It’s that time of the year! It’s the time when stomach bugs bring discomfort to children and adults. We need to determine if the stomachache is a mild upset stomach or something worse that needs medical attention. If the pain persists, it may be a symptom of an illness or a medical condition which needs to be addressed by a doctor. Extreme abdominal pain requires the immediate attention of a medical professional. A mild stomachache can be result of viruses in the intestine, food poisoning, or a nervous stomach, which can be addressed through self-care at home.

Personal Story

My children are grown up, but I remember the first time my oldest got sick to his stomach. It was terrible to watch him fight the feelings he was having in his stomach. We both cried when he was vomiting. I had no idea how to stop the vomiting and ease his discomfort. I had a lot to learn!

What I Know Now

A virus, food poisoning, or a nervous stomach can cause a stomachache.

Viruses

• During a gastrointestinal virus, a person usually has nausea and/or vomiting for twelve to fourteen hours and later has diarrhea for one to two days.
• Nausea is when you feel like you’re going to throw up.
• Vomiting is throwing up whatever is in the stomach.
• Dry heaves are when nothing comes up when vomiting. Dry heaves occur before or after vomiting.

Food Poisoning

• Food poisoning is different from a gastrointestinal virus in that diarrhea and nausea and/or vomiting happen abruptly at the same time or the person only has diarrhea.

Nervous Stomach

• A nervous stomach happens when a person is having anxiety.

When to Seek Professional Care

• If an infant or young child has vomiting that has lasted 2 to 6 hours, call a doctor.
• If others have vomiting that has lasted more than 12 hours without improvement, call a doctor.
• If you are taking medicines that can’t work if you vomit, call a doctor.
• If you are of childbearing age, determine if you are pregnant. Call a doctor if you are pregnant and self-care methods of calming nausea or vomiting do not work.

Self-Care

Some herbs traditionally known to help calm a stomachache are chamomile, ginger, and lemon balm.

• Ginger tea for stomach upset and food poisoning. Limit use during pregnancy.
• Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) – upset stomach, irritability, stress-induced gastrointestinal symptoms
• Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) for nervous stomach
• Mountain Rose Herb’s Tummy Care contains catnip, chamomile, and fennel. It is helpful for indigestion and tummy woes.

Sipping a cup of herbal tea can help soothe stomachaches.

May God bless your healthful endeavors!

Joni

P.S. Please encourage others by writing in the comment section.