8 Home Remedies for Stomach Aches & Cramps
Stomach aches, also broadly called “abdominal pain,” are tricky things to find remedies for unless you know the cause. Ranging from indigestion and irritable bowel syndrome to gastritis and GERD, an aching tummy can stem from many things. Assuming you are dealing with an uncomplicated stomach ache, these remedies can help bring relief from the pain and discomfort that’s making you miserable.
1. Enjoy a Cup of Chamomile Tea
Chamomile can help ease the pain of a stomach ache by working as an anti-inflammatory (for example the lining of the stomach can become inflamed as a result common gastritis, caused by bacteria) and by relaxing the smooth muscle of the upper digestive track. When it relaxes that muscle, the contractions that are pushing food through your system ease up a bit and lessen the pain of cramping and spasms.
You will need…
-1 teabag of chamomile tea OR 1-2 teaspoons of dried chamomile
-A mug
-Hot water
Directions
Pour boiling water over a teabag and cover your mug, letting it steep for 10 minutes. If using dried chamomile, place 1-2 teaspoons in a mug and cover with boiling water. Cover the mug and let steep for 15-20 minutes. Sip slowly.
2. Use a “Hot” Pack
I put hot in quotations because you don’t truly want it hot-just very warm, but comfortably so. You can also use a hot water bottle for this as well. Heat helps to loosen and relax muscles, so if you find yourself cramping up, some warmth can go a long ways for relieving you of the dreadful discomfort.
You will need…
-A hot pack, hot water bottle, or something similar
-A cozy place to lie down
Directions
Find a place to lie down, and rest the hot pack on your belly. It should be a comfortable temperature, but definitely warm. Do this for at least 15 minutes, or as long as you need to, reheating as necessary.
3. Rice Water
Rice water is exactly what it sounds like-the water left-over after you cook rice. It acts a demulcent, meaning a substance that relieves inflammation by forming a sort of soothing barrier over a membrane, in this case, the lining of your stomach.
You will need…
-1/2 cup of white rice
-2 cups of water
-A pot
Directions
Cook your rice with twice the amount of water you normally would for your chosen amount. In this case I am using plain old long-grain white rice. Put your rice in a pot on the stove and add the water, cooking over medium-low heat. As the rice starts to become tender, remove it from the heat and let it soak for 3 minutes with the lid on the pan. Drain and drink the water warm, adding a smidge of honey if needed. Save the rice for a bland meal later.
4. Enjoy Some Mint
Fresh peppermint tea (or just peppermint tea in general) can help relax stomach muscles. It also helps improve the flow of bile, which helps you digest properly. This is especially useful if suffering from indigestion or gas/bloating.
You will need…
-A handful of fresh peppermint leaves OR 1-2 teaspoons dried
-Mug
-1 cup water
Directions
Cover the peppermint with 1 cup of boiling water, cover, and let steep for 5-10 minutes. Sip slowly while it’s still toasty warm. If using the fresh peppermint leaves, you can chew on them as well to ease stomach pains. You can also just use a pre-made teabag if you find that more desirable.
5. Warm Lemon Water
Lemon water, if your issue is indigestion, helps a stomachache. The high acidity level stimulates the production of hydrochloric acid, which breaks down our food. By upping the amount of HCL being produced, you help move digestion along at healthy pace. You get the added bonus of the hydration too, which keeps the system flushed and running smoothly.
You will need…
-1 fresh lemon
-warm water
6. Ginger Root Tea
Ginger contains naturally occurring chemicals called gingerols and shogaols. These chemicals can help relax smooth muscle, such as the muscle that lines the intestinal track, and therefore relieve stomach cramps or a colicky stomach ache. Ginger root is also great for relieving nausea, which may accompany a stomachache. Sipping on some warm tea can prove very useful as a home remedy for stomach aches and is, in my opinion, more effective than ginger ale.
You will need…
-1 ginger root, 1-2 inches
-A sharp knife or peeler
-1-2 cups of water
-Honey (optional)
Directions
Wash, peel, and then grate or finely chop 1-2 inches of fresh ginger root. Bring 1-2 cups of fresh water to a boil (use less water and more ginger if you want a more concentrated drink) and add your ginger. Boil for 3 minutes and then simmer for 2 more. Remove from heat, strain, and add honey to taste. Sip slowly and relax.
7. Chew Fennel Seeds
Let’s say your stomach ache is being caused by indigestion. In this case, chewing fennel seeds will help as they contain anethole, a volatile oil that can stimulate the secretion of digestive juices to help move things along. It can also help tame inflammation, and reduce the pain caused by it. If you are suffering from gastritis, inflammation of the stomach, this may provide some relief from the discomfort.
You will need…
-1/2-1 teaspoon of fennel seeds
Directions
After a meal, chew ½-1 teaspoon of fennel seeds thoroughly. If you are pregnant, avoid fennel.
8. Drink Club Soda and Lime
Like lemon, lime can help ease an aching tummy. Combine the lime with club soda and you have an easy drink to sip on to wash away the pain. If you overate and have a stomach ache as a result, the carbonation in club soda will encourage you to burp, therefore relieving pressure in your belly. It has been shown to help greatly with dyspepsia (basically indigestion) and constipation.
You will need…
-8 ounces of cool club soda
-Fresh lime juice
Directions
Mix 8 ounces of club soda with the juice of half a lime. Stir and sip slowly.
I myself have had more than a few unfortunate run-ins with stomach aches, particularly this past year. Thanks to some generous family genes, I seem quite prone to them. Second to headaches, I find chronic stomach pain to be one of the most distracting to deal with day-to-day.
By keeping a couple options for stomach ache remedies on hand at all time, I find I can usually be prepared to ward it off should it start to creep up.
P.S. Make sure to take a look at the Everyday Roots Book with 350+ pages of the best home remedies, natural beauty recipes, homemade cleaners and diy household products. View Remedies
By Claire Goodall
Claire is a lover of life, the natural world, and wild blueberries. On the weekend you can find her fiddling in the garden, playing with her dogs, and enjoying the great outdoors with her horse. Claire is very open-minded, ask her anything 🙂 Meet ClaireWe Want to Hear from You! Let us know which remedies work and do not work for you, ask a question or leave a comment:
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Hi I’m suffering with terriable tummy cramps its just paining and cramping please send me a easy home remedie please ASAP
I have stomach cramps for the last 5 days, not as severe as when I had it on day one! I’m 69yrs I’m taking probiatic, what do you reccomend for me, if anything!
Well saloshini if you are a girl ( not to embarrass you or anything) but you may be on your period. If you’re young like me I’m 12 and I haven’t started yet. So I’m assuming is what’s causing your pain.
Cumin, cumin, cumin! I know this won’t help you now, but for people in future. I had some horrible stomach cramps with a stomach bug or food poisoning, not really sure which and I found this on another site. I didn’t have ginger or peppermint so I put a tsp of ground cumin in some hot(ish) water swirled and drank about 1/4 of it. It helps almost immediately. It only lasts about a half hour, so every half hour I would take a little more. By about the 8th dose I didn’t have to take more for a few hours. I have a two year old and had a deadline on a website I was building so I had absolutely no option to be incapacitated for two days. Cumin saved me!
@saloshini how are you feeling? Hopefully better! I know this is personal, but do you have IBS? I do and when it comes to pain and cramps I try to take more fiber (benefiber, Metamucil, veggies, etc), eat ginger, and drink peppermint tea. Hope that helps! Can you tell me when they occur?
I just feel really really bad my stomach is “killing me”
I keep having the same problems and having pains in my right intestine its strange doctors are hopeless I dont no what to do sick and tired feels like my intestines going to burst when its digestine
Mine feel the same like once every month
@David it could be apendicidise if that is how you spell it or not but anyways that is when your appendix could rupture at any time… Glad I could help!!
Also I am experiencing very bad abdominal pain and I’m in my period and I have tried every thing in the world like heat compressed to my stomach and I have tried laying down in different positions to help my stomach but it just seems hat it ain’t working and I just dont know what to do because pain reliever isn’t even near working at all so could you please get back to me ASAP I am realy needing it
Could be gallbladder. When the fall stones get stuck in a bile duck (small tube like area) it is the worst pain. I have had that pain for 3days straight. The kind of pain that puts you on the floor curled up in ball. Worst pain ever. Gallbladder in on the right side. Apendex is on the left side both very serious. I went to the emergency room. And I cryed in pain the whole way there. Talk about uncomfortable.
I just had my 3rd baby and I suffer from IBS-like symptoms every time post partum and I’m so tired and still healing (c-section) its like I live in the bathroom for the first 3-4 hours in the morning and it get worse if I have not had a good nights sleep so I’m in this vicious cycle and it’s depressing. I know I have to eat healthy but with 3 kids it’s hard to be organised and cook good meals. Guess I have to suffer through till the fog clears – which is ironic – GIGO and I have no physical energy to remedy what I have to get the ball going! But I will try the ginger/peppermint tea – I am trying to reduce my caffeine too.
Oh dear, I am sorry to hear this. IBS is no fun. And I can’t even imagine trying to juggle 3 kids and find time to take care of yourself with it, especially since stress can exacerbate it so badly. Definitely try the tea, and it’s a great idea to cut back on caffeine. If it’s at all possible (once you’ve healed from your section) getting some time out to exercise can work wonders to regulate digestion-and it helps sleep, not to mention boosting energy. Keeping a little diary of when you get an upset stomach (jot down time, anything you’ve eaten/drank, and circumstance) can be helpful to eliminate triggers. Interestingly IBS is also listed, in clinical medicine, as a psychologically driven ailment as well as physical. If you are often worn out, as tough as it may be, do try and get a few moments peace. That bit of time will pay off in the long run when you aren’t spending hours debilitated by stress-induced IBS. Not only that, but you just plain deserve it 🙂
Boy, Claire! You’d make a great doctor! You’re so caring and sympathetic… =D
BusyMommy
I heard a doctor say that IBS can be a migraine and that migraines can happen in other parts of you body not just your head. then i read that taking 1 ounce of celery juice can help and if it ain’t enough to take 2 ounces and the person said she never had to take a third dose. I have had IBS for many years and decided to try just eating the celery and it helped to ease my miserable tummy. i think i will try the juice next time because I am hopeful that it will help even more.. good luck
@Busy Mommy What is happening in the bathroom? Are you vomiting or having diarrhea? I not on expert on these things but I do know that what is going on in the bathroom will effect what types of remedies you try. Of these don’t work then try adding things like cinnamon.
Also I have sharp pains that happen quite frequently around 8:00-10:00 u anyone knows how to stop this permanently please tell me right away!!! I need this to stop!
Thanks for the tips. Youre an angel.
Thanks Joe, I am glad you found them helpful!
I’m suffering from terrible abdominal pain please help me to get rid of this pain
So what could I do to help him feel batter asap . or help with the pain he is drinking g2 and 7up and salted crackers and juice is that good or not good
After the breakfast & dinner , chew some fennel seeds (Saunf). Also avoid taking cold drinks and cold water. Stomach cramps are mostly appeared when indigestion occurs. Peptic ulcer patients are medicated through omesoperazole therapy, due to which they lack Hcl secretion and consequently the weak digestive system. So such patients should avoid high carbohydrates diets, creamy and dairy products in the dinner. Green tea added with one spoon honey can help in indigestion and make sure half mile walk before going to bed
Thanks for the great tips. I have been suffering with really bad abdominal pain it comes and go one minute I am fine and the next I and crunch up in a ball how bad the pain is.
hello my name is tatiyanna crayton and i am having stomach problems and i need help from you guys so my stomach keeps on hurtin i took gas pills i no i dont have cramps but what im trying to figure out is how do i get rid of this and just to let you noo i am 13 years old thank you have a nice day
Ok guys I get a tummy ache now and then and the best thing to do to cure or get ride of it is 1. Read something like what I do I read things that cure my tummy aches or just read a book, it will take you mind off of your ache 2. Write about something , it will also take your mind off of it 3. Play a game , It to will take your mind off of it 4. Drink an energy drink Like Gatorade or powerade (note not like red bull or moster) because the electrolytes help flush out the nastys in your stomach. Those things usually help me get through a tummy ache
I was desperate tonight looking for home remedies for my 12 year who cannot sleep from abdominal pain (not severe enough for ER, but severe enough to have kept him up until 2:30am) and my other two children are asleep, I cannot go out to buy anything and I have nothing at home. I found your blog the most helpful. I only had chamomile tea at home and an old water bottle that I’ve forgotten I had under my bathroom sink for 7+ years. I gave him the tea but it was the water bottle that was a God-send tip. It helped him immensely within minutes so he could rest and relax. He tried to remove it 25 minutes later but the pain immediately returned so we placed it on him again. I know it’s a lot to say on here but I had to let you know how effective this was for us. Thank you so much, thanks to you my son may be able to get some rest after all.
I am so sorry to hear your son was in so much discomfort, and I am glad that this was able to help! I hope he’s feeling 100% now 🙂
I am still sore with stomach cramps from some bad bacon thirty six hours ago at all places, a nursing home. Unfortunately, it is middle of night and I,don’t have any of those things at home but coca cola syrup from years ago helps a little. A tip….don’t eat bacon out…….
Hi help me out I got so much sever pain on stomach from two days both right left n central part I can’t distinguish which side much …
O my god .. I drank leomen water also n leomen tea also .. but its not going …
Hi Claire I recently found out that I have fibroids and now I have stomach cramps . I’ve never been in so much pain before, I’m trying the Chamomile Tea for stomach cramps. Thanks for the post because I didn’t know what to do. Do you have any home remedies for fibroids.
hi myself arihant.. I m suffering abdominal pain last 5years.. It is worse in the morning at the upper most part in the morning… it increase and feel most when touching the upper part…my stomach make intestinal sound regular… Help me to overcome the pain…
I am having really bad stomach pains to the point were i cant even get a good sleep without having to wake up and crunch up into.a.ball. ive taken gatorade, sprite and it hasnt helped. I dont know what else to do .the pain comes and goes. I can be good for a couple of.minutes amd then it comes back and.it hurts so so bad to the point were i almost cry. I need help please. I cant afford going to the ER or doctor all the time for them to tell me they cant find whats wrong. 🙁
please help. I am recovering from surgery and am on antiviral, depression, pain and muscle relaxing meds on a daily basis which is keeping me nauseated. The OTC stomach meds (pecid, kaopectate, pepto, heartburn chewables, etc…) do not deliver. I hv tried 1/4 lemon w/1/3 C. warm water. Sh I try add’l lemon juice from lemon? Prob another 1/4 C of juice in lemon itself…Sadly, I ingested 1/3 C. filthy water (phlem and facial soap soaking in dirty glass for 3days!) Drank from cup w/out realizing it. Not used to dirty glass on dining table. Not paying attn., tkg med, grabbed glass, drank long sip…Already hv weakened immune system and worried this water will hurt me. Thoughts? P.S. hv just purchased ur hm rem book as I dnt trust rx meds…Thx Claire!
Hi Susan B.
I think we have a lot in common. I took anti depressants for many years too and now that I got off I’m wondering if it caused this horrible stomach pain daily and possible digestion issues or it was triggered by this contaminated sandwich I bought……..
Why are my pains so often?
Since yesterday on an average every houri have been having motion……some sticky, stinking mucous like substance flows out and anything I intake even water , system flushes it out…..this along with persistant stomachache is causing lot of discomfort… doc prescribed O2 tab, flora BC, RabeteroL…..pl advice
Am having problem with my stomach.
These are great tips. I never thought of rice water as a remedy for stomach ache. In this case, I’ve only known of the great benefits of drinking chamomile tea because of its calming effect and cranberry juice for kidney stones pain. – Ms Wong
these tips are really good….thanx
If its a cramp simply apply some gingelly oil and pour a little on ur belly button it gives instant relief
Hi i got a stomacheache now i suffered almost 4 days.. until now i got a pain also.. i cant breath the time my tummy cramps on the pain.. i dont know what to do now also my daughter have a stomache ache.. i went to the doctor but shes okay right now the problem is all about myself i dont know how to stop this.. pls help..
Thanks,
Janice
I’ve had stomach pain since yesterday could you suggest a home remedie
Hey…I’ve had cramps for about the last 2 weeks and it’s so painfull
I’m sorry your pains were so long. Mine are going on 7 weeks! I get this feeling after alot of researching that relaxation would help.
HI,
My daughter has been suffering with stomach pain for more than 2 weeks. I tried miralax, ranitidine, prune juice ,gripe water. she is having a lot of pain And Xray,blood test, urine test all are normal. Npt ssure what should I do. Please help. She says pain is all the time around her belly button and becomes worse while bending or getting on steps
Hi my daughter is having stomach pain on & off. Having gastric too, found some worms in her pee. Gave zentel 10 ml today.
Still having stomach pain on & off.pls suggest why & natural remedy to treat it. Thx
I eat for my blood type (I bought the book at the health food store). It says I shouldn’t eat pork….and I haven’t for 2 years since I bought the book, but for the last two nights I ate small thin, tenderized (with a mallet), pork . Today my stomach feels as heavy as though I had a 10 lb bowling ball in there. Someone told me to eat celery, and slowly it is working. It seems to cut the gas and get things moving along. NO MORE PORK FOR ME.
I suffer from diverticula disease and when I get a attack I take buscopan but that generally don’t help anymore. Any other remedies or medication I can help my symptoms.
So many great ideas, I really needed this. I’m definitely going to try out the lemon water.
Hi this may or may not help anyone but I rather enjoy lying down with something hot pressed against my stomach and sipping on ginger beer while nibbling on either butter shortbread or plain hobnobs I found that after the forth or fifth one and around half way through the second can it eases alot
Warm Lemon Water totally worked for my stomach cramp. Thanks
My name is jenie payne from (CANADA) i have (IBS) and (diverticulitis) and I have real bad servere belly cramping even to the point it’s now im having servere pain in my legs and feet with it.. the pain is that servere it’s ends up in the (ER) most of the time they give me buscopan..and toradol injection and even that don’t help much im to the point now I don’t know what to do anymore please help any suggestion thank you
I can barely finish my food anymore before I used to be a garbage disposal!!!!! I don’t have cramps or anything but just a few hrs ago I didn’t flex my stomach and felt something hard in my belly around my belly button area btw I’m 12 and I don’t have the things listed please help!
I’m currently on antibiotics and painkillers for tonsillitis. I’ve never been one to take well to tablets – stomach cramps, itchiness, shakes etc. This time I’ve been experiencing the cramps, but more like a cross between indedigestion, and my whole stomach twisting inside me. It is unbearable, I am having trouble sleeping and I’m crippled over in pain for the most part of the day. The tonsillitis is almost cleared but have to continue my course of antibiotics for about 10 days – 10 days I really don’t want to be wasting in bed with ‘cramps’. Can anyone help me out with something to soothe the pain? Or Atleast something to enable me to have a conversation without crying mid way?
I’m in the same boat as you. I’m on antibiotics after a round of Tamiflu. I have major stomach spasms. They hurt. Good luck. I naturally have a ridiculously unruly stomach. But this is beyond what I can control.
100% grape juice cures most stomach ailments. Keep it on hand.
Hi I’m 11 years old and I have a bad stomachache and I keep vomiting and sometimes the pain randomly comes which hurts a lot. Today was my first day that I called in sick at my school and I’m sad because I’ve never missed a day of school before, and I planned to have perfect attendance all school years. Please help me. I don’t want to call in sick again.
Im 33 male and having really bad cramps they have put me on midol Cramps meds anti nassau meds meds for ibs and meds for stomach olsirs have a colonasapee Sorry if i spelled that wrong also had a barium enema and ct And xrays tried lemon water and heating pad nuttin working as a joke doctor did a pregnancy test and that read inactive remember im male please help been over a year and my pain and cramps getting worse and not finding any help from over 20 doctors i seen
Hi.i’m 14 and Male and just getting over a stomach ache that has lasted about 2 hours.it’s 1:53Am and I have not gotten a minute of sleep. I used a heating pad and it worked like a charm after maybe 20 minutes. I don’t know what caused the stomach ache, but heat worked.
I have the same problem as you! My pains don’t ever lay up to a day unlike the other people, but I get them frequently. Since your age is 14 I assume you might have been a bit unclean or you may have had a bit too much sugar or an unfriendly mix of drinks and foods ie. Oranges and yoghurt. My mum used to tell me all the time to be clean since I was very prone to stomach aches
I’ve been having so many stomach issues. I had my gallbladder removed. It helped for short time. Now I can’t hardly breath after I eat. Stomach gets so hard and swollen. I quit all gluten,chocolate, cut down to 1 cup coffee a day.I get lightheaded,short of breath,always feeling full,sharp head pains radiating thrumy back to almost fainting everday. All heart,thyroid,lungs,kidneys in good shape.Anybody have any ideas. I can’t keep living like this. It’s debilitating and depressing sometimes. I don’t or afraid to gout anymore. Exercising is miserable. thanks
Hi Trish,
Has the Dr tested your B12 levels? Some of your symptoms are similar to those you have with B12 deficiency. B12 is found in animal products & dairy, if you are vegan then you should take supplements.
You can get it from having a paracitic infection, high levels of bacteria in the stomach or IBD. You should get the Dr to test for all of these too & H Pylori.
I hope you get to the bottom of it soon. 🙂
i have had a stomach virus and stomach aches and throwing up for 3 days straight and today i am feeling somewhat better but i still dont know what to do to take away some of the pain i am having can someone email me and let me know or let me know somehow.? thank you
My mom has been having really bad stomach pains for two days now, and the lemon water soothed her a little bit, but what else should I do?
Very helpful! I’m pretty young, but I would really rather ditch medicine for natural things.Thank you so much for sharing all these things!They are SOOOO helpful!
Thought I would share this as it helped me a lot, though I didn’t quite understand it. A few days ago I had stomach cramps and gas. On the 3rd day I was on a flight and the attendant came around serving us dinner. I refused to eat due to my condition and asked for some fresh juice. She suggested that I have a mix of Soda water and tonic water (mixed in equal parts). I did not understand the mixing part but I still went ahead and had it. Indeed it worked!!!! I only had a couple of very mild cramps and when we reached our destination at midnight, I straight away went to bed. I woke up absolutely fine in the morning. I could eat normally, no cramps at all!
I do wonder what does that mixture make up of to help….if anyone can explain, it shall be highly appreciated!
Stay well
Hi
I have terrible stomach pain at the right side from last 3 months , all blood ,urine tests were normal also sonography reports normal
Please suggest me how it cure ASAP
@ mayuri ask ur Dr to test you for gastroparesis that what I found out I have it’s no joke I don’t even know if any of this would work for me
Is this normal for me? When I was reading your comments I noticed you guys have stomach pain for a very long time like days and days, but my pains are only for a few hours or maybe 1 day at max. But however I get stomach aches more easily than anything else. I always end up with them somehow one way or another. Is it just me or is my stomach weaker than normal since every time I go to another country for a holiday I get stomach aches just from the environment and the water there.
Thanks so much for your tips! They really do work! ❤️