Ugh, stomach bugs! They’re the worst, right? They always seem to hit out of nowhere, and before you know it, your little one is running to the bathroom every five minutes. Well, you hope they make it to the bathroom. And of course, once one person gets it, it feels like it spreads faster than a toddler with a crayon in hand (trust me, I’ve seen that one on my walls before). But don’t worry – there are plenty of ways to help your family feel better and kick that stomach bug to the curb naturally.
So, What’s a Stomach Bug, Exactly?
Stomach bugs (aka gastroenteritis) are usually caused by viruses that mess with your gut. Think vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, and all the not-so-glamorous symptoms that come with it. The most common culprit in the U.S. is norovirus—and let me tell you, that little guy causes about 90% of stomach bugs every year. It can stick around anywhere from one to ten days, depending on how strong your immune system is. Thankfully, you’ll usually bounce back pretty quickly if you’re healthy. But if you’re already running on empty, dehydration can become an issue, so we’ve got to focus on supporting the body’s recovery.
Natural Remedies to Stop That Stomach Bug Fast!
When your kid’s belly is upset, it’s all about hydration and supporting the immune system.
Here’s what’s worked for us (and hopefully, it’ll help you too!):
Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate
Dehydration is a major concern with stomach bugs, so keep the fluids coming. Aim for at least 8 cups of water daily—more if your kiddo can tolerate it. And if they can handle something like coconut water or a homemade electrolyte drink, that would be even better! I love Earthley’s Electrolyte Powder. Avoid those store-bought drinks that are full of chemicals your body doesn’t need while trying to heal.
Activated Charcoal to the Rescue
Activated charcoal is kind of a secret weapon. It grabs onto toxins in the body and helps carry them out. At the first sign of a stomach bug, I always give my family 1-2 capsules and then keep giving them one capsule twice a day until things clear up. It’s a lifesaver when things are getting messy. You can also mix the powder into water or applesauce to get its power into the smaller kiddos.
Go Herbal
Herbs are my go-to when things get rough. Peppermint tea is so soothing if your little one has an upset stomach. Elderberry syrup, an elderberry tincture, or tea made from dried elderberries and echinacea can be a real game-changer if they’re fighting a fever. These herbs help support the immune system while the body fights off the virus. Digest Ease and Feel Better Fast are two tinctures that harness the power of herbs to help you get better from stomach bugs faster.
Lemon to the Rescue
Lemon juice is a natural antibacterial and great for calming down digestive issues. I give my kids a teaspoon of fresh, organic lemon juice when they feel the stomach bug coming on. If that’s too much for them (or you), try dried blueberries instead. Earthley has them in a convenient Super Foods Powder. They’ve actually been shown to help stop diarrhea—bonus points if you can get your kids to eat them!
Essential Oils
I love using essential oils to fight off germs. Clove, lemon, cinnamon, rosemary, and eucalyptus blend are like a natural germ-fighting powerhouse. I mix a few drops with coconut oil and rub it on the soles of my family’s feet—just make sure to avoid this with younger kids under 2. You could also diffuse these oils in your diffuser! Tummy Soothe is a great essential oil blend for stomach bugs.
A Few Extra Tips for Keeping Your Immune System Strong
Stomach bugs are no fun, but the good news is that the body knows exactly what it’s doing to fight them. Vomiting and diarrhea are part of the process to get rid of the virus, so we don’t want to stop that completely. The goal is to support the body by hydrating and using natural remedies to help it detox and heal faster. And if you’ve got little ones, elderly family members, or anyone with a weakened immune system in your house, you can always reach out to your natural healthcare provider if things aren’t improving. Have any go-to remedies for when the stomach bug strikes? Let me know! I’m always looking for new tips and tricks to keep my family feeling their best!
Thank you for your help! Your kindness is amazing and your patience is awesome 🙂
would just lemon essential oil work?
You can not just use lemon. The combination of essential oils will kill the germs, lemon on its own will not kill the germs. If you like the scent of lemon you could put it on your temples and it will soothe you, but it will not kill the germs.
A tsp of AVC in hot water. You can add a bit of honey to sweeten. Sip on it at first signs of queasiness.
When you say the essential oil blend applied to the feet is not recommended in young children at what age or weight would it be appropriate? Young is a fairly broad term so a bit more clarification would be helpful thank you!
Hi Emily! Most essential oils are not recommended for children under the age of 2 and several still that are not recommended for those under the age of 10. Here are our safety recommendations for using essential oils with children: https://modernalternativemama.com/2017/02/03/use-essential-oils-safely-children-1/
Thank you for this post! I know it’s been a few years but if you happen to see this question- how many drops of each oil should I use?