Upset stomachs are also known as indigestion, heartburn, and acid reflux. They result from the food you eat irritating your stomach lining. This can happen when foods don't digest well or if they're too acidic for your body to handle.
This often results in a stomach ache which can be a painful and uncomfortable experience. It can also be difficult to know how to relieve an upset stomach without taking medicine. Fortunately, there are many natural ways you can do this including certain fruits, herbs, drinks and even essential oils which can help with upset stomachs! In this blog post, we will discuss six of these methods and give you some tips for which ones work best for different situations.
Are you suffering from an upset stomach and constipation? Learn more about what you can do by reading our blog, "7 Best Essential Oils For Constipation Relief".
What Causes Upset Stomachs?
There are several different causes of an upset stomach, and it can be difficult to figure out which one is the culprit behind your pain.
Although it may seem like sweet and sugary treats cause upset stomachs, these types of foods actually don't trigger the most common causes. The following are some examples of what might be causing your upset stomach:
- Alcoholic beverages
- Coffee and tea
- Dairy products, especially if they are high in fat or pasteurized
- Salty foods
- Spicy foods
However, poor food choices may not be the only culprit behind stomach pains. Your lifestyle choices can also lead to upset stomachs. This includes things like smoking, high stress levels, and lack of physical exercise.
Smoking is another factor that can lead to stomach pains. Cigarette smoke can irritate the stomach lining, making it more susceptible to food that is harder for your body to digest. Nicotine and other chemicals in tobacco products also increase acid production which can result in heartburn or an upset stomach.
Stress levels have a direct effect on how well you digest food. When you're feeling stressed, your body releases hormones like cortisol and epinephrine into the bloodstream. These cause water retention in the abdominal area, which then leads to discomfort or pain in this location of your body.
Lack of physical exercise is another factor that can lead to stomach pains. Exercise can help regulate the digestive system, allowing food to pass through your body more efficiently. It also reduces stress levels which increases your ability to digest foods effectively.
NOTE: It's important that you do not ignore any potential symptoms of something more serious happening with your health. If you experience heartburn or an upset stomach more than twice a week for several weeks in a row, see your doctor about these issues so they can investigate further and suggest options on how to relieve them better.
What Are The Symptoms Of An Upset Stomach?
Upset stomachs can cause a range of different symptoms, depending on what is causing them. If you're experiencing an upset stomach for the first time, pay attention to how long it lasts and whether or not there are other accompanying signs.
Here are some of the most common symptoms you may experience:
- Nausea or vomiting
- Abdominal pain or cramping
- Belching and flatulence (gas)
- Diarrhea (watery stool)
NOTE: It is important that if you have severe abdominal pain along with vomiting or diarrhea that lasts longer than a couple of days contact your doctor immediately! These are signs of more serious issues like an infection which could become life-threatening if left untreated.
How to Settle an Upset Stomach Naturally
There are several effective ways you can alleviate your stomach pain without
To avoid an upset stomach in the first place, it is important to eat foods that are easy for your body to digest. Simple carbohydrates like bread and pasta can be difficult to break down so they cause bloating or gas which results in an upset stomach. Instead, choose complex carbs like whole grains which release glucose into the bloodstream more slowly and
1. Drink Water
To relieve an upset stomach, start by drinking at least eight ounces of water. Water helps to dilute any excess acid in your system and can help prevent your muscles from contracting due to this irritation.
Drinking water can help an upset stomach by prevent dehydration. If you are vomiting, drinking water can actually make your nausea worse because it will come back up almost immediately after taking in any fluid.
Room temperature or warm water is easier on your stomach than cold water. Warm or room-temperature water helps to ease the irritation of an upset stomach because it doesn't feel like it is shocking your system with any sudden changes in temperature. It also aids in digestion because it keeps you hydrated, which can help regulate how well your body breaks down foods.
2. Avoid Eating Spicy Foods
Spicy foods are notorious for causing stomach pain and discomfort, so this should be avoided when possible. However, if you do eat spicy foods, avoid drinking things like coffee, alcohol, or carbonated drinks while eating them because this can increase the acidity in your system and lead to more serious stomach problems.
