Is It The Ginger Or The Ale That Helps With A Stomachache
Ginger, a member of the plant family that includes turmeric and cardamom, has been proven to be effective at treating nausea and vomiting two hallmarks of a classic upset stomach. In fact, ginger is even used to treat morning sickness, muscle pain and menstrual pain.
But, the plant’s root, which is dried and ground to make ginger spice, doesn’t look nearly as appetizing as a cold bottle of ginger ale. So, when you’re suffering from stomach problems, why not just reach for the ale instead of the root?
Dr. Vaidya explains that many ginger ales on the market today don’t contain ginger as an ingredient : “If you look carefully at the label, the ginger in ginger ale may only be artificial flavoring. Or, if the beverage does have real ginger, there’s a good chance it doesn’t contain enough to relieve your upset stomach.”
And, though there may not be much ginger in ginger ale, there’s plenty of another ingredient: sugar. “When treating an upset stomach especially when suffering from symptoms like gas, indigestion and bloating carbonated, sugary beverages can often make you feel worse, not better,” says Dr. Vaidya.
Rice Water To Relieve Stomachache
Last but not least, look to rice more specifically, look to the leftover water after you cook rice.
Rice water is capable of forming a coating over certain membranes like, for instance, the lining of your stomach. This barrier can be a soothing lining to help ease inflammation and offer relief from stomach pain.
For a simple rice water remedy, first wash one-half cup of white rice.
- Add rice to six cups of boiled water, cover, and allow to sit until rice is tender.
- Strain the water into a cup to cool.
- Add one-half teaspoon of honey.
- Sip on two cups daily.
Aloe Cure Heartburn Naturally
In addition to treating minor wounds on the body, Aloe vera can also be used to treat minor ailments in the digestive system. The aloe vera gel in aloe can help lubricate the stomach and the intestinal wall to be better digested. In addition, aloe vera also helps relieve stomach acid and heartburn.
Moreover, aloe vera can also be used to treat other minor diseases of the digestive system, such as nausea, bloating, loss of appetite, and constipation. You can aloe vera juice to treat stomach pain caused by trapped gas, constipation, and cramps. This will also keep your body hydrated.
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When To See A Doctor About Abdominal Pain
Go straight to your doctor or the emergency department of the nearest hospital if you have any of the following:
- severe pain
- pain lasting for several hours
- pain or vaginal bleeding if you are pregnant
- pain in your scrotum if you are a male
- pain and vomiting or shortness of breath
- pain and vomiting blood
- blood in your bowel motions or urine
- pain that spreads to your chest, neck or shoulder
- unable to move your bowels or pass gas
- any other concerns.
Start Hormonal Birth Control
Birth control can stop period pain if cramps are caused by a hormone imbalance. Balancing your levels of estrogen and progesterone helps thin the uterine lining so it sheds more easily. Hormonal birth control also regulates the length and frequency of your period. Some forms of birth control can completely alleviate period cramps by stopping your period altogether. Talk to your OB-GYN about birth control options, including the pill, birth control shot or hormonal IUD. Then, youll be able to choose the type of birth control that works best for you.
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Home Remedies For Stomach Cramps & Aches
Eat probiotics and fermented foods. Probiotics come in many forms and have been reported to significantly relieve stomach aches. Kombucha, yogurt, kefir and lacto-fermented vegetables are all good sources of probiotics.
Make an apple cider vinegar and honey elixir. An old folk recipe with a lot of modern praise, it may not work for everyone, but, if you feel up for it, give it a shot it might be just what your stomach needs. Try mixing a tablespoon of honey and a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water. Drink up!
Enjoy some mint. Fresh peppermint tea can help relax stomach muscles. It also helps improve the flow of bile, which helps you digest properly. This is especially useful if suffering from indigestion or bloating.
- Cover the peppermint with 1 cup of boiling water, cover, and let steep for 5-10 minutes. Sip slowly while its still toasty warm. If using the fresh peppermint leaves, you can chew on them as well to ease stomach pains. You can also just use a pre-made teabag if you find that more desirable.
Make cinnamon tea. Gently boil two cups of water and two cinnamon sticks together for 15-20 minutes. Remove cinnamon sticks and pour into a mug or glass. Add a tablespoon of honey for sweetness.
Make peppermint tea. Some people prefer peppermint tea to cinnamon tea. Both will help relieve your stomach ache and help you relax.
- Mix 8 ounces of club soda with the juice of half a lime. Stir and sip slowly.
When To Contact A Clinician
Persistent or severe abdominal pain, especially if unrelieved by vomiting or passing a bowel movement
Fever greater than 101 degrees F, not relieved by acetaminophen, or any fever that lasts more than three days
Vomiting or diarrhea without any improvement for more 24 hours
Blood in vomit or stools
No urination for more than 8 hours, or painful urination
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Apply Heat Or Take A Warm Bath
Applying heat to your stomach or immersing yourself in warm water can increase circulation and relax the muscles to reduce tightness or cramps. Use a warm towel or a microwaveable compresseither store bought or make your ownby filling a clean sock or pillowcase with uncooked riceand microwave it on high for a minute or two. If youre taking a warm bath, add 1 to 2 cups of Epsom salt to the water and stay in the bath for 15 to 20 minutes to help draw out any inflammation.
Regular Exercise Help Digestion
Moderate exercise can help effectively get rid of stomach upset or other digestive problems. Going for a walk after a meal or doing a light exercise promote digestion and stimulates intestinal transit.
Make sure to do a lower-intensity exercise after a meal. These exercises include brisk walking, cycling, hiking, or swimming.
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Ginger Natural Remedy To Get Rid Of Stomach Cramps
Among roots that are reliable for making your tummy feel better, ginger deserves a good place on the podium. This home remedy works by easing the digestion process and, as a result, making the pain in your abdomen go away. You can brew a pot of fresh ginger tea to make the most of its anti-inflammatory properties. If you cannot find any sources for fresh ginger in your area, you can always buy some ginger tea or even some ginger supplements if you are not fond of the slightly spicy taste.
Medical Solutions For Stomach Cramps & Aches
Take bismuth subsalicylate. This works as an antidiarrheal, so if you have the runs this is what you should take. Pepto-Bismol is the most common brand, but you can find other brand names with similar ingredients sold over-the-counter at the drug store.
Take simethicone. If you feel bloated, stimethicone is an over-the-counter anti-bloating remedy that should help clear out any excess gas.
- To find out if gas is your problem, try massaging your stomach and listening for gurgling sounds. Hear them? You probably have some excess gas in there. Simethicone can help clear it out.
- You can also use this medication if you have stomach pain after eating.
Take anti-inflammatory medications. Take an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory to ease stomach pain. Anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen decrease swelling and pain.
Take an over-the-counter antacid. Take an antacid to neutralize the acidity in your stomach if you feel the stomach ache is related to indigestion or you are experiencing heartburn.
- Tums and Milk of Magnesia are the most common brands, but you can find other brand names with similar ingredients at the drug store.
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Wide Range Of Symptoms
One of the more surprising issues with some types of anxiety disorder is the way that they change sensations in our body. For example, for many, feeling full is a nice feeling. However, it can lead to a variety of natural body sensations, including:
- Feeling lightheaded
- Slight stomach discomfort
- Fatigue
In those without anxiety, these are natural. In people suffering from some degree of anxiety, those sensations feel much more pronounced and can trigger a full-blown panic attack.
What Are Other Triggers Of Stomach Pain And Gastrointestinal Cramps
As already mentioned, disturbed motility or hypersensitive nerves are two of the underlying mechanisms, which may be responsible for the development of symptoms in the gastrointestinal tract. These dysfunctions are, next to others, causes of an irritable stomach or irritable bowel syndrome, which are both functional gastrointestinal disorders for which no underlying organic cause can be diagnosed. Functional gastrointestinal disorders like irritable stomach and irritable bowel syndrome are characterized by symptoms like early satiety, fullness, bloating or abdominal pain.
For instance, if the nerves are hypersensitive to irritation, natural physical processes such as movement or filling of the stomach and intestines are perceived as too intense and the signals are transmitted to the brain via the sensory receptors and the nerves. The brain receives these signals, which the patient perceives as stomach pain in the upper abdomen or intestinal cramps around the navel.
A disturbed motility with slack or too tense stomach muscles can also lead to abdominal pain. If severely tense muscles are additionally stretched, for example through ingested food, the pain receptors may be irritated.
In addition, overproduction of gastric acids or even hypersensitivity to gastric acids may cause the gastric mucosa to become unbalanced. This irritation can also lead to pain perception.
Furthermore, the following factors or diseases may be responsible for gastrointestinal spasms:
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How Common Are Stomachaches
Just about everybody will experience abdominal pain at one point or another. Most causes of abdominal pain are not serious and resolve spontaneously. A healthcare provider can usually readily diagnose and treat these conditions. However, abdominal pain can also be a sign of a serious illness, or even an emergency. Abdominal pain is responsible for some 5% of emergency room visits.
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What Causes Period Pain
There can be many reasons for period pain, and if you experience chronic painful periods, its only natural to wonder why. Maybe youre the only woman in your family who gets severe cramps. Maybe your painful periods didnt start until your 20s. Whatever your situation, a doctor can help you understand why you get painful cramps every month. Some of the most common causes of painful periods are:
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Why Does Your Stomach Hurt
Stomach cramps can range from mild achiness to severe, stabbing pain.
Common causes of stomach cramps include eating foods that can irritate your stomach, constipation, food poisoning, or a stomach infection. People who have anxiety may also develop stomach cramps.
Pregnant people may experience stomach cramps as the fetus grows. Menstrual cramps are also very common, though they actually take place in the uterus.
