From time to time, all of us experience an upset stomach. This type of pain is extremely common and can be caused by numerous circumstances from food poisoning to overeating. Regardless of the reason, an upset stomach can be anywhere from aggravating to debilitating. This condition can often be accompanied by other symptoms such as gas, nausea, or diarrhea. Luckily, there are numerous safe and effective home remedies for upset stomach that can help you feel better.
1. Soy Sauce
If you’re a fan of Japanese and Chinese takeout, you probably have a drawer in your kitchen that is stuffed with little soy sauce packets. Soy sauce provides food with a delicious savory flavor and has been a staple of Asian cuisine for centuries.
What you may not know is that soy sauce has unique health benefits as well and is one of the best home remedies for upset stomach. For one thing, it’s fermented, meaning that it contains enzymes that help eat away at food in your digestive system, and fermented foods are known to relieve gas and constipation. Soy sauce is also highly alkaline. In other words, soy sauce can balance out the level of acidity in your digestive system. By consuming soy sauce, you can instantly counteract stomach pain caused by acidic foods.
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Necessary items
- 1 oz of water
- 1 oz of soy sauce
Directions
- Combine the soy sauce and water in a drinking glass.
- Drink this mixture all at once as though you were taking a shot of alcohol.
- If your upset stomach is the result of acidic foods, you should feel relief immediately.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is one of those folk medicine solutions that actually works. From treating dandruff to treating bug bites, it seems like there’s nothing that this product can’t do. That’s why it’s always a good idea to keep your pantry stocked with apple cider vinegar at all times.
Apple cider vinegar has been used for centuries as one of the cheapest, safest, and most effective home remedies for upset stomach. The apples in the vinegar are full of pectin, a natural anti-inflammatory that can relieve pain throughout the digestive tract quickly and permanently. Plus, the unique acid level of the vinegar helps break down food that may be stuck somewhere along the digestive tract. Lastly, this amazing product can also instantly alleviate gas and bloating as well as heartburn pain.
When it comes to shopping for the right apple cider vinegar, always stick to a product that is pure and unfiltered. The more processed the vinegar, the less nutrients it has and the less effective it is as a home remedy for upset stomach.
Necessary items
- 1 glass of water
- a tablespoon of pure, unfiltered apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon of honey
Directions
- Pour the vinegar and the honey into a glass of water.
- Stir vigorously in order to allow the honey and vinegar to combine with the water.
- Sip this drink slowly over the course of fifteen minutes.
8. Fennel Seeds
Fennel seeds have been used as a digestive aid in Eastern countries for centuries. If you have ever been to an Indian restaurant, you may notice that frequently you will find a bowl of candied fennel seeds waiting for you by the exit. This is because fennel seeds contain anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic chemicals that can relieve stomach pain fast.
Not only can fennel seeds relieve stomach pain but they can also relieve bloating, trapped gas and nausea, making them one of the most effective upset stomach home remedies. The consumption of fennel seeds also helps move things along by aiding in the breakdown of food that is stuck in the intestinal tract that can cause gas and constipation.
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Necessary items
- 2 cups of water
- 2 tablespoons of fennel seeds
Directions
- Pour the water into a teapot or saucepan and bring it to a boil.
- In the meantime, pour the fennel seeds into a large drinking mug.
- When the water has reached boiling point, turn the heat off and pour the water over the seeds. Allow them to steep for fifteen minutes before straining them out and there you have it: a quick & easy home remedy for upset stomach.
3. Peppermint Essential Oil
If you’ve ever taken those little pills that are supposed to relieve gas, you’ve consumed peppermint oil. Not only does peppermint freshen your breath but it also acts as an anti-inflammatory and is used frequently in stomach medications.
Peppermint oil has been shown to be highly effective when treating certain digestive conditions like indigestion, gas and bloating, making it one of the best home remedies for upset stomach. This essential oil has a calming effect on the digestive tract. However, if your stomach pain is related to acid reflux or heartburn, peppermint oil may make pain worse.
When it comes to using peppermint essential oil to treat an upset stomach, go with an oil that is high in quality, pure and unrefined. Oil that is heavily processed will lose some of its healing properties.
Necessary items
- one glass of water
- 20 drops of pure, unrefined peppermint essential oil
Directions
- Dillute the peppermint essential oil in a glass of water. Stir well and sip.
5. Ginger Root Tea
Ginger is a no-brainer when it comes to treating digestive issues and is one of the most widely used home remedies for upset stomach. With anti-fungal, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, ginger can heal everything from gas pains to stomach viruses. Ginger also forces the intestinal tract to relax, allowing gas and stools to pass more easily. Plus, ginger is a highly effective way to beat nausea quickly.
Ginger can be consumed in a variety of ways. Popular soft drinks use ginger flavoring but are full of sugar and are therefore best to avoid. When it comes to healing tummy troubles, stick to pure, raw ginger. The most effective way to get the most benefits out of ginger is to steep it in hot water to make a ginger root tea.
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Necessary items
- 1 2-inch chunk of raw ginger root, peeled
- 1 teaspoon of honey
- 2 cups of water
Directions
- Pour the water into a teapot or saucepan and bring it to a boil.
- Meanwhile, place the ginger root and the honey into a large drinking mug.
- Once the water is boiling, turn off the heat and pour the water into the mug.
- Stir vigorously so that the honey can dissolve.
- Allow this tea to steep for 15 minutes before removing the ginger root and discarding it.
6. Bicarbonate Soda
For decades, pharmaceutical companies have capitalized on the healing powers of bicarbonate soda when it comes to healing stomach pains and other digestive issues. While these popular medicines are effective cures for upset stomach, they also tend to be full of flavoring additives that are not healthy to consume in large quantities.
