Ayurveda for bloating and gas in San Ramon

Trousers that feel tight by mid-afternoon, gas that follows certain meals, or a stomach that swells after lunch and settles by morning: bloating looks different in everyone. Preeti Gupta at Minute Wonder Ayurveda in San Ramon starts by finding out when yours appears and what came before it.

Preeti does not diagnose pathological conditions from a Western perspective, so her work sits alongside the care of your physician and never replaces it.

What Ayurveda looks at

Ayurveda often reads gas and bloating as uneven agni with vata, the dosha of air and movement, running high. Preeti looks at:

• Irregular rhythm. Skipped meals, eating on the move, or a different lunchtime every day.

• Food combinations and temperature, such as cold raw salads, dairy with other foods, or iced drinks.

• Stress and sleep, because a rushed or tired body tends to digest unevenly.

What a First Visit covers

A First Visit is 90 minutes ($250). Preeti reviews your daily routine, diet, digestion, exercise and sleep, using a health history, pulse analysis and tongue diagnosis. For bloating and gas, expect time on:

• The exact pattern: after which meal, how soon, and what eases it.

• Your bowel habits over the past four weeks, whether regular, hard, loose or alternating.

• Which warm, cooked foods to lean on first, and which to set aside while digestion settles.

You leave with a written diet, herbal and lifestyle plan. Follow-ups are $125 for 60 minutes. See pricing.

What you can start this week

Two things to try before your visit:

• Cumin, coriander and fennel (CCF) tea. Her page describes this spice tea as meant for bloating and gas. Simmer it for 5 to 7 minutes and sip after a meal.

• Pessarattu, moong dal dosa. A mung bean dosa with cumin, ginger and asafoetida, spices her page says stimulate digestion.

See your physician first if

• Bloating that keeps getting worse, or comes with weight loss you did not plan.

• Blood in the stool, black stools, or severe, constant belly pain.

• Bloating that lasts for weeks without a clear cause, especially after menopause.

Common questions about bloating and gas

Why am I bloated after lunch but fine at breakfast?

Many people eat lunch fastest and at a desk. Preeti looks at pace, size and what is on the plate. The short check on the digestion page is a good first step.

Is the tea safe to drink every day?

Her recipe page says the tea suits most people but not everyone, and asks anyone who is pregnant, nursing or has a serious health issue to speak to a practitioner first. Ask Preeti or your physician before making it a daily habit.

Do I need to give up dairy or raw food?

Not automatically. Preeti asks what you eat, when, and how you feel afterwards, then adjusts one thing at a time. Warm, cooked meals are the usual starting point, and anything you set aside is something you can add back and test.

Ayurveda is a traditional system of wellness and is not a substitute for medical care. Content here is educational. Please consult your physician about any medical condition. Preeti Gupta is not licensed by the State of California as a healing arts practitioner; Ayurvedic services are complementary to the care of licensed providers.