Natural Remedies for Intestinal Health 3rd edition

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Ginger contains chemicals called gingerols and shogaols that can help speed up stomach contractions.

This may move foods that are causing indigestion through the stomach more quickly. People with an upset stomach could try adding ginger to their food or drinking it as a tea. Some all-natural ginger ales may also contain enough ginger to settle an upset stomach.

Twenty-one home remedies

Ginger tea is widely available to buy in supermarkets and online. In addition to sweetening the breath, the menthol in mint may help with the following:. Researchers have found that mint is a traditional treatment for indigestion, gas, and diarrhea in Iran, Pakistan, and India. Raw and cooked mint leaves are both suitable for consumption.

Traditionally, people often boil mint leaves with cardamom to make a tea. It is also possible to powder or juice mint leaves and mix them with other teas, beverages, or foods. Mint leaves are widely available in health stores and online. Sucking on mint candies might be another way to help reduce the pain and discomfort of heartburn. Heat may relax tense muscles and ease indigestion, so taking a warm bath may help to ease the symptoms of an upset stomach. It could also be beneficial to apply a heated bag or pad to the stomach for 20 minutes or until it goes cool.

Heating bags are available to purcahse online. Doctors may recommend the BRAT diet to people with diarrhea. These foods are all starchy, so they can help bind foods together to make stools firmer. This may decrease the number of stools a person passes and help ease their diarrhea. As these foods are bland, they do not contain substances that irritate the stomach, throat, or intestines. Therefore, this diet can soothe the tissue irritation resulting from the acids in vomit. Many of the foods in the BRAT diet are also high in nutrients such as potassium and magnesium and can replace those lost through diarrhea and vomiting.

Smoking can irritate the throat, increasing the likelihood of an upset stomach. If the person has vomited, smoking can further irritate the tender tissue already sore from stomach acids. People with an upset stomach should avoid smoking and drinking alcohol until they are feeling better. Some foods are harder to digest than others, which increases the risk of an upset stomach.

Anyone with an upset stomach should avoid foods that are:.

Some studies suggest that mixing lime or lemon juice in water with a pinch of baking soda can help to relieve a variety of digestive complaints. This mixture produces carbonic acid, which may help to reduce gas and indigestion. It may also improve liver secretion and intestinal mobility.

The acidity and other nutrients in lime or lemon juice can help to digest and absorb fats and alcohol while neutralizing bile acids and reducing acidity in the stomach.

Cinnamon contains several antioxidants that may help ease digestion and reduce the risk of irritation and damage in the digestive tract. Some of the antioxidants in cinnamon include:. Other substances in cinnamon may help to reduce gas, bloating, cramping, and belching. They may also help to neutralize stomach acidity to reduce heartburn and indigestion. People with an upset stomach could try adding 1 tsp of good-quality cinnamon powder, or an inch of cinnamon stick, to their meals.

Alternatively, they could try mixing the cinnamon with boiling water to make a tea. Doing this two or three times daily may help to relieve indigestion. Cloves contain substances that may help to reduce gas in the stomach and increase gastric secretions. This can speed up slow digestion, which may reduce pressure and cramping. Cloves may also help to reduce nausea and vomiting. A person with an upset stomach could try mixing 1 or 2 tsps of ground or powdered cloves with 1 tsp of honey once a day before bedtime.

For nausea and heartburn, they could combine the cloves with 8 oz of boiling water instead to make a clove tea, which they should drink slowly once or twice daily. A person with an upset stomach could try mixing 1 or 2 tsps of ground or powdered cumin into their meals. Alternatively, they could add a few teaspoons of cumin seeds or powder to boiling water to make a tea. Some traditional medical systems suggest chewing a pinch or two of raw cumin seeds or powder to ease heartburn.

Cumin seeds are available to purchase online. Figs contain substances that can act as laxatives to ease constipation and encourage healthy bowel movements. Figs also contain compounds that may help to ease indigestion. A person with an upset stomach could try eating whole fig fruits a few times a day until their symptoms improve. Alternatively, they could try brewing 1 or 2 tsps of fig leaves to make a tea instead.

In one study , researchers found that people who drank 10 milliliters ml of aloe juice daily for 4 weeks found relief from the following symptoms of gastrointestinal reflux disease GERD:. Yarrow flowers contain flavonoids, polyphenols, lactones, tannins, and resins that may help to reduce the amount of acid that the stomach produces. They do this by acting on the main digestive nerve, called the vagus nerve.

