In pregnancy, the natural remedies for aerofagia make use of herbs and medicinal plants with carminative action, that is able to eliminate the air that has accumulated in the stomach and intestines and relieve the pains that derive from them.
During the gestation period in fact many organic functions are, so to speak, altered or modified to adapt to this new condition. One of the most affected systems is the gastro-intestinal system, which faces numerous phenomena of chemical, hormonal and mechanical type that alter its balance and functionality. Classic examples are nausea, sometimes accompanied by vomiting ( hyperemesis gravidarum), sialorrhea (increased salivation), heartburn and constipation.
Correlated to constipation and digestive disorders it is the aerofagia often caused by the alteration of the intestinal bacterial flora which, due to the slowed intestinal transit and the stagnation of the faeces in the rectal ampoule, causes the formation of gas . Let's better see the causes of aerophagia and natural remedies for this disorder often linked to pregnancy.
What are the causes of aerophagia in pregnancy?
Most women suffer from aerophagia in pregnancy and the main reason is that they have much higher levels of progesterone, a hormone that relaxes smooth muscle tissues throughout the body, including the gastrointestinal tract. This relaxation slows digestion, and can lead to an increase in gas, belching and flatulence, especially after a large meal. Furthermore, during pregnancy, the pressure the fetus exerts on the mother's digestive system further undermines digestion, increasing the sensation of swelling. The gas is formed in the digestive tract in three ways:
- Excessive swallowing of air : most gases are stored by swallowing the air, when eating in a hurry or in pied i or with nervousness . In these cases they are emitted as belching, although a small amount can continue to make its way to the intestine, to be released as flatulence.
- Bacterial flora eration : other times the aerophagia is produced by bacteria that try to digest heavy food, and by enzymes in the stomach
- Stitty : when faeces remain in the colon, causing fermentation gases.
- Incorrect feeding: some carbohydrates are the main culprits, while proteins and fats produce little gas. However, fats slow down digestion, contributing to a sense of bloating and gas. It is therefore better to opt for a healthy and balanced diet during pregnancy.
Discover also how to live the pregnancy in a natural way
Natural remedies against aerofagia
Herbs and medicinal plants are the main remedies for aerofagia in pregnancy, even if the first cure is a balanced diet, devoid of refined sugars, carbonated drinks, sweetened fruit juices and legumes. To limit this disorder it is necessary to take a correct position while eating and avoid those foods that can increase the production of acidity in the stomach, such as foods that are too rich in fat, those that are spicy and ferment like cabbages and dried legumes.
- Mallow : The flowers and in particular the leaves of the mallow are rich in mucilage, which give the plant emollient and anti-inflammatory properties for all the soft tissues of the body. These active ingredients act by coating the mucous membranes with a viscous layer that protect them from irritating agents. For this reason it is used in the preparation of digestive and calming teas of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Fennel seeds : they have always been used by those who have digestive difficulties, aerophagia, vomiting and breastfeeding to reduce air colic in children. It is known that an herbal tea made with the seeds of this plant is very effective in the treatment of abdominal swelling from aerophagia. It also fights the fermentative processes of the large intestine, and therefore decreases the intestinal gas. Therefore it can be useful to reduce the painful component of irritable bowel syndrome.
- The seeds of green anise: the most known effect of anise is the digestive one, appreciated already by the Romans who used it at the end of the most demanding banquets. Anise is also carminative and antispasmodic, which is why it is used for digestive and anti-swelling teas.
- Ginger : it is used as an anti-inflammatory and digestive and is among the most effective antinausea and antivertigo medicines. With ginger you can treat disorders such as car sickness, seasickness, morning sickness. Its anti-emetic properties seem to reside in local effects on the walls of the stomach and intestine, which is why it is also used to protect the gastric mucosa.
