How to Eliminate the Stomach Flu Virus

The stomach flu virus is generally not a serious issue, but it can leave you feeling tired for several days. Your body will eventually get rid of the virus, but there are several things you can do to feel better while your body fights it off. The following article will provide you with additional tips.

Follow a bland diet. Once your stomach is ready for solid food, you should start eating to replenish the nutrients you’ve lost. While there’s little scientific evidence that bland foods are easier to digest than non-bland foods, many people find them easier to tolerate when nausea is still intense.

• The traditional bland diet is often the BRAT diet, which includes bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. You can also try plain boiled potatoes (without butter), bread, and crackers.
• Stick to a bland diet for no more than a day. While bland foods are better initially, relying solely on them during recovery can deprive your body of essential nutrients needed to fight off the virus.

Let the illness resolve on its own. Ultimately, the best thing you can do to eliminate the virus is to let the illness take its natural course. As long as there are no immune system issues, the body can naturally fight off the virus.

• However, self-care remains crucial in aiding your body’s recovery from the virus. The tips in this article are designed to provide your body with what it needs to combat the virus. Without self-care, your body will struggle to recover.
• If your immune system is compromised, you should consult a doctor as soon as you notice any symptoms of illness.

Use ginger. Ginger is a traditional remedy used to combat nausea and stomach cramps. Ginger ale and ginger tea are commonly consumed when fighting the stomach flu virus.

• You can make fresh ginger tea by boiling thin slices of fresh ginger (1.3-2.5 cm) in 250 ml of water for 5-7 minutes. Let the tea cool down and then drink it.
• Ginger ale and pre-packaged ginger tea bags are available at stores.
• In addition to ginger beverages, you can also take ginger capsules or ginger oil, which can be found at health food stores or supplement shops.

Use peppermint to relieve symptoms. Peppermint has soothing properties and is believed to help alleviate nausea and stomach pain. You can consume peppermint internally or apply it externally.

• For internal use, you can drink peppermint tea, chew fresh peppermint leaves, or take peppermint capsules. Herbal peppermint tea is available at stores, or you can make your own by boiling a few peppermint leaves in 250 ml of water for 5-7 minutes.
• For external use, soak a towel in cool peppermint tea or add 2-3 drops of peppermint essential oil to a towel soaked in cold water and place it on your stomach.

Try activated charcoal capsules. Activated charcoal capsules are available at some health food stores in the supplement section. Activated charcoal is believed to help absorb toxins and neutralize toxins in the stomach.

• Follow the instructions on the activated charcoal product label to avoid overdosing. Generally, you can take several capsules at once and multiple doses per day.

Soak in mustard-infused water. It may sound odd, but soaking in warm water mixed with a little mustard powder can help improve your well-being. According to traditional medicine, mustard has the ability to draw toxins out of the body while also improving blood circulation.

• You can use warm water if you're not running a fever. However, if you have a fever, it’s best to soak in mildly warm water to avoid raising your body temperature further.
• Add 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of mustard powder and 1/4 cup (60 ml) of baking soda to a bathtub filled with water. Stir until the powder dissolves completely, then soak for about 10-20 minutes.

Apply a warm compress to your stomach. If your abdominal muscles are overworked to the point of cramping, using a warm compress or heating pad can help relieve the pain.

• However, if you have a fever, applying warmth may further elevate your body temperature, so it should be avoided in that case.
• Relaxing the tense abdominal muscles can help alleviate the symptoms of stomach flu. Additionally, reducing muscle pain can help your body relax, allowing the immune system to conserve energy to fight the virus and promote faster recovery.

Use acupressure to alleviate nausea. Based on acupuncture and acupressure theories, you can stimulate specific pressure points on your hands and feet to relieve pain and discomfort in your stomach and abdomen.

• You can try massaging your feet. Gently massaging your feet may help soothe nausea and stomach cramps.
• If the stomach flu virus also causes headaches, you can apply acupressure on your hands. Pinch the skin between the thumb and index finger of the opposite hand with your thumb and index finger. This method can significantly reduce headaches.

Avoid antibiotics. Antibiotics are effective against many bacterial strains, but unfortunately, they do not work against viruses. Stomach flu is caused by a viral infection, and therefore, cannot be effectively treated with antibiotics.

• Similarly, antifungal medications are also ineffective in treating the virus that causes stomach flu.

Consider taking anti-nausea medication. If the nausea persists for more than 12-24 hours, your doctor may recommend anti-nausea medication to help soothe your stomach enough to retain water and a small amount of food.

• However, it's important to note that anti-nausea medications only alleviate the nausea and do not eliminate the virus. On the other hand, since they help keep fluids and food in the stomach, they enable your body to get the necessary nutrients to fight the virus.

Avoid over-the-counter anti-diarrheal medications. Only take medication with your doctor's approval. While over-the-counter anti-diarrheal drugs can be effective, they can also cause complications. For the first 24 hours, your body needs to expel the virus. Unfortunately, vomiting and diarrhea are natural parts of this expulsion process.

• Once the virus has been expelled, your doctor may recommend anti-diarrheal medication to address any remaining symptoms.