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Home Treatment for Indigestion

Often we refer to indigestion as simply an "upset stomach," but the medical community refers to it as "dyspepsia." Indigestion occurs when something causes intestinal distress during or after a meal. Typical symptoms are stomach upset, heartburn, nausea, a feeling of fullness and sometimes vomiting. You may experience one or all of these symptoms when dealing with indigestion. There are many known and unknown causes for indigestion, from acidic foods to stress to eating too much. Whatever the cause, you can often treat indigestion with a few things you probably already have at home.

  1. Use Ginger

    • You have probably heard Grandma or Grandpa say, "Drink some ginger ale if your stomach is upset." Well, that was for good reason. Ginger has been used for centuries to treat nausea and upset stomachs. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC), medical professionals are now often recommending ginger as a treatment for nausea, diarrhea and other conditions that are a result of an upset stomach.

      There are several ways to use ginger to treat indigestion. You can chew on a small piece of gingerroot, which is available in the produce section of most larger supermarkets or health food stores. You can add 1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger to 1 cup of warm water and sip it (not to be done more than 4 times per day as per UMMC.) You can have a cup of ginger tea after meals. Ginger ale can also be consumed, but don't use this remedy often, as the soda also contains sugar and other chemicals.

    Other Home Treatments

    • There are a few other home treatments for indigestion that have been passed down by word of mouth. Although there are insufficient medical studies to prove their efficacy, people will testify to the fact that they work. The Farmer's Almanac suggests several home treatments for indigestion, one of which is to add 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to 8 oz. of water and drink. You can do this before a meal as well to prevent indigestion from setting in. Other home remedies include chewing on a leaf of parsley or eating a piece of fresh pineapple, chewing on anise seed or drinking a warm cup of peppermint tea.

    Prevention

    • The Farmer's Almanac also recommends a few lifestyle changes to help prevent indigestion. Eat slowly and eat smaller meals. Take a walk or do some light activity after your meal, and don't lay down until at least 3 hours after you have eaten. Remember, when it comes to home treatments, what works for someone else may not work for you. Try them yourself and see what your body responds to.

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