Spicy food can irritate the lining of your stomach, which causes it to release more acid. This irritation can also cause damage to your intestinal walls if you are experiencing an ulcer or other similar condition in that area. If you have a history of heartburn or GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), spicy foods will only worsen these conditions and make them worse because they irritate your digestive system even further!
3. Eat a Banana
Bananas are rich in potassium and have been known to help reduce stomach pain by regulating and maintaining fluid levels in the body. They are also very easy on the stomach because they don't contain any acidic properties.
Bananas help to trigger your body's production of digestive enzymes which aid in breaking down food and making it easier for you to digest. Since bananas are rich in fiber, eating them can make you feel fuller longer so that you eat less overall during the day which helps with weight loss if needed!
If diarrhea is one of your symptoms, this fruit will actually slow digestion down a bit further since its high concentration of fiber adds bulk to stool as it passes through your system. This acts like an absorbent sponge that absorbs excess water from your colon before continuing on its way more quickly than usual without being too loose or runny.
Eating half a banana when you begin to feel an upset stomach coming on can actually stop it from fully developing and turn things around before your body becomes too irritated.
4. Drink Ginger Tea
Ginger is an excellent source of relief for upset stomachs, as it can soothe the digestive tract. Ginger has been used for centuries as a home remedy to treat stomach ailments of all kinds. Drinking ginger tea can help with your stomach pain, gas, and blooming bowels.
Studies have show Ginger root is extremely effective at calming an upset stomach because it contains essential oils called gingerols which work together to reduce the amount of acid being produced by your digestive system.
Ginger has also been shown to help alleviate nausea in some studies. Ginger is also very effective at calming the muscles of your digestive tract which are often contracted due to an upset stomach or indigestion. And it is often used to help ease motion sickness when taken before traveling by car or boat.
Ginger tea can be made by simply chopping up the ginger root into small pieces and boiling them in water for a few minutes with some honey added if you would like it sweetened. If this still isn't enough, you can take supplements that contain concentrated doses of gingerol but these should only be taken under supervision because they have been known to cause heartburn when consumed on their own without food!
Eating raw ginger slices is another great way to use it as a natural remedy for upset stomachs instead of making tea. Ginger root is available fresh or dried at most grocery stores and can be found year-round since it grows well in tropical climates!
5. Take A Probiotic Supplement
Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that live in your digestive tract and help to keep it healthy by fighting off bad bacterial strains from taking over. A lack of good flora means there is more room for pathogens like salmonella, shigella or campylobacter which all cause severe illnesses such as food poisoning.
Taking a probiotic supplement has been shown to decrease the severity of symptoms from gastritis and other gastrointestinal issues. Taking a probiotic supplement can be very helpful for an upset stomach as it helps maintain the balance of good versus bad gut bacteria.
Probiotic supplements often contain strains of lactobacillus and bifidobacterium which are two common types of healthy bacteria that colonize the human digestive system. They work together to produce lactic acid as a byproduct, which helps reduce bad bacterial counts making it harder for them to reproduce and take hold!
Probiotic supplements can be found in capsule form at any health food store or online through various retailers like Amazon. Some brands have been shown to contain pre-measured doses so they may not need refrigeration after opening until their expiration date has passed if stored properly!
6. Try Peppermint Tea
Peppermint is a common herb that can be used to treat many different health conditions. Peppermint tea has been shown in studies to calm the muscles of your digestive tract, helping it work more efficiently and easily pass stool as it moves through your body!
Peppermint oil on its own has long been known for treating indigestion due to its carminative effect on the intestines but new research shows promising results for controlling abdominal pain related to irritable bowel syndrome or IBS.
Peppermint oil capsules may be helpful in relieving abdominal pain associated with indigestion or nausea. Taking Peppermint capsules before you eat or after if an upset stomach has already begun can help with nausea associated with morning sickness during pregnancy. It may also ease feelings of fullness which can make heartburn worse by causing acid reflux when combined with overeating at dinner time!
