9 Home Remedies for Indigestion That Actually Work

How many times have you turned to commercial antacids and other over-the-counter remedies to relieve indigestion?. The answer is probably way too many times. They can bring temporary relief, but they don’t actually cure indigestion. In fact, they might even make things worse in the long run by causing additional acid reflux and even ulcers over time. Luckily, there are safe and effective home remedies for indigestion that you can use instead to naturally treat your digestive disorders and prevent future problems from occurring.

Home Remedies for Indigestion

If you are suffering from indigestion don’t panic. There are natural home remedies you can use to help relieve the symptoms and get your digestive system back on track in no time. Here are nine of the best home remedies for indigestion that you can try today.

Acupressure

To relieve heartburn, you can try acupressure. It is a method of stimulating specific points on your body with your fingers. It is not as effective or reliable as prescription medications, but it may help if you are looking for a natural solution to heartburn.

To perform acupressure:

• Use your fingertips to apply pressure to an area on your upper abdomen between your belly button and breastbone.
• Do this for about 10 minutes.
• Experiment with different areas until you find one that relieves symptoms.

Note: If you have high blood pressure then avoid using acupressure. It could cause your blood pressure to rise further. Also, avoid using acupressure if you have GERD with severe oesophagal spasms because applying too much pressure could make them worse.

Peppermint tea

Peppermint tea is a natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. It can help calm your stomach and soothe inflammation. Peppermint tea is great to sip on during an attack or as a preventative measure.

To make peppermint tea:

• Steep one teaspoon of dried peppermint in hot water for five minutes.
• Sweeten with honey or stevia if desired. 

Chamomile tea

Chamomile tea is a herbal remedy that soothes digestive distress and relaxes muscles.

Put one chamomile tea bag in a cup of hot water and let it steep for 10 minutes. You can sweeten it with honey if you like. Sip slowly to get relief from indigestion, bloating, stomach cramps or nausea.

Find out the other health benefits of drinking herbal teas.

Note: Chamomile can interact with some medications, so check with your doctor before drinking regularly or if you have other health issues.

Ginger (one piece chewed whole)

What makes ginger such a go-to choice is its versatility.

How to prepare:

• Add some to your smoothie
• Make tea with it.
• Add it to stir fry, or snack on ginger chews.

If you are feeling bloated then eat a little bit of raw ginger for instant relief. Start with 1/4 teaspoon and work up if needed. And don’t worry about it altering your digestion. Ginger actually has anti-inflammatory properties that may help calm an upset stomach.

Apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is one of the most effective home remedies for Indigestion. It is made from fermented apples and has a tart and sour taste.

Apple cider vinegar helps relieve symptoms of indigestion by helping to relax your digestive muscles. In addition, it may help regulate stomach acid levels and thus reduce heartburn symptoms.

How to prepare:

• One way to use apple cider vinegar to treat indigestion is by adding one tablespoon to 8 ounces of water with a few crushed mint leaves. Sipping it slowly overtime during a meal can help with indigestion.
• Another option is to drink 4 ounces of water mixed with 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar at least an hour before eating.

Baking soda in water

Mixing 1-2 teaspoons of baking soda in 8 ounces of water to treat heartburn and indigestion has been a common home remedy for decades.

Baking soda relieves indigestion by neutralizing stomach acidity. This treatment is best when your symptoms are mild. Because it takes about 20 minutes before you will feel relief, however, if you feel moderate to severe pain, it might be better to try something like an antacid or Digestive enzyme instead. 

Aristozyme Syrup is another Digestive enzyme and is highly effective in many digestive issues. To know more about it, read 5 Amazing Aristozyme Syrup uses.

Warm ginger water

One of the best and easy home remedies to cure indigestion is to drink warm ginger water or ginger tea.

How to prepare:

• Just boil a couple of slices of fresh ginger root in 1 cup of water until it is reduced by half.
• Strain it properly
• Add honey to it and drink.

If you have access to fresh ginger, you can put a few slices in a glass of water, let it sit for an hour or two, then strain and drink. Be sure to use it before the next day. It is not that bad on its own either. But not as good as a natural ginger ale though. Ginger has been shown effective at helping with both morning sickness and reducing symptoms from various forms of cancer including colon cancer.

Lemon water

Lemon water is a natural digestive aid and can help decrease acid levels that lead to indigestion. The warm temperature of the water helps break down any fat or grease in your stomach.

It also serves as a good source of vitamin C, which can help ease nausea, heartburn and other symptoms associated with gastrointestinal distress. Mixing lemon juice into warm water allows you to reap all these benefits without getting rid of its flavour. something you wouldn’t want to do with plain old lemon juice.

Just be sure not to drink too much at once. Too much citrus can actually cause more harm than good. And if you are sensitive to tart flavours, you will still get some relief from sugar-free gum or mints.

Ginger and garlic paste made with baking soda and lemon water

Ginger and garlic are very effective in curing acidity and indigestion. It is a natural antacid that helps in curing gastric problems like acidity, heartburn and nausea etc. It is also effective in curing gas problems along with acidity.

How to prepare:

• In a bowl, mix one tablespoon of ginger juice, garlic paste and baking soda with half a glass of water.
• Add half a teaspoon of lemon juice to make it taste better.
• Consume it before going to bed.

Alternatively, you can consume one tablespoon of fresh ginger juice every morning on an empty stomach for three months to cure your acidity problem. You must also stop eating heavy food items such as fried food, meat and other acidic foods. 

Conclusion

In addition to taking care of our stomach problems, we should also take care that what we eat is healthy and good. Some spices like cinnamon will help in digesting heavy food easily. Cinnamon powder mixed with honey or ginger juice can work wonders.

Apart from eating right and avoiding junk food, one should practise yoga as it will help remove stress which could be the reason behind acidity and other stomach ailments. One should regularly exercise if he/she has health issues because exercise not only removes toxins but also improves digestion.

There are many exercises that you can do to cure indigestion naturally at home without any medication. Yoga postures such as:

• Suryanamaskar (sun salutation)
• Uttanasana (forward bend)
• Adho Mukha Svanasana (downward-facing dog)

One should always make sure that one maintains proper hygiene when it comes to preparing food. If there is anything wrong with your diet then you need to consult a doctor immediately before things get worse.