Everyone has had gas some time in their lives. MayoClinic.com states that people pass gas 20 times a day on average. Gas in the buttocks, or flatus, is an uncomfortable and sometimes embarrassing consequence of eating certain types of food, not getting enough exercise, disease, or the medications used to treat certain conditions.
Avoid Foods that Cause Gas
Since gas is often caused by what we eat, avoidance of these foods and beverages is an important home remedy. Broccoli, brussel sprouts, beans and cabbage are all delicious and nutritious but can be the source of painful bloating, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. Milk and other dairy products may cause gas in people with lactose intolerance. Other foods, like pretzels and chewing gum, encourage the swallowing of air and this introduces excess gas into the digestive system.
Some activities like talking or smoking while eating can also introduce excess air into the stomach, resulting in gas. Eating on the run, rather than sitting down for a meal, may also lead to excessive air in the gastrointestinal tract.
Exercise
Exercise can relieve abdominal pressure caused by intestinal gas, and regular exercise can prevent gas from happening in the first place. Going for a 15-minute walk after meals is recommended by MedlinePlus. Yoga is also helpful by stimulating peristalsis, the muscle contractions that propel food through the intestines.
Chamomile
Drinking a tea made from chamomile can relieve gas pain. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, tea made from the flowers and tops of the chamomile plant relaxes the intestines which allows the trapped gas to move. Chamomile extract in pill form is also available for those who cannot tolerate tea or don't care for the taste.
Ginger Root
Ginger root contains enzymes which aid in digestion and can reduce intestinal gas by encouraging prompt digestion. Gas simply has no time to become trapped in the intestine. Ginger root can be grated and added to a mixture of lime juice and water. Honey may be added as a sweetener without degrading the therapeutic value of the ginger.
Baking Soda
Baking soda added to water with a twist of lemon will add carbon dioxide to the gastric system, which aids digestion. Drinking a bit of this solution will decrease the amount of gas in the stomach and reduce flatus.
Peppermint
Peppermint contains an anti-spasmodic that relaxes the intestinal wall, allowing gas to pass freely and not build up in the digestive tract. Other types of mint may also help with the discomfort and embarrassment of intestinal gas, such as spearmint.
