Effective Home Remedies for Burping: Relief & Cultural Etiquette

Burping or belching, is releasing gas from the mouth, sometimes with a peculiar sound and odour. Burping is not a medical condition, most of the time. Yet, it is culturally unacceptable. In Indian and Chinese culture, it is not accepted in certain situations. In Japan, it is strictly considered as bad manners. Western cultures, such as North American, French and German, consider burping inappropriate and one must try to silence one’s burp and excuse him or her.

Burping is the result of swallowing air. The stomach removes the gas by pushing it upwards through the esophagus and then the mouth.

Check out these effective home remedies to relieve burping. These ingredients are easily available in your kitchen.

1. Ginger:

Ginger is the most well-known and effective home remedy for burping. It provides instant relief. It also helps improve digestive conditions. Taking powdered ginger capsules or tincture before meals or biting on a fresh ginger-root before meals can cure burping. If you are intolerant to the strong taste, an alternative is to make ginger and honey tea. Add finely grated ginger to boiling water and then add honey or lime to make it more edible.

2. Lemon Juice:

Lemon juice mixed with baking soda in a glass of water will give quick relief from burping. This drink also aids digestion. This is somewhat like natural Eno.

3. Papaya:

A healthy way to cure burping along with taking in a nutritious fruit salad is papaya. Papaya contains an enzyme called papain that can get rid of gastric problems, which cause the burps. Make papaya your daily must-have fruit.

4. Yogurt:

A bowl of yogurt taken with meals is a common and traditional Indian habit. The reason is that yogurt aids digestion. The live bacteria culture cures all stomach and intestinal problems. If you are lactose-intolerant, you can choose the buttermilk alternative (lassi).

5. Caraway:

Caraway seeds can help calm the digestive tract and reduce burping naturally. These seeds can be taken directly or added to salads.

6. Fennel, Anise And Celery Seeds:

These seeds are easily available at all grocery stores and super marts. You just need to chew a few after your dinner to get relief from burping. These seeds have carminative agents, which help remove gas from the intestinal tract.

7. Chamomile Tea:

Traditionally used to cure stomach aches and also to relieve burping, a cup of chamomile tea before going to bed can help.

8. Cardamom Tea:

It helps improve digestion. It digests gas-producing foods and thus, reduces burping. Add 1 teaspoon of cardamom in 1 cup of water and boil for 10 minutes. Drink this before meals to cure excessive burping.

9. Cumin:

Chewing roasted cumin seeds after meals can help ease gastric problems and relieve burping.

10. Peppermint:

This is one of the best home remedies for burping. Pour 1 cup of boiling water over few peppermint leaves. Stir for 5 minutes. Drink before going to bed.

11. Garlic:

Swallow a garlic bud and drink a glass of water after that. This is most effective if taken on an empty stomach. Garlic helps improve digestion and relieves burping naturally.

12. Hing:

Add a pinch of asafoetida (hing) to a glass of warm water and drink it before meals. It helps relieve stomach congestion. It is one of the best natural remedies for burping and gas.

13. Fenugreek:

Soak the leaves in water for 2-3 hours, and have it on an empty stomach. It is the best natural cure for belching. It also keeps the mouth fresh.

14. Soya Oil:

Mix one drop of soya oil with 1 teaspoon honey and lick it after a meal to get instant cure from belching.

15. Clove Leaves:

Fresh clove leaves can cure excessive burping by soothing the digestive system. Chew clove leaves after meals to get relief from burping.

How To Prevent Burping?

Medically, burping is called eructation. To prevent burping, you should cut down the amount of air you take in. These few tips will help reduce the intake of air:

• Avoid carbonated drinks, like soda, soft drinks, beer and sparkling wine. These drinks contain dissolved carbon, which creates gas in the stomach. When you gulp down the fizz, you gulp down the air.
• Chewing gum and candies add to swallowing air.
• Some foods, such as soufflés, fluffy omelettes, whipped cream etc., contain air. They should be avoided to prevent burping.
• Avoid using straws. You pull up more air than usual when you use a straw. Drink directly from a glass as much as possible.
• Eat slowly and chew with your mouth closed. When you eat quickly, you tend to swallow air. Those who gulp down food and drinks, swallow excess air. There is also crowding in the stomach, which causes gas build-up. Do not talk while eating.
• Avoid lying down immediately after eating. Activity will improve the digestion and avoid gas build-up.
• Quit smoking. Smoking pulls in more air, which causes burping.
• Avoid wearing tight clothes. Pressure on the abdomen area can cause burping.
• Avoid catching a cold. Cold causes a nasal drip. This can be irritating and force you to breathe through your mouth.

Do you suffer from burping? How do you deal with it? Share your opinions with us in the comments section below.