AMLAPITTA (GASTRITIS): CURE & CARE BY AYURVEDA

Author:

Dr. Imlikumba
B.A.M.S, M.D (Panchakarma), KRTC (Jamnagar)
MO (Ayur) Bokajan PHC
Chief consultant @Health Naturally Clinic
Kevijau Colony Dimapur
Email: imlikumba@gmail.com
Ph: 09483328411

“LET FOOD BE THY MEDICINE AND MEDICINE BE THY FOOD.”

Amlapitta is a very common disease in the present era. It is a very troublesome disease and can give rise to many serious problems if not treated in time. Signs and symptoms of Amlapitta are very similar to gastritis or hyperacidity. According to conventional medical science, the most common causes of gastritis are H. pylori infections and prolonged use of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS). According to Ayurveda, vitiation of agni in Amashaya (stomach) region due to various reasons causes Amlapitta. Some of the common pitta-vitiating factors are fasting, eating between meals, worry, hurry, spicy foods, etc. These factors derange the pachaka pitta (digestive enzymes etc.) and as a result, pachaka pitta vitiates. Thus, the developed condition is called Amlapitta. Hydrochloric acid (HCl) when not utilized well, or when produced in large quantities in the stomach region causes inflammation of the stomach (gastric = related to the stomach), that is called gastritis. This can derange the digestive procedures. The increased or normal level of HCl can destroy the soft tissue (epithelium) lining of the esophagus, stomach, duodenum, etc. If not managed on time, this can give rise to ulceration (breach in tissue). Usually, the esophageal sphincter muscle contracts thus preventing the stomach acid from shooting up into the esophagus, but if this muscle is not functioning properly, the acid can slip past it and this is when heartburn symptoms start, which is called Gastroesophageal reflux.

SIGN AND SYMPTOMS OF GASTRITIS:

Inflammation/burning in the chest
Continuous pain in the upper region of the abdomen
Pain at an empty stomach
Frequent heartburn and dyspepsia
Bloated feeling
Belching
Loss of appetite
Pressure in the chest/chest pain after a meal
Nausea
Breathlessness
Burping
Vomiting
Abrupt weight loss
Hair Loss
Indigestion
Constipation
Throat dryness
Dry cough
Bitter taste in the mouth
General feeling of hunger
Muscular contraction pain
Itchiness in the rectal region
Sensation of something coming from the stomach to the mouth that leads to bitterness in the mouth
Flatulence
Respiratory problems
Pain in ears

CAUSES OF GASTRITIS:

Excessive intake of pungent and sour food items
Drinking too much alcoholic beverages
Consuming hot food items
Items like sweets, fermented foods, fried, spicy, and fatty foods
Gastric ulcer
Digestion problems
Obesity
Habit of skipping breakfast
More secretion of Hydrochloric Acid(HCL)
Spending more time under the sun or heat
More intake of chocolate, tea, coffee, garlic, onions
Excessive smoking
Stress, anxiety, and tension
Displaying more anger, fear, worrying
Drugs like aspirin
Negative emotions leading to gastric hyperacidity
Irregular food habits
Reflux of gastric acid
Pregnancy
Aging
Weakness of valves

COMPLICATIONS OF GASTRITIS:

Chronic dry cough
Gastritis
Reflux cough
Inflammation in the larynx
Aspiration pneumonia
Difficulty swallowing
Gas Bloat Syndrome - Excessive formation of gas, flatulence, abdominal distension etc.
Gastric Ulcer - Severe burning
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) - Food comes into the food pipe and finally to the mouth.

RISK FACTORS OF GASTRITIS:

Senior people of age more than 50 years
Obesity
Smoking
Pregnancy
Alcohol consumption
Coffee or other high-stimulant beverages

TESTS AND DIAGNOSIS OF GASTRITIS:

Blood and urine tests
Esophageal pH monitoring - to know irritability and sleep disturbances
Upper GI series - to know about gastrointestinal problems
Upper endoscopy to determine the state of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum.

DIET THAT PRODUCES ACIDITY IN THE STOMACH:

Acidity or Hyperacidity is one of the most common diseases caused due to more acid formation or acid-alkaline imbalance.
About 20% of the population is suffering from this disease.
To reduce acidity, there is a need to balance between acid and alkaline diets.
Sour fruits, vegetables like citrus fruits, tomatoes, onion, leads to acidity or acidosis.
Pickles, fried, oily, and spicy foods cause gas in the stomach and come under acidity diet.
Avoid excessive chocolate to reduce acidity in the stomach.
At night, try to avoid protein and calcium-rich food.
Cheese, junk foods do give rise to acidity.
Soft drinks, tea, alcohol, coffee etc., increase acidity by damaging the inner lining of the stomach.
Take more quantity of water as it aids your digestion.

