Sometime or another, we’ve all had a stomach ache. Whether it’s caused by something you ate, by eating too much, or you just feel uncomfortable, these simple solutions will naturally make your tummy feel much better! Next time your stomach is hurting, try one of these tips to soothe your tummy and prevent future issues.
GINGER
Ginger is one of the very best natural remedies for stomach issues. Ginger’s healing properties come from it’s volatile oils (gingerols and shogaols), which are also responsible for it’s pungent taste. The oils cause more digestive enzymes to be produced which helps with the whole digestion process and neutralizes the acids that can cause nausea, cramps and even diarrhea. It also improves food absorption which helps prevent/relieve stomach aches and eliminates bloating due to excessive gas. Click here to read more about the benefits of ginger.
LEMONS
If your stomach ache is caused by indigestion, grab a lemon! Lemons contain hydrochloric acid which breaks down food. Lemons will get your digestive system moving and healthy. You can squeeze a lemon slice or two into a mug of warm water with a couple slices of fresh ginger. Let the tea steep for 5-10 minutes, and this simple lemon ginger tea will have you feeling better in no time!
CLUB SODA
If you ate a bit too much at dinnertime, try this refreshing beverage of club soda with a lemon wedge. The carbonation encourages burping, which will relieve pressure in your tummy.
PEPPERMINT
A bit of peppermint can actually relax tense stomach muscles. If you’re feeling gassy or bloated, peppermint might be the answer! You can drink your favorite peppermint tea, add fresh peppermint to food, or add a few drops of Peppermint essential oil to water and sip your tummy troubles away.
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APPLE CIDER VINEGAR
Just like lemons, the acid content in apple cider vinegar can bring some balance to your stomach and aid in digestion. Keep in mind that the vinegar will act as a laxative, but that might be just what you need. Just add 1 Tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to a glass of water and sip it through a straw (so you don’t taste it too much – yuck!). Learn more about the health and beauty benefits of apple cider vinegar here.
ESSENTIAL OILS
Essential oils are great for combatting a stomach ache! You can make a blend with 5 drops of peppermint, lavender, and ginger. Add the oils to a 5mL roller bottle and top it off with your favorite carrier oil. Since different herbs fight different kinds of stomach aches, you’ll have a “cure-all tummy ache stick” that you can take with you! Just rub the oils on your abdomen for instant relief.
KEEP TRACK
If you get frequent stomach aches, start keeping a food log and be sure to write down when you get a stomach ache. You might notice that certain foods are just not agreeing with you! Talk to your doctor about any noticeable trends.
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DRINK LOTS OF WATER!
Staying hydrated is always a good thing when it comes to your digestive system. Drink plenty of water throughout the day, and be sure to follow-up a meal with a glass of water. Click here for 23 tips for remembering to drink more water!
CUT BACK ON JUNK FOOD
Avoid candy, salty snacks, oily foods and soda pop. While the carbonation in club soda might help your stomach ache, the sugar in soda will only make you feel worse. A ache-free tummy is a healthy tummy. :-)
FRESH AIR
A light breeze always make me feel better when I have a stomach ache! If you’re in the car, turn on the air conditioning or roll down the windows. Sometimes curing a stomach ache is as easy as getting some fresh air and having a glass of water!
HERBAL TEAS
Herbal teas have a lot of health benefits, including the stomach-soothing powers of peppermint tea, chamomile tea and lavender tea. Click here to learn more about using tea as a natural remedy.
RICE WATER
Drinking rice water is a simple and cheap way to aid digestion. Because of the texture, rice water can line your stomach and soothe indigestion. Click here to learn how to make your own rice water!
NATURAL HEATING PAD
A warm pillow or heat pack on your abdomen can soothe tense muscles and relax cramps. Click here to learn how to make your own soothing pillow for aches and pains.
WARM BATH
Taking a warm bath with a big handful of epsom salts is another way to soothe upset stomachs and tense muscles. If you’re feeling constipated, 1 teaspoon of epsom salt dissolved in a glass of water will act as a laxative. Click here for 20 unusual ways to use epsom salts.
What’s your best remedy for a tummy ache?
*NOTE: If you have frequent, regular and/or intense stomach aches – see a doctor.
