About Home Remedies for Upset Stomachs

Are you suffering from nausea, heartburn, indigestion or diarrhea? Here are some natural home remedies that may relieve these symptoms.

Types

• There are different types of stomach and digestive upsets including irritable bowel syndrome, nausea, heartburn and gassy bloating. Many of these symptoms can be alleviated, fully or partially, with some easy home remedies.

Function

• Watching your daily diet and making some mild changes will often help improve your overall digestive function. Eating smaller, more frequent meals that are high in fiber can help your digestion. Also, increase healthy digestion by eating more fresh fruits and vegetables.

Potential

• One potential digestive problem many suffer from is gassy bloating from heavy foods. Meals heavy in protein and sugar both can create more gas in the stomach and intestines. Herbs that can help relieve gassiness are peppermint, ginger and fennel, which are all readily available in teas or capsules. Some relief is even possible by chewing a couple of caraway seeds.

Effects

• Some herbs and natural remedies have a laxative effect to counteract constipation and a sluggish system. Cinnamon, a seasoning, and papaya fruit both help aid digestion. Use cinnamon sticks to flavor tea or coffee, sprinkle ground cinnamon on oatmeal or take ground cinnamon in a capsule form. Papaya is best added to the diet as fresh fruit, but chewable supplements are readily available otherwise.

Considerations

• Nausea can be debilitating feeling, so home remedies to help calm vomiting and sick feelings are helpful. Peppermint is well-known to ease a sick stomach; a drop of peppermint essential oil on a cotton ball, peppermint hard candies or peppermint tea are all home remediesfor nausea. Crackers, rice and other bland foods can help relieve nausea as well.

Benefits

• Try some natural home remedies to benefit irritable bowels. Two helpful herbs are thyme and fennel, which can be added to food as seasonings. A warm bath and warm chamomile tea can ease stomach cramps by relaxing overworked muscles. Yogurt, with natural probiotics to aid digestion, is a great food to help decrease irritable bowel symptoms. Try making a healthy morning smoothie with yogurt, ice, papaya and other nourishing foods.

Expert Insight

• If your symptoms do not decrease, or vomiting and diarrhea lasts for more than 24 hours, it might be time to seek medical attention. Vomiting and diarrhea can be especially dangerous if the sufferer becomes dehydrated--a condition that occur rather rapidly in young children.