How to Get Rid of Indigestion Pain
Learn effective remedies to get rid of indigestion pain.
Home Remedies for Indigestion
Indigestion is usually caused by acid from your stomach and the most common symptoms are pain and discomfort in your upper stomach, causing a burning sensation.
If you suffer from indigestion often, it can be pretty troublesome, especially when you are attending a special event and enjoying yourself with your friends and family.
In this article, we talk about effective ways to help you manage indigestion pain, and we give you a number of home remedies to help you get rid of indigestion.
Table of contents:
- 13 Effective ways to get rid of indigestion
- 8 Home remedies for indigestion
- Over-the-counter medications for indigestion
- When to see a doctor for indigestion
- Takeaways
13 Effective ways to get rid of indigestion
Depending on what caused your indigestion, there are a number of effective remedies to help you get rid of indigestion pain. Many of these solutions are easy to implement and can be carried out regularly to prevent indigestion.
- Stop eating the moment you begin to feel any stomach discomfort. The start of any pain while eating is a direct signal from your stomach that it needs time to process the food you have already eaten.
- Exercise stimulates and promotes the movement of food through the digestive tract. A brisk walk after taking your meal will help you to combat indigestion. However, refrain from indulging in any rigorous exercises immediately after your meal.
- Cut down on smoking and aim for a healthier lifestyle overall
- Eat five to six small meals throughout the day instead of having the traditional three large meals.
- Stress plays a huge role in causing indigestion. Indulge in relaxation techniques such as meditation, deep-breathing exercises, or yoga to help digestion and improve your overall peace of mind.
- Eat mild and soft foods while recovering from indigestion. Trade junk or oily food with fibre-rich food such as green leafy veggies and fruits to improve your digestive system.
- Don't lie down after eating a heavy meal. If you don't stay upright, your stomach acid can rise into your oesophagus, causing indigestion and heartburn. Staying awake after having a meal, strengthens your digestive power.
- Avoid laying down at night when you experience indigestion pain and use pillows to elevate your upper body instead.
- Drink water regularly to flush out toxins from your body. Water balances the acid production in your stomach and helps in reducing indigestion pain. Sipping water throughout the day might help to avoid indigestion in the first place
- Chew your food really well. Help your digestive process by chewing food 25-50 times before swallowing. Chewing aids in partially digesting your food before it goes to your stomach.
- If possible, try to reduce your caffeine or alcohol intake because both cause acute indigestion and fill your stomach with liquids that are hard to digest.
- Wearing comfortable clothes before a meal can ease digestion. Tight clothing will thwart your stomach's natural movement and will increase indigestion pain.
- Take a warm bath before going to bed as heat helps to reduce bloating.
8 Home remedies for indigestion
In some cases, there are several natural remedies you can make in your daily routine to help you prevent and better manage indigestion at home:
- Peppermint tea or chamomile tea work effectively to ease any indigestion pain. Both have an extremely calming effect on the entire digestive system.
- Drink a glass of lukewarm water with freshly-squeezed lemon and a teaspoon of honey every morning before you consume any food. This will balance the acid in your stomach and will encourage your stomach to work efficiently when you eat.
- Ginger is famous for its therapeutic and digestion-friendly properties. Brew a cup of ginger tea or consume fresh slices of ginger with some salt to boost digestion and get rid of any pain or discomfort.
- Apple cider vinegar can help increase stomach acid production if your indigestion is caused by a lack of stomach acid. Dilute one or two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water and drink when indigestion pain occurs.
- Baking soda can alleviate indigestion by neutralising acidity in the stomach. Dissolve ¼ teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water and drink after a meal. If you are taking medications, wait at least 2 hours after you took your medications before having baking soda.
- Fennel seeds are used to ease indigestion pain as well as other gastrointestinal discomforts. Crush a teaspoon of fennel seeds and add them to boiling water. Drink fennel tea whenever you experience indigestion pain.
- Licorice helps reduce stomach inflammation. Add licorice root to boiling water and drink one hour after your meal.
- Aloe vera helps reduce acid reflux. It is recommended to drink aloe vera juice on an empty stomach preferably in the morning.
Over-the-counter medications for indigestion
If you haven’t managed to get rid of your indigestion with natural remedies, you can try over-the-counter medications. They include supplements for digestive health or heartburn and antacid tablets that help alleviate indigestion pain. Several tried and tested brands offer medications to help relieve indigestion like Gaviscon and Rennie.
When to see a doctor for indigestion
You should see a doctor if you have persistent indigestion pain that lasts for more than 2 weeks or if indigestion pain is accompanied by symptoms such as vomiting, difficulty swallowing, black stools and weight loss.
Takeaways
Having indigestion is very common and can be very uncomfortable and disruptive to your life. Try the remedies mentioned above and, if the symptoms continue, see a doctor.
You don't have to live with indigestion; the sooner you start using the remedies or go to a doctor, the sooner you can feel better and enjoy a life of higher quality.
Sources:
- Indigestion, NHS: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/indigestion/
- Indigestion, Medline Plus: https://medlineplus.gov/indigestion.html
- Stress and the Sensitive Gut, Harvard: https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/stress-and-the-sensitive-gut
- Smoking and the Digestive System, Johns Hopkins Medicine: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/smoking-and-the-digestive-system
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