Stomach ache: understanding the common causes

The gut is richly innervated and reacts directly to stress signals, a phenomenon sometimes referred to as the "second brain" in reference to the enteric nervous system. Abdominal tension, bloating or a knotted feeling in the stomach can appear during periods of high mental load, with no connection to food. Slowing your breathing and allowing yourself short breaks during the day are among the simplest ways to defuse that tension.

A meal that is too large, too fatty, or eaten too quickly slows digestion and can cause abdominal discomfort for several hours. Eating slowly, chewing enough and avoiding lying down immediately after a meal generally make transit easier. Fizzy drinks and excess caffeine are also factors frequently associated with bloating in sensitive people.

In menstruating people, lower abdominal pain frequently appears in connection with the uterine contractions of the cycle. Local heat and rest remain the best-documented responses to this kind of passing discomfort. Intense pain that prevents everyday activities does, however, warrant medical advice, as it may stem from a cause requiring specific follow-up.

Some people include a hemp-based wellbeing product in their routine, without that replacing a response tailored to the cause of the discomfort. In France, CBD is legal provided the finished product contains no more than 0.30% THC, the threshold set by the Conseil d'État decision of 29 December 2022 (no. 444887). No therapeutic claim is permitted: the vocabulary remains that of general wellbeing, never that of treating a condition. For the usual dosage benchmarks, see our article on how much CBD to take.

Intense abdominal pain, precisely localised, accompanied by fever, repeated vomiting or blood in the stools, falls outside the scope of everyday comfort tips. In such situations, a prompt medical consultation remains the only appropriate response, whatever your wellbeing habits may otherwise be.

Can stress really cause stomach aches?

Yes, the gut's enteric nervous system reacts directly to stress signals, which can translate into tension, bloating or a knotted feeling in the stomach.

Should you worry about a stomach ache that keeps coming back?

Recurrent discomfort, even mild, is worth raising with your GP so the cause can be identified, especially if it is accompanied by other symptoms or persists over time.

Can CBD replace an antispasmodic?

No. CBD is not a medicine and cannot be substituted for a prescribed treatment. Where abdominal pain requires treatment, medical advice remains essential.

Which foods avoid making a digestive stomach ache worse?

Fatty and very spicy meals, fizzy drinks and excess caffeine are often cited as aggravating factors in people prone to digestive discomfort.