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Stomach pain shows up at the worst times. Middle of a meeting. During a date. On a plane. You need it gone, and you need options that work without a pharmacy run.
Some of these methods work in minutes. Some take longer but handle the root cause better. Try what you have on hand first.
1. Heat on the stomach
Warmth relaxes cramping muscles in your gut. That’s it. Simple physics, immediate relief.
Grab a heating pad, hot water bottle, or microwave a damp towel for 30 seconds. Place it on your stomach and lie down for 15-20 minutes. The heat dilates blood vessels and reduces muscle spasms.
If you’re stuck somewhere without supplies, run hot water over your hands until they’re warm, then press them against your stomach. Not as effective, but better than nothing.
2. Ginger tea
Ginger settles nausea and reduces inflammation in your digestive tract. It’s not placebo – the gingerol compounds actually work.
Slice a thumbnail-sized piece of fresh ginger and steep it in boiling water for 5 minutes. Sip it slowly. Don’t chug. The slower you drink, the better it coats your stomach lining.
Ginger ale doesn’t count unless it contains real ginger (most don’t). Check the label. If high fructose corn syrup is listed before ginger, you’re just drinking sugar water.
3. Peppermint
Peppermint oil relaxes the muscles in your intestinal walls. Good for gas, bloating, and cramping.
Brew peppermint tea or add 2-3 drops of food-grade peppermint oil to warm water. Drink it between meals, not during. Peppermint on a full stomach can make acid reflux worse.
Skip this if you have heartburn. Peppermint relaxes the valve between your stomach and esophagus, which lets acid creep up.
4. The BRAT diet
Bananas, rice, applesauce, toast. Bland, binding, gentle on irritated guts.
This isn’t a long-term eating plan. It’s damage control for the next 12-24 hours while your stomach recovers. These foods are low in fiber and easy to digest, so they give your digestive system a break.
Add plain crackers or boiled potatoes if you need more options. Avoid butter, spices, or anything with strong flavor. You want boring.
5. Baking soda water
Baking soda neutralizes stomach acid. Works fast for acid-related pain.
Mix 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda into a glass of water and drink it. Tastes awful. Works within minutes.
Don’t use this regularly – it’s high in sodium and messes with your body’s pH balance if overused. Once or twice for emergency relief is fine. Daily use is not.
6. Chamomile tea
Chamomile reduces inflammation and relaxes stomach muscles. It’s gentler than ginger but takes longer to work.
Steep a chamomile tea bag for 5 minutes in hot water. Add a tiny bit of honey if you want, but skip the milk. Dairy makes most stomach aches worse.
This works better for stress-related stomach pain than food-related issues. If you’re nervous and your gut is reacting to that, chamomile helps more than ginger.
7. Walk it off
Light movement helps gas move through your system. Lying down traps it.
Walk slowly for 10-15 minutes. Not a power walk. Just moving. This stimulates your intestines and helps things along.
If the pain gets worse when you move, stop. Walking helps with gas and bloating, not with sharp or stabbing pain.
8. Stop eating for a bit
Your stomach needs a break. Give it one.
Fast for 2-4 hours. Just water. Let your digestive system reset instead of forcing it to process more food while it’s already struggling.
When you start eating again, start small. A few crackers. Half a banana. See how it goes before you eat a full meal.
When to worry
Most belly aches go away on their own within a few hours. But some need actual medical attention.
Get help if you have severe pain that doesn’t improve after an hour, pain that moves to your lower right abdomen, vomiting that won’t stop, blood in vomit or stool, fever above 38°C, or pain so bad you can’t stand up straight.
Don’t tough it out if something feels seriously wrong. Appendicitis and other urgent conditions start as belly aches.
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