Peppermint oil capsules can be found online at various supplement retailers like Amazon and are usually sold in 100 count bottles with special measuring guides on the inside of each capsule for accurate dosing!
7. Use Essential Oils
Essential oils have been used for centuries in a variety of ways to make people feel better. Essential oil blends can be an excellent way to relieve your stomach ache and even prevent nausea.
The best essential oils to use for an upset stomach are:
- Ginger - It has a high amount of gingerols, an active component with powerful anti-inflammatory properties. Ginger oil is also a good digestive stimulant, assisting to create internal warmth and relieve nausea and indigestion based on studies.
- Peppermint - As mentioned before, Peppermint herb has health benefits related to stomach aches and Peppermint essential oil has been found to be beneficial in the treatment of post-surgical nausea and vomiting in several studies.
- Lavender - Lavender oil is well known for its calming effects and it's great at alleviating stress which can often lead to lower abdominal discomfort in some people. When lavender oil is inhaled, it directly affects the limbic system, particularly the brain’s amygdala and hippocampus, and can induce a relaxing mood.
- Chamomile - If stomach discomfort has you down, chamomile essential oil can really come to the rescue. This is because chamomile oil has been found to reduce intestinal inflammation and relieve pain caused by constipation. It is quite effective in eliminating gas that has accumulated in the intestines and reducing bloating.
How To Use Essential Oils to Settle An Upset Stomach
There are two main methods in using essential oils for upset stomachs: inhalation and topical applications.
Inhalation Use
Inhaling essential oils can be an excellent way of relieving digestive discomfort from nausea or indigestion, as well as promoting good digestion in general by stimulating the flow of gastric juices. The most common way to use essential oils is by diffusing them in an area around you.
An essential oil diffuser is an electronic device that releases essential oil into the air. This is a great option for aromatherapy because it is safe, easy, and effective. When it comes to choosing an essential oil to diffuse for upset stomach relief, then consider any of the oils listed above. You may also want to consider an essential oil blend like MOXĒ Dream Essential Oil blend which contains lavender and chamomile essential oils for upset stomach relief.
While essential oil diffusers are great for scenting an area or room, they do require water and electricity to work thus making them less portable and inconvenient for those with an on-the-go lifestyle. If you're looking for portable essential oil options then consider a personal essential oil diffuser pen or an essential oil nasal inhaler. These are great options for aromatherapy at any time and perfect for traveling. You can find your own personal portable aromatherapy blend by checking out our essential oil collection.
Topical Use
Topical application is another popular way to apply these natural remedies directly on your stomach area (upper abdomen) or onto the area that hurts. You can mix one drop of pure chamomile or lavender with coconut oil and rub it onto your skin for quick relief. If you have an essential oil blend with these as the main ingredients, then even better!
If you’re going for something more powerful and focused on digestion specifically, then diffusion may be a better option. Either way, essential oils can be used in conjunction with one another or mixed into a carrier oil.
Remember to dilute essential oils before use, especially if you're using them for the first time and not sure what your skin can handle. If in doubt start with a small amount and slowly add more as needed until you reach desired results.
How Can You Prevent An Upset Stomach?
By paying attention to what you eat and making healthier lifestyle choices like exercising more often, there are several steps you can take in order to prevent experiencing an upset stomach. To begin with, your diet plays a crucial role when it comes to how well your digestive system works so try avoiding these common triggers of heartburn such as fatty or deep-fried food, soda, and caffeine which increase acid levels.
Conclusion
We hope this blog post has helped you figure out how to relieve an upset stomach without taking medicine.
So next time you get an upset stomach, don't reach for the medicine cabinet - try these 7 natural remedies.
When you buy essential oils here at MOXĒ, you can rest assured you’re getting quality USA made essential oil products at a budget-friendly price.
All of our oils are 100% therapeutic grade and have been laboratory tested to assure their safety for you and your family. Get yours right now so you can start feeling better!