At some point in your life, you’re inevitably going to experience tummy problems, and if that’s right now, then you’re not alone. Every day, millions of people all over the country wake up with bloating, gas, stomachache, diarrhea, and all sorts of other issues that suggest gastrointestinal distress. Fortunately, there are some proven ways to deal with these issues quickly and soothe your body so you can get on with your day.
Start with some fluids
Unsplash – CC0 License Photo by Sasun Bughdaryan on Unsplash
To improve the way your stomach feels, increase your intake of fluids. Many people like to start with peppermint tea because peppermint is a naturally soothing plant and a medicinal herb that calms the bowel and makes most people feel better.
You can also try ginger ale or tea. Ginger is one of the ultimate remedies for nausea and something that people have been using for centuries to combat the urge to vomit.
Other options include:
- Bone broth
- Warm water
These fluids keep your digestive system hydrated so you can recover from whatever issues you are currently experiencing.
Follow the BRAT diet
Unsplash – CC0 License Photo by Gabriel Mihalcea on Unsplash
Another option is to follow the BRAT diet. This diet involves taking only the simplest foods that have been proven for decades to be gentle on the stomach:
- B: Bananas (high in potassium)
- R: Plain white rice
- A: Apple sauce
- T: Toast
You can also add some crackers or a bowl of watery oatmeal to the regimen, which will cover the stomach lining in a nice layer of beta-glucans.
If you don’t experience any relief, make sure you pay a visit to a digestive care clinic. Specialists can look for specific diseases of the bowel, like:
- ulcerative colitis
- polyps
- Crohn’s disease
- irritable bowel syndrome
- food poisoning
- gastrointestinal disorders
Use physical relief tactics
At the same time as adopting a new diet and adding more fluids to your routine, you can also try some physical relief tactics. These are designed to get your stomach moving.
- Get a stomach massage. This is ideal if you’ve got acute pain from trapped winds. Massaging the stomach helps move the trapped pockets of gas around, and you can eventually release them.
- Use a heating pad, like a hot water bottle, across your abdomen. Research shows that this increases blood flow significantly and can improve comfort from cramping muscles.
- If you think you have a lot of trapped winds and a massage is an option, then you can lie on your back, bring your knees to your chest, and hug them close. This position helps to release a lot of trapped gas.
If your stomach or tummy problems involve sharp pain, especially on the lower right side, and a high fever, it could be a medical emergency, like appendicitis. If you’re in any doubt, go to the emergency room and get a proper diagnosis. If appendix-related problems get out of control, they can be very serious.
So which of these tactics are you going to try next time you experience tummy trouble?
Top Photo by Sasun Bughdaryan on Unsplash
