How to Make an Upset Stomach Feel Better

Everyone has experienced an upset stomach before, but that doesn’t make it any more pleasant to experience when it does happen! Although an upset stomach and nausea are not fun, they aren’t usually causes for concern, and it is often possible to treat the symptoms using home remedies.

Our AFC Urgent Care Gastonia team walks you through how you can care for your upset stomach at home, so keep reading!

  • Here’s what to do: Drink water. The body needs water to digest and absorb nutrients from foods and beverages efficiently. Being dehydrated makes digestion more difficult and less effective, which increases the likelihood of an upset stomach. Additionally, vomiting and diarrhea can lead to dehydration quickly, so people with these symptoms should keep drinking water.

  • What to do next: Avoid lying down. When the body is horizontal, the acid in the stomach is more likely to travel backward and move upward, which can cause heartburn and can make nausea worse. If you must lie down, prop up your head, neck and upper chest with pillows, ideally at a 30-degree angle.

  • What to do after: Try ginger. Ginger is a common natural remedy for an upset stomach and indigestion. Ginger contains chemicals called gingerols and shogaols that can help speed up stomach contractions, which can move foods that are causing indigestion and nausea through the stomach more quickly.

  • You should also try: Peppermint. Peppermint oil has been found to be a safe and effective way to combat nausea. You can take peppermint capsules or drink peppermint tea to experience its benefits.

  • Something else that helps: Taking a warm bath. Heat can relax tense muscles and ease indigestion and nausea. It could also be beneficial to apply a heated bag or pad to the stomach for 20 minutes or until it goes cool.

  • One more thing: Don’t forget about OTC medications! Nausea medications are called antiemetics, and when nausea is severe, you may need an OTC medication, like Dramamine or Pepto-Bismol, to help calm and soothe the stomach.

  • Action steps to take: Monitor how long your feelings of nausea last. If nausea has left you unable to eat or drink for more than 12 hours, visit our AFC center.

  • Doctor recommendations: Nausea and vomiting are both preventable! Avoid foods that are hard to digest, eat more smaller meals throughout the day instead of large ones, and drink plenty of water each day.

Our AFC Urgent Care Gastonia team is here for you now and always! Don’t hesitate to visit us today.