There are several reasons why someone suffers from stomach pain. Also, since stomach pains are such a common phenomenon, everybody experiences them from time to time. The good news is that there are several home remedies for stomach pain that you can use for instant relief from the pain. Whether it’s your right or left side stomach pain, you need not panic and rush to the doctor for common stomach pains. Just make sure to follow the tips and tricks we’ve listed below that can help ease your stomach pain. Most of the magic ingredients you will need for ordinary stomach pains can be found right in the kitchen. So, keep reading and tackle stomach pain like a pro the next time it hits you!
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Best Home Remedies For Stomach Pains
Most stomach pains are simple discomforts that will leave in a little while. If nothing serious, they can be dealt with right at home instead of making a hurried trip to the emergency room. Take a look at the list of items below that will help alleviate stomach pains instantly. Once you’ve done checking through them, make a quick stop by your kitchen to ensure you have these at home. If not, stock them up as soon as possible!
1. Ginger
Whether or not you believe it to be an old wives’ tale, ginger can be among the most effective ingredients when it comes to dealing with stomach pains at home. It helps reduce nausea and other unpleasant symptoms that accompany various types of stomach pains. It has anti-inflammatory properties that help calm an upset stomach. Ginger supplements and chews are easy to find and use. It can also be used in tea and other beverages. Certain times, people also add them to hot soups to add that extra bit of zing to it. This is especially helpful for those suffering from cold and cough along with stomach pain.
2. Peppermint
One of the most popular home remedies for stomach pain is peppermint because it contains menthol which can be incredibly soothing to an upset stomach. It can also help assuage the feeling of nausea and is a natural pain reliever. There are several ways to use this incredible everyday ingredient to help relieve oneself from stomach pains. For one, you can brew some lip-smacking spearmint or peppermint tea. Not only will this help reduce the pain but it will also make you feel fresh. You can also keep mint candy in your mouth or directly chew peppermint leaves themselves. Another way is to sniff peppermint extracts. It can calm your right or left side stomach pains.
3. Soda and bitters
Generally, a bar is the last place you’d think of going to if you wish to get relief from stomach pains. But you’d be surprised at how many swear by this. A good mix of cocktails can do wonders to alleviate your stomach pain. All you need is about 4 to 5 drops of cocktail bitters stirred well into a glass of cold club soda, tonic, or ginger ale. The reason this is super helpful is that most of the common brands contain a mix of ingredients such as peppermint, cinnamon, ginger, and fennel. These are the most amazing bunch of ingredients that reduce nausea in people who suffer from stomach pain.
4. Apple cider vinegar
Although incredibly strong, apple cider vinegar can be incredibly useful as well when it comes to home remedies for stomach pain. If you can tolerate the strong flavor, try taking this super ingredient by the spoonful and watch it neutralize your severe stomach ache. If you find the taste too strong and cannot stomach it, try mixing a tablespoon of it with a cup of water and add a teaspoon of honey to the mix. Sip slowly and let the ingredient do its work.
Another reason this is such an amazing ingredient is that the acids in it reduce starch digestion. This permits the starch to enter into the intestines with ensures that the bacteria in the stomach is healthy. Many people opt to take a spoonful of apple cider vinegar everyday as an effective precautionary measure and it works!
5. BRAT diet
Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, and Toast – commonly called the BRAT diet is something that every parent with a toddler is familiar with. It is the best instant fix for a severely upset stomach. Also, it can help alleviate pain, reduce nausea, and control diarrhea. Not to mention it’s delicious! The reason this is among the best home remedies for stomach pain is that the diet contains high-binding and low fiber foods. There is no spice or salt in any of these foods and so the stomach pain isn’t aggravated further. You can pick this bland diet it you have severe stomach pain and happen to be hungry but are unable to keep anything down. While at it, you can burn the toast a bit as it is said to alleviate nausea in that form.
6. Heating pad
Sometimes, the best home remedies for stomach pain happen to be the simplest ones. Not everyone will want to try some of the ingredients mentioned so far. If you happen to be among such people, know that a hot water bag or heating pad can come in unbelievably handy when looking for relief from stomach pain. So, don’t hesitate to reach for that electric blanket and the hot water bottle. Just roll up and take it as easy as possible until the symptoms pass. The warmth from the heating pad will distract you from the pain in your stomach. It will also reduce your nausea and relax your muscle cramps. However, make sure not to leave the water bottle at one place for too long as it could damage that portion of your skin from overuse.
7. Chamomile tea
One of the best home remedies for stomach pain is to down a cup of chamomile tea. The amazing anti-inflammatory properties it has will soothe your sore stomach muscles, as well as help, reduce nausea you feel. It will calm the sporadic or constant pain spasms you feel in your stomach. Take a cup and observe how quickly your cramps reduce. You can have two cups or more if you wish to – there’s no dosage, really. Just make sure to have it nice and hot or it won’t be as effective. Many people recommend using chamomile tea to help deal with headaches as well. Yes, it does work.
