Natural Ways to Soothe Your Hurting Gut

If you suffer from a chronic stomach condition, then you know what it’s like to be miserable all the time. Between the knots in your belly, the strict diet you have to follow and the inevitable flare-ups caused by eating the wrong thing, stomach problems are the real deal.

You’ve tried every over-the-counter medication as well as meds prescribed by your gastro doctor. If those are doing their job but you feel you still need an additional boost to help kickstart them, look into natural remedies. Sometimes the best gifts are the ones given to us by Mother Nature.

Ginger has been used for centuries to help alleviate the symptoms of indigestion and nausea. One effective method for getting a healthy dose of ginger is to drink it: Add it to herbal tea with a little honey, buy some ginger ale or give a ginger shot recipe a try.

These concentrated mini-drinks are a lifesaver the next time you are suffering negative side effects from your condition. An added bonus is that the health benefits of ginger go beyond your stomach; studies have shown that it also helps cholesterol and maintain your blood sugar.

This common kitchen ingredient goes beyond cookie recipes and fifth-grade science projects, thanks to the science aspect that it helps your upset tummy. Baking soda is comprised of sodium bicarbonate with a pH value of 9 (which is mildly alkaline) turns acid into base. So what does that mean?

Well, if you’re suffering from acid reflux then adding a tablespoon of baking soda to a glass of water can calm that acid down. Is it tasty? Absolutely not, it tastes awful and might make you gag. But the bottom line is that it usually provides some relief since it will make you burp and help ease the pressure.

Spasms in the digestive tract translate to stomach pains for you, and one way to help ease those spasms is to use peppermint or peppermint oil. Like ginger, this plant has been used all over the world for years to help people who are facing an upset stomach.

Interestingly, peppermint appeals to many of the senses and doesn’t necessarily need to be orally consumed (though that method is highly effective). Beyond adding peppermint oil to a cup of tea, you could also:

• Rub it directly onto your stomach. Allowing the oil to seep into your skin and work its way into the bloodstream can help soothe the pain quickly, plus the hot and cool effect is comforting to the skin.

• Use it for aromatherapy. This can be as simple as wafting peppermint oil under your nose and allowing the vapors to do their natural work. You can also purchase scented soaps and bath oils if you enjoy soaking in the tub.

Believe it or not, this list is not designed to get you geared up for Thanksgiving! Many spices and herbs are actually stomach neutralizers in fragrant disguise, cinnamon among them. Beyond helping with stomach acid, cinnamon contains many antioxidants including linalool and eugenol to help flush out the toxins inside your body.

It can also help with gas and help nasty-tasting reflux to stop tasting quite so terrible. Mix it with tea two or three times a day if you are having a rough time.

One of the most ancient and widespread crops, rice is a great last-resort meal if you can’t keep anything else down. Thanks to its absorbent nature, it can help soak up any toxins that might be lurking in your gut. It’s bland and easy to digest, so if you must eat during the worst of your days, give plain white rice a try.

If your chronic stomach issue is giving you hell, natural stomach help is only as far as your pantry. Check out one of these remedies and see what works best for you.