Therapy – What helps?
The therapy of stomach cramps depends largely on the underlying cause. In addition to conventional medical therapy, various home remedies or homeopathic substances can be used. Once inflammatory causes for the development of stomach cramps have been excluded, the therapy can be carried out by applying external heat.
As a rule, hot-water bottles are suitable for relieving mild stomach cramps and restoring the well-being of the person affected. In addition, the therapy for stomach cramps can be carried out by drinking camomile and/or peppermint tea. Patients who suffer from stomach cramps at regular intervals should try to protect the sensitive stomach lining in the long term.
For this purpose, the therapy of stomach cramps can be done by taking sea buckthorn oil, caraway, fennel, ginger or coriander. These substances are simple household remedies that have a calming effect on the stomach lining and help to ease the symptoms quickly. Bacterial infections that lead to stomach cramps usually have to be treated by taking an antibiotic.In the treatment of stomach cramps caused by infection, a proton pump inhibitor should be taken in addition to the antibiotic.
In this way, the acid production of the stomach can be inhibited. The irritated stomach mucosa can be freed from bacterial colonization and at the same time recover. If a stomach ulcer is detected in the affected patient during diagnosis, the therapy of stomach cramps is somewhat more extensive.
These patients are also first treated with antibiotics and proton pump inhibitors. However, this combination therapy is not sufficient in most cases to relieve the stomach cramps in the long term. In most cases, patients suffering from a stomach ulcer must also be covered with an acid blocker in the long term.
A dietary supplement is also often useful in this type of stomach cramps. In the case of stomach cramps caused by a degeneration (tumor) in the area of the stomach, surgical therapy is usually performed. Stomach cramps affect almost every person from time to time.
Often simple household remedies can already bring a significant relief of the symptoms. Stomach cramps usually respond well to heat. Warm compresses or a hot water bottle help to calm and relax the stomach.
The muscles are loosened and the blood circulation is stimulated. Tea is recommended as a further household remedy. Especially varieties such as chamomile, peppermint or aniseed-caraway-fennel have calming properties and help to relieve stomach cramps.
You can drink several cups of tea throughout the day. It should not be too hot. Cramp-relieving properties are also attributed to the household remedy gentian.
Gentian can be taken in the form of drops and tea to relieve stomach cramps. Furthermore, light massages may be appropriate as a household remedy for stomach cramps. In some cases, however, they aggravate the symptoms.
In addition, you should of course make sure that you eat small meals and avoid substances that irritate the stomach. If stomach cramps occur, coffee, alcohol and nicotine should be avoided. The above-mentioned household remedies help with most of the symptoms.
However, if there is no improvement or if the symptoms persist for days, the cause must be clarified by a doctor. In this way, serious illnesses can be recognized and treated or excluded. If the complaints persist or if therapy is necessary because of an underlying disease, there are a number of effective drugs against stomach cramps.
Buscopan® is suitable for resolving stomach cramps. It has a relaxing effect on the musculature and can break through cramps. Novalgin® is also effective against severe pain.
Herbal medicines available include Iberogast® and preparations containing chamomile and fennel. Depending on the cause, specific drugs are then used to treat stomach cramps. For example, Pantoprazole inhibits acid formation and antibiotics are given in the case of bacteria-induced inflammation.
If food intolerances occur, the missing enzymes can be replaced with tablets. People who are plagued by stomach cramps usually ask themselves: “What to eat? In theory, anything that does not cause or aggravate the stomach cramps can be eaten.
Some foods are usually better suited for this than others. Of course, incompatible food must be avoided. To relax the stomach, it is probably best to avoid food.
Therefore you can first fast for a few hours until the stomach cramps get better. If you want to eat something, small, mushy and mild meals are preferable to other foods. Especially sour or spicy foods can cause stomach cramps.
Warm soups or mashed potatoes are particularly suitable. The stomach does not have to do much digestive work here. The heat can also help to alleviate stomach cramps.
Yogurt is also a good alternative for stomach cramps. Natural yogurt without added sugar is useful here. It is easily digestible, healthy and with its probiotic properties helps to maintain a balanced gastrointestinal flora.
Camomile and peppermint tea are suitable for drinking. For breakfast you should avoid muesli mixtures with lots of nuts. Alternatively, oat flakes with plenty of low-fat milk or water are a good way to start the day. Luxury foods, fatty foods and flatulent foods such as beans should not be on the menu during stomach cramps.
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