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STOMACH ACHE

You won't find "stomachache" in the medical dictionary. As a matter of fact, a stomachache is sort of a catchall term for a variety of all-too-familiar discomforts: knots, a dull ache, an acidy feeling. Maybe cramps and a little diarrhea or constipation just to make things interesting.

Help for plain old stomach trouble

Sip a soother

When your stomach feels a little calmer, try sipping uncaffeinated liquids such as water, peppermint or chamomile herb tea, flat ginger ale or chicken broth. Try a few sips every five minutes.

Eat daintily

When your stomach is irritated, it rebels against food. Whether the source of your stomachache is stress or indigestion, your body is on overload and needs to calm down. If you feel better enough to eat a bit, stick to small, frequent, easy-to-digest foods such as cooked rice or dry crackers such as saltines or dry toast.

Shun Lactose

Eliminate lactose-containing foods, another possible culprit, if you are sensitive to dairy products.

Be a B-R-A-T

As your stomach feels better, you'll have more of an appetite, but the best way to make sure the ache is banished for good is to stick to a BRAT diet. Even on the BRAT plan, you should eat a very little and add each new food gradually, so that your cranky stomach won't have to work too hard to digest it.

Chew an antacid

If your pain is caused by too much acid in your stomach-a possibility if you have an ache on an empty stomach-over-the-counter antacids like Tums or Rolaids can relieve your ache, because they neutralize stomach acids.

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