Treating Your Stomach Well: Your Action Plan
While any number of factors can bring on a stomachache, the good news is you have many easy at-home remedies that you can now use to address it.
Taking the last point into consideration, its important to identify if any foods in particular trigger an upset stomach so you can begin to reduce or remove them from your diet . Knowing how to address a stomachache if and when it comes on is far more beneficial than trying to just push through the pain and discomfort.
Whats more, most of these foods and tips provide digestive health benefits beyond just relieving the stomachache in the moment; they can also can promote better digestion in the future.
Be sure to also consider using some of the pre-meal recommendations provided in this post, such as drinking ACV or water before a meal to help overall digestion.
Let us know which of these tips was most useful to you, or which you are excited to try next!
Home Remedies To Get Rid Of Stomach Ulcers
If and when you experience any of the symptoms described above, consult a physician immediately for proper diagnosis.Depending on the severity of your condition, you can choose the treatment you wish to follow in order to rectify the situation.If left undiagnosed and untreated, gastric ulcers can lead to the following;complications:
- Internal bleeding
- Perforation or splitting open of the stomach lining, i.e., a hole or tear in the stomach wall
- Stomach cancer
- Swelling or scarring that leads to intestinal blockage
You can get any of the following tests done for proper diagnosis of stomach ulcers: urea breath test, stool test, blood test, and gastroscopy or endoscopy.In case the damage to your stomach is not severe and does not require immediate surgical intervention or antibiotic treatment, given below are 10 home remedies that can help you get rid of stomach ulcers and repair your stomach lining.
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When To Call Your Doctor
There’s a bit of a gray area in terms of which stomach pain cases need immediate attention and which would warrant a call or visit to your doctor instead, as there can be symptom overlap. Again, listen to your body and your instincts if you’re not sure.
If you don’t have any of the symptoms listed above and instead have any of the following features of your abdominal pain, it is important that you contact your doctor within a day or two:
- Excessive vaginal bleeding or blood clots
- Vaginal bleeding that lasts for longer than usual
You should also call your doctor if you experience stomach pain while you are being treated for cancer.
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Drinking Baking Soda Daily May Help Reduce Inflammation Caused By Autoimmune Diseases
A team of researchers at Augusta University has shown that when rats or healthy people drink a solution of baking soda , it becomes a trigger for the stomach to make more acid to digest the next meal and for little-studied mesothelial cells sitting on the spleen to tell the fist-sized organ that theres no need to mount a protective immune response. Their results appear in the Journal of Immunology.
The new study indicates that oral NaHCO3 activates a splenic anti-inflammatory pathway and provides evidence that the signals that mediate this response are transmitted to the spleen via a novel neuronal-like function of mesothelial cells. Image credit: Sci-News.com.
Its most likely a hamburger not a bacterial infection, is basically the message, said study senior author Dr. Paul OConnor, from the Department of Physiology at Augusta University.
Mesothelial cells line body cavities, like the one that contains our digestive tract, and they also cover the exterior of our organs to quite literally keep them from rubbing together.
About a decade ago, it was found that these cells also provide another level of protection. They have little fingers called microvilli that sense the environment, and warn the organs they cover that there is an invader and an immune response is needed.
Certainly drinking bicarbonate affects the spleen and we think its through the mesothelial cells, Dr. OConnor said.
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How Is The Cause Of The Abdominal Pain Diagnosed
Physical Examination
Physical examination will include a careful examination of the patient’s abdomen, heart, and lungs in order to pinpoint the source of the pain.
- The doctor will touch different parts of the abdomen to check for tenderness or other signs that indicate the source of the pain.
- The doctor may do a rectal exam to check for small amounts of blood in the stool or other problems, such as a mass or internal hemorrhoids.
- If the patient is a man, the doctor may check the penis and testicles.
- If the patient is a woman, the doctor may do a pelvic exam to check for problems in the uterus, Fallopian tubes, and ovaries.
- The doctor also may look at the patient’s eyes for yellow discoloration and in the mouth to be sure the patient is not dehydrated.
Laboratory Tests
Laboratory tests may or may not help to determine the cause of the abdominal pain. Combined with the information gained from the questions the patient was asked and the physical examination performed by the doctor, certain blood or urine tests may be ordered and could assist in determining the diagnosis.
Radiology Tests
Radiology studies of the patient’s abdomen can be useful, but are not always necessary or helpful.
- Occasionally, an X-ray will show air outside of the bowel, meaning that something has ruptured or perforated.
- An X-ray also can help diagnose bowel obstruction.
- Sometimes X-rays can show a kidney stone.
Ultrasound is a painless procedure useful in finding some causes of abdominal pain.
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Using Apple Cider Vinegar As A Stomachache Cure
Another paradoxical-sounding remedy;is using acidic drinks to relieve pain from gastric reflux. Since gastric reflux can result in stomach acid leaking out into places its not wanted, your stomachs acidity can end up lower than is optimal for digesting food.