Luckily, almost every person in the world has a box of baking soda in their pantry. Baking soda is bicarbonate soda. This common household ingredient instantly gets absorbed into the intestines, neutralizing acids in the digestive tract that can cause an upset stomach. In other words, baking soda is an incredibly affordable yet highly effective antacid and simply one of the best home remedies for upset stomach.
Necessary items
- 1 glass of water
- 1 tablespoon of baking soda
Directions
- Pour the baking soda into the water and stir it in quickly.
- Try to drink this home remedy for upset stomach all at once because the longer it sits, the less effective it is.
7. Chamomile Tea
Many people drink chamomile tea before going to sleep because of its unique ability to relax the body and mind. However, few people know that chamomile can also relax the digestive tract, allowing gas and food to pass through more easily. When chamomile is consumed, it goes to work on muscles throughout the body, allowing them to relax quickly. That’s why chamomile is one of the best home remedies for upset stomach.
Often, an upset stomach can be the direct result of emotional stress and anxiety. When we feel stressed or anxious, we unconsciously tense up our digestive system, resulting in pain and trapped gas and stools. Chamomile tea can reduce feelings of stress and anxiety, quickly alleviating any stomach pain caused by emotional distress.
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Necessary items
- 2 cups of water
- 1 bag of chamomile tea
Directions
- Bring the water to a boil and place the teabag in a large mug.
- When the water has reached boiling point, turn off the heat and pour the water into the mug.
- Allow the tea to steep for ten minutes before consuming.
4. Kefir
Of all the home remedies for upset stomach, kefir is one of the most effective. Kefir is a dairy product that is in almost every popular grocery store and you’ve probably passed it hundreds of times without noticing that it’s even there. However, this yogurt-based drink can work wonders when it comes to treating an upset stomach.
Kefir is considered the cousin of yogurt. Originating from Russia, this drink has been used for centuries as a digestive aid. Like yogurt, kefir has anti-inflammatory properties. This beverage also boasts significantly more probiotics than regular yogurt. Probiotics help break down the food that is in your digestive tract, allowing things to run smoothly. Plus, probiotics can eat away at pain-inducing gas bubbles aggressively.
Necessary items
Directions
- You can pour yourself a glass of kefir whenever and however frequently you wish.
- This refreshing and healing drink will keep your entire digestive system feeling healthy.
9. Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a popular spice that can be found in almost every household. In addition to adding flavor to a variety of dishes, cinnamon acts as a highly effective digestive aid that can reduce stomach pain quickly. Cinnamon is one of the fastest-working home remedies for upset stomach and the regular consumption of cinnamon can also stop stomach pain from happening.
Cinnamon has carminative properties, meaning that it naturally reduces flatulence by dissolving gas bubbles in the intestines. Because trapped gas is often the cause of stomach pain, consuming cinnamon is very likely to get rid of your upset stomach in no time.
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Necessary items
- 2 cups of water
- 1 cinnamon stick
Directions
- Pour the water into a teapot or saucepan and bring it to a boil.
- In the meantime, place the cinnamon stick in a large drinking mug.
- When the water is boiling, turn the heat off and pour the water into the mug.
- Allow the tea to steep for fifteen minutes before drinking.
10. Prune Juice
Sometimes, an upset stomach can be the result of constipation. If stools are stuck in the intestines, this can cause lots of pain as the stools press against the intestinal walls. Plus, stools that are stuck in the intestines will release gas as intestinal bacteria eats at them, resulting in excess gas along the entire digestive tract.
When it comes to stomach pain associated with constipation, few things work more effectively than prune juice. Prunes have loads of fiber, helping move things along quickly yet gently. Plus, of all the natural laxatives which double as home remedies for upset stomach, prune juice arguably tastes the best.
Necessary items
Directions
- Drink this whenever you feel backed up.
- You can drink multiple glasses of prune juice a day without worrying about negative side effects.
11. A Glass of Wine
Anyone who has experienced a hangover knows that drinking too much the night before can wreak havoc on the digestive system. However, a single glass of wine can actually aid in the digestive process, healing an upset stomach effectively.
That’s because wine contains just the right amount of ethanol to encourage food to move through the digestive system quickly. The longer that food sits in the digestive tract, the more likely it is to produce painful gas. Therefore, a single glass of wine can both prevent and reduce stomach pain.
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Necessary items
- 1 glass of wine (red or white)
Directions
- Drink a glass of wine when you have an upset stomach.
12. Heating Pad
Using a heating pad is one of the easiest home remedies for upset stomach. The heat that the pad produces encourages the intestines to dilate, allowing gas and food to move along more easily. A heating pad will also relax the muscles that become tense when you are having tummy troubles. Plus, a heating pad will help your mind focus on the heat instead of the pain.
Necessary items
Directions
- Plug in the heating pad and turn it on.
- Relax for a half hour with the heating pad sitting on your abdomen.
13. Rice Water
Rice water acts like a demulcent, relieving the inflammation by forming a barrier over the lining of your stomach.
Necessary items
Directions
- Cook the rice with twice the water you’d normally use.
- Drain the excess cooking water.
- Drink the rice water warm. You can add honey for taste.
Recommended read: If you don’t find relief in these home remedies, be sure to check out these natural treatments for symptoms such as gas, nausea, and diarrhea.
Conclusion
An upset stomach doesn’t have to ruin your day and get in the way of important plans and responsibilities. The next time that you have stomach pains, turn to these safe and effective home remedies for upset stomach and watch your tummy troubles disappear.
All of these remedies for upset stomach are incredibly affordable and easy to prepare. The best part is that their components most likely already exist in your home. By using any of these upset stomach home remedies, you’ll be feeling like yourself again in no time.
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