Most of the time, thankfully, the cause of an upset stomach and its symptoms, like pain, nausea, or diarrhea, are not serious and will pass relatively quickly. Sometimes it may last less than an hour; in others, it could be a couple of days.
Several natural remedies could help you get over the discomfort even faster. Here are a few of them.
Bitters and soda: Bottoms up! Many people swear by bitters mixed into tonic water, club soda, or ginger ale to help quell an upset stomach. Five or six drops of a bitter containing an herb like cinnamon, fennel, mint, or ginger may be best.
Ginger: Ginger is an herb that has earned the reputation of being a cure-all. When it comes to stomach trouble, there is research to indicate it can help with certain types. You may get the benefits of this natural anti-inflammatory from supplements, ginger chews, tea, ginger ale, ginger beer, or fresh ginger drink.
Chamomile tea: A relaxing cup of hot chamomile tea may help ease the pain of indigestion by offering some anti-inflammatory relief. The anti-inflammatory properties of chamomile can help stomach muscles relax, helping relieve the pain of spasms and cramps.
BRAT diet: The bland diet of bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast can help when you have nausea and diarrhea. This low-fiber, high-binding foods don’t contain anything that will aggravate symptoms. It is good to use it when you’re feeling sick.
Peppermint: Menthol can be a helpful pain reliever that may offer relief from stomach pain. You can try a cup of peppermint tea, suck a minty candy, or chew mint leaves.
Apple cider vinegar: If you can stomach it, a tablespoon of this stuff may help neutralize an upset stomach. If you can’t, mix it with a cup of water and a teaspoon of honey.
The acids in apple cider vinegar may help decrease starch digestion to help keep the gut healthy. Some people even take it daily as a preventative measure.