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Natural Remedies for the Stomach Flu

| Modified on Aug 28, 2023
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The stomach virus, commonly called the "stomach flu" is characterized by symptoms including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever. Often the stomach flu only last 24 hours, though ocassionally it last for several days or up to a week. Fortunately, there are an number of natural remedies that can ease symptoms and speed healing. You may have something in your kitchen cabinet right now that will be helpful to stomach flu symptoms, including black tea, apple cider vinegar or honey.

Black Tea for the Stomach Flu

Many Earth Clinic readers report that black tea helps with vomiting from the stomach flu. Simply brew a mug of tea and sweeten if desired. Since honey is reported to help with the stomach flu, that would be a first choice sweetener. It is best to not add cream to tea while you have the stomach flu! If you do not have black tea on hand, peppermint tea, ginger tea or chamomile tea are some great alternatives. Each of these herbal teas is helpful for digestive problems in general. Tea is actually preferrable to water when dealing with the stomach flu. Drinking plain water is reported by many to induce vomiting. Whenever vomiting and diarrhea are present, it is important to drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration, which is not an uncommon complication of the stomach flu. Taking small sips often is also better than guzzling a lot of fluid at once. Drinking fast is more likely to induce vomiting. Popsicles, made from tea or juice, are wonderful for the stomach flu and are especially comforting if fever is present. They help with hydrating the body without the risk of taking in fluids too quickly.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Raw Apple Cider Vinegar has helped countless people with typical stomach flu symptoms. It has helped with vomiting, diarrhea and fever for many people over the years. You can try it hot or cold, depending on what suits you when you are not feeling well.

Hot Vinegar Tea

  • 1 Tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar
  • 1 Tablespoon Honey
  • 1 cup boiling water
  • Add vinegar and honey to a mug. Pour water over honey and vinegar. Mix. Sip as desired. 

Cold Apple Cider Vinegar Drink

  • Add 1 Tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar to a glass of cold water or juice (preferable grape or apple. Orange juice is not a good choice with the stomach flu.)

Turmeric for the Stomach Flu

Turmeric is a high ranking natural cure for diarrhea (second only to Apple Cider Vinegar.) Earth Clinic readers add 1/2 -1 teaspoon of turmeric powder to a glass of water or juice and drink it slowly. It can also be added to applesauce or other food. 2-4 capsules could be tried instead.

Activated Charcoal for Vomiting and Diarrhea

Charcoal capsules, or 1 teaspoon activated charcoal powder mixed into a glass of water is another popular natural remedy for symptoms of the stomach flu.

Once acute symptoms of the stomach flu are over, it is best to re-introduce your normal diet slowly. Eat light meals. Dairy products and high protein meals will be harder to digest initially.  If some digestive distress continues, try the BRAT diet - bananas, rice, applesauce and toast. A probiotic, water kefir, or milk kefir may also be helpful for the recovery stage of the stomach flu.

Continue reading interesting testimonials from our readers below who have tried various home remedies to cure their stomach bugs. Please be sure to share your story if you have have a natural remedy for the stomach flu!

Additional Pages of Interest:

Norovirus Remedies
Vomiting Remedies
Diarrhea Remedies

The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
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Apple Cider Vinegar

8 User Reviews
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Posted by Kingq (Chonburi) on 08/28/2023
 ★★★★★

After two days of suffering from stomach flu, decided to try ACV. Dry heaved for one minute straight after taking it. Fortunately kept everything down. Within five minutes I had relief and managed to get a quality eight hours of sleep.

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Morningsun (Hamersley, Perth) on 04/05/2012
 ★★★★★

THROWING UP for 5 hours our youngest daughter had this bug. Took 2 tbs of ACV and same amount of water and it has stopped for over an hour and I am unbelievably sitting up able to write this. Thanks to this community and the Lord of course. God is gracious...thanks.

Replied by Tammy
(Sulphur Springs, Texas)
12/13/2022
★★★★★

This apple cider vinegar remedy completely stopped my vomiting and diarrhea in 20 minutes after two days of having the stomach flu! Thank you!

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Kitj (Cape Town, Rsa) on 12/08/2011
 ★★★★★

Hi,

A friend I visited told me of the stomach bug floating in her household today. I drove her to do some shopping, she shared my drinks bottle and within three hours I was feeling bad. Light-headedness, stomach pains, nausea. I read this thread and tried some pear cider vinegar that I make myself, with honey , ginger and hot water.

Within two swigs I was rushing for a bucket, brought up a litre of orange yuckies, and feel great!! This stuff is working alright and I thank you guys for your input, so here's mine too.

