I’m no stranger to stomach pain and bloating. You can even call it the fancier term “digestive distress” and I’d be like – I feel you dawg. For me, this is part of the joy of being diagnosed with two autoimmune diseases – but really, any of us can get stuck with stomach pain from time to time.
While the causes of stomach pain and bloating can be a variety of things, such as anxiety, stress, poor diet, not enough water, IBS, taking too many prescriptions, or even a bonafide health problem, one of the more common reasons for chronic stomach pain and bloating is inflammation and leaky gut.
What The Heck is Leaky Gut?
The remember the first time I heard the phrase “leaky gut”. I was copywriting a video for a health supplement company and had to go into deep detail on all the elements of leaky gut, while also describing visuals that could go along with the copy. The general idea is that toxins and bacteria begin to leak out of the intestinal lining of our intestinal tract and then just swim around in our bodies wreaking havoc and making us sick.
I definitely had a stomachache after learning all that. Gross.
But, learning a lot about leaky gut has also helped me discover some easy, natural remedies that I use at home when I start to feel more inflammation in my abdomen than normal. I’m not 100% sure if I have leaky gut or not – but there’s a lot of research out there that says that many autoimmune diseases and other digestive issues are related to having it – so I forge ahead with that assumption that I did (or do), just in case. The protocols for healing leaky gut also help with other things anyway, so – win win.
If you want to learn more about leaky gut, I highly recommend this article.
Natural Remedies for Stomach Pain & Bloating:
If your stomach pain and bloating are from things like leaky gut or inflammation in your digestive tract, then these natural remedies should help! But, keep in mind, I’m not a doctor – just a researcher and guinea pig that is sharing what has worked for me. Advocate for your own health, do what works for you and absolutely see a doctor if needed. Some links below are also affiliate links.
1. Drink Celery Juice:
Yep, you read that right. Celery juice has become popular lately, thanks to the book by the Medical Medium, followed by a slew of celebrity endorsements and people sharing their celery juicing trend on social media.
Oh hello, that’s me.
So, I decided to try it out for two weeks and report everything I experienced and learned in a blog post that has become one of the most read blog posts ever in the history of my blog.
Turns out, a lot of you are looking for natural remedies for digestive ailments, too.
Well, celery juice is a really easy win when it comes to digestive distress. When I really need to get the inflammation down, I start celery juicing again and try to enjoy my cup of celery juice for breakfast. It is one of my go-tos for stomach pain that has almost instant results.
It’s seriously amazing. Read the entire post on how I make celery juice and the juicer I use.
2. Do a Castor Oil Pack:
These are easier than they might sound. I give a very easy step-by-step to how to make and use castor oil packs in another post, but I’ll share why they are so good here, too.
Castor oil packs use the powerful anti-inflammatory and cleansing benefits of castor oil combined with the warmth of heat to give you an incredible natural remedy for stomach pain, bloating, and tons of other abdominal ailments. Here are just a few benefits of castor oil packs:
The Benefits of a Castor Oil Pack:
Castor oil works by stimulating your lymph and liver function by increasing your lymphocyte count, which allows the body to speed up the process of removing toxins from your tissues. Lymphatic congestion is a key factor in inflammation and disease. So, if you have an autoimmune disease or health issues, you are likely struggling with a sluggish lymphatic system where toxins are building up and making you sick.
Castor oil packs can be placed on different areas of the body, such as over the thyroid, over the liver, over the mid-section, etc., to target particular areas of the body, and the many benefits include:
- Shrinking uterine fibroids
- Shrinking and reducing ovarian cysts
- Reducing symptoms of PCOS
- Relaxing the digestive system and improving constipation
- Reducing gallbladder inflammation/stones
- Improving lymphatic drainage
- Reducing gut inflammation
- Reducing headaches and migraines
- Shrinking cysts in breast tissue
- Detoxifying the liver
- Shrinking thyroid cysts and nodules
- Reducing painful menstrual cramps
- Shortening periods and regulating cycles
Basically, it’s like a super cleanse for your body – and encourages your body to do a better job of what it should be doing already. But, if you’re sick or struggling with health issues, thats a big heads up that your body needs help improving these basic functions.
I highly recommend them. If you’re in consistent pain, do them daily. If you have occasional pain, use as needed. Read the detailed post on how to make and use castor oil packs here.
