Natural Cures for Bloating and Fluid Retention

Olive Oil

Posted by Doris (Santa Ana, California, USA) on 04/15/2008
★★★★★

Cramps under my ribs began a month ago after each dinner. I often felt nausea, overfull of food, irritable. When hubby had a kidney stone attack and this site had his (lemon + oliveoil + water) cure, we also bought ACV hoping to fix his allergies.
I knew an apple slice before bed prevents heartburn, and helps gall bladder. I feared my years' lower back pains also pointed to gall bladder, liver.

I googled _gall bladder holistic_ and read here and at alive(dot)com the liver, gall bladder, small intestines, stomach issues and holistic fixes. I decided to try a light purge.

My breakfast was mostly fresh fruit and lots of water, with hot lemon tea (gall bladder cleanse beginning), by lunch while hubby drank his 2nd day's kidney stone cocktail, I also drank one (2 oz lemon juice blended with 2 oz olive oil chased with big glass water) - my gall cleanse at work. 5pm dinner my usual cramps above stomach in ribcage began. But this time with bloating. At 530pm I drank a mix of 1 oz ACV with 3 oz water. At 6pm still bloated, despite the full meal, I ate an apple. At 620pm instead of worse pain from eating more volume, my stomach felt MUCH better. Rib cage felt light yet low belly felt very heavy - gall purge building. When at 630pm I sat down as lower intestines really were _gathering momentum_, I wondered if I had some diarrhea bug and didn't know it. I hoped it was the lemon-olive oil, ACV and apple working. At 6:40pm I suddenly felt relief under my ribs and looked down, watching bloat go away before my eyes; it not only left, but my stomach was flattening too. My tshirt was loose! My stomach didn't hurt at all, NO bloating at all, I was visibly thinner! Lower intestines were churning. Decided to eat an half-inch apple slice just before 9pm bedtime. It canceled slight nausea from the churning. In a few minutes, a repeat of the slight bloat, lower instestine churning, then relief with disappearing bloat and visibly flattening stomach. I expected gas from the disappearing bloat. The gas bloat feeling didn't travel south, it disappeared! Amazing. I woke up about midnite with slight stomach upset, so I ate 1 more bite of apple. The repeat pattern never happened. It felt so good to not be bloated, and have a happy stomach for once. At the morning toilet I did flush a terrible lot of mucousy greenish light-brownish sludge then 15 minutes later a much lesser quantity of the same. Immediately I felt like energetic and upbeat, ready to take on the day. Miracle of natural healing! My body operates like I'm 18 since then - no heartburn, no coffee cravings, no bloat, more often smaller stools, lower intestines feel calm, sleeping deep and rested, far more energy, no nausea ever after meals, no heavy stomach feeling anymore. The scale shows slow and steady weight loss too HOORAY! Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Check for Low Stomach Acid

Posted by A.C. (Las Vegas, Nevada) on 04/09/2017

For Fluid Retention: Get a stomach acid test. Most people suffer from leaky gut and low stomach acid production and don't even know it. Causes things like Diabetes and a myriad of other problems. If your body does not make enough acid it has a hard time breaking down proteins, and does not signal to the pancreas to release enzymes etc... Lots of things to consider here

Avoid Grains, Potatoes

Posted by Gloria (Brentwood, Ny, Usa) on 05/25/2011
★★★★★

I have suffered of water retention all my life and no doctor could help me. Finally after reading a lot of books and doing trial and error with my body I'm at peace with my body. I even become a hypnotherapist trying to get some answers and I did.

My answer to inflammation, swelling, bloating, etc is to give up all the white stuff: everything made with wheat, potatos (big culprit), rice, excess sugar or replacements and grains as a whole. I know for some people it's not easy but at the same time it's easier than it seems. I increased proteins (chicken, fish, beef) consumption and vegetables and fruits. The more protein the less cravings yo have.

Do you see animals eating grains in the wild? Maybe I am wrong, but animals in nature eat each other or they eat plants, leaves, fruits, seeds and other animal's eggs.

Grains are hard to digest, we need to take out the bran in order to eat them (as rice, oats, wheat, etc) or soak them for hours to soften them (chicken peas, beans, etc). I wonder: Is it nature trying to tell us something? Anyway, let me assure you: If you really want to improve your health forget at least about everything and I mean everything made with wheat and avoid potatos and rice at least.

Garlic

Posted by Faithinhealing (Forest Park, Ohio) on 04/29/2010
★★★★★

I wanted to say YEA for using garlic for bloating and fluid retention. I actually started garlic because I have gallstones and was trying to fight an infection that I knew I had, although lab results said my urine was clear. I took three cloves of garlic crushed up in some yogurt before bed. I have insomnia really bad and was up urinating most of the night.