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Michael (Highland Village, Texas) on 12/02/2008
 ★★★★★

ACV Works to Prevent Stomach Flu! Two weeks ago my four-year old contracted the stomach flu and one by one my other three children and wife fell victim to it. I thought ACV might help me stay well so twice a day I took two tablespoons of unpasteurized apple cider vinegar mixed with about 4 oz. of water and never got sick! Now, after finding your site I know for sure that it was the ACV that helped me. Next time we are exposed to a virus like this I will mix some honey with it to make it more palatable for my kids.

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Kim (New York, NY) on 11/19/2008
 ★★★★★

After 3 extremely painful days of carrying a stomach flu that has been going around the metro area I finally had enough energy to go on-line and look up natural remedies. I went to the doctor and she said to just ride out the storm. My upper abdomen is so sore and feels like acid is stuck in my small intestines. I found this website and made myself a 6 oz. cup of hot water with 2 tablespoons of AVC and 2 tablespoons of honey and literally within 5 minutes my stomach ache began to subside!! This is the most relief I have had in 3 days. Thank you everyone for your suggestions and just one more question: how many times of day should I continue to drink this? is too much a bad thing?

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Ana (Gainesville, FL) on 12/21/2007
 ★★★★★

About four months ago, my boyfriend and I used ACV to fight against a bug that had been going around. We had been looking at ACV as a possible addition to our diet because of all its reported benefits, so we had a bottle in the cabinet already and thought we might as well give it a try. My boyfriend got a sore throat first, so we both decided to use ACV (diluted in hot water) to gargle and drinking a little bit (pure) for about three days straight. All of our friends went through weeks of a painful sore throat, coughing, and feeling terrible...but thanks to ACV, my boyfriend and I barely even felt sick for a day, and I have not had a cold since.

Also, one night I came home and I had a familiar feeling of feverishness, nauseousness and intestinal discomfort. I had felt the same way twice before when I had gotten the stomach flu, and I knew what was coming. I was shivering and miserable, but I felt like there was nothing that I could do to help myself and that I would just have to go through the hours and hours of sleeplessness, vomiting and exhaustion. My boyfriend went online and searched for a home cure for the stomach flu. ACV came up on Earthclinic, and I was willing to try it again because of how well it worked on my sore throat. I took two tablespoons directly. It wasn't hard at all, and I actually like the taste. Afterwards I experienced approximately 20 minutes of (very very mild) heartburn. About 10 minutes later, I started feeling better, and about 30-45 minutes later, I felt entirely fine. A little bit of the nauseousness returned the next night, but two more table spoons of ACV fixed that. A couple weeks later (I have bad luck) I got food poisoning from some korean food. Two tablespoons of ACV cured that too.

I'm convinced that ACV can cure a lot of things and really improve your health. I would drink it three times a day if I wasn't afraid of possible degenerative effects it might have on my teeth enamel.

Replied by Christie
(Clearwater, Florida)
12/18/2022

Hi Ana

Try drinking the ACV solution through a straw..this way you won't damage your tooth enamel..God Bless

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Chad (USA)
★★★★★

Apple Cider vinegar works very well just plain. I take about 2/3 to a full shot glass and it will usually take the stomach flu out in 1-3 doses. NO MORE THAN 3 TIMES A DAY or I have had it make me sicker from too much.

Black Tea

3 User Reviews
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Posted by Young Wife (Usa) on 01/07/2013
 ★★★★★

My husband has been throwing up about every 30 minutes for the past 5 hours. He asked for water - wouldn't stay down. I tried Gatorade - also wouldn't stay down. And that made me nervous because Gatorade has always worked! So I started browsing the web and came across this site. I found 1 bag of black tea in our pantry and made a small pot with it. I let it steep for a long while. I gave him a small mug and made him drink it in small sips. (I also had him slowly eat a tiny piece of crystallized ginger. ) He almost immediately threw up again. But! I think it was residual - from the Gatorade or something. The reaction was too quick. So I had him take just 1 more small sip and put a cold compress on his forhead. And he's finally asleep!! He's been alseep and quiet for just about 30 minutes now! Thank you!

Replied by Laura
(TX)
02/04/2021
★★★★★

My mom thought I was going to die because when she was unable to nurse me when I was born, the condensed milk I was given gave me unremitting diarrhea, She took me from doctor to doctor with no help. She finally took me to what she referred to as an "old Jew doctor", this was in 1943. He told her to give me tea and it worked. I've looked it up online for myself and I found that black tea contains tannins that are healing to the stomach lining, It sure saved my life.

Black Tea
Posted by Catherine (Pdx, Oregon) on 02/17/2012
 ★★★★★

I was sick to my stomach I had headache and nausea for two days. Anyhow I read about black tea I ran to my pantry and brewed the wonder black tea in the tea pot for a five minutes let it cool and drank it I felt better within twenty minutes it was amazing Thanks for the tip helped me so much.

