Home Remedies for Stomach Aches & Abdominal Pain

| Modified on Jun 12, 2022
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Stomach Pain Remedies

Stomach pain can typically be treated effectively using natural remedies and simple dietary changes. While everyone experiences stomach pain of some sort throughout life, pain in the abdomen varies greatly in terms of cause and severity.

Stomach pain can be described as both acute and chronic and is often associated with underlying conditions. However, home remedies like apple cider vinegar, DGL Licorice and Turmeric can alleviate and soothe symptoms.

What is Stomach Pain?

Stomach pain has many causes. Typically, the location of the pain provides insight into the cause. Conditions that may contribute to stomach pain include appendicitis, Crohn’s disease, diabetic ketoacidosis, diverticulitis, injury, obstruction, irritable bowel syndrome, lead poisoning and several others.

Natural Remedies for Gastrointestinal Pain

While specific treatment for stomach pain is often determined based on the cause of the issue, several natural remedies are effective for treating a variety of different conditions. Apple cider vinegar, DGL licorice and turmeric are among the most effective options for treating stomach issues naturally. Dietary changes and regular exercise are also effective for helping treat gastrointestinal pain.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is a slightly acidic compound that can treat a variety of conditions. In regards to stomach pain, a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar followed by or diluted in a glass of water aids in the digestive process and calms the stomach. The vinegar also treats a variety of underlying causes of pain and rids the body of natural buildup and toxins.

DGL Licorice

Deglycyrrhizinated licorice is an herbal extract that can be used to treat a number of stomach conditions including problems with digestion, heartburn, stomach pains and irritable bowel syndrome. The compound increases the mucous coating in the stomach and other parts of the digestive system, protecting the internal tissues from irritation. This soothing element relieves stomach pain and prevents damage.

Turmeric

Turmeric is a warm spice that also carries a number of healing properties. Curcumin, the chemical in turmeric, helps relieve inflammation that occurs in the stomach and elsewhere. This compound also promotes effective digestion and relieves pain associated with digestive issues.

Many causes of stomach pain are not serious conditions; however, these issues can be uncomfortable and even painful. No matter the cause, natural treatments are effective for relieving pain and reinstating normal functioning of the digestive system.




ACV and Salt

2 User Reviews
5 star (2) 
  100%


Posted by Deborah (California, US) on 04/21/2015
5 out of 5 stars

I just tried Andreina's recipe of mixing 1Tbl ACV with a pint of water, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt for my upset stomach that has been nagging me for 3 days. My stomach aches went away in a couple of hours, plus my sore joints are much better! And I that is only with 1 pint. I'm having another 2 glasses today. Thank you! A big thumbs up!


ACV and Salt
Posted by Andreina (Roma, Italy) on 12/27/2007
5 out of 5 stars

In the morning, I mix 1Tbl ACV with a pint of water, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. I put it in a bottle and drink it throughout the day. I repeat the procedure in the afternoon, so I drink 2 pints a day. It cures everything (my acne, sore throat, stomach ache, dry skin, sore joints...etc) I've been doing this for 3 months, and have dropped 7.5 kilograms! I <3 water! Be sure to mix it with salt and vinegar, so you don't lose vital nutrients, and sodium!

Replied by Dee
(Porter, Tx)
01/20/2011

I have tried ACV & water alone, with orange juice, with tea, with honey, with stevia, with agave, with lemon, and various combinations of each. I couldn't stick with it because I just didn't like the flavor. I tried it this morning with salt and it is so much more tolerable. Thanks for your post. Hopefully I can stick with it now.


