Abdominal pain can be caused by many problems, and some of them are life threatening. You need to know what to look for and how to deal with it to remain healthy.
The abdomen contains many organs, and some of them can cause pain. Dealing with abdominal pain means knowing the general vicinity of these organs and what type of pain might be causing the problem.
Appendicitis: The pain may start near the belly button, then travel down to the lower right side of the abdomen. You may feel like you need to go the bathroom, or a bit of indigestion as well. This is not something to treat at home. Don’t eat or drink anything and go to the emergency room. A ruptured appendix could kill you.
Blocked Intestine: Where the pain is located depends in part on where the obstruction is. It can cause cramps near the belly button. If it’s in the small intestine, it may also cause nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea. There will also be severe constipation. In the large intestine, symptoms are similar but there may not be any vomiting.
Like appendicitis, there is nothing you can do at home to fix the problem. Most obstructions require surgery, and it can cause gangrene in just six hours. If you suspect a blockage, get to the emergency room.
Cramps: One of the more difficult problems of being female are the cramps that can occur during menstruation. This can be felt around where the ovaries are, on the lower abdomen on the right and left sides.
There are things that can be done for this. If you prefer to go natural all the way, willow bark can help deal with the pain associated with the cramps. Over-the-counter pain relievers may also be of benefit. Cramp bark and chaste berry are good for the reproductive system and may help relieve the cramping as well.
Heartburn: It is important that you know you have heartburn, as heart problems can have some similar symptoms. This is caused by stomach acid going places it shouldn’t, up the esophagus. The lining of the stomach has a special coating that prevents it from being burnt by these same acids. When it hits the esophagus, the acids will cause burns.
If you don’t have high blood pressure or diabetes, licorice root can be very useful in taking care of heartburn. It can coat the esophagus and stomach, preventing the acid from burning. If you have either of those conditions, marshmallow would be a better herbal remedy.
Kidney Stones: The kidneys are located closer to your back than your abdomen. The pain may start there and work its way around the side towards the abdomen. You do need to see a doctor if you feel pain like this, as it could be either a kidney stone or a kidney infection. Both need to be treated by a doctor, and the stones may need some help in being passed. I liken the pain to that found at the beginning of labor.
Ask the doctor if you can use corn silk tea to help soothe the kidneys and ease the pain. It is not strong enough to do the whole job, but it is a start. You may also want to take garlic supplements.
Ulcer: An ulcer in the digestive tract can cause pain at its location. This usually is in the stomach or duodenum, so the pain will be in the upper abdomen. Most ulcers are now believed to be caused by bacteria, and they are usually treated with an antibiotic.
There are some home remedies that can help deal with the pain, but the doctor will probably want to prescribe an antibiotic to clear it up. Licorice root and marshmallow can coat the area, soothing the pain. Don’t take either of them at the same time as any medications, as they can interfere with absorption.
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