| What is peppermint oil? | | | | drink peppermint tea after meals for best effect. |
| Peppermint oil is simply the fragrant oil from the | | | | 2. Peppermint oil capsules can be bought from |
| peppermint plant. It is used widely in all kinds of | | | | health-food stores, in pharmacies and also can be |
| everyday products such as chewing gum and | | | | prescribed by your doctor. They come in 2 basic |
| toothpaste. This wonderful natural remedy naturally | | | | varieties: either soft gelatine coated or enteric |
| tones the stomach, liver and intestines. It is also used | | | | coated. My advice would be to try to find the |
| to successfully treat ulcers, nausea, headaches, the | | | | enteric-coated variety if you can. Enteric coating isn't |
| symptoms of asthma, cystitis. It even has significant | | | | digested easily so the capsules only start to be |
| anti-viral properties too, used in the treatment of | | | | broken down by your body once they've reached |
| herpes. | | | | the lower intestine, where they're needed. The |
| How does it hep with bloating? | | | | gelatine-coated capsules tend to break up in your |
| Bloating can be caused by a whole range of reasons. | | | | stomach, which I find doesn't work as well and |
| There are 2 main causes of bloating for which | | | | causes an unpleasant after taste. |
| peppermint oil has a significant effect: | | | | Just take a couple of capsules after eating or when |
| 1. IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), believed to be | | | | feeling discomfort, with a glass of water. |
| caused by spasms in the colon and lower intestines. | | | | Abdominal bloating can be caused by a variety of |
| Peppermint oil has an 'antispasmodic' action which | | | | reasons, and it's important to locate the actual cause |
| relieves and calms these spasms. This not only | | | | so as to avoid it in the first place. However, if you |
| relieves bloating but also other common symptoms | | | | feel bloated and are in need of a remedy, I can |
| of IBS such as flatulence, stomach pains and diarrhea. | | | | heartily recommend giving peppermint oil a try. |