I’m no stranger to stomach aches. I use to be plagued with them as a
child, and my son had them non-stop when he was younger. Now he mostly
only has stomach pain when he eats something he’s not supposed to, but
there are still those random aches and pains that pop up for who knows
what reason.
There are several fast home remedies for stomach aches that we turn to time and time again. Most of these are likely things you already have at home!
1. Ginger
Ginger gets the spotlight, as it should. Using ginger for stomach aches is a natural remedy that’s as old as time.
Ginger Tea
Ginger
tea is very easy to make. When you are buying ginger, break a piece off
and check how it looks and how it smells. It should smell very pungent
with gingery spice. It should also be yellow and not an off-white color.
You can keep ginger frozen if you don’t use it often, but hopefully do
use it often!
Use 1 tbsp fresh ginger and about 1.5 cups of water.
I suggest grating the ginger as it will speed up the process. Bring the
water to boil and let boil for 1 minute. Remove from stove and let cool
to a tolerable heat.
Drink your ginger tea warm. You can add a little raw honey for flavor, but I don’t mind it unsweetened.
Ginger Ale or Ginger Beer
I am a huge fan of ginger ale (which you can learn how to make using water kefir here) and ginger beer (which you can easily make with a ginger bug, find instructions here).
Not only do they taste amazing, but there’s also no better natural remedy for tummy aches in kids. It’s great for helping adults with stomach problems, too, but it’s generally easier for an adult to stomach something that doesn’t necessarily taste great when they know it will help them feel better.
2. Intestinal Tract Defense
I
discovered this herbal remedy sort of by accident. CVS was having a
clearance sale and I have used this brand for several herbal remedies
before, so I decided to give it a try.
The stuff tastes nasty. Maybe “strong” is a better word, but it is no joke.
However, it works like a charm. Whether it is overeating, eating the wrong thing, or who knows what, this thing always saves the day. I now buy Intestinal Tract Defense in bulk and give away as gifts when anyone I know complains about stomach issues.
It’s intended to be a sort of cleanse, where you take it for the recommended time. But I use it only as needed.
What’s the best way to take intestinal support? I personally think it’s best to drop it all the way to the back of your throat, then quickly chase with juice. Avoiding as many taste buds as possible is the way to go.
If you absolutely must mix it, mix it in a little juice, and have alot of juice ready in a separate cup to wash it down and try and rid your taste buds of the strong flavors of clove, quassia, black walnut, wormwood, etc.
Click here to check it out. The reviews are great. Everyone agrees it tastes awful, but actually WORKS!
3. Garlic
Garlic is really good at helping stomach aches. It helps by reducing bloat and helping to relieve gas. If you are used to having garlic raw, then you can just mince/crush garlic (I personally can’t live without my garlic crusher!) and wash it down with a drink.
If you are not used to having raw garlic, it’s best not to take it when you are already in distress. This is because garlic is very strong, and has antibacterial and antifungal properties that could potentially make things worse.
Instead, put several cloves of garlic into warm water or homemade broth and boil for one minute. Let sit for about 5 minutes and then have at least half cup of the garlic tea.
4. Tummy Massage/Yoga
Movement,
such as tummy massages and yoga, can really help to relieve gas and
sometimes stimulate a bowel movement. This can be especially helpful if
the pain is due to constipation.
The best way to perform a tummy massage is with the afflicted person laying down on their left side. Use both hands to gently palpate the stomach and take turns rubbing small areas in semicircles. If you hear any bubbles, that’s a good indication that there’s trapped gas, focus on those areas!
Additionally, you may try yoga exercises that help with bloating, gas and constipation. Here’s a gentle routine that is not only helpful, but also easy for children to use. Many people don’t realize the benefits of yoga for bloating and digestion, but calming routines help in more ways than one. They also reduce stress which could be contributing to stomach issues.
5. Fermented Foods
There are several reasons why fermented foods help with stomach aches. It is because of the following components:
- acidity
- live enzymes
- probiotics
There are other helpful factors depending on the ferment. But basically fermented food help digest problem foods, and get rid of candida and bacteria that may lead to indigestion and thus tummy pain. Fermented foods also help to relieve gas, which can be responsible for pain in the abdominal area.
Here are my favorite ferments for relieving stomach pain:
- “Pickle juice” is what my son calls the brine from naturally fermented kirby cucumbers (dill pickles).
- Dilly carrot brine
- Sauerkraut juice
- Water kefir
- Milk kefir – especially helpful if your tummy ache is due to an overindulgence of sugar
A tablespoon or two of the brines is usually enough (pickle juice, dilly carrot brine, sauerkraut juice). For the rest, have 1/4-1 cup worth. Yum!
And if you are plagued with stomach aches often, get in the habit of having fermented foods with each meal. They will do amazing things for your body, including helping you digest your food better!
6. Lemon Juice/Apple Cider Vinegar
In the same vein as fermented foods, the acidity of lemon juice and apple cider vinegar both help with stomach aches.
Put a tbsp of either one in 8oz of water and enjoy. It is best to use fresh squeezed lemon juice or a lemon juice without additives. For apple cider vinegar, using a brand that is raw with mother is best. This brand fits the criteria and is very popular among my natural-minded friends.
7. Rum
In
Jamaica, rum is a folk remedy used for pretty much everything. My
grandma used to give me half a shot for stomach aches, and it actually
worked very fast.
Now in Jamaica there weren’t really restrictions about alcohol for children, but in the US there are. So be sure to only use this home remedy for the adults!
8. Herbal Teas
Aside from ginger or garlic tea, there are several other types of teas known for helping with stomach pain. The best are:
- Peppermint tea
- Cerasee tea (Momordica Charantia/Bitter Gourd) – considered toxic in large quantities
- Caraway seed tea
- Fennel seed tea