Collaborative Post
There are a lot of factors that can cause your stomach to ache. It could be due to the food you ate, overeating or eating food too quickly, or drinking too much caffeine, alcohol, or carbonated beverages. No matter the reason, however, an upset stomach can give you immense discomfort. From cramping and abdominal pain, to chills (with or without fever), diarrhoea, and vomiting, an upset stomach can cause plenty of unpleasant symptoms.
When experiencing a stomach ache, you can take some medicine for relief. However, you might encounter a situation where you don’t have any gastrointestinal medication on hand and you’re in too much pain to go out to buy some more. Luckily, there are several natural home remedies you can use to deal with stomach ailments.
In this list, we’ll take a look at seven home remedies that can help alleviate the symptoms of common stomach ailments such as indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), stomach ulcers, bloating, and constipation or pagtitibi in Tagalog.
Water
Some of the symptoms of stomach ailments can lead to dehydration. What’s more, if your body isn’t getting enough fluids, it will have a difficult time digesting your food—which can lead to stomach issues. Dehydration can also cause heartburn. That’s why it’s a general rule to drink a lot of water, whether you have digestive issues or not.
However, not everyone finds drinking water palatable, so they have a harder time staying hydrated. If you’re the type of person who doesn’t like plain drinking water, you can drink distilled or purified bottled water, drink water with flavor enhancers, or suck on ice cubes to help you stay hydrated.
Chamomile Tea
Drinking chamomile tea doesn’t only help calm your mind, but it can also relax the muscles in your gastrointestinal tract. This is because chamomile possesses natural anti-inflammatory properties that can help settle a restless stomach. If you’re not a big fan of its flavour, you can make chamomile tea with a little honey and lemon juice to alter its taste.
Fibre-Rich Foods
Stomachaches caused by constipation can be alleviated with the help of fibre-rich foods. Eating fruits and vegetables that are high in soluble and insoluble fibre can improve digestion and soften your stool. It can also promote bowel health and regularity.
Keep in mind that a person’s fibre requirement will differ based on age and gender. Women should eat at least 21 to 25 grams of fibre a day, while men should aim for 30 to 38 grams.
Ginger
Ginger has been used in herbal medicine for more than 2,000 years. This root is known to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, so it’s an effective natural remedy to reduce nausea and vomiting, as well as decrease stomach acids that can cause indigestion. You can chew on freshly peeled ginger root, or even boil it to make ginger tea. You can also add a bit of ginger to your meals to make them easier to consume. If you have some lying around, you can suck on ginger lozenges for fast and soothing relief.
Yogurt
Eating yogurt increases the good bacteria in your stomach. Thanks to its active cultures and probiotics, yogurt can fight the bad gut bacteria that are often responsible for poor digestion and bloating.
However, not all types of yogurts are good for combating the symptoms of stomach ailments. Ideally, you should stick to eating plain and unsweetened yogurt because they have little to no additives that could upset your stomach. You should also consume only about half a cup of yogurt once or twice a day, since too much yogurt could lead to diarrhoea and harm the natural bacterial balance in your stomach.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar can help relieve gas or indigestion, but you have to use it the right way to ensure that it won’t irritate your throat and damage your teeth. If you plan to use apple cider vinegar to help remedy your upset stomach, make sure to dilute a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar into a cup of warm water before drinking it.
BRAT Diet
BRAT stands for bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. These foods are known to be low in fibre but high in starch, so BRAT is an effective remedy for people with diarrhoea. The BRAT diet also consists of foods that are easy to digest. As such, this diet is gentler on the stomach and won’t put any more stress on the digestive system.
The symptoms of common stomach ailments can be difficult to deal with. Thankfully, with the help of these seven simple home remedies, you can do something to help alleviate the pain and discomfort.
However, if symptoms persist or worsen even after you’ve tried these home remedies and taken over-the-counter gastrointestinal medications, seek immediate medical attention. A healthcare professional can detect the underlying cause of your stomach ailment and prescribe you the right treatment if necessary.