Bloating is uncomfortable and often frustrating, too. You know you should fit into that outfit, but today it’s far too tight. Moreover, it came on out of the blue, without any warning at all. There are many different ways to beat the bloat, but recently the trend has been leaning toward the use of essential oils. Could there be any truth to this natural technique, or is it just the latest fad waiting to fizzle out?
Essential oils have a number of wonderful uses. They smell incredible and can help people to relax, to boost their energy levels, enhance their memories and even treat bruises and certain skin conditions. Now, people are using them to relieve gas and bloating, too. All they do is massage the right essential oils into their belly areas and add it to the foods they eat and wait for the swelling to subside.
Before you head out to grab all the essential oils off the shelves of your neighborhood health store, there are a few things you should know about the practice. The first is that not all bloating is created equal. There are many different reasons that it could happen. Most commonly, the causes are dehydration, overeating and consuming too much salt. For that reason, overcoming the bloat typically means getting to the root of the problem and fixing it.
For instance, if you’re dehydrated, drinking water will usually help to flush out the fluids being retained by your body. Reducing sodium intake and drinking water can help to counteract the bloating resulting from eating too many salty foods. And a bit of time will overcome the bloating from overeating, while eating more reasonable portions can help to prevent it from happening again.
Essential oils may also help, but the science to support their use in this way is quite slim. There is some research indicating that peppermint, ginger and chamomile can help to reduce digestive upset and support digestive health. For that reason, the essential oils extracted from those herbs have the potential to be effective, as well.
Some believe that while essential oils can be helpful against bloating, it’s a good idea to combine their use with other healthy lifestyle measures instead of relying on them as an all-in-one solution. For instance, certain practices don’t just use essential oils, but also use probiotics, proper hydration, portion size, sodium reduction and exercise. These efforts combined provide a more complete treatment for the bloating and may be more effective than the essential oils alone.
