Your tummy hurts suddenly. The pain may appear to be unbearable but usually there is usually nothing really serious to worry about and simple home remedies for such stomach aches can easily get you relief from the cramps.
Everyone gets affected once in a while. There can be many causes for stomach ailments and majority of them are benign. Most stomach ache symptoms disappear within a day or two. So next time when your tummy warns you, don't panic.
Your upset stomach may cause diarrhea, constipation, gases or simple indigestion. You may get nausea and vomiting. Sometimes acid reflux may be a symptom of your upset stomach.
Whatever may be the cause of your upset stomach, there is always a remedy available in your kitchen that can relieve your pain. You just need to know and use them.
Home Remedies for Stomach Cramps
You need to understand the symptoms of the stomach ache or abdominal pain before you begin to treat it.
The usual suspects for the troubled tummy are indigestion, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, gastritis and GERD.
All these causes are considered benign but sometimes stomach ache can be due to a serious underlying condition such as stomach ulcers and even as serious as cancer, therefore if the home remedies don't show quick relief then you must take doctors help.
1. Hot Compress
You are keeping a towel between the hot water bottle and your stomach to save you from burning your skin. The warmth provided by the hot water bottle will relax your muscles from the spasm and you will feel instant relief from the cramps and aches.
Make sure that the water bottle is hot enough to give you sufficient warmness. If required you can change the water after 10-15 minutes. You should generally feel better within 30-45 minutes.
2. Ginger Tea
Ginger is one of the oldest remedies for indigestion and irritable bowl syndrome along with many other health conditions such as arthritis, menstrual discomforts and simple cough and cold. Ginger also prevents nausea and vomiting.
Ginger, due to its natural compounds of gingerols and shogaols is a powerful remedy to stop stomach pains. These compounds relax the internal lining muscles in the intestine to stop cramps. Ginger will also stop the sometimes accompanying nausea and vomiting.
You can prepare Ginger tea as under
- Wash, remove the skin and grate one inch of Ginger root
- Add the grated ginger root to 300 grams water in a pot
- Put the pot on a burner for the water to boil
- Steep for 10-15 minutes. Ginger tea is ready.
- Remove the pot and let the tea to cool down to warmer level
Drink the warm Ginger tea. 2-3 times a day.
If you don't want all the botheration of preparing Ginger tea they try Ginger ale. Ginger ale may not be as effective as the Ginger tea but it will certainly help.
3. Rice Water
Rice water helps by providing a lining on the intestine wall that helps movement of intestinal contents. The formed lining relaxes the muscles and cramps are relieved.
If you have stomach cramps then you prepare you rice slightly differently. Add double the amount of water you usually add to your rice.
Put the pot on medium flame of burners. Once the rice becomes soft. Stop the flame and let it cool for 2-3 minutes. Remove the water in a bowl with the help of a strainer. Use the rice for normal eating.
Drink the rice water. You will get relief from the stomach pain.
4. Chamomile Tea
Chamomile tea has anti-inflammatory capabilities. When your stomach lining gets inflamed due to diarrhea and gastritis, chamomile tea will give relief. Chamomile tea also has a sedative effect so it reduces pain.
Drink chamomile tea 2-3 times a day.
5. Mint Tea
Mint tea soothes your stomach. You can chew fresh mint leaves or make tea from fresh or dried mint leaves. All will do equally well.
Handful of fresh mint leaves are good enough to make a cup of mint tea to serve our purpose. If you have dried mint leaves then 1 Teaspoon should suffice.
Add mint leaves of dried mint in a cup of boiling water and steep for 10 minutes. Remove the tea from the pot to a drinking tea cup or glass. Drink it warm making sure that the tea is not too hot to burn your tongue.
Drink it 2-3 times a day.
6. Yogurt
Yogurt is very good remedy for stomach aches and cramps. Probiotic in yogurt increases the good bacteria bad bacteria ratio to improve digestion.
Eat about 200 gm of yogurt alone For lunch as well as for dinner. Do not eat anything during these normal food times. you can use BRAT breakfast. BRAT stands for Banana, Rice, Apple and Toast if your stomach is upset due to gastritis and you are also feeling nausea and vomiting.