Managing Stomach Pain | Top 15 Home Remedies For Tummy Ache

You may experience a tummy ache every once in a while after eating or drinking. Fortunately, home remedies for tummy ache work well and you don’t need to be concerned. 

You actually won’t need to look further than your kitchen for a solution to this condition.

 The symptoms accompanying tummy ache:

Tummy ache, also known as "upset stomach" or "dyspepsia" can make you feel annoyed and uncomfortable, however, it is not a very serious condition and can happen to everyone.

 You may experience stomach pain, bloating, heartburn, belching, bad breath, hiccups or coughing, flatulence, nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. 

 The causes of tummy ache:

Many causes of tummy ache are not reasons to worry. 

You might have indigestion, constipation, or a viral infection that causes your stomach to hurt. Response to home remedies for tummy ache is very good in cases where the pain is somewhat tolerable.

 -In females, the menstrual cycle in some cases can cause tummy aches.

Note: More serious causes can be irritable bowel syndrome(IBS), ulcerative colitis, also known as "Crohn's disease ", food poisoning, or food allergies. These cases require medical intervention.

Home remedies for tummy ache are useful for children as they are often susceptible to stomach pain due to bad dietary habits such as consuming too much sugary or spicy food, or it can be due to a stomach infection.

 Tummy ache can be acute, chronic, or progressive depending on how quickly your pain starts and how long it lasts.

Here we have the best 15 home remedies for tummy ache that will make you feel a lot better: 

 1-Ginger                                          

Ginger is one of the most common home remedies for tummy ache as it’s a natural anti-inflammatory and is available in many forms.

 The active ingredients in ginger are gingerols and shogaols that help with indigestion by stimulating gastric movement. They also help to relieve nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

 You should add a piece of ginger root or 1 teaspoonful of ginger powder to boiling water to make a tea. You can add honey for flavor.

 2-Mint

The active ingredient in mint is called menthol which helps to sweeten the breath, prevents vomiting and diarrhea, relaxes the intestinal muscles, and relieves pain.

 You can use fresh or cooked mint leaves. You can boil mint leaves to make a tea, or you can powder mint leaves and mix them with other teas or foods. 

 3-Cinnamon

Cinnamon is one of the best home remedies for tummy ache because it helps with digestion and reduces irritation in the stomach.  

 The active ingredients in cinnamon are eugenol, cinnamaldehyde, linalool, and camphor. These act as antioxidants, thus preventing damage in the GIT.

 You should try adding 1 teaspoonful of cinnamon powder, or a cinnamon stick to your food. Or you can mix the cinnamon with boiling water to make a tea. 

 4-Lemon juice, baking soda, and water

One of the popular home remedies for tummy ache is mixing lemon juice with baking soda and water to produce what’s called carbonic acid, which helps to reduce gas and indigestion.

 You should add 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice and 1 teaspoonful of baking soda to 2 liters of water.

5-Chamomile tea                                                          

Chamomile can bring relief to tummy ache symptoms, including nausea and vomiting.

The active ingredients in chamomile are bisabolol, azulene, chamazulene, and matricin which have anti-inflammatory properties and help to relax the stomach muscles.

-You should drink chamomile tea before bedtime as it helps you to relax and be calm.

6-Licorice 

Licorice has anti-inflammatory properties, so it helps to reduce inflammation of the stomach. To make Licorice root tea, add 1 teaspoonful of licorice root powder with boiling water. You should drink licorice root tea two or three times a day.

7-Cloves                                                                    

Cloves contain substances that help to reduce gas in the stomach, thus reducing bloating and flatulence. Cloves also help to reduce nausea and vomiting.

You should mix 1 teaspoonful of ground or powdered cloves with 2 liters of boiling water to make a tea. 

8-Aloe juice                                                              

When looking for home remedies for tummy ache you should consider aloe juice as one of the top remedies as it helps to reduce stomach acidity, maintain healthy bowel movements and remove toxins from the GIT.

-It was found that if you drink 10 ml of aloe juice a day for 4 weeks, the symptoms of heartburn and flatulence will be relieved. 

9-Yarrow                                                                 

Yarrow flowers contain flavonoids, polyphenols, lactones, tannins, and resins which make it one of the best home remedies for tummy ache and digestive problems. These active substances help to reduce stomach acidity, thus reducing heartburn and indigestion.            

You should eat yarrow leaves raw in a salad or cooked in food. You can also make yarrow tea by adding 1 teaspoonful of yarrow leaves or flowers to boiling water.

10-Cumin                                                                   

Cumin seeds contain active ingredients that help to reduce stomach acidity, decrease gas and act as antimicrobial.

You should mix 1teaspoonful of ground or powdered cumin into food. Or you should add 1 teaspoonful of cumin seeds or powder to boiling water to make a tea.

