When your stomach pains you, what do you do? There are a number of ailments that can cause discomfort, sometimes even severe pain. The distress can come and go, last a few days, or continue on for hours. An episode can erupt quickly after a meal, as a reaction to a prescription, stress, while drinking a liquid you usually don’t digest, developing intolerance for certain foods, and even after swimming in rivers, lakes or streams you may not know are contaminated. Are there home remedies for stomach pain?
There are, but first, if the pain is excruciatingly persistent, you need to consult a doctor right away. It’s possible you could be suffering from an ailment needing immediate attention like appendicitis, a peptic ulcer, diverticulitis, endometriosis, pancreatitis and gallstones, to name a few. Cramping due to menstrual cycles, however as well as, indigestion, over-indulgence, and consuming gaseous and spicy foods can be alleviated with many natural alternatives that will calm your stomach and soothe your pain.
Grandma Knew How to Soothe Belly Discomfort. Here are 8 Simple Home Remedies She Probably Used that Worked.
- Ginger – Known to possess anti-inflammatory properties and aid in digestion. Just peel and grate the ginger and simmer in water for tea. It’s better than drinking ginger ale, because the soda is full of sugar that can aggravate your stomach.
- Chamomile – Known for its calming effect, but will also sooth a painful stomach.
- Peppermint – Take a few mint leaves and put them in a cup of warm water to settle an upset stomach. Even chewing on them will help. Peppermint gum or candy that doesn’t contain sugar or artificial sweeteners will do the trick nicely also.
- Lemon Water – Squeezing half a lemon into a mug with warm water is another easy remedy that will soothe the stomach too.
- Baking Soda – Most antacids at the market or pharmacy have a sodium bicarbonate, otherwise known as baking soda. Why purchase the expensive brands when all you need is to mix a teaspoon or two in a mug of warm water to rid yourself of indigestion or heartburn?
- Warm Salt Water – Have a sore throat or upset stomach? A teaspoon of salt mixed in a cup of warm water will surely do the trick. For best results, drink the water as fast as you can.
- Burnt Toast – Hospitals use charcoal for alcohol or food poisoning to neutralize the poison in the body. Burnt toast, believe it or not, is commonly used to treat children with stomachaches or diarrhea, as well as bananas, rice and applesauce.
- Apple Cider Vinegar – Vinegar is known to be beneficial to the body. Dropping a few teaspoons in a glass of warm/cold water can help alleviate stomach pain.