We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
WiseGEEK

Advertiser Disclosure

Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.

How We Make Money

We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently from our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Health

What are Some Upset Stomach Remedies?

By L. Hepfer
Updated May 17, 2024
Our promise to you
WiseGEEK is dedicated to creating trustworthy, high-quality content that always prioritizes transparency, integrity, and inclusivity above all else. Our ensure that our content creation and review process includes rigorous fact-checking, evidence-based, and continual updates to ensure accuracy and reliability.

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

Editorial Standards

At WiseGEEK, we are committed to creating content that you can trust. Our editorial process is designed to ensure that every piece of content we publish is accurate, reliable, and informative.

Our team of experienced writers and editors follows a strict set of guidelines to ensure the highest quality content. We conduct thorough research, fact-check all information, and rely on credible sources to back up our claims. Our content is reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy and clarity.

We believe in transparency and maintain editorial independence from our advertisers. Our team does not receive direct compensation from advertisers, allowing us to create unbiased content that prioritizes your interests.

An upset stomach is something that no one is ever happy to experience. It can interrupt our everyday life without warning, sometimes for no apparent reason. With the different upset stomach remedies available, it is usually not something we have to endure for long.

While there are many reasons a person can develop an upset stomach, there are also a few ways to avoid one. Eating too much can cause a stomach to become upset. Having too much fat intake trips a sensor in our brain that causes nausea. So while the convenient fast food meal might seem tasty at the time, it may not be worth the feeling we experience afterward.

Too much fat not only trips the brain sensors, but it also weakens our lower esophageal sphincter (LES). The LES is the flap at the bottom of the esophagus that covers the stomach and keeps our food and drink inside the stomach while it is being digested. Weakening this muscle will cause it to open back up anytime there is pressure on the stomach, forcing food and stomach acid back into the esophagus. Several problems can occur when that happens from heartburn and indigestion to permanently damaging the esophagus.

Non-medicinal upset stomach remedies are usually found in our homes on a regular basis, making them convenient to use. On most days we can probably find bread or a can of soup somewhere in the kitchen cabinets. Eating bland foods such as toast or bland soups and broths is a great way to calm an upset stomach. A temporary fast -- not eating any food at all -- will help a stomach to recover quicker as well.

Herbal upset stomach remedies can be found in about any supermarket that carries vitamins and herbs or in a nutrition store. Ginger is a great herb for calming nausea. Fresh ginger is too strong and spicy for many people, but drinking it in a tea would be reasonable. Catnip tea calms the digestive system and helps to eliminate nausea. Peppermint and spearmint teas are especially nice because they have a taste which is pleasant to most people.

While there are a number of over-the-counter upset stomach remedies available, the most famous one is definitely Pepto-Bismol®. Pepto-Bismol® is known for its pink color and distinctive taste. It can be bought in the form of chewable tablets or a liquid. Pepto-Bismol® is great for relieving discomforts throughout the entire stomach area and gastrointestinal tract.

There are several options to choose from when trying to alleviate an upset stomach. A person can either decide to use a remedy they may find at home or purchase something from a store.

WiseGEEK is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
See our Editorial Process Share Feedback

Related Articles

Discussion Comments

By anon263324 — On Apr 23, 2012

Peppermint makes heartburn worse. The doctors gave it to me for my son when he was just a baby, and made him worse, but I didn't know it at the time.

You would think someone would test it for colic, heartburn etc. first! I still see sites that say use it for heartburn. Geez. Helene, it makes me nauseated too.

By panda2006 — On Jan 19, 2011

@helene55, Pepto-bismol makes me sick. I think some of these remedies just don't work well for some people. I don't know why, something genetic I suppose. I also like ginger tea, though. Good to know it can help my stomach.

By recapitulate — On Jan 16, 2011

Another medicinal help for stomachs is ibuprofen, though this can be good or bad. A little bit now and then can help bloating caused by something else, because ibuprofen is an anti inflammatory; at the same time, too much ibuprofen on a regular basis can do serious damage to your esophageal lining and cause even more problems for your stomach down the road.

By helene55 — On Jan 15, 2011

I actually get nausea from drinking peppermint tea, as illogical as that sounds. People often recommend it to me, because I have several stomach problems, but even the smell makes me a little sick. I did just discover ginger tea a little while ago, though, so I think that will become one of my go-to home remedies for upset stomach instead.

WiseGEEK, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGEEK, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.