I also suffer from extreme mood swings and I noticed that I felt lighter the next day in mood and in weight. I got on the scale and my weight was down from 206 the previous day to 199. I have lost 7 pounds of water weight over night!

In my quest to get rid of the infection that seems to be wreaking havoc on my body, I'm still taking three cloves of garlic at night. This is my second week and hopefully the garlic will kill the infection.

Garlic

Posted by Lou (Tyler, Tx) on 06/15/2013

The best thing to tame down gallstones, I've found, is lots of apple juice. The malic acid dissolves them.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Leya (Slc, Ut) on 03/09/2012

You may get bloated due to an allergy to ACV. If you feel uncomfortable when taking it, stop! Food allergies actually cause bloating and fluid retention, which is why ACV doesn't work for some people. If you can't stand taking it, that's a sign that your body doesn't want you to.

Coffee

Posted by SUNNY (Ca) on 02/03/2025
★★★★★

Coffee for bloating. A Dr. on YouTube said bloating is due to constipation. Makes sense. A cup of Coffee takes away my bloating by helping me to poop fast. Works in like 20 mins. Also go walk around.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Tracer (Maryland Heights, Mo.) on 07/31/2011
0 out of 5 stars

Why do I feel bloated after taking 2T of ACV/1/4 t of baking soda? SHOULD I STOP TAKING IT?

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by George (Glenpool, United States) on 09/14/2008
★★★★★

First suggestion 9/14/2008: swelling in my foot an leg.

1 tps of apple cider vinegar
1 tps of honey
with a cup of hot water
drink it each morning.

Next suggestion:
1 cup of apple cider vinegar to a galleon of warm water,,soak the foot an toe nails for 15 minutes to get rid of fungus an anything to improve condition of the skin an toenails.

Baking Soda

Posted by Melissa (Belpre, OH) on 06/08/2008
★★★★★

Baking Soda in water helped cure my gassey, bloated stomach. I mix a tablespoon or two with water. It doesn't taste the greatest, but it's tolerable. It's worth it!

Homeopathy

Posted by Anne (Southampton, England) on 03/22/2008
★★★★★

I used to have awful trouble with bloatedness. Immediately after food hit my stomach I would swell up like a balloon. I called a homeopathic company and they advised me to take lycopodium pillules. After a week of taking the recommended dosage my bloating troubles were all gone - I could eat almost anything with no excessive gas as a result! I didn't even have to keep taking them, after about three weeks I slowed down on dosage and then stopped, and the bloating problem didn't come back at all.

Cabbage

Posted by Eva (Mt. Laurel, Nj) on 07/19/2010
★★★★★

Try to blend a cup of cabbage with some water and drink it 3 times a day. Good for acidity and bloating pain.

Dietary Changes, Enzymes

Posted by Joyce (Joelton, Tn) on 12/22/2009 490 posts

Hello Rhonda from Providence, RI,

If the bloating is from the beans you love, a simple cure for that is to put 1/4 tsp. ground ginger to the pound of dry beans you are cooking. Ginger is great for decreasing gas.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Mswish (Leland, Nc) on 04/02/2012

When I used to have real bad fluid retention it used to end me up in the hospital. I changed my diet, no salt, instead of sugar I used agave nectar, I ate raw salads with lots of greens, broccoli, spinach ect and I always added apples to make it sweet, and I totally killed the pork. Now I don't have it as bad only when my "girl time" comes every month. But if you make a salad of raw veggies and use the apples to sweeten it it should help. I hope this helps you!

Dietary Changes

Posted by Hoppimike (Kent, England) on 06/05/2015 25 posts
★★★★★

I reduced my previously very bad gas and bloating to almost nil by switching to a diet that separated my intake of fibre and carbohydrate. This is because (I theorise) fibre pulls the carbs down to the colon, where it feeds whatever imbalance is down there (I suspect Candidiasis or some kind of infection).

So, every morning I have olives. I do this because they have fibre but zero carbs. I have a fair few, enough to keep my system moving.

Then, during the rest of the day, I have zero fibre. I eat fish, meat, zero fibre sweets, lactose-free dairy sometimes, stuff like that. Limited, yes, but at least it works!

The results is little to no gas, more energy, etc.

In the long run, I want to actually FIX the problem in my colon, but at least this is helping!

Best of luck! :)

Probiotics

Posted by Cathleen (Los Angeles) on 05/22/2015
★☆☆☆☆

WARNING!

