What should I eat to soothe an upset stomach?
Mar 17, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Shen Yonghua
Introduction
For stomach discomfort, you can consume foods such as pumpkin, Chinese yam, millet, Hericium erinaceus (lion's mane mushroom), and carrots. Additionally, medications such as magnesium aluminum carbonate tablets, bismuth potassium citrate capsules, domperidone tablets, Xiangsha Yangwei Pills, and Bifidobacterium quadruple viable tablets may be used under a doctor's guidance to support stomach health. It is recommended to maintain a bland diet during this period, avoid spicy and irritating foods, and adhere to regular meal times with controlled portion sizes, avoiding overeating.
Generally, when experiencing stomach discomfort, you can consume foods such as pumpkin, Chinese yam, millet, Hericium erinaceus (lion's mane mushroom), and carrots. Additionally, medications such as magnesium aluminum carbonate tablets, potassium bismuth citrate capsules, domperidone tablets, Xiangsha Yangwei Pills, and Bifidobacterium tetra probiotic tablets may be used under medical guidance to help improve stomach health. Detailed explanations are as follows:
I. Foods
1. Pumpkin
Pumpkin is rich in pectin, a substance that forms a protective layer on the surface of the gastric mucosa, effectively isolating the mucosa from irritation by gastric acid and food, thus reducing stomach discomfort. Meanwhile, nutrients in pumpkin such as carotenoids and vitamin C have antioxidant effects that promote the repair and regeneration of gastric mucosa and enhance the stomach's resistance.
2. Chinese Yam
Chinese yam contains abundant amylase and polyphenol oxidase, which help promote digestion and absorption of food, thereby reducing the digestive burden on the stomach. Moreover, the mucilaginous proteins in Chinese yam can protect the gastric mucosa and help prevent diseases such as gastritis and peptic ulcers.
3. Millet
Millet is rich in various vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber. It is mild in nature and easily digested, helping neutralize gastric acid and relieve symptoms such as heartburn and stomach pain caused by excessive acid production.
4. Hericium Erinaceus (Lion's Mane Mushroom)
Hericium erinaceus contains various nutrients, including Hericium erinaceus polysaccharides, which protect the gastric mucosa and promote the repair of damaged mucosal tissue. It also inhibits the growth of Helicobacter pylori, reduces inflammatory responses, and has an auxiliary therapeutic effect on diseases such as gastritis and peptic ulcers.
5. Carrot
Carrots are rich in nutrients such as carotenoids, B vitamins, vitamin C, and minerals. Carotenoids can be converted into vitamin A in the body, which helps protect the gastric mucosa and promotes the repair and growth of gastric mucosal epithelial cells.
II. Medications
1. Magnesium Aluminum Carbonate Tablets
The main component of magnesium aluminum carbonate tablets, magnesium aluminum carbonate, can rapidly neutralize gastric acid, continuously prevent damage from pepsin and bile acids to the stomach, and enhance the protective function of gastric mucosa. When stomach discomfort is caused by excessive gastric acid irritating the mucosa, taking magnesium aluminum carbonate tablets can act directly in the stomach to relieve symptoms such as stomach pain, heartburn, and acid regurgitation.
2. Potassium Bismuth Citrate Capsules
After oral administration, this medication forms a firm protective layer on the surface of the gastric mucosa under the action of gastric acid, covering the damaged mucosa, isolating the ulcer surface from irritation by gastric acid, pepsin, and food, and promoting mucosal regeneration and ulcer healing. For patients experiencing stomach discomfort due to gastritis or peptic ulcers, potassium bismuth citrate capsules provide good protection and repair of the gastric mucosa.
3. Domperidone Tablets
Domperidone tablets selectively block dopamine receptors in the gastrointestinal tract, promoting gastrointestinal motility, coordinating antral and duodenal movements, enhancing the tone of the lower esophageal sphincter, and preventing gastroesophageal reflux. Thus, it improves stomach discomfort symptoms such as indigestion, abdominal distension, nausea, and vomiting caused by insufficient gastrointestinal motility.
4. Xiangsha Yangwei Pills
Xiangsha Yangwei Pills consist of multiple Chinese herbs, including Aucklandia root (Mu Xiang), Amomum fruit (Sha Ren), Atractylodes rhizome (Bai Zhu), Tangerine peel (Chen Pi), and Poria (Fu Ling). Aucklandia root and Amomum fruit regulate qi and relieve pain, and warm the middle jiao and harmonize the stomach; Atractylodes rhizome, Tangerine peel, and Poria strengthen the spleen and remove dampness. The pills have the effect of warming the middle jiao and harmonizing the stomach and are commonly used for treating epigastric pain and distension caused by insufficiency of stomach yang and dampness obstructing and qi stagnation. They improve stomach discomfort caused by cold deficiency of the stomach and dampness obstruction by regulating the function of the spleen and stomach.
5. Bifidobacterium Tetra Probiotic Tablets
The main components of Bifidobacterium tetra probiotic tablets include Bifidobacterium infantis, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Enterococcus faecalis, and Bacillus cereus. These beneficial bacteria can grow and multiply in the intestines, forming a dominant bacterial population that regulates the balance of intestinal flora, inhibits the growth of harmful bacteria, and reduces the production of intestinal toxins, thereby indirectly alleviating stomach discomfort.
It is recommended to maintain a bland diet during stomach care, avoid spicy and irritating foods, eat regular meals with appropriate portion sizes, and avoid overeating.
