I discovered this remedy on a night when nothing else would settle my stomach. I had been feeling bloated and uncomfortable for hours, and no amount of peppermint tea or antacids was helping. A friend from Colombia, who had grown up watching her grandmother use this trick for decades, told me to lie down and trust her.

She mixed a small amount of baking soda with Vaseline, applied it directly into my belly button, and covered it with a bandage. I stayed still for twenty minutes, feeling a strange warmth radiating from my center. By the time I stood up, the bloating had eased. My stomach felt calm for the first time all day.

Why This Combination Works

The belly button is one of the most absorbent areas of your body. The skin there is thin and directly connected to a network of blood vessels that lead to your digestive organs. When you apply a mixture of baking soda and Vaseline to this area, the baking soda is absorbed through the skin and can help neutralize excess acid in your stomach, while the Vaseline holds the mixture in place and allows it to work slowly throughout the night.

People use this remedy for bloating, indigestion, stomach cramps, and general digestive discomfort.

How to Do It

Mix one teaspoon of baking soda with a pea-sized amount of Vaseline. Stir until they form a smooth paste. Lie down and expose your belly button. Apply the paste directly into your navel and cover it with a small bandage or piece of medical tape to keep it in place. Leave it on for at least thirty minutes, or leave it on overnight for deeper relief.

What You Will Notice

Within the first twenty minutes, you may feel a gentle warmth spreading through your abdomen. After removing the paste, the bloating that had been making you uncomfortable will have eased significantly. Your stomach will feel calmer and more settled.

A Gentle, Natural Alternative

This remedy is not a replacement for medical care. If you have severe pain or a chronic condition, consult your doctor. Baking soda and Vaseline are both safe for external use on intact skin.

A Simple Trick That Works

I have used this remedy many times since that first night. Whenever my stomach feels heavy or unsettled, I mix a small amount of baking soda and Vaseline, apply it to my belly button, and lie still for a while. It works every time. The grandmother who passed this down through generations knew what she was doing.

For more clever uses for everyday items, check out how to Mix Baking Soda and Cloves and Save Tons of Money, or for a couple of compelling reads, you might enjoy My Father Said You’d Ask About the Bag and She Climbed Back Over That Railing and Looked Him Dead in the Eyes.