Probiotics are not for everyone. I ended up in the E.R. from taking just one cup of Kefir and a serving of Yakult. Whether it is "die off" or not, three weeks later, and I feel like the bottom of my stomach is going to fall out.

While most people have no problems with probiotics, some people like myself, have adverse reactions to the cultures in these fermented products. The E.R. doctor says he sees a lot of people coming in doing detox diets and that these products are not regulated as to how much bacteria is put in. Apparently, the bacteria in these products did not mix with my system, and I am still feeling the aftermath.

Be careful.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Prioris (Fl, Usa) on 02/04/2014

I know someone who started drinking coconut milk a couple months ago and their fluid retention problem doesn't seem to be that much of a problem anymore. You may want to try try 2-3 tablespoons of coconut oil every day. Start slowly and work your way up. It seems to fix many health problems.

Just a few caveats. Hopefully you are not on any medications because that seems to increase negative reactions to supplements. In a few people, there may be a negative reaction like rash and for some unexplainable reason some people who do well on it for months may then get worse.

Posted by Carly (Seattle, Wa Usa) on 10/12/2010

Hi Pam -

Good for you! Glad to hear you are feeling better. :-) One thing on the B vitamins though, as I understand it, the "B's" all work together, and taking just one of them will thow you off on the rest of them... You need to take a "Balanced B" supplement - where there is a combo of all of them. I take a Balanced B-100 right now, and it seems to be good. I have noticed I lose a lot of water weight when I take my B vitamins... Usually I can drop about 5lbs of water in a couple of days when I have been ignoring them for a few days and start taking them again. Also - glad to hear you are going to try the boron! I am SO thrilled with the results I have gotten from it re my knuckles and the pain I had in them. You should know within 2 weeks if it is what you were missing or not. I knew within one, but from what I have read different people are different, and it depends on the person. Good luck to you, and keep us posted? I am always interested to hear what is or is not working for others. This forum is awesome for sharing our tales of woe, as well as our victories! :-). Carly

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Hairguru (Nyc) on 08/10/2015

My naturopath told me that "the mother" (aka, fermentation/enzymes @ the bottom of the raw unfiltered ACV bottle) is WHAT the body needs. Its the same as kefir, kimchi, etc w/raw enzymes.

I was tested for candida DURING and after I took ACV (regularly) for over 2yrs. NO candida.

I, however (was) taking a strong probiotic.

I cured a looming pre diabetes (A1C @ 5.9 for 3yrs) and went down to a NORMAL 5.5! PRAISE THE LORD! - and lost 7lbs in the process xo)).

If you suspect candida, find some DIFLUCAN. Its an Rx that my ND Dr.gave me. 1 pill/ 1x a yr. Worked well, pee/poo, sweat etc yeast die off was thorough. Gave one to hubby also, cuz he drinks a lot of beer, @ eats a lot of bread, pasta, and pizza. uughh-

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Joyce (Joelton, Tn) on 08/26/2008 490 posts

To Tina with swollen hands/wrists & negative tests: Suspect allergy - try omitting dairy - you might also try the baking soda/ACV along with it this. If don't note much improvement, add wheat to your no-no lists. Also suggest you discontinue all carbonated beverages.

I should also mention a book I read where some doctor was treating his patients with potassium and Vit. B6 supplements with good results. Eating more vegetables should increase your potassium level but I'd probably take a supplement while doing this. Vit. B6 is known as Nature's diuretic.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Art (California) on 04/18/2022 2489 posts

Vivian,

One way that people use to test pH are pH test strips. Here is a link to some :

https://www.amazon.com/Plastic-Strips-Universal-Application-strips/dp/B00X9D4JS4/ref=sr_1_4?crid=3UU450YYF2DC7&keywords=ph+test+strips&qid=1650337738&sprefix=pH+,aps,221&sr=8-4

Art

Baking Soda

Posted by Lori Walker (San Jose, Ca) on 04/24/2011
★☆☆☆☆

WARNING!

Bakig soda is dangerous for people with high blood pressure. Be careful and ask your doctor.

Baking Soda

Posted by Danielle (Winnipeg, Canada) on 06/05/2008
★★★★★

Baking soda instantly took away the pain from bloating caused by gas.It really works. After trying several things and feeling so nauseous with pain, I finally tried taking 1 tbsp of baking soda with hot water. Within minutes it took the pain away. It taste really awful, but works like magic.

