5 Homemade Ayurvedic Tonics That Help Calm Your Stomach ASAP

Indigestion, bloating, acid reflux, diarrhea, or constipation? Ayurveda suggests your pantry may hold the solution.

In Ayurvedic thought, agni — the digestive fire — is regarded as the wellspring of life.

It acts as the guardian of health and symbolizes the body’s metabolic functions. Everything you consume is viewed as an offering to agni — and food is the most immediate, powerful offering of all.

Your diet can fuel and fortify this fire, enhancing digestion — or it can dampen it, resulting in weak, impaired, or unbalanced agni.

According to Ayurveda, harmful items such as fried fare, processed meats, and extremely cold foods can leave undigested remnants that become toxins, called “ama.” Ama is seen as the fundamental cause of illness.

So, the aim is to maintain balanced metabolic fire. When it comes to sensible eating routines, most Ayurvedic experts offer this basic guidance:

• Eat only when truly hungry.
• Leave at least three hours between meals so the previous meal can digest.
• Don’t smother agni with cold, overly wet, extremely spicy, oily, or fried foods.

“A light, simple diet is ideal. Alkalis help modulate this gastric fire. Ghee stimulates agni and improves digestion. Thorough chewing is also vital for good digestion,” says Dr. K.C. Lineesha of Greens Ayurveda in Kerala, India.

5 Ayurvedic approaches for everyday stomach troubles

1. Constipation? Have ghee, salt, and hot water

“Take a drink made from ghee, salt, and hot water. Ghee lubricates the intestines while salt reduces bacteria,” advises Ayurveda and naturotherapy practitioner Meeinal Deshpande. Ghee contains butyrate, a fatty acid with anti-inflammatory properties that may benefit digestion.

Deshpande also recommends eating a ripe banana about two hours after dinner, followed by a cup of hot milk or hot water.

A tablespoon of castor oil — a recognized stimulant laxative — taken at bedtime can also help relieve constipation.

However, pregnant women should avoid castor oil. Speak with a healthcare professional before giving castor oil to a child under 12 or using it long-term if you’re over 60.

Home recipe for constipation

1. Mix 1 tsp fresh ghee and 1/2 tsp salt into 1 1/4 cup hot water.
2. Stir thoroughly.
3. Sit and sip the drink slowly. Consume it an hour after dinner.

2. Bloated? Warm water with fennel seeds or ginger helps

Practically anything consumed with warm water can ease bloating, says Dr. Lineesha.

She particularly suggests fennel seeds with warm water, though ginger with a touch of honey is another option.

If you prefer not to brew a hot beverage, chewing fennel seeds after a meal can assist digestion and reduce gas and bloating.

If you enjoy tea, choose mint or fennel tea to relieve bloating.

Home recipe for bloating

1. Toast 1 tsp fennel seeds and steep in 1 cup of boiled water.
2. Add a few pieces of fresh ginger, a pinch of hing (asafetida), and a dash of rock salt to the boiled water.
3. Sip slowly after your meal.

3. Acid reflux? Fennel, tulsi, and warming spices can help

“Pop some saunf (fennel seeds), tulsi leaves (holy basil), or a spice like clove in your mouth and chew slowly,” recommends Amrita Rana, a food blogger who leads workshops on Ayurvedic cooking.

“Anything that boosts saliva production can help neutralize stomach acidity,” Rana says.

She suggests fresh beverages like coconut water with tender coconut bits or homemade buttermilk (takra) made by churning water and plain yogurt together.

In Ayurveda, buttermilk is thought to soothe the stomach, support digestion, and calm irritation of the stomach lining that contributes to acid reflux.

Home recipe for acid reflux

1. Combine 1/4 cup plain yogurt with 3/4 cup water (or double the quantities, keeping the same ratio).
2. Stir until smooth.
3. Add 1 tsp rock salt, a pinch of roasted jeera (cumin) powder, some grated ginger, and fresh coriander leaves.

4. Diarrhea? Favor gourds and keep fluids up

“Bottle gourd (cabalash) is very good for diarrhea. You can make it into a soup, a tomato-based curry, or a stew and eat it with rice,” says dietitian Sheela Tanna, who prescribes Ayurvedic treatments for patients.

“This vegetable has abundant fiber and water, is easy to digest, low in calories, and gentle on the stomach,” Tanna explains.

Preventing dehydration during diarrhea is crucial, so drink more fluids than usual.

Plain water is ideal, but buttermilk or fruit juices — particularly apple and pomegranate — or ginger tea are also helpful. Ginger stimulates digestion and is rich in antioxidants that help rehydrate and restore lost nutrients.

Ginger is an excellent remedy for managing diarrhea.

“In Ayurveda, if someone has diarrhea it’s not advised to suppress it immediately with medication,” says Dr. Lineesha. She recommends using ginger so toxins and the diarrhea can exit the body naturally.

Home recipe for diarrhea

• Grate 1 inch of ginger and add to 1 1/4 cup water.
• Boil with a little aniseed. After boiling, add a pinch of turmeric powder.
• Strain and drink.

5. Indigestion? Cooked vegetables and soupy meals may soothe

If your stomach is upset, review what you ate in the past 24 to 48 hours and “find a counterbalance,” suggests Rana.

For indigestion, she advises avoiding dairy or large portions of grains (like rice), raw vegetables, and anything that forces the stomach to work excessively to digest.

“Opt for cooked vegetables that are steamed or lightly stir-fried, and use only digestion-friendly spices such as ginger, cinnamon, or black pepper. Soupy, liquid-like dishes are helpful,” Rana says.

Juices can also be beneficial, adds Dr. Lineesha. Take equal parts onion juice and honey or a glass of buttermilk blended with 1/4 teaspoon garlic paste for relief.

If you have acid reflux, heartburn, or inflammation of the digestive tract, garlic and onion may worsen symptoms. Pay attention to which foods suit your body’s needs.

Home recipe for indigestion

1. Blend 3–4 garlic cloves, 10–12 basil leaves, and 1/4 cup wheatgrass juice.
2. Drink once daily.

The basics of healthy eating

Here are a few recommendations from Ayurveda:

• Include spices like turmeric, cumin, fennel seeds, coriander, and hing (asafetida) in your meals.
• Have ginger or cumin tea once a day.
• Avoid ice-cold beverages or foods.
• Don’t drink ice water, as it slows agni and digestion.
• Avoid snacking when you’re not hungry.
• Take small sips of warm water during a meal to help digestion and nutrient absorption.
• Avoid conflicting food combinations, such as very hot and very cold foods together or raw paired with cooked foods.

By following these principles, you’re giving your gut the best chance to stay healthy, content, and functioning well.