There are different muscles in your abdomen. There is the transversus abdomimus, which is the deepest layer of muscle and helps stabilize your trunk. Then, there is the rectus abdominus, which is between the ribs and the pubic bone and facilitates movement between the pelvis and the rib cage. Finally, there are the internal and external oblique muscles that help you twist your trunk.

 Any of these muscles can experience spasms. Muscle spasms in lower abdomen or abdominal rigidity can make you feel very uncomfortable. It causes powerful contraction of the abdominal muscles. Your muscle is going to become very stiff during a spasm, but it may feel tender when you apply pressure. Let's find out more about it.

What Causes Muscle Spasms in Lower Abdomen?

A number of factors can go into causing muscle spasms in your abdominal region. Here are a few potential causes.

Infections

You may experience cramping and spasms due to different infections of the stomach and bowels. A common viral infection called infectious gastroenteritis may be responsible for it. Keep in mind that bacterial and protozoal infections can also cause gastroenteritis. Abdominal cramping may also be the result of food poisoning that irritates the stomach lining.

Irritation

You develop irritation in the stomach when you consume certain substances, such as alcohol or prescription drugs. The medical term used to refer to stomach inflammation is gastritis. The condition is usually caused by H. pylori infection, but it could also be due to an overuse of anti-inflammatory drugs.

Ulcers

When left untreated, gastritis can eventually lead to erosion of the stomach lining. There will be open sores called ulcers that can also affect your small intestine. This leads to the development of a disease called peptic ulcer disease (PUD).

Autoimmune Conditions

You are likely to experience muscle spasms in lower abdomen when you have an autoimmune condition like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or Crohn's disease. Autoimmune gastritis may also cause spasms and cramping because the condition makes your immune system to target and destroy the stomach issue.

Toxins

You can have strong muscle contractions when there are toxins in your digestive tract. Your stomach wall can get inflamed due to toxins. The most common toxins include alcohol, tainted food, poisons (arsenic etc.) and overdose on prescription medication.

How to Relieve the Spasms

 It is never easy to deal with sudden muscle spasms in lower abdomen, but you can try certain remedies to manage things better.

Try Hot Water

Using a hot compress may help stop your abdominal cramping. You just need to take a bottle, fill it up with hot water, and place it over your stomach. You can also curl up in your bed with the bottle pressing on your stomach. Just take some rest and the hot compress will do its job.

Use Apple Cider Vinegar

You can treat your abdominal cramping by using apple cider vinegar (ACV), which improves your digestive system to relieve symptoms like gas or bloating. Simply add a tablespoon of ACV to a glass of lukewarm water and drink it slowly. You can improve its taste by adding a tablespoon of organic honey to the glass. Repeat every couple of hours until your abdominal cramps disappear.

Try Ginger

Ginger is one of the best roots to relieve muscle spasms in lower abdomen. It improves digestion and works great to relieve gas and bloating. Simply brew a pot of ginger tea and drink it slowly. The anti-inflammatory properties of ginger will make you feel better almost immediately after drinking. You can also take ginger supplements to improve your condition.

Make Use of Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that work great to relieve abdominal cramps. It also helps improve your digestion. To improve your cramping, simply drink some aloe Vera juice. You can buy it directly from the market or you can use the gel extract obtained from aloe Vera leaves.

Eat Some Plain Yogurt

Plain yogurt is a great source of good bacteria that can help outnumber bad bacteria in your gut and improve digestion. It also works amazingly well to relieve gas and bloating. You just need to ensure that you are consuming plain yogurt – it should not have bits of chocolate or fruit added to it. You can also consider making a concoction using cardamom, coriander, and a bit of salt. Consume it several times a day to relieve your abdominal cramps.

Opt for Peppermint

You can always drink peppermint tea to help improve digestion and relieve stomach pain. It is possible to make peppermint tea at home using fresh peppermint leaves, but you can also buy peppermint teabags to help make a tea without any trouble. Be sure to drink a cup of peppermint tea when it is still hot – you can add some honey to improve its taste. You can also gnaw on peppermint or take peppermint supplements to help relieve muscle spasms in lower abdomen.

Go for Chamomile Tea

If peppermint tea is not what you like, you can get similar results from chamomile tea.  A cup of chamomile tea a day can offer numerous health benefits. Not only does it help relieve abdominal cramps, it also helps improve your sleep quality. You can make chamomile tea at home using dried chamomile or you can buy chamomile teabags to make a cup quickly. Drink it several times a day to help relax your digestive system.

Make Use of Lemons

Lemon can help improve digestion and ward off stomach cramps. You can add some lemon to chamomile tea, ginger tea, or even peppermint tea to enjoy some amazing effects. You can also add some lemon juice into a cup of hot water and drink it for relief – be sure to add some raw honey to the mix to make it taste even better.