Belching

Belching is the result of air collecting and sitting at the top of the stomach gathering pressure until it is allowed to escape through the esophagus. Burping is most common during a meal or while drinking, but it occurs at any time due to the nervous habit of swallowing air while speaking. Belching is often associated with a bad taste in the mouth and bad breath.

Overindulgence in carbonated beverages and fermented foods causes a predisposition for belching, common to champagne and beer drinkers alike. Belching is usually a sign of poor digestion. If food remains in the stomach too long, gases collect and cause belching. Eating or drinking too hastily, too little stomach acid or insufficient enzymes from the pancreas will all cause poor digestion. Many people have trouble digesting fats, especially deep-fried foods. If rich foods are a digestive problem, the cause is often in the liver or gall-bladder. Some people are particularly sensitive to combining certain foods and often have problems arising from fruits eaten with vegetables, and proteins eaten with carbohydrates.

Carbonated beverages and fermented foods can provoke burping and should be avoided. Eat slowly and chew thoroughly. Belching often results from poor digestion due to a lack of stomach acid or digestive enzymes. In this case, taking 1 tbsp. of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water with meals will help. Papaya or pineapple juice provides the stomach with enzymes for the digestion of proteins. Grapefruit effectively controls gas. If rich, fatty foods cause the irritation, consider liver or gall-bladder problems.

Supplements and herbs

Usually, belching is the result of poor, sluggish digestion. Nutritional supplements that help to stimulate digestion include digestive enzymes, bromelain and papain. If the diet contains excess fats, lecithin will help to transport them out of the system.
Lactobacillus acidophilus and other friendly intestinal bacteria are important for optimal digestion, and should be supplemented to ensure their effectiveness.
Betaine HCl is an excellent digestive aid if stomach acid is lacking. If a slight burning sensation is experienced, the dosage must be reduced. Reduce the dosage when the stomach produces its own stomach acid again. Substituted pure apple cider vinegar instead. Avoid either of these remedies if the stomach lining is irritated or ulcerous.

Herbal teas stimulate digestion, relieve stomach upset and break down stomach acids that cause belching.

• A peppermint-fennel combination is always effective in soothing an upset stomach. Make an extra strong infusion with 1 cup of boiling water and 1 tbsp. of each herb. Steep for ten minutes and sip slowly.
• Pour 1 cup boiling water over 1 tsp./freshly ground ginger root, steep for ten minutes and drink when feeling an urge to belch.
• Take bitter herb teas if the cause is liver and gall-bladder malfunctioning. Yarrow, wormwood, dandelion, plantain and gentian are best.
• Swedish bitters are an excellent digestive stimulant, and are particularly useful if fats and creamy foods cause a problem. Take 1 tsp. of Swedish bitters with water before and after meals daily for two weeks.
• Calamus root tea has a good balancing action, as it is useful for too little or too much stomach acid. Add 1 cup of boiling water to 1 tsp. of herbs, steep for ten minutes and drink 1 cup daily.

What else you can do

• In cases of poor digestion, hot, moist compresses on the liver, stomach and esophagus will increase circulation to that area and help correct the problem.

How much to take

• Digestive enzyme combination, one capsule with meals
• Bromelain, 1,000 mg three times daily with meals
• Lactobacillus acidophilus, 1-2 capsules or 1 tsp
• Betaine HCI, 1,000 mg three times daily with meals
• Lecithin, 1-3 tbsp. three times daily

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