NATURAL REMEDIES FOR STOMACH ACHE

Stomach aches are a very common problem among individuals of all ages, whether male or female. And since it's the monsoon eating outside food frequently gives one stomach aches. Indigestion is a common cause for stomach pain which results typically from overeating or not properly chewing food (eating too fast). Antacids can relieve stomach pain after eating, but the ingredients (salts such as magnesium, calcium, and aluminum) can be harmful if taken more than occasionally.

General physician, Dr Ganesh Gadkari says, "When the body's digestive system is unable to digest the food, thus the digestive process remains incomplete and a stomach ache occurs." He says that though it's not a grave ailment, it can sure cause one discomfort and so he recommends natural remedies to seek relief from stomach aches than popping pills. Here are some remedies one can easily try at home.

• If there's stomach ache resulting due to acidity, have a glass of soda water. 
• Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. You may find that taking small, frequent sips of a beverage is easier on your stomach than trying to drink a whole glass at once. An energetic drink that also works wonders for a stomach ache is squeezing half a lime in a glass of water and adding a tablespoon of honey to it. 
• A yummy and healthy snack option is eating some pomegranate seeds to which a pinch of salt and pepper has been added. 
• One way to seek quick relief is to prepare a mixture of mint, ginger and lime juice, along with a pinch of black salt. Add to a glass of water, stir well and drink. 
• Here's a grandmom's traditional solution: Eat a small bowl of curds to which a teaspoon of ground fenugreek or methi seeds. This also helps to clear the digestive tract. 
• Chewing aniseeds too can give relief from stomach aches. For best results, soak a few teaspoons of aniseeds in a glass of water, overnight. Next morning eat the soaked aniseeds and drink this water.
• Do not use aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines, such as ibuprofen and naproxen. These medicines may irritate your stomach and increase your pain.
• When suffering from stomach pain caused by an upset stomach, it is best to stick to a light, bland diet. If you are experiencing stomach pain, you may be tempted to avoid food altogether. The problem with this is that if your stomach is empty, it can send your stomach acids into overdrive. When this happens, the best way to calm those acids is to eat something. Eat simple, bland foods such as white rice, bananas, dry toast, apples or light crackers. This will ensure you always have something in your stomach, which will help keep stomach acid to a minimum.
• Try eating several small meals instead of 2 or 3 large ones. Do not eat spicy foods, other fruits, alcohol, and drinks that have caffeine until 48 hours after all symptoms have gone away.
• BRAT stands for Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, and Toast. According to the National Institute of Health, the BRAT diet is commonly recommended in hospitals by doctors and nurses if diarrhea is associated with your stomach pain. The BRAT diet relieves diarrhea by introducing foods that are gentle, neutral in acidity, and absorb toxins. Over a day or two, the diarrhea will continue to lessen as you stick to these foods. You should not use the BRAT diet when your abdominal pain is accompanied by vomiting. 
  
  

  

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• Rest until you are feeling better.
• Ginger has a long history of use in relieving stomach pain and helping to ease an upset stomach. Ginger has an anti-inflammatory effect on the body, which can help reduce inflammation in the stomach and intestines. It is a digestive aid that helps transport food effectively through the digestive tract. Ginger can be chewed raw or made into a tea.
• Another benefit of ginger is faster digestion which will cut down on the time food spends rotting in your stomach. This is what makes ginger unique among the other home remedies for upset stomach. You should not consume more than 1 gram of ginger in any given day as this may upset your stomach more. It's better to split this up into 3 or 4 servings each day.
• Both caraway and fennel seeds are helpful in treating an upset stomach. They aid in digestion and help to eliminate gas pains. Many herbalists prescribe these seeds to patients suffering from stomach pain. The seeds can be chewed or used to make a tea. To make a tea, add hot water to 1 teaspoon seeds. Cover and let sit for 5 to 10 minutes. Strain out the seeds and drink the tea. This home remedy works best when taken on an empty stomach.
• Ginger and seeds are not the only effective teas for treating stomach pain. Many herbal tea remedies can help ease discomfort and reduce stomach pain. Common herbal tea ingredients that aid in digestion and ease stomach discomfort include: Cinnamon, Mint, Thyme, Lemon balm, Lavender.
• Fresh mint tea can be made by simply adding some sprigs of fresh mint to a cup of boiling water.
• Carbonated beverages can be an effective home remedy for eliminating gas bubbles and easing stomach pain. Drinking un-caffeinated, carbonated beverages, especially natural ginger ale, lemon-lime soda or cola, can induce burping, which allows you to expel trapped gas. This is particularly helpful if your upset stomach is the result of overeating.
• Lemons or limes are a safe and natural remedy for indigestion. Common sense would make you ask, "If there is too much acid in my stomach, and lemons have acid, why would I want to add more acid to my stomach?" Here's why. Excess acid in the stomach comes from harmful bacteria. Yes, lemons contain ascorbic acid (a.k.a. vitamin C), however this home remedy works because it kills the source of the problem: the harmful bacteria. By contrast, antacids work on the symptoms of the problem: the acids from the harmful bacteria.
• First, if your stomach or abdominal pain includes vomiting, it may be from food poisoning. If this is the case, it's better to allow your stomach to expel the poison. Visit a hospital if your symptoms are severe. In other cases, you can relieve vomiting with some common home remedies. If your vomiting comes from overeating, drinking too much alcohol, morning sickness associated with pregnancy, the common cold, or upset stomach then try chilled lime juice (one teaspoon of fresh lime juice in cold water). Lime juice works much the same way as lemons, but is a bit more gentle because of a smaller concentration of the beneficial compounds. 

Remember to always consult a doctor or seek medical attention for severe stomach pain or if you experience any other symptoms. These home remedies can be used to help alleviate stomach pain, but should not be used to replace medical treatment from a physician or other qualified health practitioner.