How to Get Rid of a Stomachache in 5 Minutes

When you have a stomachache, it's natural to want fast relief. Before reaching for an over-the-counter (OTC) medication, give these home remedies a try. They can sometimes ease bloating, gas, nausea, and abdominal pain in minutes.

If natural remedies don't work, OTC medicine may help to relieve a stomachache. The right medicine will depend on your symptoms.

This article explores simple home remedies for stomachaches. It also explains medications that provide fast relief.

Natural Remedies for a Stomachache

Home remedies are especially useful if a stomachache strikes at night or you are away from home and don't have access to OTC medications. Many of the following may already be on your pantry shelf.

Water

When you have a stomachache, the first thing you should reach for is a glass of water. Dehydration is a common cause of stomachaches, and rehydration is the quickest way to address it.

Dehydration-related abdominal pain (DROP) occurs when the gastrointestinal tract does not have enough fluid. The body needs water to digest food. Even mild dehydration can hinder the digestive process, causing abdominal cramping, nausea, and constipation.

If you have diarrhea, drinking water is all the more crucial. Diarrhea can cause dehydration and perpetuate abdominal pain. For nausea, take small sips of room-temperature water.

Ginger

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a fragrant root that has been used for centuries to treat stomach upset, nausea, and vomiting.

Ginger is available as extracts, tinctures, lozenges, supplements, and teas, but can also be used raw to relieve digestive symptoms. Some people will use the raw root to make ginger tea, while others chew on slivers of fresh peeled ginger to help ease nausea.

Others contend that ginger ale can help induce burping if you have indigestion, while others will use flat ginger ale to settle a grumbling or upset stomach.

Side effects, such as heartburn or diarrhea, may occur but are usually mild. While generally considered safe, ginger can increase the risk of bleeding and easy bruising if you take anticoagulants (blood thinners) like warfarin.

Chamomile Tea

Chamomile tea, a type of beverage derived from the herb chamomile, can be helpful for treating stomachaches. Two species called Matricaria recutita and Anthemis nobilis are commonly used for this.

Chamomile has anti-inflammatory properties that may help ease conditions like gastritis, gastroenteritis, GERD, and IBS which are characterized by inflammation.

Chamomile also contains plant-based compounds known as polyphenols that are thought to relax the digestive system, easing symptoms like indigestion, menstrual cramps, and vomiting.

Peppermint

The mint family, which includes peppermint (Mentha × piperita), can be very helpful for relieving stomachaches. A cross between spearmint and watermint, peppermint contains the active compounds menthol and methyl salicylate, both of which have antispasmodic effects that calm an upset stomach, nausea, and cramping.

Peppermint oil diluted in water is sometimes used to treat stomach upset caused by IBS, stomach flu, and food allergies, but peppermint tea made from the dried or fresh herb may work just as well.

Peppermint also helps digestive fluids, called bile, move easily through the digestive tract, allowing food to break down more quickly. This may help people with constipation-predominant (IBS-C) in which stomach pain is accompanied by constipation.

Heating Pad

A heating pad or hot water bottle helps relieve a stomachache by relaxing the stomach muscles, causing them to loosen and not clench. It is a common treatment for people with menstrual cramps, which studies have shown can ease pelvic pain and discomfort at temperatures between 104 F and 113 F (40 C and 45 C ). Although these studies looked at people who used heating pads for lengths from eight to 12 hours, you may feel relief from applying heat for a shorter amount of time.

Heating pads are also useful for people with IBS by easing cramping and spasms.

If you don't have a heating pad, simply taking a hot shower or soaking in a hot tub can provide similar relief.

BRAT Diet

The BRAT diet is a therapeutic food plan based on four foods that make up the acronym "B-R-A-T," namely:

• Bananas
• Rice
• Applesauce
• Toast

These foods are not only bland and place minimal stress on the digestive tract, but they are also binding and can help relieve loose or watery stools. The BRAT diet is sometimes recommended to relieve symptoms of stomach flu, food poisoning, and diarrhea-predominant IBS (IBS-D),

The BRAT diet is especially useful in treating gastroenteritis in children.

The BRAT diet is only intended as a short-term solution and not as a regular way of eating since it lacks nutrition. If you follow it for a longer period, you risk becoming deficient in certain nutrients and calories.

Seltzer and Lime

Seltzer and lime are popular home remedies for indigestion. They can also treat stomach pain caused by food allergies, stomach flu, and peptic ulcers.

Seltzer and lime are found in popular carbonated sodas like 7-Up and Sprite but can also be made without sugar by squeezing fresh lime into a glass of seltzer or soda water.

Seltzer and lime can be beneficial for stomachaches for two reasons:

• The scent of lime causes your mouth to water. This increased saliva production, in turn, increasing the production of beneficial digestive juices.
• The carbonation helps you burp, which helps relieve heartburn and indigestion.
  

Apple Cider Vinegar

There is some evidence that apple cider vinegar can help ease stomach pain associated with chronic gastritis. Apple cider vinegar also contains probiotics that can help normalize the bacterial environment of the stomach and ease bloating, stomach pain, and reflux caused by H. pylori infection.

With that said, apple cider vinegar needs to be diluted with water to avoid increasing the acidity of the stomach and making symptoms of GERD and peptic ulcer worse.

There are also apple cider vinegar chewing gums that can help ease heartburn and acid reflux in people with GERD.

Exercise

Exercise may help to relieve a stomachache, depending on the cause. Walking aids in digestion, promotes peristalsis, and helps to relieve constipation and trapped gas. Cycling and swimming also offer similar benefits.

