Way, way back—I’m thinking as far back as 15 years ago or so—I went to see my doctor, complaining of terrible bloating, excess horrible wind, generally feeling really sluggish… you know what I’m talking about.
As doctors are prone to do (or at least the ones I’ve had in the past) he didn’t particularly try to identify the causes of my bloating problem. He just gave me a remedy to relieve the symptoms.
Now usually, this might have been a nasty medical remedy. However, he prescribed peppermint oil capsules, instructing me to take a couple of them with water about an hour before eating.
I’d never heard of the benefits of peppermint capsules as bloating remedies before but I willingly gave them a try.
Ugh! My first experience of taking them was horrible! I actually remember the bloating getting worse rather than better, I suffered from incredible burning heartburn (which I’d never had before) and the dire smells I went on to create later that evening… well. I’ll spare you the details!
So with that, I decided peppermint just wasn’t for me and threw the rest of the capsules away.
It was only many years later, after another 10 or more years continuing to suffer with bloating, that I read more about the benefits of peppermint oil in relieving stomach bloating. At that point, my bloating problem had flared up again in a big way and, willing to try anything, I bought some peppermint capsules from a health food store.
You can buy 2 different types of capsules. The cheaper ones are soft gelatine coated, while the more expensive ones are enteric-coated.
I went for the cheaper ones first. I can wholeheartedly say that my experience second time around was much better. No heartburn. Almost instant relief, my stomach churning and bubbling calming right down within 30 minutes.
The only problem I found was that I didn’t like the intense cold sensation in my stomach nor the really strong taste of peppermint in my mouth that seemed to repeat on me for hours.
Not deterred, I tried the more expensive enteric-coated capsules.
My advice: if you do decide to try peppermint oil to relieve or prevent your bloating (and you really should), I strongly recommend buying the enteric coated type instead. The coating isn’t as easily digested so they only begin to work once they’ve reached your colon and lower intestine, which is where they’re most effective.
With the enteric ones I get no major peppermint taste and they really do work more effectively. I can go from severe bloat to calm, flat stomach within the hour. Marvellous!
In a later post I’ll write a bit about how peppermint actually works to relieve bloating, but I think I’ve waffled on enough for this post.
Thanks for reading.
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi i found your post really interesting i too have ibs and have just started using peppermint oil capsules my stomach has bloated even more than before i started them and feel like i have a balloon trapped in my tummy does it get any easier in time? I surely hope so xx
Hi Claire – I found that too when I first when I first started taking them. Definitely persevere, it gets better! Also try to take them a short time before eating, rather than afterwards, or when the bloating and IBS really strikes. The capsules work best when they get to work before you start digesting.
Good luck!
i really use to drink a lot of windhoek lager without eating any think and i dont feel any hunger but my stomuch is always full than you very much i go try for that after everything i come back to u