Natural Remedies for Indigestion
Having a big meal at the end of the day is not recommended for those who are susceptible to indigestion. Even a lick of something spicy may make your stomach rumble like a volcano. In this article, we will cover natural remedies for indigestion, so you don’t have to cut out all your favorite foods.
Contrary to what some think, you don’t necessarily need to limit yourself to bland food to stay away from indigestion. There are many things aside from spices that cause upset stomachs. Fatty or greasy food, too much alcohol, caffeine, carbonated drinks — even too much chocolate causes symptoms like bloating, heartburn, belching, farting, nausea and diarrhea.
This doesn’t mean you have to stay away from all foods, and here is where some helpful natural remedies can come in handy.
Best Natural Remedies for Taming Indigestion
1. Have a Spoonful of Fennel Seeds
Fennel seeds are fragrant, sweet and can help anyone who experiences IBS or indigestion. Even chewing on a spoonful of fennel seeds usually does the trick in calming noisy stomachs. But if you want to treat yourself to something special, I would recommend trying a fennel tea. Add a spoonful of fennel tea to boiling water and steep it for a few minutes. The oils present in fennel seeds reduce gas in your stomach and calm the bowel, thus reducing any feelings of nausea.
2. Have Some Ginger
Unless you can chew on a sliver of ginger, I would recommend any of the following options: try using a couple of 250-milliliter ginger capsules with your meals or, if possible, make up a cup of ginger tea. Steep a ginger root in simmering water for 10 to 20 minutes and remove the root. Add some drops of lemon juice and have ginger water after a meal. Otherwise, have candied ginger if the taste is too much for you.
3. Chamomile
Chamomile doesn’t only work wonders for your sleep schedule. Because of its calming traits, chamomile is regarded as an effective home remedy against rowdy stomachs and bloating. If you have been feeling nauseous, chamomile calms your intestinal tract enough that it digests and passes whatever has been causing issues. Have a cup of chamomile tea once or twice a day or treat yourself to a small tablespoon of chamomile tincture.
4. Apple Cider Vinegar
This one might seem a little strange, but it is effective nonetheless.
Apple cider vinegar in a 1/2 cup of water aids in creating acid for your stomach. Your food digests quickly, and whatever the offensive ingredient is gets digested quicker without causing bowel inflammation. If you have a strong stomach, you could drink the apple cider vinegar and water combo by itself. But if you cannot stand the taste, a slight drop of honey will do a lot to sweeten the deal.
5. Peppermint Tea
For all the unfortunate sufferers of IBS out there, peppermint comes as a lifesaver.
Peppermint provides an antispasmodic effect that relieves the stomach of issues like indigestion and nausea.
A cup of peppermint tea once or twice a day after a meal can help prevent stomach problems, but only if you are having indigestion. If you are experiencing acid reflux, have ulcers or GERD, I would advise against peppermint.
The antispasmodic effect will increase the problem since it won’t allow the stomach and oesophageal muscles to flex enough. Because of that, your body will not redirect the stomach acids back down.
6. Lemon Water
If you are not a fan of ginger, there is no reason why you cannot skip it altogether and have lemon water instead. Lemon water increases levels of vitamin C in your body. It’s not a lot, but it is enough that your body gets the boost it needs to push the offensive material out of your body, so your indigestion subsides.
I recommend mixing a few drops of lemon with warm or hot water. Have a cup once a day, preferably in the evening. Don’t try to have too much. Remember that lemon is acidic. Too much lemon will wear out the enamel on your teeth and increase urination.
In Conclusion
There are plenty of valuable tricks to remedy indigestion, but your goal should be not to get indigestion in the first place.
If you have had constant indigestion, get yourself tested for any allergies to gluten or dairy. Also, get tested for IBS and speak to your doctor about medication to improve your digestion. While the remedies mentioned above will work well against indigestion, getting medical treatment will ensure that you only rely on these remedies once in a blue moon.