If you’re too uncomfortable for formal exercise, try pacing or marching in place. Stretching, yoga, and tai chi can also ease abdominal discomfort. Moves that bring your knees closer to your chest are helpful for relieving cramping and gas pain.

Deep Breaths

Deep breathing exercises can also be helpful for easing a stomachache. Diaphragmatic breathing involves expanding the abdomen instead of the chest when breathing in.

The diaphragm is a large dome-shaped muscle located below the lungs. When you concentrate on breathing into your diaphragm, the muscle rubs against the digestive tract and massages the intestines and stomach.

Diaphragmatic breathing also activates the parasympathetic nervous system’s relaxation response calming the digestive tract. This helps to reduce abdominal cramping, bloating, constipation, and urgency.

To practice diaphragmatic breathing:

1. Place one hand on your chest and the other on your abdomen.
2. Inhale through your nose for a count of four, feeling your abdomen rise.
3. Hold your breath for a count of two.
4. Slowly exhale through your mouth for a count of six.
5. Repeat for several minutes. 
   

Probiotics

If you have diarrhea, try probiotic-rich yogurt, kefir, or supplements. Research shows probiotics can help stop diarrhea caused by antibiotics, infections, irritable bowel syndrome, and other conditions. 

Probiotics are beneficial bacteria found naturally in the digestive tract. Diarrhea, gas, and bloating can occur when the intestinal microbiome is off balance. Eating probiotic-rich foods or taking probiotic supplements can help restore balance and ease an upset stomach. 

How to Get Rid of a Stomachache in 5 Minutes

OTC medications can sometimes help to quickly relieve a stomachache. The right medications depend on your symptoms.

• Abdominal bloating and gas: Simethicone, found in Gas-X, Maalox, and Mylanta, helps to treat gas pain, pressure, and bloating. 
• Constipation: OTC laxatives work in different ways to relieve constipation. Milk of magnesia (magnesium hydroxide), a saline laxative, works the fastest and can produce a bowel movement in 30 minutes to six hours. Stimulant laxatives, like Ducolax (bisacodyl), Ex-Lax (sennosides), and Senokot (senna glycoside), take 12 to 24 hours to work. Miralax (polyethylene glycol 3350), an osmotic laxative that draws water into the intestines, can take up to three days to produce a bowel movement. 
• Diarrhea: OTC medications that help relieve diarrhea include Imodium (loperamide) and Pepto-Bismol or Kaopectate (bismuth subsalicylate).
• Motion sickness: Antihistamines like Dramamine (diphenhydramine) or Dramamine Less Drowsy (meclizine hydrochloride) can ease nausea and vomiting associated with motion sickness. 
• Viral gastroenteritis: Reach for Pepto-Bismol or Kaopectate. These OTC meds contain the active ingredient bismuth subsalicylate, which can relieve diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting from the stomach flu. 
  

When to See a Healthcare Provider

If your stomachache is accompanied by any of the following symptoms, you should see your healthcare provider:

• Nausea and vomiting for several days
• Bloody stools
• Trouble breathing
• Significant abdominal tenderness (when touched)
• Pain persists for several days (and gets worse)
• Signs of dehydration (dizziness, decreased urine output)

Any of these symptoms may signal something that's wrong, such as an infection or illness, that requires medical attention.

11 Common Causes of Stomachaches

There are several potential causes of stomachaches in adults and kids. Some of the more common include:

• Gas: As gas moves through the digestive tract, it can stretch the stomach and intestines, causing sharp, jabbing pain with bloating and cramping.
• Constipation: Constipation pain is generally caused by gas buildup or by hardened stools passing slowly through the colon (large intestine).
• Food allergies: These allergies are caused by antibodies called immunoglobulin E (IgE) that can trigger an inflammatory response in the digestive tract, leading to cramps, stomachaches, nausea, and diarrhea.
  
• Food poisoning: Poisoning from bacteria like E. coli and Salmonella can cause nausea, stomach pain, cramping, and vomiting as the body tries to purge the body of the bacterial toxin.
• Gastritis: This is the inflammation in the lining of the stomach caused by everything from alcohol and aspirin to H. pylori infection and extreme stress.
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): Also known as acid reflux, this is when stomach acid backs up into the esophagus (food pipe), causing a burning sensation in the chest or throat as well as stomach pain and regurgitation.
• Indigestion: Also known as dyspepsia, indigestion is commonly caused by overeating, eating too quickly, eating fatty or spicy foods, drinking too much caffeine or alcohol, smoking, anxiety, or taking certain medications (like antibiotics or pain relievers).
  
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): This poorly understood condition causes inflammation in the digestive tract, leading to abdominal pain, cramps, bloating, gas, diarrhea, and constipation.
• Menstrual cramps: One of the hormones released during your period is prostaglandin which causes the shedding of the uterine lining. Prostaglandin can also get into the bloodstream causing nausea, vomiting, cramping, and diarrhea.
• Peptic ulcer: This is an open sore in the stomach and/or the adjacent passage known as the duodenum that causes gnawing or burning pain, indigestion, nausea, vomiting, and gas.
• Stomach flu: Also known as gastroenteritis, stomach flu is common in kids and is usually caused by a virus known as rotavirus. In adults, a more common cause is norovirus.
  

Summary

Stomachaches are an uncomfortable but common ailment that everyone experiences at some point. You can usually treat a stomachache yourself using a variety of home remedies, such as by using a heating pad or by consuming chamomile tea, peppermint, and apple cider vinegar. If natural remedies don't bring relief, OTC medicines can often help to ease an upset stomach pretty fast.

If a stomachache accompanies bloody stools, an inability to keep food down for several days, and breathing problems, contact your healthcare provider right away to rule out any serious or underlying conditions.