Why Am I So Gassy & Bloated? Ayurveda’s Perspective on Gas & Bloating

If you’ve ever felt like your stomach is a balloon ready to pop, or you look 9 months pregnant by 4 in the afternoon- you’re not alone! This is one of the most common complaints I see from my Ayurveda health coaching clients. Gas and bloating are some of the most COMMON digestive complaints, but according to Ayurveda, they’re not NORMAL. They’re often a sign of weak digestive fire (Agni) or an imbalance in Vata dosha, which governs movement in the body. We will dive into what both of these mean and how to address them below! Simple Ayurvedic remedies can help you restore balance, improve digestion, and feel lighter and more comfortable.

Ayurvedic Natural Remedies for Gas & Bloating

1. Drink Warm Digestive Tea This recipe adapted from Kate O’Donnell’s Everyday Ayurveda Cookbook- which is my favorite ayurvedic cookbook of all time, and I honestly 12 out of 10 recommend purchasing it!

¼ in piece of fresh ginger root Ginger is a powerhouse herb for digestion. It helps stoke your digestive fire (Agni), reduce inflammation, and relieve gas. If you don’t keep fresh root on hand, you can also use dried ginger powder. 

½ tsp Cinnamon or ½ of a cinnamon stick Cinnamon is naturally energetically warming. Gas can be a result of cold and dry qualities, so we need to warm the gut up! It naturally improves digestion ½ tsp Fennel Seeds Fennel will reduce any acidity, improve digestion, and balance all three doshas

1 tsp Licorice powder or 2 tsp chopped licorice root Licorice is a demulcent and will help calm and coat the intestines where excess air element and dry quality have built up 

✅ How to use it:

• Boil 2 cup of water and add the ingredients, let the tea simmer for 10-15 mins ideally

2. Try Fennel Seeds for Instant Relief

Fennel is known in Ayurveda for its carminative (gas-reducing) properties. It relaxes the digestive tract and prevents cramping. This is why you see fennel seeds at Indian restaurants! 

✅ How to use it:

• Chew ½ teaspoon of fennel seeds after meals. 

• Brew a fennel tea by steeping 1 teaspoon of seeds in hot water for 10 minutes.

3. Use Hing (Asafoetida) in Cooking

Hing (asafoetida) is one of Ayurveda’s most potent remedies for gas. It has a strong aroma, but just a tiny pinch in food can work wonders for digestion. Avoid overdoing this one if you have a lot of pitta dosha (tend towards acidity, heat, and overworking). You can get this spice at the ethnic section of most grocery stores.

✅ How to use it:

• Add a pinch to lentils, beans, or legumes while to prevent bloating.

• It’s incredibly potent, so it won’t take much!

4. Practice Belly Massage with Warm Oil

Gentle self-massage can help move trapped gas, trigger peristalsis, balance vata dosha, and stimulate digestion. Warm, moist, and heavy- oil has all of the opposite qualities of vata dosha that can help you find balance from too much air element- dry, cold, rough, and mobile.

✅ How to do it:

• Warm 2 tablespoons of sesame oil and massage your belly in circular, clockwise motions, maybe while lying on your left side, especially in the evening.

5. Avoid Cold Drinks & Raw Foods

Cold beverages and raw, uncooked foods can slow digestion and contribute to bloating. Ayurveda recommends warm, easy-to-digest foods, especially if you frequently experience gas. These practice support agni- digestive fire. Low digestive fire could be one cause of gas and bloating.  

✅ Better options:

• Sip warm water or herbal teas throughout the day. Say NO to ice water! 

• Favor cooked veggies over raw salads, especially in the evening.

• Kale in particular should never be eaten raw! You could have the digestion of a polar bear and still not be able to break that stuff down. 

6. Take a Walk After Eating

A short walk after meals can help prevent bloating by keeping digestion active. Ancient Ayurvedic texts specify  "taking a hundred steps after eating." So not a huge big workout, but just adding enough energy to the system to support your digestion. 

✅ How to do it:

• Walk for 5-10 minutes after meals to keep your digestion moving.

• Avoid lying down immediately after eating.

7. Try the Ayurvedic Herbal Formula Hingvastak

Ayurveda has powerful herbal formula for digestion that is plagued by excess air and space element- hingvastak. Not to be confused with the hing mentioned above (asafoetida), that spice is included in this herbal blend though! Once again, limit this one if you have a lot of pitta dosha (tend towards acidity, heat, and overworking). ✅ How to do it:

• Take ¼ teaspoon in warm water before or after meals or sprinkle ¼ teaspoon on your food

Long-Term Ayurvedic Tips to Prevent Bloating

• Eat mindfully – Avoid multitasking while eating. Chew thoroughly.

• Stick to a regular meal schedule – Eating at inconsistent times can confuse digestion. This is one of the best ways to balance vata dosha!

• Don’t overeat – Stop eating when you’re about 80% full.

• Avoid incompatible food combinations – Ayurveda warns against mixing dairy with fruit or eating heavy foods late at night.

• Stay hydrated, but don’t drink too much during meals – Sip warm water, but avoid drinking large amounts while eating.

• Follow a vata pacifying diet

Ayurveda’s Gentle, Natural Approach to Digestion

Bloating and gas don’t have to be part of your daily life. Ayurveda offers simple, natural ways to improve digestion without relying on medications. By making small shifts you can ease bloating, strengthen digestion, and feel better every day.

Want to learn more? Check out my FREE Gas & Bloating Workshop!