Stomach Virus Home Remedies

The stomach virus, also known as the "stomach bug, the 24 hour virus, the stomach flu," and just simply "the bug," comes in really fast and causes a lot of discomfort when it does. When the flu bug is contracted, it can cause violent bouts of vomiting and diarrhea accompanied by fever, dizziness, chills, weakness and stomach cramps. Because it's a virus, there really is no magic pill that can take it away, but there are some home remedies that can make those long 24 hours a lot easier to deal with.

Avoid Food

When you have a stomach virus, eating solid food will only make the condition worse. There are actually some specific foods and beverages that should be avoided. Examples of these include dairy products, greasy foods, orange juice, caffeinated beverages like coffee, tea and soft drinks, and alcohol.

Rest

When you have a stomach virus, you are going to feel really run down and weak. If you try to keep on doing your daily routine, you are going to end up worse. Just lie down and rest as much as possible.

BRAT

When you first get the bug, you are going to have little appetite if any at all. But you still need some nutrients to stay as strong as you can. When the virus is at its worst, do not eat anything for a few hours. Once the bouts of vomiting and diarrhea are a few hours apart, start to eat easily digestible, light foods. For your diet, follow the acronym "BRAT," which stands for bananas, rice, apples and toast.

Fluids

Due to all the vomiting, diarrhea and sweating that can occur, you run the risk of becoming dehydrated, which can be very dangerous. To avoid this, you need to drink fluids, but they should be consumed slowly. Sip water and electrolyte formulas like sports drinks to keep your hydration levels elevated. You can also have some broth, and you can suck on ice cubes or ice chips.

Prevention

Once you are cured from the stomach virus, there are several things you can do to avoid it in the future. Always wash your hands thoroughly and frequently, do not share food with anyone who has the flu and do not come in contact with any body fluids of someone who has the flu.