3. Use Magnesium:
Magnesium is a powerful regulator and responsible for over 600 reactions in our body. Here is just a short list of ways magnesium helps:
- Every cell in the body needs magnesium to function
- Helps neutralize stomach acid and moves stools through the intestine
- Helps with DNA and RNA
- Helps with muscles – movements, contractions, etc.
- Helps nervous system regulation – which is why magnesium can be used to help fight anxiety, depression, etc.
- Helps with Type 2 Diabetes
- Helps lower blood pressure
- Helps reduce inflammation
- Helps prevent migraines
- Helps with insulin resistance
- Helps with PMS symptoms
While you can certainly strive to eat your magnesium, I have found that the lotions are the most effective way to get the benefits of magnesium very quickly. They work much more quickly than even supplements, but a magnesium supplement is another way to ease stomach pain. I’ve started taking two of these pills every night before I go to bed and they help with anxiety, muscle cramping and digestion!!
Plus, if you’re pregnant or just suffering from leg cramps – rubbing this lotion on your calves and lower legs will help tremendously with relaxing those muscles.
Just don’t take TOO much magnesium – or your stomach will hurt for another reason!
Read more about the other anti-inflammatory supplements that I take in this post.
4. Do a Detox Bath:
Another way to get a bunch of magnesium, while also incorporating other powerful remedies, such as warm water, essential oils, etc., is to do a detox bath.
They are so simple – just add your detox ingredients to warm to hot water so they dissolve and mix and then get in when the water is at a temperature you can handle.
Sit for 20-30 minutes and let all that goodness soak in through your skin.
I wrote a detailed post on my best detox bath tips if you’re a newbie, but sometimes we just need a reminder to do something we know works and just forgot about.
Or maybe that’s just me. Oops.
5. Drink Anti-Inflammatory Smoothies:
One of my absolute GO-TO tips when I start to get stomach pain is switch to smoothies. But, we’re not talking about Jamba Juice here (although I looooove me some Jamba Juice), I am talking about the most superfood loaded smoothie with tons of greens in there that you can get in your body.
Don’t worry, they actually taste good. Even my kids drink them! In fact, I love them so much, I try to drink one every day for lunch and find I feel much better when I do.
Here’s a really basic recipe with links to the products that I use to get you started.
Easy Anti-Inflammatory Smoothie:
- Handful of fresh spinach (could also add kale)
- Handful of frozen dark berries mix (blueberry, raspberry, blackberry, etc)
- Half of a frozen banana
- 8-12oz of Coconut Water. Can also use Almond Milk or oatmilk if you have it.*
- 1 tbsp. of Hemp Seeds
- 1 tbsp. of Chia Seeds
- 1 scoop collagen (optional, but so good)
*Start with 6-8oz of liquid and add as needed to get the consistency you like*
Some people also like to add in other things, like flax seeds, bee pollen, protein powder, etc. Make this your own. Blend it up in your blender. I like the Nutribullet, because it becomes your cup after.
There are even pre-made smoothie mixes at Costco where all you need to add is the liquid and mix-ins, which can cut time down, too.
If you hate this recipe, check out my posts on anti-inflammatory smoothies or the most delicious green smoothies on the internet.
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There you have it! 5 easy, natural remedies that you can incorporate into your regular routine to help cut back on stomach pain and bloating, so you can get on with your life and feel better!
Need even more ideas? Check out my new updated post with 8 natural remedies for stomach pain!
Keep in mind that if you try these things and anything makes the pain worse – please stop. And, if you’ve been suffering for awhile, see a doctor. Do your due diligence. I personally believe in a blend between Eastern and Western medicine and I also believe in the power of food as medicine, too. But, we all need to do what works for us!
If you have an easy natural remedy for stomach pain and bloating – share it with us in the comments below!
Have a fabulous day,
E
Aside from everything that is already said in the statement above, avoid lying down. When the body is horizontal, the acid in the stomach is more likely to travel backward and move upward, which can cause heartburn. People with an upset stomach should avoid lying down or going to bed for at least a few hours until it passes. Someone who needs to lie down should prop up their head, neck, and upper chest with pillows, ideally at a 30-degree angle.
Author
Thanks for this tip! Heartburn can definitely cause an upset stomach or make it worse for sure!
Thank you for sharing this with me I need this idea for me I hope this helps my stomach been hurting at 1:30 am in the morning and happy new year 🎆 day I went to bathroom a lot
Author
I hope you find some relief and one of these ideas helps you!