Bananas, Ginger, and Peppermint Tea: Helpful Homemade Remedies for Settling an Upset Stomach

Many people experience an upset stomach or nausea for different reasons. Some individuals may have it as a result of undergoing chemotherapy or surgery; others may encounter it as a result of being pregnant or eating a particular food. Yet, others may deal with it due to having a stomach virus or another health condition, such as irritable bowel syndrome. No matter what the cause may be, everyone would agree that having an upset tummy is not a pleasant experience.

Many individuals, including myself, seek more natural, homemade remedies to deal with this medical condition as opposed to using prescription or over-the-counter drugs. Here are three particular natural remedies that this author and her family use in order to treat an upset stomach.

Bananas

Recently, my husband was experiencing nausea on a regular basis. One of the foods that he found to be effective in soothing his upset stomach was bananas.

According to the Mayo Clinic, bananas are a wonderful source of prebiotics (also known as "fermentable fiber") which help in the prevention of many stomach related issues as well as boosting the immune system. As reported by the National Institute of Health, bananas stimulate the production of mucus by the stomach lining, and this mucus serves as a barrier between the stomach lining and the acidic gastric substances which can trigger an upset stomach.

After experiencing the "stomach flu," bananas are one of the foods that are highly recommended for easing back into normal eating patterns. Because bananas are highly digestible, they are a wonderful choice for eating when a person is experiencing an "unhappy" tummy.

Bananas are usually safe for individuals to consume. However, due to the high level of potassium in bananas, this author recommends that any individual who has a medical condition where potassium consumption is a concern should consult with his or her doctor prior to eating bananas. Also, if an individual is experiencing excessive flatulence, he or she may want to refrain from using bananas since these fruits can sometimes cause "gas."

Ginger

During my pregnancy with my third child, I experienced an upset stomach after eating a certain combination of foods. The first thing that I grabbed to relieve my queasiness was a piece of crystallized ginger, and almost immediately, my nausea was gone. Throughout the remainder of this pregnancy, I ingested crystallized ginger whenever I had any type of nauseous feeling.

Throughout the centuries, various practitioners of different forms of Asian medicine have used ginger to treat a variety of health conditions. According to the Mayo Clinic, ginger is effective in treating the symptoms of "morning sickness" during pregnancy as well as post-surgical nausea. Mixed research results exist for the use of ginger in treating nausea that is induced by chemotherapy, and at present, cancer researchers are conducting ongoing research concerning this matter.

You can take ginger supplements or crystallized ginger, or you can drink ginger tea. Ginger is pretty safe to use and can even be taken while pregnant or nursing. If you have any pre-existing health conditions, are presently taking any prescription medications, or have any concerns, you may want to consult your health care provider, doctor, or pharmacist prior to using ginger.

Peppermint Tea

Peppermint tea is one of the items that my family and I often drink to help with digestive problems when they occur. We also sometimes utilize a few drops of peppermint oil in a 16-ounce glass of water, but peppermint tea is normally our favorite choice.

According to the Mayo Clinic, peppermint, a botanical supplement, can be effective in treating indigestion, stomach pain that is not caused by ulcers, and symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. An article on the National Institute of Health's website suggests that peppermint tea is a safer alternative to peppermint oil since peppermint oil in large doses can be toxic.

If or when you experience an upset stomach, you may want to keep these natural, homemade remedies in mind. However, if you have any concerns or questions about utilizing one of these recommended remedies, are experiencing any other type of symptom in addition to an upset stomach, or are taking any type of prescription medication, please consult your doctor, health care professional, or pharmacist prior to use.

Sources:

http://nccam.nih.gov/health/ginger/

http://nccam.nih.gov/health/peppermintoil/

http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/BotanicalBackground.asp

http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/ft-CCUM-0201

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/ginger-for-nausea/AN02018

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/indigestion/DS01141/DSECTION=alternative-medicine

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/morning-sickness/DS01150/DSECTION=alternative-medicine

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/prebiotics/AN02032

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stomach-pain/DS00524/DSECTION=alternative-medicine

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/viral-gastroenteritis/DS00085/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/imagepages/9689.htm