Stomachache

See also “Indigestion”
Stomachache is a very ambiguous symptom. Many causes are possible: acid stomach, acid indigestion, constipation, eating the wrong kind of food, even toxicity in the liver. All these, and other factors, can create abdominal aches and pains.

To treat a stomachache intelligently and effectively, first we have to rule out the serious causes, such as appendicitis, enteritis, gastritis, and colic. You may need a physician’s help to determine the cause. But for a common tummy ache, Ayurveda offers numerous simple, natural, and effective home remedies.

HERBAL REMEDIES

• Mix together ⅓ teaspoon cumin powder, a pinch of hing (asafetida), and a pinch of rock salt. Chew well; wash down with warm water.
• For stomachache associated with diarrhea, rub a little fresh ginger juice on your stomach, around the belly button.
• Try the Ayurvedic herb shankavati. It ordinarily comes in tablets; just take 1 pill twice a day, morning and evening. It will take care of an aching stomach.
• If you don’t find shankavati, take lasunadivati, 1 tablet twice a day after food.
• Another helpful herb is ajwan (Indian celery seed), which you can usually buy from an Indian grocery shop. Mix ½ teaspoon with ¼ teaspoon baking soda, chew the mixture, and drink it down with a little warm water.
• If this doesn’t relieve your stomachache, mix together some roasted fennel, roasted cumin, and roasted coriander seed, and chew on about ½ teaspoon of the mixture. (Roast these seeds individually—that is, one type at a time—in a heavy cast iron pan, stirring constantly so they don’t burn. Then mix them together.)
• To relieve indigestion, take ¼ cup of fresh onion juice with ½ teaspoon honey and ½ teaspoon black pepper.

TWO HERBAL TEAS

• Make some cumin-coriander-fennel tea. Mix the three herbs in equal proportions, and use ½ teaspoon per cup of water. Drink 2 to 3 times a day to help soothe an aching stomach.
• Another simple tea can be made of equal amounts of the common Western herbs angelica, chamomile, and comfrey. Mix them together, and steep about ½ teaspoon of the mix in hot water.

THE MASTER KEY TO PREVENT STOMACHACHE

Most of the time, a stomachache is due to indigestion and low agni (digestive fire). Here are four ways you can kindle agni:

• One of the best herbs to strengthen digestive fire is ginger. Before each meal, chop or grate a little fresh ginger, add a few drops of lime juice and a pinch of salt, and eat the mixture. Or just cut a thin slice of ginger, put on a pinch of salt, and chew that.
• Ginger tea will also increase the gastric fire and reduce the stomachache. Boil a little fresh ginger (grated, chopped, or sliced), or use powdered ginger to make a tea, and drink it 2 or 3 times a day.
• Draksha (Ayurvedic herbal wine) before meals will help to kindle the

digestive fire. Use 2 to 4 tablespoons mixed with an equal amount of water. Or take a few sips of port or another sweet wine.

• Another simple way to enliven your gastric fire is to use the common spice bay leaf. Steep ½ teaspoon of crushed or ground bay leaf in a cup of hot water for about 10 minutes to make a tea. Add a pinch of cardamom, and drink after eating.

ADDITIONAL REMEDIES AND RECOMMENDATIONS

EAT LIGHTLY. If your stomach hurts, avoid eating any heavy meals, beans, meat, and heavier grains like wheat. It is better to be on a diet of kitchari, a combination of rice and dal that is easy to digest. (See this page for a basic kitchari recipe). Between meals, take some fruit juice.

FOR
CHRONIC
INDIGESTION. For chronic poor digestion and frequent

stomachaches, prepare this herbal mixture:

trikatu 1 part
chitrak 2 parts
kutki 1 part

Take ¼ teaspoon before meals, with a little honey and fresh ginger juice. If you don’t have fresh ginger, just use honey. This mixture will help strengthen the digestive fire.

TAKE A BREAK FROM EXERCISE. When you have an upset stomach, Ayurveda

recommends that you just rest, read, and relax as much as you can until

the condition clears. Exercise, including
yoga asanas, is not

recommended.