I have found a product that really helps my “heartburn” – I keep a can/bottle of organic coconut water (not from concentrate) in my fridge at all times. Whenever I feel a bit of burning in my esophagus, I drink a small amount of the coconut water. It also relieves any feeling of bloating or upset stomach. Works wonders for me, perhaps it could help others. I was able to stop taking prescribed medication for this condition and am very happy.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Another brilliant post! Thank you, Jillee, for everything you’ve taught me. I love getting these in my email every day!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Love this article, I have spend yesterday and today , just copying your recipes ( writing down by hand in journal and putting your website link on the notes too) and I made new ones yesterday . Going to try and make a new one each day to have on hand when I need them! Wish I had the oils and dried flowers right now to make your diy garden salve , because I”m going outside to sweep and trim , clean my small patio area right now! U rock Jillee!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Try just rubbing the tummy in counterclockwise slow circles. It can be enough to calm a stomach ache
Please log in or create a free account to comment.It’s important to drink vinegar through a straw for a different reason: It damages the tooth enamel.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.There have been studies saying ingesting peppermint actually worsens tummy issues, but instead of ingesting I rub some peppermint EO on my chest between the breast bone.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.It really works for me. I had some one else try it, who was an extremely scepticle nurse and she was amazed at how well it worked also.
I agree with you, Sandra. Some tummy troubles are just gas or flu, but it can get pretty serious pretty fast if it’s not! I learned that the hard way when my hubby got sick after our daughters & I were sick. Boys are such whiners!! But his dad had to rush him to the hospital while I was at work—emergency appendectomy. No amount of peppermint was going to fix THAT one!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My go-to remedy for upset stomach is ginger beer. This is a non-alcoholic drink made with ginger that is more potent than regular ginger ale. It keeps well in the refrigerator and the carbonation also helps with bloating. Most large grocery stores carry it in the Hispanic food section or the Jamaican section.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I am painfully well qualified to discuss this! I would NEVER again consider using an Rx for digestion. The above are ALL fabulous remedies that have helped me. Sometimes, you need to straighten out a kinked colon or have a bowel movement; try a soft banana daily. Sometimes I use a cup of hot coffee to get things going. For acid, I soothe with 1/2 n’ 1/2 cream for blessed relief. Or, I open a can of green beans and eat the entire can–instead of using medication, I use foods now, such as an entire can of green beans to give that stomach acid something to work on instead of my esophagus! Gas can be a killer; any herb will help relax the sphincter and allow a precious burp to relieve gas — I am NEVER without a bottle of chewable fennel seeds within my reach! (I used to use dill seeds, but they are hard to find in the grocery store and fennel works wonders). Also, being dehydrated can make digestion a chore, so maybe tackle it from that angle – I use orange juice frozen concentrate; the sugar in the OJ seems to soothe. Jillee, I’m glad you are presenting this topic which is of concern to all ages throughout the ages! There are many more food and DIY remedies too, such as “bowel rest”, meaning have nourishing liquids that won’t stress the gut while you are recuperating. Then fermented foods to replenish your GI flora. Always make sure you have adequate fiber, 20-35 grams a day for adults, except during the aforementioned bowel rest. Collagen, such as in broth, helps the GI tract heal. I’m going to try the rice water, which will be a new remedy in my arsenal.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks for the tips Mary!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Great info. I’ve heard that for stomach upset ginger ale is good because it contains the actual ginger . I have tried one of Jillees remedies for upset stomach. Just taking a little peppermint oil and rubbing it directly on my belly area. If certain foods leave me with annoying excess gas I can just take a gas x chewable or two to help calm it down.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Very useful and helpful article. Thank you!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.When we travel I keep a bottle of activated charcoal capsules in my suitcase. Worst thing to be traveling and be sick. Stops an upset stomach fast whether from wrong food or illness. Use them at home to if one of its gets upset stomach.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.These are excellent, especially the ginger and the teas! I’ve been in the hospital twice within the past 9 months with obstructions in my small intestines. After we get it rehydrated, I’m still in a great deal of pain after eating and all they want to do is give me pills. Last time, I just asked for hot tea. Plain Lipton helped a great deal.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Gotta love tea! Glad you like the tips, Pamela – I hope you recover quickly!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’m a fan of a coca cola over chipped ice sipped thru a straw for upset stomach troubles. My mom used to give us this growing up. Also 7-up or ginger-ale too. We didn’t have soda with meals or hardly ever actually, but these usually helped quite a bit.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Jenni, as much as they condemn coca cola, I remember my mother in law (who was mom to 8) told me for morning sickness to drink flat coke before my feet hit the ground in the morning. Open a can before bedtime and by morning take a chug or two and it helped-better than the anti-nausea meds they tried to give me! So I believe that it’s possible!
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