Activated Charcoal

Posted by Joy (Battleground, Wash) on 04/24/2013

I find that my bloating is greatly decreased when I stay on A F betafood.. The difference is night and day.... 1-10 tablets a day. 1-3 after or before a meal and sometimes I take 1-2 to help me digest my other vitamins.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Fran (Glendora, USA) on 08/01/2008
★★★★★

All I have to say is the ACV works immediately on my heartburn. The kind of heartburn that feels like a heart attack. By the way I've been to emergency room thinking my life was in jeopardy! After all the tests the doctors say I get very bad heartburn. I looked up natural cures on the internet and found that ACV works wonderfully! Now I'm taking it for that bloated feeling from eating too much salty food the night before. Thanks for the tip!

Probiotics

Posted by Watcher248 (Canada) on 03/05/2015 10 posts
★★★★★

Had issues with bloating, (Age 60+) Always felt like... all I needed was a good burp.... after I ate but I could not get a natural one out.... until the probiotics ...It was very painful, it was so bad, I thought it might be a heart attack...upper chest pressure felt like I was going to explode, first thing Doctor wanted to do was to rip out my gallbladder, no test no alternative fixes to try, except just rip out the gallbladder. Healer my ass, anyways this went on for years, just ran across a thought and tried it, Probiotic capsules@ 25 billion to start it seems to have stopped it right in its tracks, need to keep myself well hydrated especially before meals, 8oz or more of reverse osmosis water, I cant bring myself to drink municipal tap water. Anyways if you have stomach problems and baking soda re-leaves it only temporarily, check it out, its so nice to be able to eat (within limits) what we have been led to believe... is normal food again.

Also related to this or not, my contact dermatitis is due to an allergy of the Hair Dye my wife was using (unceasing severe burning and weeping eyes) for some 3 or 4 years, prednazone was used to bring this under control but would always come back. Avoid this poison at all cost.

Just a thought is all........

Karl

Probiotics

Posted by Karl (Nova Scotia) on 05/23/2015 10 posts
★★★★★

I am so sorry, I didn't mention that it was a GNC Probiotic Complex product, in 1 capsule a day form @ 25 billion CFU, I have tried kefir with no side effects that I am aware of, but did not notice any difference with my bloating/gut/intestinal issues. Also I noticed incredible relief from this issue if I eat sauerkraut before or during meals.

Hope this helps you out.

Be well

Parasite Cause

Posted by Roec (Los Angeles, Ca) on 02/05/2013

You may want to investigate possible liver issues when stool is light in color.

I recommend a parasite cleans using Black walnut, wormwood and cloves.

This protocol is the best for eliminating parasites in the gut thus alleviating bloating. This is to be administered 3 times a day 30 minutes before a meal for 21 days.

Be sure that the black walnut you receive is still green in color as its most effective when still green. It's difficult to find a good source of green tincture and tinctures oxidize quickly when opened repeatedly and become less effective over time. That's why I prefer freeze dried Black walnut. Its even harder to find Black Walnut freeze dried that is still green in color.

In late summer, there are Black walnut trees in England that fruit walnuts. I would advise you make your own tincture. I have made a how to video on youtube. Just do a search on "how to make black walnut tincture" Mine is the one with just music in the background as I collect the nuts and make the tincture.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Lisa (Houston Tx) on 02/04/2014

Hi everyone, I am a 46 yr old mom with an 8 yr old and a wonderful loving husband who loves me unconditionally but I am so miserable with bloat from fluid retention.. I am wondering if it will hurt me to drink 2 cap fulls at a time. Or does it work best to drink with water? I am so miserable. Any advice on the ACV will help me out so much. Thank u be blessed everyone! #MrsMiserable

Avoid Artificial Sweeteners

Posted by Keith (Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England) on 12/05/2010
0 out of 5 stars

My wife has been trying to diet over several years and started to suffer badly with fluid retention. I had read somewhere that artificial sweetners can cause this and we know that many of her medications for diabeties and cronic back problems also cause weight gain, so we had to try something to help her. My wife stopped using anything with artificial sweetners in it and low and behold over the next two weeks the amount of fluid retention decreased by 50% and is still on the decrease. I hope that this will help some people suffering from the same problems.

Posted by Pam (Marlborough, Ct.) on 10/12/2010
★★★★☆

I just wanted to thank the people that got back to me on this, as I have started taking 250mg timed released B3 last week and my hands are 50% improved, I can't believe this myself but it is the only change I have made, I am also starting to take Tumeric and boron today. Just one more question about the B3 do you think I should increase the dose or stay where I am. Thanks to this wonderful place, I can't believe how much better I am feeling. I still take pain pills but not as often. Any reply would be appreciated.

