Are those abdominal cramps, nausea, and vomiting, making your life miserable? You are most probably suffering from an infection known as gastroenteritis. Gastroenteritis can hit anyone and when it does, you will be making a dash to the bathroom and rolling on your bed with stomach cramps and simultaneously trying to combat that horrible queasy feeling. Also known as stomach flu, gastroenteritis can sap you out and leave you feeling miserable. The OTC products can alleviate some of the symptoms, but also can prolong the recovery. That is why you should try some test home remedies for gastroenteritis. Not only will they make you feel better, but these will also help treat the underlying cause.
Gastroenteritis is a bacterial or parasitic infection that you can get by eating contaminated food. The condition causes the gastrointestinal tract to inflame. This is accompanied by nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Usually, gastroenteritis heals on its own, but there is always a cause for worry because the frequent vomiting and diarrhea can result in dehydration.
Your symptoms will manifest within two to three days of contracting the infection. Usually, gastroenteritis lasts for about 10 days and the symptoms can often be confused with those of flu. While there are some similarities in the symptoms, gastroenteritis adversely affects your gastrointestinal tract and not your respiratory system.
Some of the symptoms you will get with gastroenteritis include:
Gastroenteritis can really bring you down. When you are struck, you will automatically stop eating heavy foods and stick to drinking lots of liquids and getting bed rest. This is sensible, but you can hasten your recovery by also incorporating some home remedies. You will be knocked out for three to four days, but will feel much better with natural remedies that you most probably have in your kitchen.
Here are the top 25 home remedies for gastroenteritis that you can mix and match if you somehow end up with stomach flu.
There is no doubt that the best form of treatment for gastroenteritis is bed rest. You should be looking to stay in bed the whole day, as you will feel weak and wobbly due to frequent purging and diarrhea. Of course, you will not make it out of the house due to the diarrhea and vomiting, but that is a different story altogether.
To avoid dehydration, you should be drinking an electrolyte formulation. You can make this at home. Dissolve five teaspoons of sugar in a glass of water. Add a pinch of salt and stir well. You can make the taste more palatable by squeezing a lemon into it. Keep sipping this drink to replace the lost fluids and minerals.
You can ease your discomfort by applying an ice pack on your stomach and throat. With gastroenteritis, you will have stomach cramps and the vomiting may make your throat feel raw and sore. The ice pack will not only take away the discomfort, it also will provide relief from the frequent vomiting. Do not let the ice pack stay for more than 20 minutes on your stomach or throat.
Baking soda is known for its anti-bacterial property. You can consume it to ease the infection. Mix a pinch of baking soda in a glass of clean water. Sip the water periodically to soothe your gastrointestinal tract and get relief from the symptoms.
Chamomile has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. It also works as a mild sedative and can relax you, which can be heaven when you are worked up and stressed out due to your illness. You can drink chamomile tea to get relief. In case you are allergic to it, you can get the same effects with ragweed tea, but drink this tea with caution. Do not over use these natural remedies for gastroenteritis.
Mint has been used for centuries to cure several stomach ailments. You can use catnip, as it is freely available in North America. Alternatively, you can use peppermint, wintergreen, lemon balm or spearmint which is part of the mint family. Mint has antimicrobial properties and can relax you. It also is antispasmodic and mildly sedative. Make mild mint tea and sip it slowly to ease the symptoms of gastroenteritis. Brew the tea and consume with a teaspoon of honey, as honey too has antibacterial properties.
PREV POST PAGE 1 2NEXT