General information
The therapy of abdominal pain depends largely on the cause of the complaints. As a matter of principle, prolonged and severe abdominal pain should be clarified by a doctor in order to rule out serious illnesses. For example, the complaints could be caused by chronic inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease), intestinal obstruction (ileus), gallstones, inflammation of the gall bladder, appendicitis, diverticulitis, gynaecological or urological symptoms or even irritable bowel syndrome.
Such diseases usually require special therapy with medication. In mild cases without serious illness as the cause, home remedies can also help to get the symptoms under control. Common accompanying symptoms of abdominal complaints are nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.
Diarrhoea is a frequent emission of liquid stool. This can have several reasons. The most common are:
- Infection with bacteria like E. coli, salmonella, or cholera;
- Infections with viruses e.g. : Norovirus and Rotavirus;
- Food intolerances such as lactose intolerance or fructose intolerance;
- Medication often causes diarrhoea (Latin: diarrhoea), for example antibiotics, misuse of laxatives, iron supplements and dietary supplements;
- Poor nutrient utilization. – other causes of prolonged fluid stool discharge are mental illness,
- And a chronic inflammatory bowel disease. – Poisoning can also cause diarrhoea.
Heat
A very effective remedy, especially for cramp-like abdominal pain, is heat. A hot-water bottle, a cherry stone pillow, warm compresses or a warm bath are suitable for this purpose. These measures should never be too hot, otherwise there is a risk of burns.
The heat has a relaxing and antispasmodic effect. The muscles and surrounding tissue are supplied with blood more intensively, which can help to alleviate the pain. Caution is advised, however, if inflammatory processes are the cause of the abdominal pain, for example cystitis. This may even be made worse by the heat. Cramp-like pain, such as that which many women experience during menstruation, can often be relieved by warmth.
Tea
For gastrointestinal complaints, various teas are also suitable, which have an antispasmodic and/or stomach calming effect. Such teas are for example camomile, fennel, sage and peppermint tea. In addition, the tea warms up and can also have a relaxing effect on cramped muscles. As tea is generally very well tolerated, it is very suitable as a drink for gastrointestinal complaints. However, the tea should not be sweetened too much in order to improve gastrointestinal tolerance.
Movement
People who suffer more frequently from abdominal pain for which no serious organic cause can be found often benefit from physical exercise. Exercise reduces stress, improves the blood supply to the muscles, which can then relax more easily. Gentle sports such as yoga, swimming or quiet running are particularly suitable for preventing stomach aches.
In case of already existing abdominal pain it can also be good to exercise. A walk is often enough to relieve or at least loosen cramps. If the cause of the abdominal pain is constipation, exercise is particularly important because it can stimulate the intestinal activity. Constipation is thus easier to dissolve.