Most upset stomacches resolve on their own, but the right remedy can cut your discomfort from hours to minutes. What you should take depends on your specific symptom: nausea, bloating, heartburn, cramping, or diarrhea each respond to different treatments.
Match the Remedy to Your Symptom
An “upset stomach” can mean a dozen different things, and grabbing the wrong product off the shelf won’t help much. Heartburn and acid indigestion call for something that neutralizes or reduces stomach acid. Gas and bloating need a product that breaks up gas bubbles. Nausea and diarrhea respond to coating agents or probiotics. Before reaching for anything, take a moment to identify what’s actually bothering you.
Over-the-Counter Options That Work
For Nausea and Diarrhea
Bismuth subsalicylate (the active ingredient in Pepto-Bismol and Kaopectate) coats the stomach lining and reduces inflammation in the gut. It handles nausea, mild diarrhea, and that general “queasy” feeling better than most other OTC options. Adults can take 524 mg every 30 minutes to an hour as needed, up to a maximum of roughly 4,200 mg over 24 hours, for up to two days. Don’t use it if you’re allergic to aspirin, since it contains a related compound.
For Gas and Bloating
Simethicone (found in Gas-X and Mylicon) works by lowering the surface tension of gas bubbles in your digestive tract so they merge together and pass more easily as burping or flatulence. It’s not absorbed into your body at all, which makes it one of the safest OTC options available. The typical adult dose is 40 to 125 mg up to four times daily after meals, with a daily maximum of 500 mg.
For Heartburn and Acid Indigestion
Calcium carbonate antacids (Tums, Rolaids) neutralize stomach acid on contact and provide the fastest relief, usually within minutes. They’re best for occasional flare-ups rather than ongoing symptoms.
If your heartburn lasts longer or keeps returning, acid reducers containing famotidine (Pepcid) work differently. They block your stomach’s acid-producing cells, kicking in within about 60 minutes and lasting 4 to 10 hours. They’re approved for short-term use with uncomplicated heartburn, indigestion, and acid reflux.
Home Remedies Worth Trying
Ginger
Ginger has a long reputation as a nausea fighter, and there’s real science behind it. Compounds in ginger interact with serotonin receptors in the gut, which play a role in nausea signaling. It also appears to speed up the rate at which your stomach empties, meaning food doesn’t sit there making you feel heavy and sick. Ginger tea, ginger chews, or even a small piece of fresh ginger can help. Capsules standardized to ginger extract are another option if you don’t like the taste.
Peppermint
Peppermint oil is a genuine antispasmodic. The menthol in it blocks calcium channels in the smooth muscle of your digestive tract, which relaxes the muscles and eases cramping. Clinical trials consistently show it outperforms placebo for abdominal pain. In one study of children with functional abdominal pain, peppermint oil cut pain duration roughly in half compared to placebo (about 26 minutes versus 52 minutes per episode) and reduced how often pain episodes occurred. Peppermint tea is a milder option, while enteric-coated peppermint oil capsules deliver a stronger, more targeted dose. Skip peppermint if your main issue is heartburn, though, since relaxing the muscle at the top of your stomach can let acid creep upward.
Warm Water or Clear Fluids
Sipping warm water or clear broth helps in two ways: it keeps you hydrated (especially important if you’ve been vomiting or have diarrhea) and it gently stimulates digestion without forcing your stomach to work hard on solid food. Avoid cold, carbonated, or caffeinated drinks until you’re feeling better.
What to Eat When Your Stomach Is Off
You’ve probably heard of the BRAT diet: bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. It works reasonably well for a day or two when you’re dealing with stomach flu, food poisoning, or traveler’s diarrhea, but you don’t need to limit yourself to only those four foods. Brothy soups, oatmeal, boiled potatoes, crackers, and unsweetened dry cereal are equally easy on the stomach.
The BRAT foods do have specific benefits, though. Bananas and apples contain pectin, a soluble fiber that binds excess water and helps firm up loose stools. Bananas also replenish potassium, a mineral you lose quickly during diarrhea or vomiting. Plain white rice converts to soluble fiber in the gut, which further helps with stool consistency.
Once things settle, expand gradually to cooked squash, carrots, sweet potatoes without skin, avocado, skinless poultry, fish, and eggs. Avoid greasy, spicy, or heavily seasoned food until your stomach feels fully back to normal.
Probiotics for Diarrhea
If your upset stomach centers on diarrhea, a specific yeast-based probiotic called Saccharomyces boulardii can shorten how long it lasts. In a clinical trial, children given this probiotic recovered from acute diarrhea in about 66 hours compared to 95 hours for those on placebo, roughly a day and a half faster. They also rehydrated about 9 hours sooner. S. boulardii is available over the counter in capsule and powder form (sold under brand names like Florastor). It’s one of the best-studied probiotics for acute diarrhea specifically, so it’s a more targeted choice than a general probiotic blend.
Signs You Need Emergency Care
Most stomach upset passes within a few hours to a couple of days. But certain patterns signal something more serious. The American College of Emergency Physicians recommends seeking emergency care if your pain is sudden, severe, or doesn’t ease within 30 minutes. Continuous severe abdominal pain paired with persistent vomiting can indicate a life-threatening condition.
Pay attention to where the pain is located. Severe pain in the lower right abdomen, especially with nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, or fever, may point to appendicitis. Pain in the middle upper abdomen that worsens after eating, lasts for days, and comes with fever or a rapid pulse could suggest pancreatitis. Bloody vomit, black or bloody stools, high fever, or signs of dehydration (dizziness, very dark urine, no urination for many hours) all warrant immediate medical attention.