Three Remedies to Try for Endo Belly and SIBO Bloating

The endo belly plagues many of us. While it can be caused by inflammation from endo, among other things, a big contributing factor is small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), which is common in the endo community.¹

Often in these cases, the bloating is caused by accumulated gas. Many people don’t believe it’s gas causing the swelling because slowed motility is also an issue, meaning the gas often can’t easily get out. So people don’t think of themselves as being super gassy.^2,3

Remedies for getting rid of belly pain

Treating the root cause of this bloating is critical, but using some over-the-counter remedies to ease gas and endo belly flares ups, can go a long way to improving quality of life.

Peppermint

Peppermint is 67% effective for reducing severe IBS symptoms, and given that so many of us with endo have IBS, those stats make it pretty appealing.⁴

I love peppermint for clients who experience pain with their bloating. Still, it’s also been shown to be particularly helpful for pain with bowel movements, bloating in general, indigestion, and pretty much all IBS symptoms.⁵

Because of its antispasmodic properties, it’s wonderful if you’re experiencing cramping and spasms with your endo belly flare. While peppermint is excellent for in-the-moment issues, it’s most effective if used daily, as research has shown the most improvement with long-term use.⁵

Peppermint tea is helpful for symptoms further up, around the stomach area, because peppermint acts locally. However, if your symptoms are mid-abdomen or lower down, you’re better off with a triple-coated tablet that can bypass the stomach and break down further into the gut for symptom relief.

For those with acid reflux, peppermint may not be the best option as it can relax the muscles so much that stomach acid may flow back up the esophagus. This is less likely to happen with triple-coated tablets but checks with your doctor about the best option for you.

Ginger

Not only is ginger an antihistamine, anti-inflammatory, and effective pain killer, but it is also a prokinetic. A prokinetic stimulates motility in the small intestine and helps to move gas, bacteria, and food debris further down the digestive tract. As a result, it helps with gas, bloating, pressure, and any abdominal pain from the pressure and bloating.^6-8

To top it off, ginger is an excellent remedy for nausea and vomiting, so if you struggle with either of these amid an endo belly or SIBO flare, you could give ginger a go.¹⁰

Fresh ginger root is not as effective as ginger root powder, so it’s best to use ginger root powder supplements or ginger root powder in tea. You’ll unlikely get a therapeutic dose of ginger in tea, so I would use capsules if your symptoms are significant. In my training with a SIBO expert, we use 1000 mg 1-2 hours after meals; however, you can follow the label dose but don’t exceed more than the recommended maximum.

Charcoal

Charcoal is helpful for those of us struggling with bloating, gas, and diarrhea. Charcoal adsorbs gas, so it can help ease bloating and the pressure, pain, and spasms that can occur with gas build-up. It also absorbs water, so if you’re dealing with diarrhea, it can help calm things down.¹¹

A few words of caution here. Charcoal can cause constipation and can cause choking if inhaled, so be careful when taking the powder or a supplement. It will also cause a black stool, but this is nothing to worry about.

Have you tried any of these? Let us know your experience in the comments.