Pain in the “pit of the stomach”: causes, natural remedies and tips to relieve it

The stomach is a wonderful organ to which we pay little attention, until it gives us the nag. During childhood, complaints of pain or discomfort in the stomach, what some popularly call “Pain in the pit of the stomach”. Eating too much or something that has simply made us sick, alcohol, too much coffee, carbonated soft drinks, a work lunch or a celebration, the lack of schedules… can cause us a stomach ache.

“My stomach is closed, it hurts and nothing enters me.” This is a mythical phrase that perfectly reflects what happens to the stomach and why it hurts when we are very nervous, worried or feel anxious. Has it happened to you or perhaps to your children, during exam time? The stomach is a muscle and can shrink and/or become inflamed, and that is where the pain comes from in most cases.

In this article we are going to see natural remedies and care for these more frequent and mild causes of the typical “pain in the stomach”. Without forgetting that if the pain is very intense, lasts over time and is accompanied by diarrhea, weight loss or other manifestations, we must consult to rule out or confirm conditions that require special care. Whatever the case, your stomach benefits from natural care and a healthy lifestyle.

how the stomach hurts

The stomach is a sac-shaped muscular organ. It has a superior opening through which food enters: the cardia sphincter, which is the connection to the esophagus; and a second opening, at the bottom, the pyloric sphincter, which connects with the duodenum (first part of the small intestine).

As can happen to other similar muscles, the stomach can contract or shrink. A contracted muscle hurts, and we notice…

Pressure in the stomach area.A pain that can be mild or very intense, in which case it can be reflected in the back and/or in your cervical area. Stomach pain prevents many people from being able to eat normally. If this also happens we can notice: swelling, heartburn, regurgitation, nausea, vomiting, belching.

Causes of stomach pain

Stomach ache is a common symptom that ever in life could happen to us. Although the causes can be several, the most frequent are: indigestion, gastritis or anxiety (nerves, as we usually say). We tell you how to distinguish the origin of stomach pain.

1. Indigestion

Indigestion usually occurs for having eaten some bad food that damages or irritates the stomach or having ingested an excessive amount of food that the stomach is not capable of processing. Since the stomach cannot empty well, it is tense, swollen and hurts.

Although it may not seem like it, regurgitation, belching, nausea and vomiting are the body’s way of “trying to make room”, emptying the stomach, eliminating the content that is causing harm and facilitating the release of tension or stagnation in the stomach. stomach.

2. Gastritis

Gastritis It is the inflammation of the internal mucosa of the stomach or gastric mucosa. First of all, let’s not forget that the gastric mucosa is very powerful, it can withstand the high level of acidity that hydrochloric acid confers, which is so necessary for its digestive functions and to protect us from possible pathogens.

Gastritis can be started by irritating foods such as spicy foods, acids, alcohol, and in some people, fermented foods. Also due to tobacco, some drugs such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), foods that cause histaminosis as can occur in certain food intolerances. Stress or anxiety, as we will see later, can also somatize with gastritis.

A prolonged or severe gastritis can form ulcers on the gastric mucosa and in the vicinity of the cardia and pylorus sphincters. This case requires professional support.

3. Anxiety

If you’ve ever noticed that pinching sensation in the pit of the stomach, the inability to eat when you are under stress, with worries or problems, your discomfort and stomach pain are real but the cause is in your body-mind relationship.

When the brain is busy with something that we make it believe concerns our vital safety, certain functions are put in the background, and one of them is digestion.

The stomach can suddenly contract due to unpleasantness or bad news, and you feel like vomiting Once the problem that “worried” us has disappeared, the stomach is fine again. But… does it always happen to you when your nerves get the better of you?

The problem important, believe me, It is when anxiety is not momentary but lasts over time. Your stomach shrinks, inflames, gastritis starts, it bothers you, it hurts. The stomach is not ready to receive any food.

It is as if your body and mind cannot “digest” what is happening or what you think is going to happen. Fear is free and too powerful.

This situation can lead us to a hard and difficult experience: our social life is affected, vitality and health begin to decline, we may have malnutrition problems, depression and can be the origin of the condition called anorexia nervosa with serious general consequences. It is advisable to seek psychological help without fear or shame. You will learn a lot about yourself, to take care of yourself and love yourself.

Natural remedies for stomach ache

Do you identify with any of these 3 causes of stomach pain? Yes that’s how it is, whatever the cause of your upset stomach, By taking care of the rhythm, quantity and quality of your diet and lifestyle, you will walk towards the desired tranquility and stomach well-being.

Let’s see natural remedies and care for these common situations that we have mentioned that can manifest with stomach pain, in case it ever happens to you or you have a tendency for it to happen to you.

Lifestyle habits to avoid stomach pain

Distribute meals, do not bloat.Keep a rhythm of eating times: this prepares the stomach and digestive system.Choose simple meals, not too seasoned, avoid spicy.Don’t fill your stomach stop eating before you feel like you can’t fit any more. This way you leave “hollow”. Eat calmly. Don’t argue during meals. Impossible on some occasions, I know, in that case, for example, when you are going to negotiate something, eat lightly.Avoid drinking during meals. Take a sip just to “gulp down.” Eat with water or a warm infusion but avoid cold or iced drinks. Before drinking a beer, remember that it is fermented, carbonated and cold and that can give you a stomach ache.Avoid sweets refined sugar, honey, puff pastry…Avoid fried and fatty foods, industrial appetizers. Do you remember that: “you don’t talk when you eat”? He has a reason: when you eat and talk you swallow air and it can cause discomfort. So chew well, swallow and then speak. In your day to day: breathe, breathe and breathe. Practice some kind of meditation, mindfulness… the point is to stop for a few minutes a day. When your stomach hurts: breathe in, swell your gut. Your stomach will stretch and then slowly exhale and let it relax. You will feel better. Put a little heat on your stomach after eating, sometimes a cushion is enough. Pamper your stomach.

Herbal remedies and nutritional aids for stomach ache

Ginger (rhizome of Zingiber officinalis) is the king of plants to help the stomach. He is undoubtedly wonderful when it comes to indigestion, nausea, when we have eaten too much or when we are not quite sure if the food we have eaten was too far. Helps digest food better that are not really easy to digest, such as mushrooms. If you use grated ginger, keep it a little: it is very spicy. When ginger is cooked, it is even hotter. An infusion with a little ginger, and for example, green tea or chamomiles would be perfect, taking it little by little. Cinnamon (bark and branches of Cinnamomum cassia either C. zeylanicum) is very interesting because in addition help relieve that spasm which is associated with stomach pain and we feel like something that warms us up a little and comforts us. Keep in mind that cinnamon bark is more potent than cinnamon sticks. Chamomile (flowers or matricaria chamomilla or of anthemis nobilis) is perhaps the most popular, acts as a digestive anti-inflammatory and helps relieve pain. I remember as a child listening to older people: “chamomile helps you because either everything goes away or your stomach settles.” It is taken lukewarm and little by little. Fennel (fruits of Foeniculum vulgare) with its carminative and digestive action facilitates gastric emptying and helps relieve swelling, heaviness and gastric discomfort. Lemon balm (melissa officinalis) and poppy (petals of papaver rhoeas or aerial parts of Eschscholzia californica) can help us when stomach pain has an emotional or mental origin, as we have said related to anxiety or nervousness. Licorice (root of Glycyrrhiza glabra) is a great digestive and gastric anti-inflammatory. It is preferable that people with hypertension avoid it or use it under professional advice. Digestive enzymes. I usually recommend, together with digestive plants, digestive enzyme supplements to facilitate the work of the stomach.

Your stomach is wonderful, take care of it.