How to – 5 ways to holistically tame belly bloat

   How do we tackle and tame belly bloat?  I think we have all experienced belly bloat for one reason or another.  Whether bloating occurs from  hormonal disturbances, a heavily salted meal or medications, the discomfort and ill fitting clothing is a pain ( pun intended ), to say the least. 

     Aside from wearing sweats or tummy control yoga pants, what can we do to tame belly bloat?

As someone who works with women daily in my holistic wellness practice, I can tell you that you are not alone. So what can we do about it? Well, in this article I will share with you some of the tips and tricks that my clients and I have used to naturally and holistically help tame belly bloat.

The reader and user of this blog acknowledges that the information in this website, FullyJoy.com is for general information only.  It is not intended for medical advice and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional consultation with a qualified healthcare practitioner that knows you and your medical needs personally. 

What is bloating anyways?

 According to Cleveland Clinic, “ A bloated stomach is first and foremost a feeling of tightness, pressure or fullness in your belly. It may or may not be accompanied by a visibly distended (swollen) abdomen. The feeling can range from mildly uncomfortable to intensely painful. It usually goes away after a while, but for some people, it’s a recurring problem. Digestive issues and hormone fluctuations can cause cyclical bloating. If your bloated stomach doesn’t go away, you should seek medical care to determine the cause.”

Common Causes for Bloating –

• Gas
• Digestive Issues
• Food Intolerances
• Hormones

The Good Gut Guys–

What if you could tame belly bloat before it starts? So often we can turn to our food as the source of the good or the bad of how we are feeling throughout the day. So much is taking place in our gut. A bacterial battle is being waged between good bacteria and the bad guys.

A few ways in which we can give the good guys a fighting chance is to have a quality, high count probiotic supplement and fermented foods.

Webmed has a list of foods containing quality amounts of probiotics. I’ll list some of my favorite and I think most accessible here :

Symbiotic Has You Covered –

     As I mentioned before a quality supplement insures that your getting many different stains of good bacteria. Ritual has an amazing supplement called a Symbiotic. It contains, Prebiotic, Probiotics and Postbiotic. That’s right, all the good guys in One deliverable capsule.

Prebiotics –  Supports the growth of beneficial bacteria living inside the gut

Probiotics – Relieves mild and occasional digestive discomforts such as bloating, gas and diarrhea

Postbiotics – The postbiotic provides fuel for the gut lining and supports gut barrier function. 

Can Castor Oil Packs Tame Belly Bloat? –

  We talk a lot about supporting the lymphatic system in my one on one sessions. Manual lymphatic drainage massage, guasha, body brushing and castor oil packs are my most beloved modalities. This simple an effective treatment is a beautiful supportive way to focus in on the abdomen.

Castor oil has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Indian Ayurveda, Ancient Egyptians and Mediterraneans all used castor oil for its many health and beauty benefits

Since our focus is bloating and abdominal discomfort let’s run through the checklist of helpful considerations :

• Help to balance the microbiome
• Gets you into Rest & Digest – Parasympathetic Nervous System
• Helps with elimination
• Supports the Liver functions
• Reduces inflammation

Queen of Thrones

In my holistic practice, I recommend using the Queen of Thrones castor oil packs as follow up care after abdominal massage and lymphatic drainage sessions.

These packs are made with the highest quality materials and for ease of use. The packs have ties allowing you to move around and no need to lay down with a heating pad.

I reach for mine at least twice a week and daily when I’m on my moon cycle.

D.I.Y. – Oil Pack

You will need…

• Castor Oil
• Flannel or unbleached Wool – about 3 layers and large enough to cover the affected area.
• Plastic Wrap – enough to completely cover the flannel patch and hold to the skin, usually a couple inches beyond the flannel size.
• Hot Compress – such as a hot towel, a heating pad, or a hot water bottle

How to…

1. Saturate flannel in Castor Oil, you don’t want it to be dripping. This is the “pack”.

2. Place the pack over the affected area.

3. Cover with plastic, sometimes the oil slips around and more wrap is needed to hold it in place and isolate it.

4. Apply the heat compress.

5. Chill for up to one hour.

Herbal Tea –

I have this very distinct memory of my grandmother making me peppermint tea all the time as a child. I was a highly sensitive little one and that manifested in frequent tummy aches.

Not much has changed, I’m still a sensitive soul that gets frequent stomach aches, but now I have the added discomfort of belly bloat too. I often think of my grandma when I sip a cuppa peppermint tea.

I know a bit more about herbs now and how they can assist in digestion. Here are a few common herbs that you can look to for support when dealing with digestion discomfort and looking to tame belly bloat.

You could enjoy these herbs on their own or create a blend. Mountain Rose Herbs has a Happy Tummy Tea , which is a blend of (Organic catnip, organic spearmint, organic lemongrass, organic calendula flowers, organic skullcap, organic rosemary, organic sage leaf, and organic fennel seed).

Lymphatic Drainage Massage –

I know….. it sounds strange and a bit of a mouthful , but it is a game changer. Lymphatic drainage massage or LDM is a technique used in massage and facials for assisting the flow of Lymph. Our lymphatic system is made up of lymph vessels, nodes, ducts and lymph (the fluid).

Unlike the circulatory system, the lymphatic system does not have a pump. It relies on movement ( like exercise and massage ) to move lymph and in return keep the body in good health.

A healthy lymphatic system plays a big role in the health of your gut. It aids in protecting your body from illness ( the gut is the second immune system ), maintaining body fluid levels and removing cellular waste.

I love to do circular massage movements with the castor oil for 5 minutes or so. Always in a clock-wise motion. Starting at the right hip, up, over, down and across. Then place your Queen of Thrones castor oil pack on your abdomen and rest and digest.

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