Dietary Changes, Enzymes

Posted by Saffi (New York, NY) on 10/11/2009

Dear Rebekah,

Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a detailed response. And also for your willingness to share the info. I have just started your diet, along with probiotics and digestive enzymes before each meal. I'm super excited to see if I get the same results as you are getting!

Thanks again for the info. I love this site for allowing us to connect and be able to help each other!

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Yekara (Jerusalem) on 02/11/2015

Warning, Please be careful with the combo of Apple Cider Vinegar and baking soda. I got real sick after taking it at night, got headache, nausea etc. felt awful most of the day. I generally seem to do ok with Apple Cider Vinegar alone, even tho I usually do not tolerate vinegar at all. Be sure to take the kind with the mother in it. Also make sure to keep well hydrated. I had a fair amount of loose stools and I got dehydrated and had to have saline iv.

So, please be sure to drink plenty of water, and most especially if you have lose bowels. Yekara

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Andie (Redondo Beach, Ca, Usa) on 06/11/2011

I am very impressed with all of that great feedback in regards to ACV but I was told that ACV has molds in it and one shouldn't take it if they are prone to candida like symptoms. Anybody know about this? Thanks!

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Linda B (Anoka, Minn) on 06/23/2012

Hi Andie! I read on a site that the kind of ferment used to make ACV is what is called a 'wild ferment'. It's also the same with beer and wine, which is why they are so bad for candida sufferers. I think it was on the wild fermentation web site by Sandor Katz.

I am using kefir grains and vegetable ferments (saurkraut, kimchi, etc. ). They seem to really help!

I wish I could reap all the benefits of ACV also - maybe when I get this candida thing under control....

Mimosa

Posted by Tan Koon Peng (Singapore) on 09/02/2008
★★★★★

A middle aged lady with bloated stomach and legs take mimosa on the advice of her friend who have learn about the healing properties of mimosa. Her condition is serious and she can`t afford medical treatment.After taking mimosa her condition improves and she is recovering fast.

EC: Read more about Mimosa here.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by FRANK (FL) on 10/08/2023

Tina, make sure your kidneys are ok. check your egfr. I have stage 3 kidney failure and I wear compression socks and take diuretics to control my blood pressure and drink plenty of water, but my hands swell, 1st at night but now during the day. I will see my nephrologist to help me with this.

Baking Soda

Posted by Lou (Tyler, Tx) on 06/15/2013

Read the baking soda package! 1-2 Tablespoons is too much! I think the recommended dosage is 1/2 tsp. In water. Read the box, but buy the aluminum free kind.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Royce (Tishomingo, Okla) on 12/29/2008

If you body does not have enough of the alkalizing minerals to buffer this ACV then you may be making your body more acid causinng this problem with low energy and depression i have experienced this, not all ACV is same,

1) get your urinary ph up , go to the store and get 3 pounds of key limes. Every morning take juice from one lime and one half teaspoon baking soda let it stop fizzing and add 8 oz water and drink this for about three days monitor urinary ph then start backing off the baking soda just keep it simple and stay in the green on the litmus paper test strips around ph-7 this is a safe ph for begining after the acid is buffered from you system this will get easy to maintain.

Every morning the second time you urinate check ph if it is not 7 use the Lime and soda , but allways on an empty stomache only, and do not drink untill you stir well and it stops fizzing. after you drink this wait 1 hour to eat. Once you have the ph balanced it will be safe to drink the Apple cider vinegar without the side effects you mentioned. You were probably acidic and were making it worse

If you do this you will begin to feel better, get organic ACVinegar, it will be cloudy in color, I use ____ ACV. its cost a little more but not all vinegar is alkaline forming and it is worth 15 dollars a gallon and lasts months.

You know when your ph in urine is to high will turn the test strips purple just lay off the baking soda a day or to and use the lime juice in the water.vitamin c will bring urine ph down fast if you want it to come down fast.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Dianna (Austin, Tx USA) on 12/31/2008

could the ACV be lowing your blood sugar too much? i too am a diabetic (on insulin) and when i took even 2 teaspoons of acv 2x a day i would find my blood sugar very low (20 to 40) and felt very weak and tired. also, it made me bloated and gassy - unlike you - who that it is helping in that way. so i stopped taking it. now i have started again at a much lower dosage - 1/3 teaspoon in a liter of water 2 x a day and that does not lower my blood sugar so much - or give me gas. you may want to try lowering your dose of ACV.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Dani (Fl) on 08/13/2018

If you don't have to take metformin, then don't. It makes you tired and sluggish and may have to do with your depression too. I used to take it but being in college I don't have time to be tired. I've just been eating healthier and I am nowhere near being diabetic now.