Tummy Troubles - Tried and True Methods to Calm Your Upset Stomach

As well as any other person, I do hate to have that upset stomach. Sometimes, it can be something I ate, sometimes it can be something that is just upsetting me, or sometimes it can be one of the many unpleasant stomach viruses that just has to make the rounds. Any of these three issues can cause a lot of gas discomfort and nausea. Like many people in these health conscious days, I prefer to try more natural methods before breaking out the nasty over-the-counter stomach medicines or calling the doctor.

One of the best methods to calm an upset stomach is to brew a nice cup of peppermint tea. According to HowStuffWorks.com, "peppermint well known for its effects on the stomach and intestines. Peppermint is a tasty way to relieve gas, nausea, and stomach pain due to an irritable bowel, intestinal cramps, or indigestion." Peppermint is a carminative (an agent that dispels gas and bloating). It also helps with spasms in the stomach and intestines. Peppermint can be used for an antacid and anti-nausea aid. The University of Maryland Medical Center also lists the benefits that peppermint has for an upset stomach, as well as many other uses for peppermint due to other ailments. The following link has valuable information, http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/peppermint-000269.htm. For myself, I brew a nice cup of green tea and add a drop of peppermint oil. This often takes care of my tummy-ache.

Licorice is also an excellent natural remedy for an upset stomach. Personally, I think it tastes nasty, but I know many people who enjoy the flavor. Also available in teas, it helps with stomach acid inflammation, bloating and gas, as well as many other gastrointestinal issues. It is also known for helping with cleaning the liver. As I found on the website, http://www.botanical-online.com/licorice.htm, there are many, many purposes for the licorice plant, in addition to its uses for an irritated stomach. Also according to the aforementioned website, one teaspoon of crushed, dried root per cup of water, two or three times per day should be helpful. I cannot vouch for this, myself, since I think the flavor of licorice is icky.

A very ancient and proven spice that can be extremely helpful in soothing the stomach is ginger. Ginger teas are popular, and even a glass of ginger ale can be an excellent treat to sip when your stomach is having issues. However, if you are having gas issues, I would not recommend drinking anything with carbonation. Ginger can be found in many different forms, and at the following link, http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/ginger/NS_patient-ginger/DSECTION=dosing, the Mayo Clinic gives dosing advice. I find it easy to add ginger to many things that I cook. When I have a nasty stomach virus, I will add one teaspoon of crushed ginger to a cup of chicken or beef broth to ease the discomfort while keeping being certain to consume plenty of fluids. Like licorice and peppermint, there are many other healthy uses for ginger. Luckily, I just happen to like the flavor it adds to foods and teas.

Sources:

http://health.howstuffworks.com/home-remedies-for-upset-stomach5.htm
http://www.ehow.com/video_2557_calm-upset-stomach.html
http://www.botanical-online.com/licorice.htm
http://health.howstuffworks.com/peppermint-herbal-remedies.htm
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/peppermint-000269.htm
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/ginger/NS_patient-ginger/DSECTION=dosing
http://en.wikipedia.org: Licorice, Peppermint, Ginger articles.