Women often experience pain in the lower abdomen due to their periods or menstruation. But abdominal pain is not just a women’s issue, men also experience this problem.
Lower abdominal pain is common and often easily remedied. But if you have such pain on a regular basis, do not take it lightly.
Simple problems like swallowing excess air, eating high-fat foods that lead to delayed stomach emptying, food poisoning and even stress can cause lower abdominal pain. But certain health issues can also cause this problem.
Some of the health-related causes include constipation, lactose or gluten intolerance, gastroenteritis, colitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), intestinal obstruction, gastroparesis, Crohn’s disease, diverticulitis, kidney disorders, appendicitis, hernias, gonorrhea, liver cirrhosis and irritable bowel syndrome, to name a few.
In some cases, lower abdominal pain in women can be related to the reproductive system, including pregnancy, ectopic pregnancy, menstrual pain, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), ovarian cancer, ovarian cysts and pelvic inflammatory disease.
As there can be so many reasons behind lower abdominal pain, it is highly recommended to consult your doctor to find out the exact cause of the problem.
However, for mild cases, you can use some home remedies and lifestyle changes to see improvement in your condition.
Here are the top 10 ways to get rid of lower abdominal pain.
Contents
1. Heat
If you are having pain in the lower abdomen due to PMS or menstruation, try applying heat on the affected area.
Applying heat helps reduce the pain by relaxing the contracting muscles in the uterus.
- Place a heating pad over the lower part of your abdomen. Do it until you feel more comfortable.
- Alternatively, soak a towel in water, wring out the excess water and then heat it in the microwave for 1 minute. Place it on the lower abdomen until the towel cools. Repeat every few minutes until the pain is gone.
- Even taking a hot shower can be effective.
2. Chamomile
A soothing cup of chamomile tea can provide relief from lower abdominal pain.
The herb is rich in anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties that help relax the uterus and ease the spasmodic contractions that cause pain during menstruation.
Chamomile is also a good remedy for diverticular disease that causes pain in the lower abdomen.
- Add 2 to 3 teaspoons of dried chamomile flowers to a cup of hot water.
- Cover and let it steep for 5 minutes.
- Strain it and mix in 1 teaspoon of honey.
- Drink up to 3 cups of chamomile tea daily.
Caution: Do not take chamomile if you are pregnant, or taking birth control pills or blood-thinning medicine.
3. Ginger
Ginger is another good remedy for lower abdominal pain, whether the cause is menstruation, PMS, constipation, indigestion, gas, diverticular disease or diverticulitis.
Ginger has a carminative effect on the body, which helps reduce the pain. It also accelerates gastric emptying and improves digestion by relaxing and soothing the intestinal tract.
- Add 1 teaspoon of grated ginger to a cup of boiling water. Let it simmer for 5 minutes. Strain it and add a little honey and lemon juice for taste. Drink 2 to 3 cups of ginger tea daily.
- Also, add a few drops of ginger essential oil to any base oil and rub it on your stomach. Do this once or twice a day.
4. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is effective in treating a wide variety of ailments that can cause lower abdominal pain.
Being a powerful detoxifying agent and rich in calcium and potassium, apple cider vinegar eases cramping of the uterine muscles and reduces pain due to menstruation or PMS.
The enzymes in apple cider vinegar also aid digestion and prevent gas or constipation. In addition, it can help dissolve kidney stones.
- Mix 1 to 2 teaspoons of raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar in a glass of water.
- Add a little raw, organic honey.
- Drink this solution once or twice daily.
5. Fennel
The antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties of fennel can help relax the muscles in the uterus, which in turn reduces pain in the lower part of your abdomen due to menstrual cramps or PMS.
It is also a good remedy for indigestion, gas and constipation.
- Add 1 teaspoon of fennel seeds to 1 cup of hot water. Let it steep for 5 minutes. Strain and drink this herbal tea 2 or 3 times a day.
- You can also simply chew on a spoonful of fennel seeds daily.
6. Peppermint
The menthol in peppermint works as a natural analgesic and helps reduce abdominal pain, whether it is in the lower or upper portion.
Plus, peppermint is effective at easing gas pain as well as other digestive problems.
- For quick relief from lower abdominal pain, simply chew some peppermint leaves.
- Alternatively, make peppermint tea by adding 1 teaspoon of fresh peppermint leaves to a cup of boiling water and letting it steep for 10 minutes. Strain it and add some honey. Drink the tea 2 or 3 times a day.
Note: Peppermint may not be suitable when suffering from heartburn or acid reflux disease.
7. Yogurt
Yogurt with ‘live cultures’ is a good remedy for lower abdominal pain related to irritable bowel syndrome, constipation or gastroenteritis. Live cultures help generate lactic acid to flush out bacterial toxins from the body.
Also, it is good for the digestive system.
- Include 2 to 3 cups of yogurt in your daily diet. You can eat it as is or make a smoothie.
- Along with yogurt, other probiotic foods like kefir, pickle juice and others are also beneficial.
8. Exercise
Regular exercise is important to keep your digestive system healthy, prevent constipation and make your bowel movements regular.
Exercising can also release air and gas that has built up in the stomach, which can cause lower abdominal pain.
Any kind of exercise is good for your health. If you do not have time to go to a gym, do walking or jogging daily.
Avoid lying down immediately after eating. Instead, go for a walk for about 30 minutes and only then go to bed.
Some other good options that you can try are swimming, bicycling, lawn tennis and football.
9. Proper Hydration
Proper hydration is essential for regular bowel movements and for the digestive tract to function smoothly. Water also helps flush kidney stones out of your system and prevent any kind of a bowel obstruction.
In fact, inadequate water intake is a common cause of constipation. It can also give rise to kidney problems.
So, to prevent lower abdominal pain, make sure you are drinking enough water to keep your body properly hydrated.
Water and fruits and vegetables that are high in water content are the best sources to keep your body hydrated.
Add a splash of lemon juice or 1 tablespoon of organic apple cider vinegar to increase the nutritional and healing properties of the water you drink.
Do not drink carbonated or caffeinated drinks, such as soda pop, tea or coffee. These beverages have a dehydrating effect on the body.
10. Diet
Certain foods and beverages can cause abdominal bloating and lower abdominal pain by causing gas or constipation.
Avoiding such foods and beverages works as a preventive measure. To find out which foods give you pain in the lower abdomen, you may have to maintain a food journal.
Some of the foods and beverages that should be avoided include beans, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, beer, carbonated beverages, chewing gum, dairy products (if you are lactose intolerant), hard candy, high-fat foods, lentils and turnips.
Additional Tips
- If you smoke, it is time to quit. It is bad for your digestive system as well as your overall health.
- Increase your fiber intake by eating more fruits, vegetables and whole grains to help prevent constipation.
- Start eating smaller meals, several times a day instead of two or three large meals.
- Enjoy proper sleep to help keep your digestive system in good health.
- Do not eat foods that are high in fat. High-fat foods may increase your abdominal pain.
- Do not use aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), as these may irritate your stomach and increase your pain.
- Develop regular bowel habits to prevent abdominal pain caused by constipation.
- To prevent abdominal pain caused by swallowing air, do not chew gum or drink carbonated beverages.
