You’re doubled over. It feels like a literal knot is tightening inside your abdomen, or maybe it’s that slow, rhythmic churning that makes you want to crawl under your desk and stay there until next Tuesday. We’ve all been there. But honestly, most of the advice out there on how to get rid of stomach aches is either outdated or just plain wrong. You drink some ginger ale—which is mostly high fructose corn syrup—and wonder why your gut still feels like a disaster zone.
The reality is that your "stomach" is a massive, complex neighborhood of organs. When you say it hurts, you could be talking about your actual stomach, your small intestine, your colon, or even your gallbladder. Fixing it requires more than just a random Tums and a prayer. It requires understanding the specific biology of what went sideways.
The Ginger Myth and What to Actually Swallow
If you reach for a standard can of ginger ale, you're basically feeding your gut bacteria a massive dose of sugar. Sugar ferments. Fermentation causes gas. Gas causes more pain. It's a cycle that makes zero sense if you’re trying to find relief.
👉 See also: No Alcohol for a Month: What Actually Happens to Your Body and Brain
Real ginger works. Research published in journals like Gastroenterology Report has shown that gingerols and shogaols—the active compounds in the root—speed up "gastric emptying." Basically, they tell your stomach to hurry up and move its contents into the small intestine. If you want to know how to get rid of stomach aches caused by indigestion, you need real, spicy, biting ginger. Steep a half-inch of peeled, sliced ginger root in boiling water for ten minutes. Skip the honey if you can; keep it pure.
Then there’s peppermint. Menthol is a natural antispasmodic. It relaxes the smooth muscles of the gut. However—and this is a huge "however"—if your stomach ache feels like burning in your chest (acid reflux), peppermint is your enemy. It relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter, letting acid climb up your throat. Know your pain before you treat it.
Why Your Posture is Probably Making It Worse
Stop slouching. Seriously.
When you have a stomach ache, the instinct is to curl into a ball. It feels protective. But by compressing your abdominal cavity, you’re physically hindering peristalsis—the wave-like muscle contractions that move food and gas through your system. You are literally creating a traffic jam in your own intestines.
Try the "Modified Cobra" or simply lie flat on your back with your legs extended. This opens up the space. If the pain is gas-related, the "Wind-Relieving Pose" (Pavanamuktasana) from yoga isn't just a funny name; it’s a mechanical way to shift trapped air. You draw your knees to your chest and rock slightly. It works because it changes the internal pressure gradients of the descending colon.
The 15-Minute Rule for Heat Therapy
Heat is underrated. It’s not just a comfort thing. When you apply a heating pad or a hot water bottle to your abdomen, you increase blood flow to the area. This has a dual effect. First, it distracts your nervous system from the internal pain signals (the "Gate Control Theory" of pain). Second, the warmth physically relaxes the outer abdominal muscles, which often tense up in response to internal distress, creating a secondary layer of cramping.
📖 Related: Sole of Left Foot Itching: What Your Body Is Actually Trying To Tell You
But don't overdo it. 15 minutes on, 15 minutes off. You want to avoid "toasted skin syndrome" (erythema ab igne), and you don't want to mask a surgical emergency like appendicitis by numbing the area for hours. If the pain is sharp, localized to the lower right side, and gets worse when you let go after pressing down, put the heating pad away and go to the ER.
Dealing with the "Gut-Brain" Feedback Loop
Sometimes the ache isn't about what you ate. It’s about what you’re thinking. The enteric nervous system is often called the "second brain" for a reason. It contains more neurons than your spinal cord. If you’re under high stress, your body shunts blood away from the digestive tract to your limbs—the classic fight-or-flight response. Digestion grinds to a halt. The food just sits there.
If your stomach ache is stress-induced, no amount of Pepto-Bismol is going to fix the root cause. You have to convince your vagus nerve that you aren't being hunted by a predator. Deep, diaphragmatic breathing—where your belly expands, not your chest—is the fastest way to "hack" this system. It signals to the parasympathetic nervous system that it’s safe to "rest and digest."
When to Stop Guessing and See a Doctor
We tend to downplay abdominal pain because it's so common. But there are "Red Flag" symptoms that mean you should stop searching for how to get rid of stomach aches online and get a professional opinion immediately.
If you have a fever along with the pain, that’s a sign of infection (think diverticulitis or a kidney infection). If you can’t keep water down for more than 12 hours, dehydration becomes a bigger threat than the ache itself. Bloody stools or vomit that looks like coffee grounds are non-negotiable reasons for an emergency visit.
Also, pay attention to the "referred pain." Gallbladder issues often manifest as pain under the right shoulder blade. Pancreatitis often feels like a boring pain that goes straight through to your back. These aren't just "stomach aches"; they are organ system failures or blockages that need imaging like an ultrasound or CT scan.
The BRAT Diet is Dead (Sort Of)
For decades, doctors pushed the BRAT diet: Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Toast. The idea was to eat "binding" foods. While these are easy on the stomach, the American Academy of Pediatrics and many GI specialists now suggest moving back to a regular, balanced diet as soon as possible. BRAT is too low in fiber, protein, and fat to actually help the gut lining repair itself after an upset.
Instead of just white toast, think about "gentle" probiotics. A few spoonfuls of plain, unsweetened yogurt or kefir can help recolonize the gut if your ache is coming from a bacterial imbalance or a mild bout of food poisoning. Just steer clear of heavy fats and fried foods. Fat slows down stomach emptying, which is the last thing you want when your gut is already struggling to process its current load.
👉 See also: Finding Another Word For Masturbating: Why Our Language For Self-Pleasure Is So Weird
Actionable Steps for Immediate Relief
If you are hurting right now, follow this sequence:
- Assess the location. Upper middle? Probably reflux or gastritis. Lower right? Potential appendicitis. General cramping? Likely gas or virus.
- Apply targeted heat. Use a hot water bottle for 15 minutes to relax the smooth muscle tissue.
- Sip, don't chug. Drink 4-6 ounces of warm water with fresh-grated ginger or a cup of peppermint tea (unless you have heartburn).
- Move the gas. Spend five minutes in a child's pose or walking slowly. Movement is the primary driver of intestinal motility.
- Check your meds. Avoid NSAIDs like Ibuprofen or Aspirin if you suspect a stomach ache. They are notorious for irritating the stomach lining and can actually cause "gastric erosions" if taken on an empty, hurting stomach. Stick to Acetaminophen if you need a painkiller, but only if you aren't nauseous.
- Track the timing. If the pain started exactly 30 minutes after a fatty meal, your gallbladder is a prime suspect. If it's been constant for over 24 hours without improvement, call your primary care physician.
Stomach aches are rarely just one thing. They are a signal. Usually, it's a signal to slow down, hydrate, and stop eating processed junk for a minute. But if the signal gets louder and sharper, don't ignore it. Listen to the nuance of the pain. Your gut is usually trying to tell you exactly what it needs, whether that’s a walk, a glass of water, or a trip to the clinic.