Natural Home Remedies For Gastroenteritis (Stomach Flu)

Antibiotics may be prescribed if the person has contracted bacterial gastroenteritis. However, if the cause is viral, there is no specific medical treatment to help with the condition. The doctor may suggest some self-care measures to overcome stomach flu faster in such cases.
The following are some wonderful home remedies that can speed up your recovery from gastroenteritis naturally.

1. Apple Cider Vinegar

 

Apple cider vinegar possesses powerful antimicrobial properties against microbes like E. coli and may be able to help with bacterial gastroenteritis.

You Will Need

• 1 tablespoon of raw apple cider vinegar
• 1 cup of warm water

What You Have To Do

1. Add a tablespoon of raw apple cider vinegar to a cup of water.
2. Mix well and drink the solution.

How Often You Should Do This

You may drink this once daily until you notice an improvement in your symptoms.

2. Probiotic Yogurt

 

Probiotic yogurt can help restore your gut flora. This can help reduce the inflammation in the lining of your intestine. Itcan also help improve non-inflammatory gastroenteritis.

You Will Need

A bowl of probiotic yogurt

What You Have To Do

Consume a bowl of probiotic yogurt.

How Often You Should Do This

You can consume this once daily.

3. Honey

 

The antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of honey can speed up your recovery from gastroenteritis while reducing the duration of its symptoms.

You Will Need

• 1-2 teaspoons of raw honey
• 1 cup of water

What You Have To Do

1. Add one to two teaspoons of raw honey to a cup of water.
2. Mix well and drink the solution.
3. You can also add honey to the oral rehydration solution (ORS) being given to your child.

How Often You Should Do This

You may do this 2-3 times daily.
Caution: Honey should not be given to children below 1 year due to the risk of developing botulism.

4. Ginger

 

Ginger has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. This can help reduce the inflammatory symptoms associated with gastrointestinal disorders like gastroenteritis.

You Will Need

• 1 inch of sliced ginger
• 1 cup of water

What You Have To Do

1. Add an inch of sliced ginger to a cup of water.
2. Bring it to a boil in a saucepan.
3. Simmer for a few minutes and strain.

How Often You Should Do This

You may drink ginger tea twice daily.

5. Turmeric

 

The major component of turmeric, curcumin, exhibits anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. These activities of curcumin impart gastroprotective effects to turmeric that can help in the treatment of gastroenteritis and its inflammatory symptoms.

You Will Need

• 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder
• 1 glass of hot milk

What You Have To Do

1. Add a teaspoon of turmeric powder to a glass of hot milk.
2. Mix well and drink the mixture.

How Often You Should Do This

You may do this once daily.

6. Cinnamon

 

Cinnamon is a multifaceted herb with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties (7). Hence, it may help with gastroenteritis and speed up your recovery.

You Will Need

• An inch of cinnamon stick
• 1 cup of water
• Honey (as required)

What You Have To Do

1. Add an inch of a cinnamon stick to a cup of water.
2. Bring it to a boil in a saucepan.
3. Simmer for 5 minutes and strain.
4. Allow the tea to warm a bit before drinking it.

How Often You Should Do This

You may drink this 1-2 times daily.

7. Rice Water

 

Rice water can be used as an alternative to ORS in infants with gastroenteritis as it can cut down the number of stools (diarrhea).

You Will Need

A cup of rice water

What You Have To Do

1. Strain the remaining water after your rice has cooled completely.
2. Feed small amounts of rice water to your infant after every watery bowel movement they have had.
3. You can also drink rice water to battle gastroenteritis.

How Often You Should Do This

You may do this multiple times daily until the symptoms begin improving.

8. Chamomile Tea

 

Chamomile is popularly used as a digestive relaxant and can help in the treatment of many gastrointestinal disturbances like diarrhea and vomiting, which often accompany gastroenteritis.

You Will Need

• 1 teaspoon of chamomile tea
• 1 cup of hot water

What You Have To Do

1. Add a teaspoon of chamomile tea to a cup of hot water.
2. Steep for a few minutes and strain.
3. Drink the warm concoction.

How Often You Should Do This

You may drink this 1-2 times daily.

9. Lemon

 

Lemons are rich sources of citrate, which can be used in the treatment of viral gastroenteritis caused by norovirus.

You Will Need

• ½ lemon
• 1 glass of water

What You Have To Do

1. Squeeze out the juice from a lemon into a glass of water.
2. Mix well and drink the juice.

How Often You Should Do This

You may do this once daily.

10. Green Banana

 

Green banana is a rich source of pectin and can help reduce symptoms of gastroenteritis like diarrhea in children. It can also help in speeding up recovery from the condition .

You Will Need

• 1 green or unripe banana
• Water(as required)

What You Have To Do

1. Take a green banana and boil it in some water with its skin.
2. Simmer for 7-10 minutes and switch off the stove.
3. Allow the banana to cool down a bit and remove its skin.
4. Mash the fruit and add salt to taste.
5. Consume alone or with rice.

How Often You Should Do This

You may have to do this 1-2 times daily until your symptoms show an improvement.
Try the remedies listed above to manage the symptoms of gastroenteritis and accelerate your recovery from the infection. Given below are a few tips to avoid contracting stomach flu.

How To Prevent Stomach Flu

• Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.
• Get your child vaccinated against rotavirus.
• Wash your hands thoroughly before eating and after using the loo.
• Do not share personal utensils with an infected person until he/she recovers.
• Disinfect all the hard surfaces at your home if any of your family members have gastroenteritis.
• Avoid sending your child to the daycare center until they recover completely to prevent the infection from spreading.
• Get ample rest and sleep well.

As already discussed, there is no specific medical treatment for gastroenteritis. Rest and hydration, coupled with the remedies mentioned above, can help in speeding up your recovery from gastroenteritis without any further complications. Infants and older adults who have stomach flu should be given extra care as this infection can prove to be life-threatening to them, given their compromised immunity.
We hope that all your queries regarding gastroenteritis were addressed in this post. For any more doubts, feel free to get in touch with us through the comments section below.

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