Home Remedies For Abdominal Cramps

Abdominal pain and cramping can have a variety of causes ranging from menstrual pain to food poisoning, acid indigestion, flu or infection. Home remedies including herbs, homeopathic medicines and folk remedies may be helpful for relieving abdominal pain and discomfort. Many home and natural preparations contain herbs, which may have side effects. Always consult with a health care practitioner before staring a regime using herbal remedies.

Homeopathic Arsenicum Album

If the abdominal cramps are the result of food poisoning, arsenicum album may offer relief. The remedy is helpful for treating severe cramping accompanied by both vomiting and diarrhea, according to Dana Ullman in his book, "Everybody's Guide to Homeopathic Medicines." The patient will experience burning pain in the stomach and throughout the digestive tract, with burning diarrhea. The burning pain is often relieved when the she drinks hot drinks, such as tea. The person needing arsenicum may feel chilly, anxious and restless and be thirsty for cool drinks. Arsenicum is available in health food stores and online pharmacies. A homeopath should be consulted regarding appropriate dosing.

Birch

One of 220 substances included in the National Formulary list of natural medicines of the Native Americans, birch leaves are used as a tonic or prepared as a tea and taken to relieve abdominal pain and cramping, according to the University of Illinois at Chicago. Its active ingredient is methyl salicylate, which is the main compound found in salicylic acid, or aspirin. This remedy should not be used by people with edema, kidney dysfunction or heart disease, according to Jim Meuninck in his book, "Medicinal Plants of North America: A Field Guide." Treatment should be overseen by a qualified herbal practitioner.

Homeopathic Lycopodium

Lycopodium is often helpful for abdominal cramping due to bloating and trapped gas, the result of food allergies or poor digestion, according to the University of Michigan Health System. The individual needing this remedy starts out feeling ravenously hungry, and after just a few bites of food, feels full and bloated. The remedy is helpful for people who develop cramps and crave hot drinks and food, feel weak after eating, have pain predominantly on the right side and desire sweets.

Antacids

The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends using antacids after meals to relieve abdominal pain and cramping that occurs higher up in the abdomen. Acid indigestion or heartburn may be the culprit, and antacids will often provide relief by helping neutralize excess stomach acid. Antacids are available over-the-counter in many forms, including chewable tablets and liquid medications. The UMMC adds that if abdominal pain lasts for more than one week, a health care practitioner should be notified.