Sometimes stomach cramps are constant. In this case, a chronic digestive illness, such as irritable bowel disease, may be the cause.
Most stomach cramps go away on their own within a few hours or a couple of days. Changing what you eat and taking over-the-counter medication can help with symptoms while you recover.
Some stomach cramps may require medical attention. You should be concerned about stomach cramps if they last for a week or longer or are so severe that you cant function, or you also have symptoms like fever or blood in your vomit or stool.
What Causes Abdominal Pain
Abdominal pain is frequently caused by a problem in the digestive tract . However, it can also be caused by other organs located in the abdomen, such as the kidneys. Large blood vessels, such as the aorta are also found in the abdomen and may give rise to pain. Abdominal pain can even be caused by some medicines.
Causes of abdominal pain connected to the gut include:
- trapped wind or indigestion
- gallstones, gallbladder problems, liver problems
- appendicitis
- aspirin
- medicines to help manage the symptoms of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease
Some of the causes of abdominal pain are short-term , whereas others are long-term or ongoing conditions. Find more information about the underlying causes of abdominal pain here.
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Cramping At Lower Abdomen Is Common But Really Annoying And Excruciating Find Out Its Causes Accompanying Symptoms And Proper Treatments Here
People often refer to the abdomen as their belly or stomach, and it is a part of the body that lies between the chest and the pelvis. The abdomen may be divided into four parts for diagnostic purposes, and these are named the upper right, upper left, lower right, and lower left quadrants.
Lower abdominal cramping or pain is one of the most common symptoms experienced, and it may be either in the lower right or in lower left side. There are many possible causes of lower abdominal pain, and the diagnosis may depend on the accompanying symptoms and location of the pain.
What Are Stomach Cramps
Stomach cramps are cyclical tightening of the muscles of the gut that cause pain. It is a nonspecific symptom that refers to the pain present anywhere in the abdominal area. Organs in the abdomen include the stomach, small intestine, colon, liver, gallbladder and pancreas, and any disorder in these organs may cause pain. Most stomach cramps are not serious and heal with home remedies. However, cramps that last for a long time need a consultation with a physician.
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Urgent Advice: Speak To Your Gp As Soon As Possible If:
- you have severe abdominal pain, especially if it’s concentrated in one area
- the pain starts suddenly or unexpectedly
If your GP is closed, phone 111.
Serious causes of sudden severe abdominal pain include:
- appendicitis the swelling of the appendix means your appendix will need to be removed
- a bleeding or perforated stomach ulcer
- acute cholecystitis inflammation of the gallbladder, which may need to be removed
- kidney stones small stones may be passed out in your urine, but larger stones may block the kidney tubes, and you’ll need to go to hospital to have them broken up
- diverticulitis inflammation of the small pouches in the bowel that sometimes requires treatment with antibiotics in hospital
If your GP suspects you have one of these conditions, they may refer you to hospital immediately.
Sudden and severe pain in your abdomen can also sometimes be caused by an infection of the stomach and bowel . It may also be caused by a pulled muscle in your abdomen or by an injury.
Massage Your Stomach While Taking Deep Breaths
Muscle constriction and constipation may cause stomach cramps. Gently massaging your abdomen can increase circulation and encourage elimination. While massaging, focus on the parts of your stomach that feel sore, and take care to not push or rub too hard. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth to help relax your stomach muscles and guide your mind away from the pain. A study published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology revealed that deep breathing can alleviate acid reflux.
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If You Have Heartburn Or Gas
The remedy: Reach for the right meds
There are lots of OTC options to choose from, but not all are designed for quick relief. Some, like Prevacid and Zantac, for example, must be taken well before the pain strikes. To prep for occasional discomfort, Dr. Rao recommends keeping Gaviscon and simethicone in your medicine cabinet.
Gaviscon is her top pick for pain in the upper part of the abdomen, which is usually a sign of heartburn. “You can take it as needed, and it forms a protective layer over the food,” Dr. Rao explains. If you’re feeling bloated and gassy, simethicone may help. It encourages small gas bubbles to join together with others, making them easier to pass.
How To Prevent Stomach Cramps
Not all stomach pain can be prevented. But you may be able to reduce your chances of getting stomach cramps by:
- Washing your hands before you prepare and eat food
- Avoiding overeating and, if possible, refraining from eating right before bed or a workout
- Staying hydrated and eating foods high in fiber
- Checking expiration dates and tossing food that’s not fresh
- Avoiding foods you know you have a sensitivity to
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Diagnosis Of Lower Abdominal Cramping
Sometimes the doctor can diagnose what causes cramping at lower abdomen from a patient’s medical history and physical examination. However, he may also need to do some laboratory tests to confirm the diagnosis or to rule out other possible conditions. These diagnostic tests may include:
- Blood tests
- CT scan of the abdomen
- Magnetic resonance imaging
- Endoscopy