Apple Cider Vinegar, Blackstrap Molasses

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%


Posted by Renee (Seattle, WA) on 07/04/2009
5 out of 5 stars

My 11 year old daughter had a severe stomachache the other day that brought her to tears. She has suffered from these from time to time and I suspect it might be gall stones or constipation due to poor eating habits. Too much sugar and refined flour (lots of junk foods). It is tough trying to get her to eat better. Anyway, the pain was so bad she could hardly speak. (She's pretty talkative, so you know she was really hurting!) Anyway, I remembered that ACV worked pretty well for my mom's gall bladder attacks (that's another cure story). So I mixed about 2 tbs of ACV with 1 Tbs of Black Strap molasses for sweeter taste in a glass of about 16oz of water. These are approx measurements, I don't use measuring spoons etc, I just eyeball it. So I gave this to my daughter and had her drink it, She thought it was tasted bad and gagged a little at first, but I forced her to drink it. She complained the whole time, but this was an indication that it was working. She was able to talk well enough to complain! Within about 10 minutes, she was singing and talking again and had forgotten that her stomach was hurting. She had only drank about a quarter of the glass full. She was drinking it very slow because she thought it tasted bad. I kept reminding her that her stomach was feeling better because of the drink so she continued to finish the drink. Very fast acting!!


Apple Cider Vinegar, Digestive Enzymes

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%


Posted by Diana (Bemidji, MN) on 11/17/2006
5 out of 5 stars

For over a year my medical doctors have been unable to find a cause or treatment for my severe abdominal pain that had caused me to be unable to work full-time. They then labeled my problem "anxiety." I finally ran into the idea of hypochlorhydria (low stomach acid) and the use of apple cider vinegar and digestive enzymes. WOW! I had almost immediate relief! I even love the taste of the vinegar undiluted. I work for a medical clinic and am extremely disappointed in doctors' lack of knowledge in natural remedies and their insistence on labeling me as having stomach pain as a result of anxiety. I'm glad I accidentally came across this remedy. It has saved my life, in my opinion.

Replied by Robert
(Nj)
04/08/2018

I have the same issue but why does it help??! Did you ever find out? Bob

Replied by Teena
(Melbourne, Australia)
04/10/2018
235 posts

Hi Robert,

I believe the ACV helped because the issue was low stomach acid causing food to not be properly digested, causing probable flow on issues like leaky gut, where undigested proteins and food particles make their way through damaged intestines into the bloodstream, causing a myriad of health issues not properly understood, thus blanketed as autoimmune disorders. ("Treated" with drugs that don't treat the cause this begins a downward slide of ill health). This reasoning also explains why the digestive enzymes assisted. Iodine deficiency, which most have, is a cause of low stomach acid production.


Apple Juice

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%


Posted by Cherry B (Flint, Mi) on 09/13/2009
5 out of 5 stars

Apple Juice for Stomach Ache:

One day after having dinner, my stomach began to ache. I usually keep some form of antacid in my fridge, it seems to taste better cold. Anyway when I opened the fridge, I realized we had used it all. I didn't know what to do. I was in excruciating pain, by now. I looked around, and there was some apple juice on the shelf, so I decided to drink some, thinking "doctor's tell you to give it to babies and childrem when they have colic, so I thought, what the heck, maybe it'll give me some relief. Sure nuff, I drank about a half-a-glass, and "bingo" immediately the pain went away. Just today I ate some spicey food and it caused me to have sharp stomach (gas) pains, I drank some "warm" apple juice - no more pain. I wouldn't be caught without it in my home.


Avoid Ibuprofen

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%


Posted by Lorraine (Half Moon Bay, CA) on 10/06/2006
5 out of 5 stars

I had a "frozen shoulder" and the physical therapy was a bit painful. I was told by the physical therapist, and previously by a chiropractor, that Advil was beneficial to help the inflammation. The chiropractor said that 2400 mg daily was okay, and I got into the habit of taking it 3 pills at a time. One day I started having lingering abdominal cramps and heartburn. I went to a doctor and he said there was a sore on my larynx that looked to be from stomach acid. he put me on Nexium and told me to stop taking Advil. He also gave me a list of foods not to eat (tomato, chocolate etc.) My symptoms got better on this program, but my stomach still seems more sensitive than it used to be.


Avoid Sugarless Gum

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%


Posted by Erin (Weymouth, MA)
5 out of 5 stars

I used to chew sugarless gum as a substitute to smoking cigarettes and snacking. I discovered I would get sharp pains in my stomach shortly thereafter. I wonder now if this is connected to my acid reflux.

