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Fennel seeds for gas?

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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Posted 9/5/2007 6:55 PM (GMT 0)
I was just reading something on MSN about how people in southern Europe take fennel seeds to help with gas.  This is very interesting and I never heard of this before.  Anyone try this?  I may just have to pick some up in the spice aisle next trip to the market.
Posted 9/5/2007 6:58 PM (GMT 0)
They name other herbal remedies too that you can find at your local supermarket. *Remember to check with your doctor before trying anything, especially if you are taking meds.

http://health.msn.com/dietfitness/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=100166343&imageindex=1
Posted 9/5/2007 8:04 PM (GMT 0)
Fennel is an antispasmodic. I take a peppermint, fennel and ginger capsule and it works well but the only problem is that the peppermint which they say is supposed to disolve in the intestine and not in the stomach I don't really think does cause I burp up peppermint all the time and everything has a peppermint taste, even fish. Peppermint is bad for acid reflux and that is my major problem. I do feel they work on the gas and certainly for nausea. I think I am going to help food store tomorrow and see if I can just get the fennel as my gas situation is totally out of control along with indigestion. Didn't think about the grocery store.
Posted 9/6/2007 7:03 AM (GMT 0)

Canyonbabe711 said...
Fennel is an antispasmodic. I take a peppermint, fennel and ginger capsule and it works well but the only problem is that the peppermint which they say is supposed to disolve in the intestine and not in the stomach I don't really think does cause I burp up peppermint all the time and everything has a peppermint taste, even fish. Peppermint is bad for acid reflux and that is my major problem. I do feel they work on the gas and certainly for nausea. I think I am going to help food store tomorrow and see if I can just get the fennel as my gas situation is totally out of control along with indigestion. Didn't think about the grocery store.

Even better than the seeds, which for many IBS'ers can be hard to digest, buying the fresh fennel bulb and cooking it for dinner is even better.  Fennel is so wonderful for the digestion and it's delicious cooked or even shredded into salads.

 

Fennel tea is also available in health food stores.  I have been able to purchase it without the peppermint included.  I can't drink the peppermint either!

Posted 9/7/2007 12:21 AM (GMT 0)
There are enteric-coated peppermint capsules that you can take that don't start breaking down until they get into the small intestine (they pass undigested through the highly acidic stomach).  I've heard that people who can't tolerate peppermint due to the acidity can sometimes find relief with these peppermint capsules.

Posted 9/7/2007 4:26 AM (GMT 0)
I think those are the ones I use. They say that is the case but it seems sort of strange to me that within a matter of minutes I am burping up peppermint and everything tastes like peppermint. Anyone for peppermint wine? Anyway the reason peppermint is bad is that it relaxes the LES valve, makes it floppy and that allows the HCL acid to regurgitate back into the esophagous. I have found nothing that works better than these capsules when I am bloated so inspite of the peppermint possible problem I will take them from time to time.

Just as an aside. I am finding chewing gum absolutely the best for keeping acid down and digestion. I was always told it created gas and I really don't like to chew gum but my indigestion was so bad I gave in and I have been amazed in the turn around. I wonder if it might help with IBS and digestion.
Posted 9/7/2007 5:32 AM (GMT 0)

dbab said...
I was just reading something on MSN about how people in southern Europe take fennel seeds to help with gas.  This is very interesting and I never heard of this before.  Anyone try this?  I may just have to pick some up in the spice aisle next trip to the market.

I met with the new naturopathic doctor today and asked him about fennel.  He said it's the oil from the fennel that helps in digestion.  Seeds and fresh will not have the same effect.

Posted 9/7/2007 5:34 AM (GMT 0)

Canyonbabe711 said...

Just as an aside. I am finding chewing gum absolutely the best for keeping acid down and digestion. I was always told it created gas and I really don't like to chew gum but my indigestion was so bad I gave in and I have been amazed in the turn around. I wonder if it might help with IBS and digestion.

Seriously????  I chew gum on occasion, but usually just for a few minutes to freshen the breath.  Are you talking about a specific type of gum?  Are you chewing for hours at a time?  Have you noticed an increase in intestinal gas?  How fascinating!

Posted 9/7/2007 5:55 AM (GMT 0)
No increase in gas and definetly has helped tremendously with reflux. No, special gum. I have a denture so I can only chew certain kinds. I can chew some flavors in extra. the only problem is that they are mostly sugar free and some IBS people can't handle it. I don't chew it that much as I don't like to chew gum. I have been chewing after I eat and on occassion during the day when I get that full feeling. I have had almost 2 weeks of the worst acid indigestion I have ever had.Have no idea what brought it on and was willing to try anything. I could even hear the bubbling in my throat, constantly clearing throat and burping and belching like I just drank a 6 pak. This has been going on almost 24/7, constant gas and it all stopped with in a couple hours and has not returned as soon as I started with the gum, the bloat, everything. I read it on a website, then saw it on a forum(the acid forum on here) and then strangely enough heard it on Paul Harvey's show the same day as I read it. I am really shocked because I have such bad reflux that my throat has mucous all the time from it. I already have lung problems so didn't need this aggravation and my meds make reflux worse. See Gastro Dr. on Monday and going to mention it to him.

http://www.webmd.com/heartburn-gerd/news/20030522/chewing-gum-may-prevent-heartburn

There is a lot of info on google. The site i read it on was a site where something was being sold so I didn't post that one.

Post Edited (Canyonbabe711) : 9/7/2007 12:08:25 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/7/2007 3:50 PM (GMT 0)
I am going to try this today!  Thanks for the heads up!

Posted 9/8/2007 12:48 AM (GMT 0)
It took about 3 days to be over all the problems but the pressure in the esophagous started letting up very quickly and the rest just slowly subsided so that I rarely even have to burp and I no longer have all those feelings in my esophagous and chest. I also believe it has helped my breathing. Good Luck. Let us know.
Posted 9/8/2007 6:45 AM (GMT 0)

Canyonbabe711 said...
It took about 3 days to be over all the problems but the pressure in the esophagous started letting up very quickly and the rest just slowly subsided so that I rarely even have to burp and I no longer have all those feelings in my esophagous and chest. I also believe it has helped my breathing. Good Luck. Let us know.

I checked out the link you provided.  It says the participants of the study chewed for 30 minutes.  Is that how long you chew the gum?  Just trying to figure out how long I should chomp!

Posted 9/8/2007 2:07 PM (GMT 0)
My Great Grandmother would insist that Catnip & fennel would take care of gas pains. My Mom followed her advice & gave my sister some when she was an infant & had colic. It did work within 20 minutes. Good Luck
Posted 9/8/2007 10:44 PM (GMT 0)
I would say that is about right. I don't really pay attentin but my jaws get tired. I use a half a piece at a time and when my jaws get tired or there is no flavor I throw it out. I doubt that it matters how long but I would think less than that would not help much. It is really helping with the mucous in my throat from the acid. I am also taking some Maalox at night before I got to bed and this combination seems to be working really well for me. I take the Maalox about an hour after I take any other pills since it will interfere with them disolving properly.
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