Health Health Basics Home Remedies 7 Natural Remedies for Soothing an Upset Stomach Stomach ache? Bloating? Nausea? Here are some great at-home remedies for tummy troubles. By Karen Asp, MA, CPT, VLCE Karen Asp, MA, CPT, VLCE Instagram Twitter Website Karen Asp is an award-winning journalist and author specializing in fitness, nutrition, health, animals, and travel. She has over two decades’ worth of experience writing for leading print magazines and digital brands, including Real Simple, Better Homes & Gardens, O, SELF and more. Karen is a certified plant-based nutrition educator, certified vegan lifestyle coach and educator, and ACE-certified personal trainer and fitness instructor. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on March 11, 2023 Fact checked by Isaac Winter Fact checked by Isaac Winter Isaac Winter is a fact-checker and writer for Real Simple, ensuring the accuracy of content published by rigorously researching content before publication and periodically when content needs to be updated. Highlights: Helped establish a food pantry in West Garfield Park as an AmeriCorps employee at Above and Beyond Family Recovery Center. Interviewed Heartland Alliance employees for oral history project conducted by the Lake Forest College History Department. Editorial Head of Lake Forest College's literary magazine, Tusitala, for two years. Our Fact-Checking Process Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Getty Images You don't need stats to tell you that stomach issues like bloating, constipation, and nausea are extremely common. Just cruise down the medicine aisle of any grocery store and you'll see dozens of over-the-counter (OTC) medications promising to ease whatever's upsetting your stomach. OTC meds aren't always necessary, though, especially once you consider how many natural remedies exist for various tummy troubles. "Natural remedies can be an excellent first choice when treating nausea or an upset stomach," says Saundra Dalton-Smith, MD, internal medicine physician in Birmingham, Alabama, and author of Sacred Rest. Many of these stomach soothers are found in your pantry while others are habits you can easily adopt. Here are eight natural options worth trying. How to Stay One Step Ahead During Cold and Flu Season 01 of 07 Ginger What it does: Ginger has long been touted as a natural remedy for seasickness. Turns out, it really does do wonders for tummy issues. "Ginger has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that help decrease the excessive stomach acids that can cause nausea and indigestion," Dr. Dalton-Smith says. "By increasing the absorption in the stomach, ginger helps improve the digestion process." How to get the benefits: Suck ginger lozenges or use fresh ginger directly from your pantry, adding the spice to meals you're making. You can also sip ginger tea, says Elena A. Ivanina, DO, MPH, assistant professor of medicine and assistant program director of the gastroenterology fellowship at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. She adds that this is particularly beneficial for morning sickness during pregnancy. To make it, peel and slice two inches of fresh ginger root and add it to a pot of water. Bring that to a boil for 10 minutes and then strain. Wait until it's reached room temperature to enjoy. RELATED: 7 Anti-Inflammatory Foods to Eat Every Day for Long-Term Health 02 of 07 Chamomile What it does: Chamomile is an anti-inflammatory that helps relax the muscles in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and decrease GI contractions caused by an upset stomach, Dr. Dalton-Smith says. How to get the benefits: Sip it as a warm tea, and you'll get double the benefits. "The heat will further relax painful stomach cramps," Dr. Dalton-Smith says. 03 of 07 Rice What it does: When you've got a case of diarrhea, cook up some rice. That diarrhea is caused by bacteria releasing toxins, which increases fluid in the GI tract. Because rice is a bulking agent, "it can help absorb some of the fluid in the gut and decrease the amount of loose stools," Dr. Dalton-Smith says. How to get the benefits: Eat half a cup of rice with meals to alleviate some of your discomfort. RELATED: 5 Foods to Avoid for a Happy, Healthy Gut Microbiome 04 of 07 Intermittent fasting What it does: Feeling a little bloated? Try intermittent fasting. "Issues with gut motility (the movement of food and digested material through the body) is the underlying issue for many people with bloating," Ivanina says. Through fasting, you can give your gut time to rest and repair, optimizing the motility of your small bowel. How to get the benefits: Try doing a 16:8 cycle (where you fast for 16 hours and eat during an eight-hour window) for just a few days. 05 of 07 Bananas What it does: Credit banana's magnesium and potassium content for helping relax muscle spasms and cramps. Bananas can also help curb diarrhea, Dr. Dalton-Smith says. How to get the benefits: Fortunately, you don't need to eat a whole bushel of bananas. Just nosh your normal amount whenever you're experiencing these symptoms. 06 of 07 Yoga What it does: If you've got trapped gas—and thus bloating and constipation—yoga could be a good salve. "Twisting poses are said to stimulate the gut," Ivanina says. How to get the benefits: When your gut isn't feeling so good, sit down and do 10 minutes of yoga poses, including half lord of the fishes pose, supine spinal twist, and revolved chair twist. 07 of 07 Kefir or Yogurt What it does: The active cultures and probiotics in these two foods can help combat the bad gut bacteria which are often responsible for bloating, poor digestion and stomach pains by increasing the amount of available good bacteria in your gut, Dr. Dalton-Smith says. How to get the benefits: When buying kefir or yogurt, avoid those with lots of additives and sweeteners. Instead, choose plain, unsweetened versions and consume a regular serving size, typically about a half cup, once or twice a day. RELATED: These Are the Best Stress-Relieving Foods You Can Eat, According to Doctors Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit