Stomach pain is a common symptom that has ever occurred to us. There may be several causes behind this discomfort. Let’s see how to recognize the cause and the remedies and natural care for these more frequent and mild causes.
- How the stomach hurts
- Causes of stomach pain
- Natural remedies for stomach pain
- Life habits to avoid stomach pain
- Herbal Remedies and Nutritional Aids for Stomach Pain
The stomach is a wonderful organ that we pay little attention to, until it gives us the can. During childhood, complaints of pain or discomfort in the stomach are not uncommon, which some popularly call “pain in the pit of the stomach”. Eating too much or something that has simply felt bad, alcohol, too much coffee, carbonated soft drinks, a work lunch or a celebration, the lack of schedules … They can cause stomach pain.
“My stomach is closed and it hurts and nothing comes in.” This is a mythical phrase that perfectly reflects what happens to the stomach and why it hurts us when we are very nervous, worried or feel anxious. Has it happened to you, or perhaps to your children, at exam time? The stomach is a muscle and can shrink and/or become inflamed, and that’s where the pain comes from in most cases.
In this article we will see remedies and natural care for these more frequent and mild causes of the typical “pain of the pit of the stomach”. Without forgetting that if the pain is very intense, lasts over time and is accompanied by diarrhea, weight loss or other manifestations, we must consult to rule out or confirm conditions that require special care. Whatever the case, your stomach benefits from natural care and a healthy lifestyle.
HOW THE STOMACH HURTS
The stomach is a sac-shaped muscular organ. It has an upper opening through which food enters: the sphincter cardia, which is the connection with the esophagus; and a second, exit opening at the bottom, the pylorus sphincter, which connects to the duodenum (first part of the small intestine).
As can happen to other similar muscles, the stomach can contract or shrink. A contracted muscle hurts, and we notice…
- Pressure in the stomach area.
- Pain that can be mild or very intense, in which case it can be reflected in the back and / or in your cervical area.
- Stomach pain prevents many people from being able to eat normally. If this happens, we can also notice: swelling, heartburn, regurgitation, nausea, vomiting, belching.
CAUSES OF STOMACH PAIN
Stomach pain is a common symptom that has ever occurred to us. Although the causes can be several, the most frequent are: indigestion, gastritis or anxiety (nerves, we usually say). We tell you how to distinguish the origin of stomach pain.
1. INDIGESTION
Indigestion usually occurs from having eaten some spoiled food that damages or irritates the stomach or having eaten an excessive amount of food that the stomach is not able to process. As the stomach cannot empty well, it is tense, bloated and hurts.
Although it may not seem like it, regurgitations, belching, nausea and vomiting are the body’s way of “trying to make room”, emptying the stomach, eliminating the contents that are doing damage and facilitating the release of tension or stagnation in the stomach.
2. GASTRITIS
Gastritis is inflammation of the internal mucosa of the stomach or gastric mucosa. First of all, let’s not forget that the gastric mucosa is very powerful, it can withstand the high level of acidity conferred by hydrochloric acid that is so necessary for its digestive functions and to protect us from possible pathogens.
Gastritis can be started by irritating foods such as spicy, acidic, alcohol and in some people, fermented. Also, for tobacco, some drugs such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), foods that cause histaminosis as can occur in certain food intolerances. Stress or anxiety as we will see later can also sometime with gastritis.
Prolonged or severe gastritis can form ulcers in the gastric mucosa and in the vicinity of the cardiac sphincters and pylorus. This case requires professional support.
3. ANXIETY
If you have ever noticed that pinching sensation in the pit of the stomach, the inability to eat when you are stressed, worried or troubled, your stomach aches and pains are real but the cause is in your body-mind relationship.
When the brain is engaged in something that we make it believe concerns our vital security, certain functions are put in the background, and one of them is digestion.
Your stomach may suddenly shrink from upset or bad news, and you feel like vomiting. Once the problem that “worried” us has disappeared, the stomach is fine again. But … does it happen to you whenever you can get nervous?
The important problem, believe me, is when anxiety is not momentary but prolonged over time. Your stomach shrinks, becomes inflamed, gastritis starts, annoys, hurts. The stomach is not in a position to receive any food.
It’s as if your body and mind can’t “digest” what’s happening or what you think is going to happen. Fear is free and too powerful.
This situation can lead us to a hard and difficult experience: our social life is affected, vitality and health begin to decline, we can have problems of malnutrition, depression and can be the origin of the condition called anorexia nervosa with serious general consequences. It is advisable to seek psychological help without fear or shame. You will learn a lot about yourself, to take care of yourself and love yourself.
NATURAL REMEDIES FOR STOMACH PAIN
Do you identify with any of these 3 causes of stomach pain? If so, whatever the cause of your stomach upset, with the care of the rhythm, quantity and quality of your diet and lifestyle you will walk towards the desired tranquility and stomach well-being.
Let’s see remedies and natural care for these common situations that we have mentioned that can manifest with stomach pain, in case it ever happens to you or you have a tendency to happen to you.
LIFE HABITS TO AVOID STOMACH PAIN
- Distribute meals, do not swell.
- Keep a rhythm of eating schedules: this prepares the stomach and digestive system.
- Choose simple meals, not too seasoned, avoid spicy ones.
- Don’t fill your stomach: stop eating before you feel like you don’t fit anymore. So, you leave “hole”.
- Eat peacefully. Don’t argue during meals. An impossible on some occasions, I know, in that case, for example, when you go to negotiate something, eat light.
- Avoid drinking during meals. Use a sip just to “swallow.”
- Eat with water or a warm infusion but avoid cold drinks or ice. Before drinking a beer remember that it is fermented, carbonated and cold and that can give you stomach pain.
- Avoid sweets, refined sugar, honey, puff pastries…
- Avoid fried and fat, industrial snacks.
- Do you remember that “you don’t talk when you eat”? It has a reason: when you eat and tell you swallow air and it can cause discomfort. So, chew well, swallow and then talk.
- In your day to day: breathe, breathe and breathe. Practice some kind of meditation, mindfulness… The case is to stop a few minutes a day. When your stomach hurts: breathe in, swell the gut. Your stomach will stretch and then, breathe out slowly and let it relax. You will feel better.
- Put a little heat in your stomach after eating, sometimes a cushion is enough.
- Pamper your stomach.
HERBAL REMEDIES AND NUTRITIONAL AIDS FOR STOMACH PAIN
- Ginger (rhizome of Zingiber officinalis) is the king of plants to help the stomach. It’s certainly wonderful when it comes to indigestion, nausea, when we’ve eaten too much or when we’re not quite sure if the food we’ve eaten was too far there. It helps to better digest foods that are not really easy to digest, such as mushrooms. If you use grated ginger, make it a little: chop a lot. When ginger is cooked, it spices even more. An infusion with a little ginger, and for example, green tea or chamomiles would be perfect, taking it little by little.
- Cinnamon (bark and branches of Cinnamomum cassia or C. zeylanicum) is very interesting because it also helps relieve that spasm that is associated with stomach pain and we want something that warms us a little and comforts. Keep in mind that cinnamon bark is more potent than cinnamon sticks.
- Chamomile (flowers or plant of Matric aria chamomilla or Anthemis nobilis) is perhaps the most popular, acts as a digestive, anti-inflammatory and helps soothe pain. I remember as a child listening to older people: “chamomile helps you because either everything goes out or settles your stomach”. It is taken warm and a little.
- Fennel (fruits of Foeniculum vulgare) with its carminative and digestive action facilitates gastric emptying and helps relieve swelling, heaviness and gastric discomfort.
- Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) and poppy (petals of Papaver rhoeas or aerial parts of Eschscholzia californica) can help us when stomach pain has an emotional or mental origin as we have said related to anxiety or nervousness.
- Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra root) is a great digestive and gastric anti-inflammatory. It is preferable that people with hypertension avoid it or use it under professional advice.
- Digestive enzymes. I usually recommend along with digestive plants, digestive enzyme supplements to facilitate the work of the stomach.
Your stomach is wonderful, take care of it.