Drinking apple cider vinegar can help improve the levels and ease an upset stomach. This assumes that youre able to, well, stomach the drink in the first place. While apple cider vinegar does its work best if taken raw, you may find mixing it with water, a teaspoon of honey, and sipping slowly to be the more tolerable option.
- Add one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to one cup of warm water.
- Mix in one tablespoon of honey.
- Drink this remedy every three hours until pain is gone.
Understanding H Pylori Bacteria And Nsaids
Both h pylori bacteria and NSAIDs break down the stomach lining. That lining is your stomachs main line of defense against the acid it produces to digest the food you eat. When your stomach lining is irritated due to damage, your entire digestive tract is thrown out of whack.
H pylori cause a bacterial infection. Its quite common in people of all ages. Some people with ulcers dont even know they have the infection. The infection itself doesnt cause symptoms. Doctors can treat h pylori bacteria with antibiotics and a medication called a proton pump inhibitor .
Since there can be multiple causes of your ulcer, its important to visit your doctor when you first begin experiencing stomach pain. She can give you a proper diagnosis and prescribe a treatment program.
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Know When To Seek Help
Home remedies can work wonders, but it’s necessary to know when it’s time to call the doctor. Dr. Lonzer says that pain around the belly button is often the least concern. “Loss of appetite is more serious and would concern me after a few days,” she adds. “Constipation should be addressed within a week if a change in diet is not helping.” As a general rule, if your child is vomiting, has a fever, has blood in his stool, is not thriving, or looks worn-out all the time, it’s best to take him to the pediatrician.
All content on this Web site, including medical opinion and any other health-related information, is for informational purposes only and should not be considered to be a specific diagnosis or treatment plan for any individual situation. Use of this site and the information contained herein does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the direct advice of your own doctor in connection with any questions or issues you may have regarding your own health or the health of others.
Give Yourself An Abdominal Massage
If your stomachache is due to constipation, giving yourself a gentle abdominal massage can help move things along and relieve the blockage that may be causing the stomachache.
Massaging this area lightly with your forefinger and middle finger in a clockwise motion stimulates muscle contractions and helps break up food that may be stuck in the intestines, either due to overeating, not chewing thoroughly, dehydration, or a lack of enzymes or acid to break down the food in the first place.
Of course, all of these potential inhibitors to digestion should be addressed but massaging can be a quick way to get things moving along and relieve the stomachache in the moment.
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Pain In Lower Left Abdomen
Various conditions can cause stomachaches and pain. However, the most common causes of pain in the lower left abdomen are:
- Kidney infections
- Inflammation of the appendix or intestines
- Crohns disease
- Ovarian cysts
- Cancer
Infections typically start by a virus, bacteria, fungus, or parasite entering the digestive system through the mouth. From there, infections can spread throughout the body into the intestines or appendix and cause severe pain. If youre experiencing diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting, then your stomach and intestines contracted an infection.
Mensuration cramps may cause pain and discomfort in the lower abdomen. Stress and constipation also contribute to lower left abdomen pain. Ensure that youre exercising regularly and managing stress effectively to reduce the impact of psychological stress on the rest of your body.
Lifestyle Measures To Help Treat A Peptic Ulcer
Treating a peptic ulcer should include an assessment of risk factors for the ulcer. If someone is on regular aspirin or NSAIDs the need for continued treatment with these drugs should be reviewed. Your doctor may recommend reducing the dose or stopping these drugs.Stopping smoking and reducing alcohol will be relevant for some. As is a change in diet, eating plenty of vitamin-rich foods such as fruit and vegetables and fat-free or low-fat dairy foods. Eating foods containing whole grains with lean meats also helps. It is recommended to cut back on caffeine, alcohol, spicy foods and highly fatty meats such as sausage, salami and bacon.Stress can make the symptoms of an ulcer worse. Measures to reduce stress should be undertaken.
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Soothe The Stomach With Bananas
Bananas can help heal a stomach ulcer by promoting cellular proliferation in the stomach. In addition to this, there are certain antibacterial compounds in bananas that inhibit the growth of ulcer-causing H. pylori. Bananas also help reduce inflammation and strengthen the stomach lining.
A 1986 study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology suggests that banana powder treatment not only strengthens mucosal resistance against ulcerogens but also promotes healing by inducing cellular proliferation.
A 2001 study published in the Indian Journal of Experimental Biology suggests that the antioxidant activity of bananas may be involved in its ulcer-protective activity.
In a 2013 study published in Pharmacognosy Research, researchers suggest that the anti-ulcer effect of banana may be due to its antisecretory and cytoprotective activity. The healing of the ulcer base might be connected to the basic fibroblast growth factors responsible for epithelial regeneration in the case of acid-induced ulcers.
Both ripe and unripe bananas are very effective in treating a stomach ulcer.
- Simply eat at least 3 ripe bananas a day.
- Alternatively, peel 2 or 3 bananas and cut them into thin slices. Put the banana slices in the sun until they dry. Now, grind the dry pieces into a fine powder. Mix together 2 tablespoons of this powder and 1 tablespoon of honey. Take this mixture 3 times a day for 1 week.
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Natural Remedies For Tummy Aches
Stomach aches can be painful and get in the way of your or your childs daily routine. There are some medications that can help, but there are also many natural remedies to help soothe tummy aches.
Depending on the nature of the abdominal pain, some natural remedies can be just as effective as medications, said Dr. Russell Horton, a pediatrician at the Banner Health Center in Queen Creek.
Dr. Horton says some natural remedies that help with stomachaches include tea, ginger or soda. For indigestion, he suggests eating a bland diet.
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Drink Warm Lemon Water To Relieve Stomach Pain
Since pregnant women should avoid fennel, they can try warm lemon water instead. The high acidity of the lemon will trigger extra production of your stomachs hydrochloric acid to further break down food and keep things moving smoothly.
- Squeeze the juice from one-half of a lemon into one cup of warm water.
- Mix well and drink while warm.
What Dosage Should You Use
How much baking soda for upset stomach a person should take? To get relief from the indigestion, take the right dosage of baking soda.
- For adults, it is advisable to take ½-1 teaspoon of baking soda for every 34 hours
- For children of above 6 years, it is advisable to take ¼-½ teaspoon of baking soda.
These baking soda remedies will not be used for the children of below 6 years until and unless it is prescribed by the doctor with the right dosage.
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Why Antacids Don’t Work
Antacids aren’t really effective because they take the wrong approach to correcting an acid imbalance in the stomach. The regular use of antacids causes low stomach acid, which then creates an environment for protein malnutrition and mineral deficiency. So, the next time you reach for the antacids, remember that you don’t want to make your stomach problem worse. Just leave them on the shelf.
Ruptured Stomachs From Bicarb And Overindulgence:
There are about 15 cases in the medical literature in which people ruptured their stomachs by taking large doses of baking soda after eating too much. In one notorious case, a man ate a large meal, accompanied by margaritas, at a Mexican restaurant .
A reader of our syndicated newspaper column shared this story of excess:
I want to warn people about using baking soda to treat heartburn and indigestion. Although there are instructions right on the package for treating GI upset with baking soda, I must stress the importance of following the directions exactly.
My husband had chronic indigestion due to an ulcer. He insisted it could be treated with baking soda, but he was not careful and drank much more baking soda in water than is recommended. He didnt even wait for it to dissolve. Instead of helping, it made him throw up and he took more baking soda to counteract that.
He ended up in the hospital with a potassium level of 1.9, the lowest the ER doctors had ever seen in a living person. If people want to use baking soda for heartburn I think they should stick with something like Alka Seltzer because the dose is controlled.
Too much sodium bicarbonate can lower potassium levels. Vomiting can make the problem worse. And the ER physician was right to be very concerned. Very low potassium levels can trigger cardiac arrest .
Debbie in Georgia has a worry about regular use of baking soda:
Doug in Lucas, Texas, changed from bicarb to yellow mustard:
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Reduce Stress In Daily Life
Stress reduction techniques can help control signs and symptoms.;To relieve stress, try:
Identify stressors in your current life.;Learn how to manage stress.;Exercise, if your doctor confirms its safe, and listening to soothing music can help.
Learn and practice relaxation techniques.;May include relaxing breathing, meditation, yoga, and muscle relaxation.
Pursue relaxing activities.;Spend time doing things you enjoy, such as hobbies or sports.
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Using Baking Soda With Water
If you do not think you will mind the taste, sometimes the simplest solution is the best. To use baking soda with water, add either a half or a full teaspoon of baking soda to an 8 oz. glass of water.
Next, stir the baking soda and water solution until it is completely dissolved in the waterabout 30 seconds. Finally, drink the solution as appropriate to your age every couple of hours until you feel relief from pain, discomfort, bloating, and general indigestion.
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Can Baking Soda Make Ulcers Worse
Baking soda is a mixture of sodium bicarbonate and sodium carbonate . The main reason baking soda;helps with ulcers is related to bicarbonate. Bicarbonate neutralizes stomach acid, and in the process reduces inflammation of the mucus membranes of the stomach. So it can decrease pain and other discomforts while youre eating.;
It can make ulcers worse in a couple of ways. First,;baking soda is a salt, and too much salt can make your ulcers worse.;You dont want to eat so much baking soda that you get sodium overload. And second, such remedies will relieve the pain of developing ulcers, and you will not get the right diagnosis and treatment in time.;;
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