Replied by Andrea
(Parkwood Gold Coasgt, Qld. Australia)
02/26/2010

In answer to erin's question as to whether chewing gum has contributed to her acid reflux problems, unfortunately, the answer is yes. Continual chewing of gum causes the stomach to release enzymes in anticipation of receiving food as chewing stimulates the saliva glands. When there is no food forthcoming the enzymes are not utilised, and the continual signal evenutally depletes our enzyme supply. As we get older this becomes even more of a problem as we biologically produce less enzymes with age. Lack of digestive enzymes is an integral part of the digestive process as digestion starts in the mouth, these enzymes also stimulate hydrachloric acid in the lower gut to complete the digestive process. Chewing gum in all forms but especially so called"sugar free" should be avoided at all costs as they provide nothing of benefit and cause major problems down the track. Any one who chews a lot of gum should take digestive enzymes with their meals to avoid the inevitable reflux problems that are waiting to manifest.

Replied by Sandy
(Berlin, Nj Usa)
01/21/2012

The sweetner in the sugar free gum is the problem. Bloating and diarrhea are the two main gastrointestinal side effects of xylitol. It is absorbed incompletely from the intestine by passive diffusion and an excessive load, over a person's laxation threshold can cause diarrhea. However, regular consumption can increase one's laxation threshold, meaning that the body adapts to higher dosages. Also, as we mentioned it is incompletely absorbed, unabsorbed quantities are fermented by the intestinal flora which can cause abdominal gas and bloating.


Ayurvedic Remedies

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
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Posted by Dr Vyas (India) on 09/15/2017 2 posts
5 out of 5 stars

There are so many causes/reasons for abdominal pain, we will not go into the detail. Most commonly abdominal pain occurs due to indigestion (from undigested food residue).

Causes

1. eating heavy meals beyond one's capacity
2. eating something at inappropriate time and place (late night heavy dinner)
3. drinking too much liquid diet during meal timing - ruins the digestion
4. eating opposite diet at times (viruddh aahara) eg.eating meat and milk or fish and milk together, eg. eating meat and milk or fish and milk together, There are 100ds of possibilities

first aid simple solution

1. drink plain hot water sip by sip every 10 -15 min,
2. to aid in digestion hot water + powdered black pepper - sip by sip
3. hot water + ginger crush + 4-5 drops of lemon juice works wonder
4. fenugreek soaked in water over night and take in the morning 6-10 pc
5. soaked ajowan caraway seed 6-10pc( spices) in 50-60 ml hot water and drink sip by sip slowly works wonder
6. simply eat/chew fennel seed every hourly helps in digestion and also check the acidity


Baking Soda

5 User Reviews
5 star (5) 
  100%


Posted by Chris (Long Island, Ny) on 02/08/2016
5 out of 5 stars

My stomach hurt all day after having two cups of coffee this morning. I tried Pepto Bismol then later Apple Cider Vinegar to no effect. Later in the day, I took a spoonful of baking soda, mixed it into a cup of warm water and drank it down. Within minutes the acid pain in my stomach was gone. It was a miracle.


Baking Soda
Posted by Shirley (From New York ) on 01/23/2016
5 out of 5 stars

I had a stomach ache for 2 days. I thought it was cramps at first an took a pain reliever, it didn't help . I came to earth clinic read that the baking soda would help. I mixed 1/2 a teaspoon of baking soda in an 8 oz glass of water, with in 15 minutes the pain was gone. I will definitely do this again for my stomach ache.


Baking Soda
Posted by Kelly (Farmersville, California) on 06/17/2009
5 out of 5 stars

Baking Soda As Stomach Ache Remedy: About two years ago, a bunch of us went out to dinner, and I ended up eating too much. My stomach began to hurt and I immediately regretted eating the way I did. Afterwards, we all went to my cousin's house to watch the fights on TV. My stomach was killing me the whole time we were there. I tried walking around a bit, but it did nothing to help the problem. My cousin knew exactly what to do about this problem and mixed some baking soda in a glass of water. He told me to drink it down quickly. I drank about half of it and my stomach immedatley rebelled. I, honest to God, thought I was going to hurl! I managed to swallow the rest of the mixture, and before long, my stomach ache was gone. When we got home, I lay down on the couch, and when I got up, I felt much better. Baking soda tastes pretty nasty, but this remedy definitely helped me get over one killer of a stomach ache.


