Home remedies for stomach infection

Stomach infection is a common problem which we all go through at least once in our lifetime and is caused by drinking or eating foods contaminated with bacteria and viruses. These bacteria and viruses attack your gastrointestinal system and these infections are more often caused by viruses instead of bacteria. When you come to know that infections have spread around you must take extra precautions such as staying away from an infected person, not using the washroom used by an infected person and washing utensils by dishwasher instead of hands and using soaps instead of sanitizers. The most common symptoms of stomach infections are fever, chills, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Although stomach infections take their time to heal, certain home remedies can help in speedy recovery. These remedies include - 

• Drinking plenty of fluids - When you are suffering from stomach infection the most important thing is to stay hydrated because you lose a lot of fluids through vomiting, sweating and diarrhoea. If you are not able to keep the liquids and are frequently vomiting, try to drink smaller amounts at a time or you can also chew a few ice cubes. The drinks which you can prefer while suffering from stomach infection are water, coconut water, oral rehydration solutions, certain sports drinks which help in  replacement of electrolytes, peppermint and ginger tea which helps in reducing stomach pain and symptoms of nausea. Also there are certain drinks which you should avoid while suffering from stomach infection and they include coffee, strong black tea, alcohol, chocolate and caffeinated beverages as they can dehydrate your body because they are diuretic and will lead to frequent urination. You cannot take the risk of upsetting your upset stomach by consuming these.
• Acupressure - Acupressure can help in reducing the symptoms of nausea while suffering from a stomach infection. Certain studies have shown the impact of accupressure but there is not much conclusive evidence. 
• Medications - Medications such as antibiotics won't help you much while you are suffering from an infection caused by a virus because antibiotics can treat only bacterial infections. But you can treat your symptoms with the help of various over the counter medications. Do not take more non steroidal anti- inflammatory drugs as they can worsen your condition by upsetting your stomach more. You can take medications available for diarrhoea and vomiting.
• Get enough rest - Limit your activities and get enough rest to enable your body to fight the infection and repair itself at cellular level. Getting rest doesn't always mean sleeping. If you are not sleeping you can rest on the couch and watch your favourite TV programs and do other things of your liking in which no much physical activity is required.
• Healthy diet which is easy to digest- When you are suffering from a stomach infection then it is very difficult for you to hold food as there is constant vomiting and diarrhoea. So it is very important to start slow and simple by eating foods which are easy to digest such as applesauce, bananas, toast and rice. These foods are rich in carbohydrates and give us energy and replenish our nutrients which are lost during vomiting and diarrhoea. Bananas contain potassium and help in restoring the normal potassium levels of our body. Brown rice is not recommended because it contains too much fibre and can produce a lot of gas hence only white rice is recommended because it is easy to digest. 
• Cumin seeds - Cumin seeds can help a lot when you are suffering from an upset stomach as it provides relief from hyperacidity production of excessive gas and abdominal cramps.
• Cinnamon - It helps in easy digestion of food as it contains antioxidants such as camphor, linalool and helps in the living symptoms such as nausea, bloating and feeling of fullness. You can add one teaspoon of cinnamon powder to your food to get instant relief.
• Ginger - Ginger can help reduce the abdominal pain and vomiting and nausea as it contains chemicals called gingerols and shogaols which help to speed up contractions.
• Mint - Mint leaves is an effective method to treat indigestion and makes the stomach calm and relieves pain by reducing muscle spasms in the intestine. 

These home remedies can be used to get instant relief but the advice of a medical practitioner is necessary.