Home remedies for stomach pain

We all know the benefits of drinking an adequate amount of water daily. It promotes digestion and facilitates the easy passage of stool. Water can also help to get relief from abdominal pain caused due to gas build up and constipation.

(Read more: How to improve digestion)

Tips:

• Your daily fluid intake should be 2-3 litres on average. This includes entire fluid intake, but one should stick with plain water as the major fluid.
• If your abdominal pain is due to indigestion, increase your fluid intake to improve digestion and get rid of gas buildup.
• If you do not like to drink plain water, you can always add a few drops of lemon or infuse it with some fruit or vegetable. Soft drinks and sports drinks can also be used but in moderation. Avoid caffeinated drinks because it may worsen the condition.
• In case you are having abdominal pain due to diarrhoea, increase your intake of oral rehydration solution. It will help you to replenish the electrolyte imbalance and prevent dehydration.

A hot water bath or a hot compression bag is used for relieving abdominal pain associated with intestinal spasms. This is because the warmth from water relaxes vigorous muscle contractions responsible for spasms.

Additionally, if you are suffering from acidity or heartburn, do not go to bed or lie down. This would prevent the acid buildup in your stomach from moving upwards through your digestive tract.

(Read more: Benefits of drinking water in the morning)

Ginger has bioactive compounds like gingerol and shogaol, which help in increasing gut motility and reduces nausea and vomiting. On the other hand, artichoke contains an antioxidant compound called compound cynaropicrin. It reduces spasms and increases bile flow. They also have additional benefits and do not cause any harm. To utilise all of the benefits of these herbs you can add them together and make the following salad:

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon grated Ginger
• 10 baby Artichokes
• 1 cup of julienne Carrots
• 1 cup sliced Cucumber
• ½ teaspoon salt
• Peppermint powder for seasoning

Procedure

• Mix all the ingredients in a bowl with artichokes
• Add grated ginger, peppermint powder and salt to taste
• Enjoy it fresh.

Additional Tips

• You can have this salad as a meal or with some light food that won't aggravate your pain.
• Ginger can also be taken in the form of herbal tea. Just boil a thin slice of ginger with some water. You can also add honey to give a natural sweetness to this tea.

Banana contains micronutrients such as folate and potassium, which help in reducing muscle spasms and cramps. It will also improve bowel movements and relieve constipation. If you are experiencing stomach pain just stick with a couple of bananas per meal. Alternatively, you can cut some bananas into a fruit salad along with figs and a drizzle of honey.

Figs provide a rich source of fibre and improve gut flora and honey would soothe your stomach and reduce infections. So, this salad doesn't just make the fruits more appetising but also it acts as a double treat for your stomach. 

This oil is derived from mint leaves. Both the leaves and their oil are effective in relieving stomach pain related to irritable bowel syndrome. Peppermint leaves are available as teas, capsules and liquid extracts whereas its oil is available as capsules and liquid solutions. Here is how you can use them:

Ingredients

• Mint leaves or their liquid extracts
• Water

Procedure

• Make the water boil
• Add mint leaves or liquid extract to the boiling water. Let it boil for a few minutes
• Enjoy it warm

Tips

• You can also take peppermint in the form of capsules. These are easily available in the market under various names.
• Make sure they are enteric coated capsules. Enteric coated capsules slowly release its contents in the stomach so that the effect is sustained for longer periods of time.

You all must have heard about this one from your grandmothers. Carom seeds are actually fruits of ajwain plant and are used widely in the treatment of gastrointestinal issues like flatulence (gas buildup in the gut), dyspepsia, diarrhoea, gastric ulcers, abdominal pains and piles. And what’s best is that they are pretty easy to take. Here’s how:

Ingredients

• Carom seeds/ powder
• Water (warm/cold)

Procedure

• Take one glass of warm or cold water and one teaspoon of carom seed powder, whatever you are comfortable with
• Swallow the seeds whole along with water

Precaution

• Ajwain promotes digestion by stimulating the secretion of gastric juices. The fibre present in these seeds decreases the gastric emptying time and improves bowel movements. So, you may feel hungry after consumption of ajwain.

Aloe Vera is a versatile plant. It possesses lots of beneficial properties. Studies suggest that this plant contains polysaccharides, anthraquinones and many other valuable compounds that reduce gastric acid secretion, which is helpful in preventing gastric ulcers, one of the major causes of stomach pain. Here is an easy recipe for preparing fresh aloe juice at home.