DIET TO REDUCE ACIDITY:

Carbohydrate-rich food should be preferred as these are associated with no acid formation.
Fruits like apples, banana, dates, and figs may be taken in more and more quantity as these are alkaline balanced diet.
Take more and more coconut, ripened mango, kiwi, watermelon, and pears.
Leaves of carrot, celery, and curry relief from acidity.
Sweet potatoes, carrots, and beetroot are alkaline-rich diets that help to control acidity.
Seeds of cumin, coriander, and cardamom overcome acidity.
Avoid beverages like alcohol, coffee as these secrete more acid and damage the lining of the stomach.
Over-processed and fatty foods like junk ones demand heavy work to be done by the stomach.
Acidic fruits like tomatoes and from the citrus family should be prevented as it helps to maintain PH balanced.
Go bye to overeating.
Cut your smoking to save the lining of the stomach.

AYURVEDIC TREATMENT FOR AMLAPITTA:

The main key for treating Amlapitta is to improve digestion. As the saying goes, “Prevention is better than cure”, it is better to avoid all the causative factors of Amla-pitta. One should follow the meal times. Avoid eating spicy foods, or foods containing an excess amount of garlic, salt, oil, chillies, etc. very often. Include liquids like kokam juice, sweetlime juice, pomegranate juice, amla juice. Shatavari kalpa mixed with water. Medicated water. with ushir (wala) or coriander seeds, or laja (puffed rice). Shadangodak (water medicated with musta, parpatak, ushir, chandan, udichya & shunti). Moramla (jam of amla), gulkand (jam of rose petals) can be taken singly or along with milk gives good relief, dadimpak (sweet syrup of pomegranate juice). Vegetables like white pumpkin, bitter gourd, okra, all leafy vegetables can be eaten except methi which should be definitely avoided. Fruits like black grapes, sweet lime, pomegranate, fig, dry fig, black raisins.

PREVENTION FOR ACIDITY- PRECAUTION FOR ACIDITY:

In today’s modern faulty lifestyle, acidity, gerd, heartburn, and intestinal gas problems have become more common due to drastic changes in our food habits. Foods like fast, junk, spicy etc. prompt Drinking of water in the early morning is beneficial in the prevention of acidity.

Avoid spicy and highly acidic food to prevent heartburn.
Your food should be alkaline in nature.
Stop smoking and drinking alcohol.
Fatty foods, spicy foods, caffeine, citrus, and carbonated beverages cause acidity.
Eat only when you are hungry.
Give up night awakening.
Say bye to stress and tension.
Eating a banana daily prevents acidity.
A big gap between meals produces gas.
Sleeping on an elevated pillow is desirable.
Take 4-5 liters of water daily.
Avoid raw salads of onion, cabbage, radish, chili, and pepper.
Chew your food properly.
Take more and more water as a precautionary measure to reduce acidity.
Avoid drinking water before and after meals.
Early to bed and early to rise reduce the risk of secreting excessive acid in the stomach.

AYURVEDIC HOME REMEDIES FOR GASTRITIS:

You may not try all of these; you can follow a few.

Long pepper powder- half a gram with one spoon of honey – two times a day is one of the effective home remedies for gastritis.
Boiled Ash gourd with jaggery relieves bloating and burning sensation in the stomach associated with acidity and gastritis.
One tablespoon of Triphala powder added with one glass of water, boiled and reduced to half a glass, filtered. This water decoction in hot condition, along with one tablespoon of honey or ghee relieves gastritis.
Regular chewing of half a teaspoon of fennel seeds after food is good for digestion and gastritis.
Half glass of buttermilk, added with a pinch of asafoetida, turmeric, half a teaspoon of fenugreek drunk at night, is good for the effective treatment of gastritis.
Crush cumin seeds into fine powder. Add half a teaspoon of cumin seeds to one liter of water. Boil the water for two minutes and filter. Drink this water, in place of normal water. But new water needs to be made every day. This is a natural remedy for gastritis.

So, these home remedies for gastritis aid in early gastritis cure along with medication.

NOTE:

Ayurvedic medicines and treatments should be taken under Qualified Ayurvedic Doctor/Physician. The drugs described in this article are for general information/educational purposes only. Anyone should not use these without consulting a qualified Ayurveda doctor/physician.