When should you see a doctor?
If it’s a common stomach ache you are suffering from, you need not rush to the hospital. However, sometimes stomach pain can be an indicator of something more serious. Thereby, if you have the indication that this could be more than just another ache, you should get it checked out and see if there’s an underlying cause for it. For instance, prolonged vomiting can lead you to suffer from dehydration. So, try taking small sips of water at regular intervals to help avoid this issue. However, if you cannot hold down water for more than six hours, you should get an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible.
Another thing to know is that should your stomach ache and nausea persist long after two days, it’s best to get it checked out. Also, if you notice that your stomach cannot handle certain types of food and reacts very badly to them, talk to your doctor about it to rule out food allergies, Crohn’s disease, or other serious issues. Home remedies for stomach pain won’t help you if you’re diagnosed with any of these ailments.
Is left side stomach pain something to worry about?
Sometimes, home remedies for stomach pains won’t work if you’re suffering from left side stomach pain. The lowermost left side of the stomach is home to the last portion of the colon and for certain women, their left ovary. If the pain in this area is minor, it is nothing to worry about and will subside on its own within a day or two. However, if the pain is too severe and refuses to fade away, it’s best to get it checked out. Also, if the pain you are having is related to an injury or accident, you should call the emergency services instantly. Another thing you should keep in mind is that should you feel any pressure or pain in your chest along with the stomach, you should immediately get yourself to a doctor.
Listed below are some of the symptoms accompanying stomach pain that indicate you should get to the hospital instantly. So, if you find that you are suffering from any of these, make an appointment immediately.
- Swelling in your abdomen
- High fever
- Blood in the stools
- Inexplicable weight loss
- Tenderness in the affected region
- Skin turning yellowish in color (might indicate the onset of jaundice)
- Persistent vomiting and nausea
What are the common causes of left side stomach pain?
While you may think that home remedies for stomach pains will work, that may not always be the case. The mild and ordinary stomach pains will fade away in a day or two but the severe ones will need immediate medical attention. You need to be able to tell the difference if you want to treat the condition correctly. But what causes pain in the left side of your stomach? Here are some of the most common causes for it:
Diverticulitis
Among the most common causes for pain in the left side of the stomach, this is a condition wherein small pouches are created due to weak spots on the colon. When this pouch breaks, it can leave the area susceptible to infection and swelling leading to diverticulitis. Nausea, fever, tenderness of the abdomen, and vomiting are some of the other symptoms that indicate the onset of this problem. This is a common condition especially among those who’ve crossed 40.
Indigestion
This is among the most common causes of left side stomach pains. It happens right after eating and there are several home remedies for stomach pains that will help you alleviate this problem. What happens is when you eat food, your stomach creates acid to help digest it. This acid can cause irritation in your bowel, esophagus, or stomach. While the pain related to indigestion is generally in the upper part of the stomach, it can sometimes be on the lower left side as well. Heartburn, bloating, nausea, and belching or passing pas are some of the most common symptoms of indigestion.
Kidney stones
None of the home remedies for stomach pains will help you deal with kidney stones at home. You will need medical attention if this is the underlying cause of your stomach pain. Generally, what happens is that the kidney stones begin to create trouble when they move around in the kidneys and then into the ureter – the tube that connects your kidneys to your bladder. The pain will be quite severe and will generally be around your lower back, left side of the stomach, and under your ribs. Symptoms include fever, chills, pain during urination, nausea, vomiting, and urine that is cloudy, pink, smelly, brown, or red.
Ovarian cyst
One of the most common causes of left side stomach pain in women is ovarian cysts. It is a sack that’s filled with fluid and located inside or on an ovary’s surface. Sometimes, the cyst may press on the bladder and result in the need for you to frequently urinate. Most ovarian cysts won’t show any symptoms and will disappear by themselves in a couple of months. If severe, you will need medical attention to deal with this rather than opting for home remedies for stomach pain. Take your doctor’s advice on dealing with this issue before it escalates.
Hernia
An incredibly painful condition, the hernia will require immediate medical attention. This is where one of your internal organs or some other body part begins to push through the tissue or muscles surrounding it. You will be able to see a lump in the affected stomach region. It can also happen in the groin area sometimes. Symptoms include a persistent dull ache, sharp pain when lifting objects, an increase in the lump, and a feeling of inexplicable fullness among other things. Remember that hernias can be of different types and some of them won’t produce any symptoms or bulges. Nevertheless, it is a good idea to get it checked out instead of opting for ordinary albeit effective home remedies for stomach pains.