A reduction in stomach acid levels can reduce the likelihood of heartburn and indigestion. A person with an upset stomach could try eating young yarrow leaves raw in a salad or cooked in a meal. It is also possible to make yarrow tea by adding 1 or 2 tsps of dried or ground yarrow leaves or flowers to boiling water. Basil contains substances that may reduce gas, increase appetite, relieve cramping, and improve overall digestion.

Basil also contains eugenol, which may help to reduce the quantity of acid in the stomach. A person with an upset stomach could try adding 1 or 2 tsps of dried basil leaves, or a couple of fresh basil leaves, to meals until their symptoms lessen. For more immediate results, they could mix half a teaspoon of dried basil, or a few fresh leaves, with boiled water to make a tea.

Licorice root contains substances that may help to reduce gastritis, or inflammation of the stomach lining, as well as inflammation relating to peptic ulcers. Someone with an upset stomach could try drinking licorice root tea several times a day until their symptoms improve. Licorice root teas are widely available online , but it is also possible to make them at home by mixing 1 or 2 tsps of licorice root powder with boiling water.

Home and natural remedies for upset stomach

Most people find that the easiest way to consume spearmint is to drink prepared herbal teas in which spearmint is the primary ingredient. There are many such teas available online. It is usually safe to drink spearmint teas several times daily until symptoms improve. Sucking on spearmint candies may also help to reduce heartburn. Someone who is vomiting or has diarrhea could try slowly eating half a cup of plain, well-cooked rice. It is best to wait until at least a few hours after the last episode of vomiting. The person may continue to do this for 24—48 hours until diarrhea stops.

Coconut water contains high levels of potassium and magnesium. These nutrients help to reduce pain, muscle spasms, and cramps. Coconut water is also useful for rehydrating and is a better option than most sports drinks as it is also low in calories , sugar, and acidity. Slowly sipping on up to 2 glasses of coconut water every 4—6 hours could ease upset stomach symptoms. Bananas contain vitamin B6, potassium, and folate. These nutrients can help to ease cramps, pains, and muscle spasms.

Bananas can also help by adding bulk to loose stools, which can alleviate diarrhea. An upset stomach and indigestion should not usually cause concern.

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For most people, symptoms should go away within a few hours. Side effects can include constipation or diarrhea, depending on the main ingredients. Medications that protect the lining of your stomach and small intestine. In some cases, your doctor may prescribe medications called cytoprotective agents that help protect the tissues that line your stomach and small intestine.

Treatment for peptic ulcers is often successful, leading to ulcer healing. But if your symptoms are severe or if they continue despite treatment, your doctor may recommend endoscopy to rule out other possible causes for your symptoms. If an ulcer is detected during endoscopy, your doctor may recommend another endoscopy after your treatment to make sure your ulcer has healed. Ask your doctor whether you should undergo follow-up tests after your treatment.

Peptic ulcers that don't heal with treatment are called refractory ulcers. There are many reasons why an ulcer may fail to heal, including:.

Treatment for refractory ulcers generally involves eliminating factors that may interfere with healing, along with using different antibiotics. If you have a serious complication from an ulcer, such as acute bleeding or a perforation, you may require surgery. However, surgery is needed far less often than previously because of the many effective medications now available. Over-the-counter medications that contain calcium carbonate Tums, Rolaids , may help treat peptic ulcers but should not be used as the primary treatment.

There is also some evidence that zinc can help heal ulcers. Among botanicals recommended to treat peptic ulcers are turmeric, mastic, cabbage, deglycyrrhizinated licorice, and neem bark extract. While over-the-counter and alternative medications may be helpful, evidence on effectiveness is lacking. Therefore they are not recommended as the primary treatment for peptic ulcers. Make an appointment with your regular doctor if you have signs or symptoms that worry you. Your doctor may refer you to a specialist in the digestive system gastroenterologist. It's a good idea to be well-prepared for your appointment.

Here's some information to help you get ready, and what you can expect from your doctor. In addition to the questions that you've prepared to ask your doctor, don't hesitate to ask other questions during your appointment. Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions.

Being ready to answer them may reserve time to go over points you want to cover. Your doctor may ask:. While you're waiting to see your doctor, avoiding tobacco, alcohol, spicy foods and stress may help lessen your discomfort. Peptic ulcer care at Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Endoscopy An endoscopy procedure involves inserting a long, flexible tube endoscope down your throat and into your esophagus.

Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. References Feldman M, et al. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease: Accessed June 6, Peptic ulcer disease and H. Accessed June 6, Vakil NB. Epidemiology and etiology of peptic ulcer disease. Accessed June 7, Feldman M, et al. Ferri's Clinical Advisor Accessed June 20, Fashner J, et al.

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