Baking Soda
Posted by Teresa (Up North, Indiana) on 07/08/2008
5 out of 5 stars

Regarding Baking Soda and Stomach Bugs: I used a teaspoon or less in water for my kids. But, this worked well for them this past winter when the stomach bug was going around. Sometimes, they burped after the baking soda. Sometimes they vomited within minutes. But, either way, they felt much better.


Baking Soda
Posted by Ellyn (Framingham, MA) on 07/06/2008
5 out of 5 stars

I think my symptoms are/were caused by a stomach bug. I drank the recommended 1 Tbsp of baking soda with water (3/4 cup cold, tasted like very salty alka seltzer) within minutes I burped INSTENSELY several times. I will try eating an apple later tonight to help. I do feel much better.

Replied by Joyce
(Joelton, Tn)
07/06/2008
509 posts

To Ellen from Framingham, Hi Ellen, I hope that was a typo, because a Tbsp. (tablespoon) of baking soda in 3/4 cup water is a lot of baking soda. I think it should have been tsp. (teaspoon) instead of Tbsp.


Bitters

3 User Reviews
5 star (3) 
  100%


Posted by Jerry (Miramar, Fl.) on 07/20/2011
5 out of 5 stars

When I was a kid, I always had some sort of somach issue or another. My mum reaching for the BITTERS was enough to send u screaming. (it tasted terrible) She held me and spoon fed it to me. And within a few minutes, all was well, I could go back running around and playing. I now use it in my cooking, it adds a great flavour to meats and veggies, and rum cakes. : )


Bitters
Posted by Brett (Brooklyn, New York) on 10/02/2007
5 out of 5 stars

Cure Gas Fast Angostura bitters remedy... I'm a night club dj. On several occasions I've gotten terrible stomach pain just before a gig at a bar. When I say terrible stomach pain, I mean eye watering, agonizing pain that comes in waves. Sometimes it feels like my stomach is in a knot and other times like it's being ripped apart. I've asked bartenders what I should drink. A few have suggested bitters. I'm not sure if this is the same as Angostura bitters, but it's the only thing I remember working. Generally after drinking something with bitters, my pain goes away in an hour or so. Without the bitters, I'm in pain all night and sometimes for a day or two after.

Replied by Jac
(East Coast, U.S.)
02/12/2012

You've got ulcers. I had them. If you smoke & drink, you have to quit or it will worsen and you won't last very long. Sorry. Raw honey will help, as will lower stress (if possible).

Replied by Jen
(Beijing, China)
05/09/2012

It's crazy to assume someone has stomach ulcers just because of intense stomachaches!! I would disregard the previous reply completely, as when it comes to stomach problems, no one could possibly know what another person has until tests are done to eliminate the possible big issues (ulcers etc, ) and when that doesn't show anything, to slowly experiment with all suggested natural remedies.

I myself had chronic stomachaches with no results on CT scans, endoscopies, etc. When all that showed nothing, I was prescribed a load of medication, none of which worked. In the end, what gave me relief was going to a Chinese doctor who specialized in massage/acupuncture therapy. She was the only one who gave me long term relief, and now, if I get an onset of pains, I lie down and massage my organs for a few minutes the same way she did, and then it mostly goes away.

I say for all who suffer stomachaches, do all the preliminary testing to make sure that it's not the life-threatening issues. (Don't forget to look into MALS. ) If nothing shows, start looking into your dietary habits and allergies (like suggested by other users. ) It was unfortunately not the cause of my pains. If it's not yours either, look into natural remedies which are abundant on this site. I know how difficult life can be when living with chronic stomach aches and not knowing the cause, but keep researching and experimenting. There is almost always a cure.



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