Instant Home Remedies for Digestive Problems

Introduction

Being a foodie is common among Indians and so are digestive issues. Indigestion, gas, bloating, hiccups, heartburn, stomach pain, ulcers, and nausea are some of the common features of digestive problems. These are the frequent problems arising from an unhealthy lifestyle, which includes binge eating, smoking, drinking alcohol, sleep disorders, eating junk, and stress. 

The discomfort makes these problems hard to ignore, but it is also not convenient to visit the doctor or pharmacy so frequently for the recurring problems. 

While some medical conditions may lead to digestive issues, some of the most common causes of digestive issues include lifestyle factors like stress, excessive dairy consumption, an inactive lifestyle, and inadequate fibre in the diet. 

Top Causes of Digestive Problems

Gastrointestinal problems are commonly caused by: 

• Inadequate fibre in the diet 
• Lack of regular physical activity or a sedentary lifestyle 
• Travel or any other drastic changes to your routine 
• Excessive consumption of dairy products 
• Chronic and unmanaged stress 
• Not passing stools regularly (possibly due to pain or haemorrhoids) 
• Consumption of painkillers, antidepressants, medications that are rich in iron, antacids that contain calcium or aluminium, or excessive amounts of diarrhoea medication 
• Pregnancy 

Foods That May Cause Digestive Problems: Carbonated drinks, beans, artificial sweeteners, potatoes, pasta, eating or drinking too fast, using a straw, and swallowing excessively. 

Diseases That May Cause Digestive Problems: Lactose allergy, gluten allergy, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and peptic ulcers. 

Frequent episodes of digestive troubles can be attributed to various factors such as IBS, infection, neurological issues, or hormonal imbalances. Often, these symptoms are intertwined with signs of anxiety.

Dr. Arpit Verma, MBBS, MD (Pharmacology)

Symptoms of Digestive Problems

• Acid reflux (burning in the throat) 
• Heartburn 
• Bloating, gas, or belching 
• Bad breath 
• Nausea 

Home Remedies for Digestive Problems

The symptoms of digestive problems are usually mild and short-lived and may not require medication; however, there are some simple home remedies that can help you reduce the symptoms. So, here are some home remedies that may relieve your digestive problems. 

1. Taming Your Tummy With Tea

A lot can happen with a cup of tea. Although, targeting the root cause of your digestive problems is the best approach, if you need relief for minor stomach issues and temporary bouts of discomfort, then here is a warm cup of tea that may save your day. 

You can prepare these teas by brewing one or more herbs commonly found in the kitchen, as listed below. You may also add honey to some of the teas. 

• Fennel: This tea is made by boiling the  green seeds of fennel, locally called saunf, in a cup of water for 3-5 minutes. It can help in relieving bloating, heartburn, gas, loss of appetite, and bowel irregularities, as well as may help in relieving colic in infants. The tea also has antibacterial properties¹. 
• Chamomile Tea: It is made by boiling the dried daisy-like flowers of chamomile in water. It possesses anti-inflammatory and mind-calming properties. Drinking it before meals and at bedtime may help reduce indigestion², bloating, trapped gas and tummy cramps. 
• Ginger Tea: It is made by boiling a piece of fresh ginger root in water. The main constituent in ginger is gingerol, which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Drinking it before or with a meal may stimulate the secretion of saliva, digestive juices and bile production, and neutralise gastric acid³.^   

Other ingredients, such as ajwain (carom seeds), caraway (shahi jeera), liquorice (mulethi), and holy basil (tulsi) can also be brewed along with ginger to help ease digestive issues like indigestion, gas, bloating, cramps and nausea. 

2. Beverages That Can Soothe Your Stomach

Some other drinks that may relieve digestive issues include: 

• Cold Milk: Drinking a glass of cold, fat-free and sugarless milk may provide relief from the burning sensation from acidity or acid reflux. Milk contains calcium that not only may neutralise acid but also curb its production. 
• Buttermilk: Drinking cold buttermilk before or during meals is an age-old home remedy against stomach gas. It aids in neutralising gastric acid, thus helping in reducing irritation and damage to the stomach lining. Also, it’s a naturally occurring probiotic drink that may stimulate digestion, avoid the building up of gas, and relieve bloating⁴. One may also add a pinch of roasted cumin powder and black salt to buttermilk to further enhance its effectiveness against digestive troubles. Even lactose-intolerant patients can easily digest it. 
• Mint Juice: One teaspoon of mint juice or mint tea or mint chutney in your meal may help you with bloating and the resulting stomach pain. 
• Lemon Drinks: Lemon water or lemon tea can be a wonderful remedy for digestive problems⁵. You can add a pinch of black salt, powdered roasted cumin seeds, and ajwain to the lemon water to enhance its taste and benefits and soothe the stomach. Adding a pinch of baking soda to a glass of lemon water may also prove beneficial in reducing acidity and improving digestion. 
• Other Drinks: Adding apple cider vinegar or clove oil (2-5 drops) to water or tea and drinking it before, during or after meals may also help in relieving digestive problems⁶. 