11-Bananas

Bananas are essential home remedies for tummy ache as they contain vitamin B6, potassium, and folate. These nutrients help to relieve cramps, pains and relax muscles. Bananas add bulk to loose stools, thus alleviating diarrhea.

12-Basil                                                                       

Basil has the active ingredient eugenol, which helps to reduce stomach acidity. Basil has anti-inflammatory properties owing to its content of linoleic acid.                                                               

You should add 1teaspoonful of dried basil leaves, or fresh basil leaves, to food. Or you can mix half a teaspoon of dried basil, or a couple of fresh leaves, with boiled water to make a tea.

13-Figs                                                                        

Figs are an excellent choice if you’re looking for home remedies for tummy ache as they contain substances that act as laxatives to alleviate constipation and ease digestion.

You should eat whole fig fruits a few times a day. Or you should try brewing 1 teaspoonful of fig leaves to make a tea.

Note: If you suffer from diarrhea you should avoid consuming figs.

14-Rice                                                                       

Plain rice is useful as it contains high levels of magnesium and potassium. Rice can help to add bulk to stool, absorb fluids that contain toxins, and relieve pain.

 If you’re vomiting or have diarrhea, try slowly eating half a cup of cooked rice. You should continue to do this for 24–48 hours until the diarrhea stops.

 15-Coconut water                                                   

Coconut water is useful for rehydrating and is better than most sports drinks as it is low in calories, sugar, and acidity.

Coconut water helps to reduce pain and relax muscles owing to its high levels of potassium and magnesium. You should slowly sip on up to 2 glasses of coconut water every 4–6 hours a day.

Note: Home remedies for tummy ache are often enough to alleviate symptoms. If your symptoms are severe and don't go away you should consult a doctor.

-You should be aware that diet has a huge effect on the health of your stomach and the quality of your digestion. Eating the wrong food can contribute to increasing the incidence of tummy ache as well as the severity of the pain.

Home remedies for tummy ache should be accompanied with certain diets such as :

1-BRAT diet

BRAT stands for Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, and Toast

These foods contain starch, which binds foods together and makes the stool firmer, thus can be helpful if you experience diarrhea.

These foods also contain potassium and magnesium and can make up for the minerals and nutrients lost through diarrhea and vomiting.

This diet can soothe the irritation caused by acid reflux when vomiting.

2-Low-FODMAP diet

FODMAP stands for fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols, which are short-chain carbohydrates that have poor absorption from the intestines.

You should be limiting your intake of fermentable carbohydrates that are considered gas-producing foods, thus controlling the symptoms of bloating and flatulence.

Note: you should consult a health care provider as this is an elimination diet.

-Maintaining certain habits can be very helpful along with using home remedies for tummy ache to achieve a good level of control over the pain and discomfort.

 Here are some tips to achieve the best results :

 1-Drink water

Water helps in digestion and the absorption of nutrients. When you’re well-hydrated your digestion is easier and more effective.

If you experience Vomiting and diarrhea you should keep drinking water to avoid dehydration.

 2-Avoid lying down

When you’re lying horizontally, the acid in the stomach can reflux upward, which causes heartburn.

 You should avoid lying down or going to bed for at least 2 hours after eating. 

 3-Take a warm bath 

Warm water can ease the tense muscles and helps with digestion.

 4-Use a heating bag

Applying heat to your stomach can distract you from the pain and will relax your muscles.

Note: Don’t leave it for too long to avoid harming your skin. 

5-Increase your fiber intake                                    

One of the most important home remedies for tummy ache is consuming fiber-rich foods such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and beans, thus controlling constipation and bloating.

 6-Avoid difficult-to-digest foods

You should avoid fried or fatty, rich or creamy, salty or heavily preserved food.

 7-Avoid gas-producing foods

You should avoid asparagus, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts.

 8-Exercise regularly 

Inactivity can cause constipation. You should do 30 minutes of exercise a day and keep yourself hydrated.

9-Limit caffeine intake                                         

Caffeine stimulates the movement of the GIT. That can lead to stomach pain, nausea, and diarrhea, thus affecting home remedies for tummy ache action. Coffee is acidic, which irritates your stomach and causes tummy aches.

10-Manage your stress                                              

When you’re stressed, a hormone called cortisol is released into the blood. This triggers the fight-or-flight response and can cause discomfort, stomach pain, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, and other symptoms, thus preventing home remedies for tummy ache to properly do their action.

You should avoid stress and try to calm yourself by practicing yoga or any type of stress-relieving exercise.

Summary 

Tummy ache is a very common condition that can happen to anyone including children. Home remedies for tummy ache are effective and work well to alleviate the pain and help with improving digestion.

A well-balanced diet should be incorporated into the plan when managing tummy ache.

Practicing a healthy lifestyle can help to control this condition. 

Written by: Dr.Sarah Anwar