Stitches Treatment - Home remedies

The cause of the crippling pain in the upper abdomen usually on the right following exercise, commonly known as a stitch, is a medical mystery. It can be precipitated by eating a large meal but more frequently by exercise that jolts the body like running on hard ground or in boggy countryside. It is particularly common in horse (and even more so camel) riders but rare in swimmers, skaters and cyclists.

The most plausible theory is that a stitch is caused by stretching of the ligaments which hold the gut in place, and on these grounds the following remedies are proposed, firstly prevention and then treatment.

Prevention: No food or water should be taken for two to four hours before exercise. In addition, the abdominal muscles should be strengthened by lying down with raised knees and hips and raising the head towards the upper chest.

Stitches Treatment: Stand on your head.