An upset stomach can leave you feeling weak, nauseated, and generally miserable. No matter what the cause is — stomach flu, food poisoning, stress, or allergy — you want it to go away fast. Although there’s no quick fix to alleviate the feeling, there are several accessible home remedies to offer you some relief.
Next time you feel the rumble consider these home remedies for upset stomach before you rush off to a pharmacy.
Natural Remedies Found In And Around Your Kitchen
A variety of food and beverages can help you feel a lot better, and quickly. In fact, chances are you probably have them stocked up in your pantry or the fridge. Let’s take a look at some natural home remedies for upset stomach.
1. Peppermint Tea
Peppermint contains several essential oils such as menthol, menthone, and limonene, which offer numerous health benefits when combined. Peppermint is not only refreshing and tasty, but it also has proven painkilling properties.
It naturally improves the digestion process and relaxes the muscles of the digestive tract. This further lowers abdominal tension, thus reducing stomach ache and nausea.
As far as tea goes, you can buy pre-made tea bags or brew a cup of fresh herbs, but you can also go for peppermint candy, extracts to add to any other liquid, or even capsules.
2. Ginger
Ginger is fantastic at reducing nausea, vomiting, and tummy issues in general. The active compounds of this plant stimulate digestive juice and can improve digestion and appetite, reduce acidity and bloating, and manage gases.
You can simply chew on pieces of ginger, but if you find the taste to be too strong, you can boil pieces to make yourself a cup of hot ginger tea. For a more delicious beverage, combine lemon juice, honey, and a tablespoon of ginger. If you don’t have fresh ginger, ginger powder will also do for all of these recipes.
3. Apple Cider Vinegar (Mixed With Water)
Apple cider vinegar has a strong, sour flavor, but it packs a whole lot of health benefits. If you suffer from abdominal bacterial infection, the vinegar will alleviate your symptoms. Because it’s quite acidic, it balances out stomach acids which your stomach needs to break down food. Thus, apple cider vinegar improves digestion and acidity, and it helps with gases and bloating.
Due to the strong flavor and high acidity, apple cider vinegar shouldn’t be consumed straight. Mix a tablespoon of vinegar with a cup of water or tea and drink it as quickly as you can. For a tastier treat, mix a tablespoon into a smoothie or combine it with equally as much olive oil for a dressing.
4. Clear Liquids
Staying hydrated is incredibly important for overall health, but this importance is emphasized when you are experiencing fluid loss. Dehydration makes digestion less effective, which in turn leads to cramps and stomach aches. Drinking enough plain water is fine, but beverages that contain electrolytes are more useful when you are experiencing vomiting and diarrhea.
Coconut water is a great natural option due to high potassium, phosphorus, sodium, and Vitamin C contents. Another option is bone broth because it’s not only rich in electrolytes but also contains collagen and gelatin. Both of these improve cellular repair of your digestive tract.
You can make your own rehydration drink at home, by mixing cane sugar and sea salt with one liter of water.
5. Bland Carbohydrates
Although you might not have an appetite when your stomach is upset, it’s important to reach for something easily digestible and nourishing, to restore your energy levels. Bland carbohydrates such as boiled rice, toast, potatoes, and crackers are easy on the stomach as they are not difficult to digest. Above all, white rice and potatoes absorb excess fluids, thus helping ease diarrhea.
Salty crackers are starchy and have a high sodium level. They can reduce nausea and make up for lost electrolytes. Also, make sure to boil your rice and potatoes. To spice it up, you can roast potatoes or mash them up. Try roasting sweet potatoes as they are rich in potassium and magnesium and have a calming effect on your stomach.
Other Simple Home Remedies For Upset Stomach
6. Peppermint Oil Massage
We’ve already mentioned the benefits of peppermint on your health. The plant is quite effective in treating gastrointestinal issues such as nausea, indigestion, pain, and diarrhea.
Peppermint oil is a very concentrated form of the herb that can be diluted and applied to the skin or inhaled.
Mix a few drops of peppermint oil with another, carrier oil (coconut oil) and rub across your stomach. You’ll feel the fresh, burning sensation of menthol, but you’ll soon feel a lot less discomfort. For reducing nausea, inhale a few diluted drops of oil in hot water. The cool fumes are sure to reduce the unpleasant nauseous feeling.
7. Keep The Stomach Warm
To improve circulation, relax abdominal muscles, and ease indigestion, you should keep your abdomen warm. The warmth will reduce pain, as well as cramping and nausea. Apply heating pads to your stomach, but make sure they are not too hot. Also, do not use them for too long, to avoid potential skin burn.
If you lack heat pads, you can make your own by stuffing a sock with some uncooked rice and heat it in a microwave for a minute. A bottle of hot water is a great substitute and so is an electric blanket. Furthermore, indulge in a 15-minute hot bath whenever you feel the need.
8. Sleep And Rest
It should go without saying that you should have plenty of rest when feeling ill. Doing so can help your immune system fight off the intruder faster and get you to feel better quicker. By sleeping enough, you allow your body to rest properly, restore lost energy, and recover with ease.
By pressing on and not allowing your body the time to heal, you are putting yourself at risk of getting even sicker or recovering for much longer. So, before you get back to your old ways, take some time to sit down, relax, and sleep.
Final Thoughts
The next time you feel sick to your stomach, give one of these home remedies for upset stomach a try. They are natural, simple, and don’t require a lot of effort. In most cases, you’ll be able to find them in the kitchen or the pantry and they come with no side effects.