7 Remedies to Cure a Sour Stomach

Do you ever find yourself lying on the couch with terrible pain and discomfort in your stomach? Almost everyone experiences some kind of stomach issue at some point within their life and most of the time these troubles are not serious. So something quick that you can find in your kitchen will do the trick to help provide yourself some relief.

What is a sour stomach?

The term sour stomach can refer to many different kinds of discomfort that are caused by numerous reasons. Often times, sour stomach is just an upset stomach. Sour stomachs are fairly common ailments that many go through. Some symptoms of sour stomachs can lead to nausea, belching, a burning sensation in the stomach, indigestion and pain in the upper abdomen.

At times, a sour stomach may lead to diarrhea. Unlike a healthy bowel movement, diarrhea may be painful with a burning sensation. You can typically determined that you have a sour stomach if it comes on rather quickly. Unlike a tradition of stomach ache, a sour stomach skin comes on right after a meal or right after strenuous activity. 

In addition to this, a sour stomach will usually last a couple of hours to a full day. Rarely will the effects last longer than 24 hours. If it does, that is an indication that you may have a virus.

What are the causes of a sour stomach?

There are numerous reasons as to why you might have a sour or upset stomach. Some causes might be related to diseases of the GI tract, while others might be caused by a food or substance that irritates the cells in the stomach.

What you put into your body could have an affect on the stomach, which would in turn result in an upset stomach. Spicy foods, fatty foods, carbonated drinks, alcohol, coffee or tea could all potentially cause a sour stomach.

Not just what you consume, but how much you consume might be something to consider as a cause to an upset stomach. If you overeat or eat in abnormal intervals that also might play a role in causing a sour stomach.

Because a sour stomach is usually brought on by something you have eaten, you should not feel the effects of a sour stomach longer than 24 hours. 

Sour Stomach Symptoms

With a sour stomach, you might feel a general discomfort in your stomach region. You could also be experiencing some nausea, bloating, stomach gurgling, heartburn and a sour taste in your mouth. These symptoms are some signs that will help you to know that you are looking at just an upset stomach. If you experience a sour stomach for a longer period of time, talk with your doctor to find out the exact cause of your upset stomach.

Taking all of this into consideration might help you to understand why and how you have obtained your sour stomach. Now you might be looking for some ways to help relieve or cure the discomfort of an upset stomach.

The good news is, there are plenty of things that you can do to help ease a sour stomach. Not only that, but all of the remedies that we have listed below are things that you have lying around the house anyway. With that being said, let’s take a look at some of the top ways you can help ease a sour stomach. 

Home Remedies for a Sour Stomach

Lets be honest, it’s not always easy to go on with your day while experiencing the annoying and painful symptoms of a sour stomach. There are some home remedies that you could try to help alleviate the pain. These tips and tricks are not only helpful in relieving pain, but also your time and your wallet. Most of the things needed do not require a special trip to the store and can be found right in your own home.

1. Soda

There are many people out there who swear by different sodas and cocktail bitters. A lot of these sodas and bitters have a mix of different herbs that might be helpful in easing the pain and nausea of a sour stomach.

One of the best sodas to drink when you are dealing with a sour stomach is ginger ale. The carbonated drink combined with the natural benefits of ginger will work together to ease your sour stomach in no time. The carbonation will work to settle your stomach, while the ginger will help any nausea you may feel. Other drinks that work well are clear drinks including Sprite or SevenUp. 

When you do drink carbonated drinks, be sure to take small sips throughout the day. If you gulp down the drink, then you may cause more discomfort to your stomach than you had already had.

2. Peppermint

Peppermint contains menthol and that component aids in relieving stomach nausea. You can find peppermint gum, tea or other products that might be better fit to you.

If you are resting because of a sour stomach, then you may want to dry drinking some peppermint tea before bed. You can make peppermint tea right at home. All you need to do is boil a pot of water. 

As your pot of water is boiling, add in a couple of sprigs of peppermint stalks. Let your water come to a boil for a couple more minutes. Then, you have your peppermint tea ready. For even more flavor, you can add dried flakes of your favorite tea leaves in as well.

3. Apple Cider Vinegar

This method might not be for those who can’t handle strong vinegar or acidic substances. Some find it very effective though when you mix it with water and honey.

4. Burnt Toast

Toast is one of the well known foods that are good to eat when you have an upset stomach. Not many people are aware that burnt toast helps even more. The toxins that cause your illness are absorbed by the char in the burnt toast.

5. Heat

A heating pad or a hot water bottle have been the go-to remedy for curing a sour stomach. The heat results in more blood flow to the surface of the skin. This then creates a diversion of pain from the inside to the outside of the stomach.

6. Fruit

There are some fruits out there that provide different nutrients and fibers that are effective in relieving pain. You can add fibers to your stomach that act as a pain reliever by eating an apple. Bananas have also proven themselves useful to a sour stomach. Bananas coat the wall of the stomach to help reduce irritation that is caused by the gastric acid of the stomach. The Potassium that is within bananas acts as an antacid that helps to neutralize the stomach pH.

7. Tea

Out of the hundreds of different kinds of tea that are out there, there are a number of teas that are used to provide stomach relief. There are teas that you can make homemade or ones that you can buy pre-packed in the store. Teas such as caraway seed tea, cinnamon powder tea, peppermint tea, and ginger tea are known for easing an upset stomach.