Stomach cramps--which can come from eating disagreeable foods, food poisoning, motion sickness and pregnancy, among other things--are uncomfortable, and trying to figuring out how best to ease them adds to the discomfort. There are some natural foods and herbs that can help settle an upset, cramping stomach and replenish necessary nutrients. A few of these include peppermint tea, ginger, and the BRAT diet.
Peppermint Tea
Liquids can sometimes be more helpful for an upset stomach than solid food, and peppermint tea in particular is good for soothing stomach cramps. According the University of Maryland Medical Center website, peppermint calms and relaxes the stomach muscles and improves bile flow. Bile aids in the digestion of fats. Peppermint can also help with symptoms of painful gas.
Ginger
Ginger--raw, cooked, as a spice or as a tea--is also helpful for stomach cramps. The University of Maryland Medical Center website highlights ginger as a treatment for nausea and vomiting that are due to motion sickness, pregnancy and chemotherapy. It also helps digestion when suffering from a mildly upset stomach. Ginger's medicinal properties seem to come from its "volatile oils and pungent phenol compounds," according to the University of Maryland Medical Center's website.
BRAT Diet
The BRAT diet--bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast--has been used for many years as a way to recover from an upset stomach. Each of these foods is bland and does not contain oils or proteins that can be irritating to an upset stomach. According to Family Doctor.org, these foods are binding, making stools more firm. Also, bananas are high in potassium, replenishing that nutrient in the body after it is lost due to diarrhea or vomiting.