Ingredients

• ½ Aloe Vera leaf
• 1 cup of Water or any citrus fruit juice
• Blender

Procedure

• Take an aloe vera leaf, peel it with the help of a knife and extract the pulp
• Take one cup of water. If you don't like the natural taste of aloe vera, use any citrus fruit juice to prepare the mixture
• Blend them nicely to a thick pulpy consistency
• Drink it fresh

Baking soda or sodium bicarbonate is widely used to get relief from flatulence, acidity and heartburn. It acts rapidly and reduces the discomfort within a few minutes. The science behind this is simple. As soon as sodium bicarbonate (basic in nature) enters the stomach it neutralises the excessive gastric acid, causing the pain and discomfort to subside. Here is the correct way to consume baking soda:

Ingredients

• 1/4th tablespoon of baking soda
• One glass of water

Procedure

• Take the full glass of water and mix baking soda in it
• Drink the solution

Clove contains many medicinal properties, which make it a potentially rich pharmacological resource for relieving stomach pain. It contains phenolic compounds like eugenol, which is extremely effective against Helicobacter pylori. This bacteria is the main reason for peptic ulcers. Eugenol also has antispasmodic action which provides relief against abdominal pain. Here is how you can use clove to get respite from the discomforts of an aching stomach:

Ingredients

• 5 clove buds or 1 teaspoon of clove powder
• 1 cup of water
• 1 tablespoon sugar (optional)

Procedure

• Add the clove buds or powder to 1 cup of water
• Boil the contents
• Add sugar if needed
• Drink it warm

Fig fruits are rich in dietary fibres. They decrease colon transit time and improve the gut microflora thereby reducing indigestion and relieving constipation. Alternatively, you can take fig leaves in the form of tea to get rid of the stomach ache. Here is an easy recipe for a fig tea that you can make at home:

Ingredients

• 1-2 tablespoon of fig leaves
• 1 cup of water

Procedure

• Boil the water in a pan and pour it in a cup
• Add fig leaves to the water
• Let the mixture sit for 10-15 minutes
• Add sugar if needed
• Drink it warm

Basil contains linoleic acid, which is an excellent anti-inflammatory compound. It also helps with gas buildup and relieving spasms. You can eat basil leaves directly or make it into a tea for quicker results.

Ingredients

• 1-2 tablespoon of dried basil leaves
• 1 cup of Water

Procedure

• Add the dried basil or its leaves to a cup of boiling water
• Let it sit for 5-10 minutes
• Add sugar or honey to taste

When it comes to herbal teas, chamomile is probably one of the most well-known for its tummy soothing properties. Ever wonder why? Chamomile is a rich source of anti-inflammatory compounds that help reduce painful cramps and spasms. It can also help reduce the symptoms of IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) and colic pains.

Furthermore, chamomile helps relieve stress, one of the major causes of gastric reflux.

Ingredients

• 2-3 teaspoons of Chamomile flower petals
• 1 cup of Water

Procedure

• Boil the water in a saucepan and pour it in a cup
• Add chamomile flower petals to this water.
• Let the mixture sit for a good 20 minutes
• Add sugar or honey if required
• Drink it warm or refrigerate it for 15-20 minutes before use.

Coconut water is rich in antioxidants, potassium and magnesium, which help in controlling muscular cramps and spasms. This is because it acts as a rehydration solution and helps in maintaining and restoring the electrolyte balance of your body.

Coconut water is a much healthier option than soft drinks since it contains fewer calories and sugars. Also, it has a soothing effect on your stomach, which helps relieve acidity and indigestion. For optimum results, you can have 2-3 glasses of coconut water every 5 hours.

First of all, let's learn what probiotics are and how are they beneficial to us? Probiotic contains live bacteria that are found naturally in the human gut and aid in improving digestive health. They are also called friendly bacteria or good bacteria. In many gastrointestinal disorders, the balance between natural beneficial bacteria and harmful bacteria gets disturbed, which worsens the condition. Probiotics are very useful if you are suffering from infectious diarrhoea or irritable bowel syndrome. Probiotic solutions are easily available in the market. However, one homemade probiotic that you can use is curd.