Home Remedies to Relieve Gas and Reduce Bloating
Health ConditionsDigestive HealthExcessive Gas

At-Home Treatments for Gas and Bloating

At-Home Treatments for Gas and Bloating
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Updated on October 15, 2026
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Although everyone experiences gas, some people are troubled by it more than others. At times, excessive gas can become uncomfortable or even painful. But simple changes to your diet can provide gas relief and also aid digestion. In addition to over-the-counter gas relief products, items commonly found in the kitchen may double as gas relievers.

Here’s a rundown of what you can do at home to manage excessive gas and bloating.

Herbs for Gas Relief

Using certain herbs may help ease excessive gas and prevent bloating, says Angela Lemond, RDN, who is based in Plano, Texas.

Ginger is an herb that may help. Studies on people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) have found that ginger use appears to be effective at treating gas and bloating symptoms compared with placebo. And studies on participants with functional dyspepsia, a form of chronic indigestion, found that ginger use considerably improved symptoms, including bloating, compared with placebo.

FDgard, an over-the-counter supplement designed to help manage functional dyspepsia, uses other herbs to achieve similar results. The primary active ingredients are caraway and peppermint oils. Some doctors recommend this for gas and bloating, and one study found that this combination also helps with dyspepsia.

Other herbs and spices that may provide gas relief include:

  • Allspice
  • Anise
  • Basil
  • Cinnamon
  • Cloves
  • Garlic
  • Nutmeg
  • Peppermint

Lemond notes that you should always get approval from your doctor before taking an herbal supplement. She also suggests that you try to gain the benefit of gas relief from the food you eat rather than by taking supplements, which should be taken with caution, she says. Consider working with a registered dietitian or a nutritionist; they can help you figure out which foods to add to your diet and which, if any, supplements are safe to try.

"Some people think of herbal supplements as natural or straight from the earth, so they may be taken at will, but a lot of them have pharmaceutical effects and could interact with medication," she says.

Gas, Stress, and Probiotics

Gas can be worsened by stress. "There are nerves up and down the GI tract," Lemond says. "People who have a tendency to be nervous can develop gas, diarrhea, or constipation." When dietary changes aren’t effective, other treatments such as stress reduction techniques or relaxation therapy may help.

Stress can play a big role in conditions like IBS, in part by causing an imbalance in your gut microbiome. That’s the collection of bacteria and other microbes that controls communication between your gut and your brain. An imbalance can lead to gastrointestinal symptoms.

More studies are beginning to explore the role of stress and psychological factors and their impact on IBS. In one review of 37 studies, researchers found that mental stress increased IBS symptoms and changed the speed at which the gut digested food.

Researchers have explored the direct connections between the gut, brain, and probiotics, as probiotics were thought to be a way to aid digestion and reduce excessive gas. But the evidence on probiotics remains thin. In fact, the American Gastroenterological Association has released guidelines outlining that for most digestive conditions, not enough evidence exists to support the use of probiotics.

Over-the-Counter Treatments That May Help

If gas doesn't move quickly enough through the digestive system, it can cause bloating and discomfort. A few changes to your daily routine and habits can bring relief from gas and bloating. Try these tips to help decrease bloating:

  • Eat slowly and chew your food thoroughly.
  • Eat smaller meals, more frequently.
  • Chew with your mouth shut to lessen the chances of swallowing air.
  • Walk after a meal.
  • Drink adequate amounts of water, and skip drinking carbonated beverages like soda.
Products at your local pharmacy to reduce gas and bloating generally contain simethicone, activated charcoal, peppermint oil, or the food enzyme alpha-galactosidase (the active ingredient in Beano). These ingredients help break down hard-to-digest foods like beans and other vegetables. Some products contain lactase, the enzyme that breaks down the lactose in dairy. Not everyone finds these drugs to be effective, however.

Alpha-galactosidase contains the enzyme that the body lacks to digest certain carbohydrates in beans and other vegetables. But the enzyme has no effect on gas caused by the lactose in dairy. Lactase tablets or drops may provide gas relief for those with lactose intolerance. You take the supplements right before you eat or drink dairy products.

When to See a Doctor

"Occasional excessive gas is normal," Lemond says. But when gas continues to be a problem despite dietary adjustments and home or over-the-counter gas treatments, it’s a good idea to see your doctor.

Additional reporting by Zachary Smith.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Aregawi LG et al. Ginger's Nutritional Implication on Gastrointestinal Health. Clinical Nutrition Open Science. June 2025.
  2. Lacy BE et al. A Novel Duodenal-Release Formulation of Caraway Oil and L-Menthol Is a Safe, Effective and Well Tolerated Therapy for Functional Dyspepsia. BMC Gastroenterology. March 7, 2022.
  3. Carminatives. CommonSpirit.
  4. Functional Dyspepsia. Beacon Health System. January 4, 2025.
  5. Mustafa YF. When the gut Speaks: The Hidden Toll of Irritable Bowel Syndrome on Body and Mind. Gastroenterology & Endoscopy. July 2025.
  6. Schaper SJ et al. Emotional Stress Responsivity of Patients With IBS — a Systematic Review. Journal of Psychosomatic Research. February 2022.
  7. Su GL et al. AGA Clinical Practice Guidelines on the Role of Probiotics in the Management of Gastrointestinal Disorders. Gastroenterology. August 2020.
  8. Bloating. National Health Service. January 21, 2026.
  9. Here’s Why Your Belly Feels Bloated, and What to Do About It. Banner Health. May 4, 2026.
  10. Gas and Gas Pains. Beacon Health System. September 20, 2025.
  11. Alpha Galactosidase. Intoleran.
  12. Gas in the Digestive Tract. Altru Health System.
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