Cinnamon

2 User Reviews
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Posted by Molly (Hawaiian Gardens, California) on 04/17/2011
 ★★★★★

So far so good, My 9 yr wasn't feeling well, I can always tell that something just isn't right. She had fallen asleep early was the first sign, then came the tossing and turning. Next thing I saw she was sitting straight up crying saying she threw up. She threw up a couple more times before falling to sleep. At 5am she woke up to pain in her tummy but not throwing up anymore. Worried that she would start again I looked for some help on line. I saw tea would help. I have all kinds of different teas. I made her the cinnamon tea added a little brown sugar, and I'm glad to say she's asleep.

Cinnamon
Posted by Elizabeth Scruggs (Camp Lejeune , NC) on 01/31/2009
 ★★★★★

It REALLY Worked!! My son had been sick throwing up for hours... so i got online to google it... found a few remedies (that didnt work...) and then found this one .... and well... he's sleeping now... THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! I am definitely writing this recipe down so i have it for next time!!!

Colloidal Silver

2 User Reviews
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Posted by Mama To Many (Tennessee) on 04/29/2016
 ★★★★★

April seems like an odd time of year for a stomach bug to be going around, but there has been a miserable stomach bug going around for a few weeks.

My 19 year old son was the first in our house to have it a few weeks ago. I was pretty horrified because my oldest son's wedding was coming up and it wasn't the best time for a stomach bug. I guess it never is! :)

I started to give everyone colloidal silver. I gave adults and adult sized children 1-2 Tablespoons of homemade colloidal silver (25 ppm) morning and evening on an empty stomach. I gave children 1 -2 teaspoons at the same times. I was hoping this would be a preventative.

I gave my sick son CS a couple of times. He was only sick for 12 hours. By the grace of God, no one else got sick before or during the wedding, which was last week. I kept giving everyone silver. We heard of friends and neighbors getting it. We had house guests immediately following the wedding and three of the four of them came down with the stomach flu while in my house. One of my children did get the stomach flu but it didn't last long for him.

I am pretty confident that the Silver did help to prevent the stomach flu and that it reduced the duration of the bug for those who had it. It is pretty rare that a stomach bug goes through my house and nearly everyone does not get it. We like to share around here. Haha.

I guess I can't know for sure that CS kept us well and kept the duration of sickness shorter, but it sure seems to be the case. I will be giving silver again next time a stomach bug goes around!

~Mama to Many~

Replied by Art
(California)
04/30/2016
2326 posts
★★★★★

M to M,

I have used silver nanoparticles for stomach flu and it stops it cold in my limited experience, but I should add that I take a quart of uncapped particles right up front and a quart a day for three days after to make sure that I hit it hard and it doesn't rebound. The symptoms are gone within a few hours.

I have also had a herxheimer reaction on one occasion when it seemed a particularly rough stomach flu.

Art

Flat Coke

1 User Review
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Posted by Mandy (London, Uk) on 11/20/2011
 ★★★★★

Flat coke worked wonders for me for the stomach flu. Just pour out a couple of glasses, allow to go flat. Sip at it and the vomiting and nausea should stop. Only take small sips.

Ginger

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Posted by Gus (Elko, nevada) on 01/05/2008
 ★★★★★

I have been sick with some kind of stomach virus when I found something in a pamphlet about using ginger to help cure stomach pains and cramps. I asked my mom about it and she said she had some ginger root and ginger tea I tried the tea but that just made it worse. I tried a pill with ginger root in it and the pain went away within the hour. you can get ginger root at any drug store without a persciption. Also if you are puking so much you can't take pills try some ginger ale it doesn't have as much ginger in it so it won't work as well, but it could calm your stomach enough to take a ginger pill. take one pill wait 10 minutes and take one more pill. This ginger remedy helps with nausea, really works.

Honey

1 User Review
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Posted by Momof4 (Nashville, Tn) on 02/28/2012
 ★★★★★

Sooooo glad I found this site! My four year old woke up this morning vomiting nothing but bile. He would have a sip of water and start again. He had bad stomach ache and whined and paced like a caged cat. No fever or anything else. After the second shower and the third change of clothes, he was crying and I desperately searched the internet for SOMETHING to help him. Yea, 1 TSP of raw honey (the only thing we use anyway) he not only stopped crying but within 4 mintues he was sound asleep. He slept 3 hours and awoke with no stomachache. I went ahead and gave him warm water and honey with clove cinnamon and nutmeg, to start out slowly and so far- so good!! THANK YOU!!!!


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