Home Remedies for Stomach Aches & Pains, Why Pay High Prices for OTC Medications?

We all probably have had stomach aches and pains throughout our lives and have taken care of children and others with these pains. Stomach aches and pains include any symptoms that cause pain in the upper stomach, such as constipation, gas, nausea, diarrhea, bloating, cramps, vomiting and other symptoms.

When we have stomach ailments, we usually go to the drugstore or pharmacy and purchase very expensive medications. There is Pepto-Bismol, Gas-X, Tums, Rolaids, Alka Seltzer and Imodium AD just to name a few among the thousands of products available on the market. If you are anything like me, most of these over-the-counter medications do not work very well or take a while to work and, let's face it, time is of the essence when we are in pain.

Why pay big bucks for these over-the-counter medications when we can use natural remedies and products already in our cupboards? There are many foods and herbs in our kitchens that will work just as well or even better than the OTC medications at the drugstore and usually for a lot lower price.

Below is a list of just some of these natural foods that will help ease our troubled stomachs in times of pain. Old wives tales you say? Sure, some of these remedies will not work well for some people but, generally speaking, many of these remedies have been proven time and time again to actually work. Next time you have stomach pains like these, try one of these home remedies and see how well they work for you.

Baking Soda

Many people do not know that baking soda is not only good for baking but it doubles as an antacid, which can be read on the side of the box, and it will help with heartburn. The antacid directions are to mix half a teaspoon with half a glass of water. Baking soda contains sodium so be careful if you have high blood pressure or on a low sodium diet.

Hot Water Bottle

A hot water bottle applied to your stomach after you eat will increase circulation in your digestive system and make the food travel through faster which will prevent some of it from staying in your system and causing stomach problems.

Oatmeal

You might scoff at the idea of eating thick oatmeal but the fact is that oatmeal is loaded with soluble and insoluble fiber that is a sure cure for constipation. At the same time, oatmeal reduces cholesterol, helps prevent cancer, helps you lose weight and helps with your blood sugar levels. It is also a bland that will go down easy when you have an upset stomach.

Crackers

Crackers help your digestion by neutralizing the acidity of your stomach with something bland. I usually eat wheat crackers, such as Saltines, when my stomach is upset along with some tea and it relieves my nausea within a few minutes.

Apple

Apples are a great source of dietary fiber that helps with stomachaches and keeping your digestive system in tip top shape. When you feel a stomachache coming on, eating an apple (with the peel on) can prevent it from becoming worse.

Banana

Bananas are another bland food that will help with stomach aches. Eating a banana a day can do wonders for people with sensitive stomachs.

Canned or Jarred Fruit

Canned or jarred fruit is one remedy I have never thought of but it turns out that I usually do eat canned or jarred peaches when I don't feel well. Canned or jarred fruit, such as peaches, apricots and pears are a great remedy for stomach cramps because they are easy to digest and introduce vitamins and antioxidants back into the body which will help you recover quicker. I would not recommend pineapples because the acidity might irritate your stomach. We always have canned fruit in our cupboard and sometimes jarred peaches. Unopened canned fruit will keep fresh for a long time so you can always keep some on hand.

Applesauce

Applesauce is a food that is very easy on the digestive system and helps with upset stomach. It can be coupled with cinnamon for even healthier benefits. A small cup will work wonders on your stomach and give you very good nutrition at the same time.

Cinnamon

Many of us already knew about the many benefits of the spice, cinnamon. It helps stimulate the digestive system and keep it working smoothly. Cinnamon can be sprinkled on foods, made into a tea (half a teaspoon in a cup of hot water) or sometimes I even eat it directly on a spoon.

Ginger

Ginger is a great spice for upset stomachs and it will also help with motion sickness, anxiety, high blood pressure, headaches, arthritis, gas and cholesterol. Ginger helps the digestive system work faster which allows the body to take in nutrients better. Ever wonder why hospitals give ginger ale soda so frequently to patients? It's partly because of the ginger and partly because of the carbonation which can help with gas and heartburn.

Mint

Peppermint and spearmint are popular remedies that many of us know about. It helps with irritable bowel syndrome, stomach pains and even some allergies. Mint aids the digestive system by helping food move through the intestines faster which helps with stomach cramps. Peppermint oil is often found in many over-the-counter medications, such as capsules for IBS and Gas-X. it will also leave you with fresh breath!

Chamomile

Chamomile tea is a very popular home remedy for all sorts of ailments, such as stomach cramps, muscle cramps, menstrual pain and indigestion. Chamomile contains many antioxidants and antimicrobials that help your body fight ailments. If you are allergic to ragweed, it is recommended that you not ingest chamomile.

Thyme

Thyme helps with gas and stomach cramps by making the digestive system work a bit more. Being an herb, thyme is another candidate for tea.

Fennel Seeds

Fennel seeds are one of the most popular home remedies for gas and stomach cramps and you can often find it many over-the-counter medications but fresh is always the best. It can be made into a tea (strained afterwards) and drank up to 3 times a day.

Caraway Seeds

Caraway seeds are similar to fennel seeds in that they both help with digestion and gas. Again, it can be made into a tea or just chewed on after you eat.

Tea

Most kinds of teas are easy on the digestive system and can help upset stomachs. I often drink black tea and sometimes green tea when I am feeling sick to my stomach and I usually feel better soon after. I do not like the taste of herbal teas but they cannot be overlooked especially chamomile, ginger, and peppermint which contain plant sterols that also ease stomach pains. To make any kind of tea with the herbs or seeds in this article, simply put 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of it into a cup of hot water and let it simmer for 5 to 10 minutes and then drink -- so simple, even a caveman could do it.

Chicken Broth

I don't know about you but chicken broth is a home remedy that really works for me. It is easy on the digestion and helps with nausea, gas and diarrhea. When you are nauseous, you want something that will go down and stay down without coming back up. Clear chicken broth is a definite sure bet because it is very easy on the digestive system. I usually read that homemade chicken broth is the best but I have just as much luck with instant chicken bouillon as well. It's always good to have some canned broth or instant chicken broth bouillon in the cupboard at all times. Chicken rice soup works just as well but also adds a little substance to the broth which is sometimes a good thing because it brings just a little bit of solidity to your system to start. Other broths, such as beef or vegetable, are said to help as well but I have better luck with chicken.

Fruit Juice

Fruit juice, like apple or cranberry, can help you when you have a stomach flu or food poisoning with diarrhea and vomiting. It will also give you potassium and other healthy nutrients that will help your body fight the infection. I would not recommend orange juice because of its acidity. A relatively new fruit juice available, blueberry, seems to do well on my stomach. Cranberry juice is a great cleanser for your body, especially your kidneys.

Source: Health Mad, Wikipedia