3. Strengthening the Mucilage in the Stomach

Mucilage is a slimy and slippery substance found in certain plants. The mucilaginous substance swells in water and is bland in taste. When consumed, it forms a protective layer over the inflamed lining or sore surface of the stomach that not only protects it from further damage by acid but also aids in its healing. Few examples are listed below: 

• Ispaghula or Psyllium Husk: Ispaghula, commonly known as isabgol, can help you manage digestive troubles and constipation. Consuming it with curd helps in relieving stomach upset, indigestion and loose stools. Having it with cold milk helps in the symptoms of acid reflux⁷. 
• Chia Seeds: Chia seeds have anti-inflammatory properties and aid in the symptoms of acid reflux. They are also rich in nutrients, fibre and omega-3 fatty acids. Chia seeds can be added (after soaking them in water) to foods and drinks like cold beverages, smoothies, fruit juices, yoghurt, porridge, and puddings. 

4. Pacifying Powders for the Stomach

People with an upset stomach, gas, acidity, heartburn and other digestive troubles may also get relief by directly consuming powders of ingredients from the kitchen, such as fennel seeds, carrom, caraway, and coriander. Few examples are listed below: 

• Adding green cardamom powder, fennel seeds powder, and unrefined sugar in equal parts in a glass of cold milk may offer relief if you have heartburn or acidity. 
• A fine powder of cumin seeds, coriander seeds, and sugar twice daily with water may help with acidity. 

5. Topical Creams and Pastes to Ease the Stomach 

In cases, where one cannot drink or do not feel like consuming anything, the following approach may benefit in relieving the symptoms of digestive trouble. 

• Asafoetida Massage: Massaging the abdomen gently with asafoetida water prepared by mixing asafoetida, commonly known as hing, with a few drops of warm water may relieve stomach pain caused by gas. 
• Stomach Pain-Relieving Paste: The paste is prepared by mixing finely powdered dried ginger (sonth), long pepper (pippal), black pepper (kali mirch), asafoetida (hing) and rock salt (sendha namak) with a few drops of water. Gently warming this paste and applying it to the abdomen for two hours may provide relief from abdominal pain due to gas.

Also Read: Causes Behind Recurring Stomach Pain

Other Remedies to Consider

Here are a few remedies you can try apart from the ones mentioned above: 

• Drink water: Water is essential for digestion. Ensure that you are drinking enough water every day. This is one of the easiest home remedies for digestive problems.  
• Avoid Lying Flat: Lying flat causes the stomach acid to rise up and worsen your digestive symptoms. Use a pillow or an inclined backrest when you sleep. 
• Try the BRAT diet: The BRAT diet consists of foods that are easy on the stomach like bananas, crackers, oatmeal, mild tea, boiled potatoes and broth. 
• Cinnamon, Cloves, Cumin: These spices are believed to reduce inflammation, calm the stomach lining, and stimulate faster digestion along with increased bile secretion. 
• Figs: Figs may help reduce the acidity of your stomach secretions; however, eat them in moderation as excessive amounts could make your digestive problems worse. 
• Aloe Vera Juice: Aloe juice may be useful in reducing acid reflux. 
• Basil: It may help reduce gas formation and could have anti-ulcer properties. 
• Liquorice: It is believed to help digestive issues and may protect the stomach lining from ulcers⁸. 
• Coconut water: It may help reduce the pain from digestive issues as it contains ample amounts of magnesium and potassium. 
• Yarrow: It is traditionally used to reduce the production of stomach acid. 
• Ajwain Seeds: Ajwain seeds contain thymol, which may aid in quicker digestion and may reduce bloating⁹.  
• Triphala Powder: Steeped in water and consumed at night, this herbal powder may help with digestive issues like IBS¹⁰. 

If a person has recurrent gastritis, then along with using home remedies, they should definitely visit their physician who can give them a treatment regimen for the bacteria Helicobacter pylori (one of the causes of gastritis).

Dr. Nikhil Yadav, MBBS MD,CCEBDM

How to Avoid Long-Term Digestive Problems

As mentioned in the beginning, digestive issues are caused by a variety of dietary and lifestyle choices. The discomfort and pain of digestive problems may be mitigated by simply cutting out these harmful factors from your life. Limiting the intake of or quitting coffee, soft drinks, alcohol, tobacco, smoking, and excessive junk foods will go a long way towards curtailing the risk of stomach-related health conditions. 

Healthy habits like eating regularly, avoiding binge eating, sleeping regularly, and getting some form of physical exercise daily can further lower your chances of developing a digestive problem in the long term. Stay away from foods that are hard to digest as well as acidic foods like lime and baking soda. 

It should be noted that some people may experience digestive issues like GERD or other serious gastrointestinal conditions despite maintaining a healthy lifestyle. This may be unavoidable and the only solution is to seek professional medical treatment. The above-mentioned home remedies may provide relief from occasional bouts of gas and other symptoms of digestive troubles. However, if they fail to provide, relief then one must seek medical help immediately.

Also Read: Natural Home Remedies for Food Poisoning

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

References

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Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.

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