Indigestion can be defined as “…a vague feeling of abdominal discomfort — possibly including belching, a feeling of fullness, bloating, and nausea, according to the MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. To you, indigestion just feels awful. It can make you question why you stuffed that fourth burrito into your mouth and why you had to have two desserts for dinner. The next time this condition turns your digestive system upside down, try these homemade treatments for indigestion!
One old-fashioned remedy for indigestion is to stir up a half teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water. It’s similar to drinking a dose of Alka Seltzer®. People have long sworn that a glass of baking soda and water will give you relief in a flash.
If you can’t stomach this homemade treatment, try sipping a hot cup of Chamomile, Peppermint or Fennel tea instead. All three types of tea are well known for their stomach settling properties. You should be able to find Chamomile or Mint tea bags at your local grocery store. If not, look at your local healthfood store.
(I’ve found that sucking on a couple strong mints such as an Altoid® or Mentos® can often alleviate the discomfort of stomach indigestion.)
You can also find dried, candied Ginger Root at your local healthfood store. This herb tastes sweet, yet warm and rather spicy. It’s long been used as a homemade treatment for indigestion, diarrhea and nausea. You can also sip a hot cup of Ginger Root tea if you’d rather not eat it. Or, you can sip a can of Ginger Ale to help cure your stomach problem.
Plain old pineapple juice is another effective homemade treatment for indigestion. Pineapple contains an enzyme called Bromelain. Bromelain helps your body break down and digest food. If you don’t want to drink a glass of pineapple juice, because, maybe you don’t like the taste, you can buy Bromelain tablets at your local drugstore. Or, look for them at a reputable supplier on the Internet.
(Papaya works the same way pineapple does. You can either eat some of this fruit or take Papaya enzyme tablets at the first signs of indigestion.)
Even though you may not feel like putting anything into your stomach, drinking buttermilk is yet another effective homemade treatment for bloating, a feeling of fullness, and general indigestion. A glass of Buttermilk will help your digestive system work more efficiently.
Have you ever noticed that your dinners at some sit-down restaurants are often accompanied by a sprig of fresh parsley? I bet you thought that parsley was for decoration. Actually, fresh parsley has two purposes: it helps freshen your breath and it also helps your digestive system break down food. One sprig of parsley or about a quarter teaspoon of dried parsley flakes should do the trick.
And finally, to help avoid the likelihood that you’ll get indigestion after your next meal, remember these three tips:
1. Try to avoid eating on the run. Eat slowly and chew your food well.
2. Limit the amount of liquid you drink with your meals. Liquids dilute stomach acids which can interfere with the digestion of food.
3. Don’t eat large meals or fill your stomach with too much food at once.
