It’s a problem we all face at some point or another, but don’t want to talk about: flatulence. Now, a gut health doctor has provided a surprisingly simple solution.
Gastroenterologist Dr. Trisha Pasricha of Harvard Medical School provided advice for anyone who wanted to “avoid offending people with an ill-timed fart.”
The remedy, he said, is the over-the-counter pink liquid, Pepto Bismol. Or, more specifically, the active ingredient in heartburn medication: bismuth subsalicylate.
In a clip viewed tens of thousands of times on Instagram, Dr Pasricha said the treatment had been shown to “reduce 95 per cent of sulfur-containing gases and reduce symptoms of flatulence”.
However, the medication, which is available in online pharmacies, is not completely risk-free. Pasricha warned that it should be taken in moderation as studies have shown it has toxic effects at high doses.
“But if you’re just trying to relieve your social discomfort for a day or two, take one dose orally up to four times a day beforehand,” he said.
Dr. Pasricha said air travelers should also consider it to counteract the effect of cabin pressure on our internal gases.
As altitude increases, intestinal gas expands due to the drop in air pressure, he explained, adding: “At that point, there’s really only one place to go.”
A mixture called bismuth subsalicylate, better known by the over-the-counter brand Pepto-Bismol (pictured), a medication designed to treat heartburn and acid reflux, is the solution recommended by gastroenterologist Dr. Trisha Pasricha for reduce farts.
The NHS also advises people to eat smaller meals, drink and chew food slowly, exercise regularly and drink peppermint tea to reduce excessive or smelly farts.
Dr. Pasricha noted that only one percent of the intestinal gases released during a fart are responsible for the unpleasant odor.
“99 percent of our intestinal gas is made up of odorless gases such as nitrogen, methane and carbon dioxide,” he said.
“But one percent contains sulfur and it’s that sulfur-containing gas that makes farts smell so bad.”
While farting, known medically as flatulence, is a normal biological function, excessive or particularly smelly gaseous eruptions can, in rare cases, be a sign of something more serious, such as inflammatory bowel disease or even colon cancer.
What is normal when it comes to flatulence varies from person to person; Dr. Pasricha suggests that farting 10 to 20 times a day is normal.
But the NHS advises people to seek medical advice from their GP if they notice a persistent change in flatulence that worries them.