Tips for Calming an Upset Stomach

This article is for informational purposes only. . I take no responsibility for any possible consequences from reading or following the information contained in this article.

This article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. NEVER DISREGARD PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE, OR DELAY IN SEEKING IT. Do not rely on the information in this article in place of seeking professional medical advice.

Everyone has at one time or another has experienced nausea. Personally, it ranks near the top of my least favorite things list. It is just an unpleasant fact that we all must deal with at some point. Thankfully, though there are ways to reduce your discomfort.

A many number of things can cause nausea and vomiting, which is why it may be necessary to treat the cause not the symptom. For this article, however we will assume that your nausea is not a symptom of something like a migraine, gastrointestinal disorder, concussion or other traumatic brain injury, which requires other medical attention or treatment.

If you are, vomiting violently or it persists for more than 24 hours, if your vomit contains blood or looks like coffee grounds, please contact a doctor or go to the ER immediately.

What are some of the most effective and easiest ways to relieve the symptom of nausea?

Avoid aspirin containing products, as aspirin can irritate the stomach. This would include products like Alka-Seltzer. If you need an alternative, try a medicine that contains bismuth. These products claim to coat the stomach to help relieve symptoms. If you hate the taste, they now make a pill form you can swallow.

Be a party pooper skip the alcohol, it can worsen an already up set stomach. Oh and forget the whole hair of the dog that bit you, if your stomach is upset from being hung over, more alcohol will only make it worse. While you are at it skip the heavy fatty, spicy or seasoned foods, caffeine and cigarettes. All of these things will make your nausea worse; the reward is not worth the risk.

Sometimes you just have to tough it out and let the 24-hour stomach bug run its course. Plenty of rest and time is really the only thing that “cures” this type of stomach problem. The more rest your body gets the better equipped it is to fight off the bug.

Drink plenty of clear liquids. Remember vomiting and diarrhea dehydrate you body, which can worsen your nausea and give you a headache in addition, so drink up.

Room temperature liquids, such as water or diluted non-citrus fruit juices. Cranberry juice is easy on digestion, but other non-acidic juices will work as well. Some people prefer drinks like sprite, 7-up, or ginger ale. Many suggest drinking it flat as to prevent upsetting the stomach further. Others like me are just fine with the bubbles.

It is also important to keep your electrolytes (sodium and potassium) balanced. Sport drinks like Gatorade, are designed to be easy on the stomach and help maintain your electrolyte levels. You can dilute them with water if they bother your stomach.

Check your spice rack for these common spices that help relieve nausea and vomiting: cinnamon, clove, cumin, fennel, ginger, and peppermint/mint. The spices can be steeped for tea using a number of recipes found on the web.

If you feel well enough to eat stick to mild plain foods. Crackers and dry toast are recommended to help settle the stomach and are easy to digest.

Ginger is by far the best for nausea and other stomach problems. It can be consumed in any form, as long as there is real ginger in the product. Ginger has shown to be more effective than products purchased over the counter. Keep in mind though that most ginger ale’s no longer contain actual ginger.

Peppermint has properties that help calm muscle spasms and cramps of the stomach, intestinal tract, and colon. Chew or eat peppermint leaves to help ease nausea.

Peppermint contains menthol. Menthol’s cooling properties soothe and ease stomach pain. Peppermint oil is popular in the treatment for nausea. It also acts as an anesthetic to the stomach wall, which helps to ease vomiting and nausea