Ayurvedic Medicine for Gastritis: Soothing the Tummy the Natural Way!

Got a grumbling tummy that just won't quit? Dealing with the discomfort and pain of gastritis? Don't fret; Ayurveda's got your back! Ayurvedic medicine for gastritis offers a plethora of time-tested remedies and holistic approaches to ease your tummy troubles, naturally and effectively. Globally, 50.8% of the population in developing countries suffer from gastritis. With a lower figure, 34.7% of the population in developed countries, the prevalence rate of gastritis markedly decreased in developed countries. Many research studies have shown that sex, age, biological factors, and socioeconomic status contribute to gastritis.1

What is Gastritis?

Gastritis is an inflammation, irritation, or erosion of the protective lining of the stomach. Our stomach has a protective lining called mucosa which protects the stomach from the strong gastric juices which are acidic in nature. These gastric juices digest food. If there is any damage or harm to this mucosal lining it gets inflamed and also eroded leading to the condition of gastritis.⁴

Gastritis can be treated with antibiotics, antacids such as calcium carbonate medications, histamine blockers viz. ranitidine, cimetidine, etc., proton-pump inhibitors like omeprazole, etc. If the gastritis is left untreated it can lead to various complications like anemia, pernicious anemia, bleeding and perforation in the stomach, peptic ulcers, chronic atrophic gastritis, gastric metaplasia, and dysplasia, cancerous conditions like adenocarcinoma, neuroendocrine tumors, etc.^2,3,4

Before we know about gastritis treatment let us know the causes, symptoms and types of gastritis.

Causes of Gastritis

Varied causes are enlisted for gastritis:³

• Chronic alcohol abuse causes erosion of the stomach lining
• Autoimmune disease: Healthy cells in the stomach lining get affected by the body’s immune system 
• Specific bacteria viz. H.pylori cause gastritis by breaking down the cells of the stomach lining and causing inflammation
• Bile reflux is one of the causes when the bile starts flowing back into the stomach rather than moving down the intestines
• Constant use of medications such as NSAIDs and also the use of chemotherapy drugs increases the risk of gastritis
• Severe burns and brain injuries are the common causes of physical stress causing gastritis
• Older age group people tend to have increased gastritis as the stomach lining is thinned out 

Signs and symptoms of Gastritis ^3,4

• Bloating of the abdomen
• Loss of appetite
• Pain and discomfort in the upper abdomen
• Nausea and vomiting
• Feeling extra full during or after a meal
• Stomach ulcers
• Constipation
• Black, tarry stools
• Vomiting of blood
• Hard stools

Types of Gastritis

Gastritis can be divided into two types based on the duration³

1. Acute
2. Chronic

Based on the erosion it is divided into

1. Erosive
2. Non-erosive³

Acute gastritis: affects eight out of every one thousand people and it involves sudden severe inflammation

Chronic gastritis: is less common, affecting approximately two out of ten thousand people, and involves long-term inflammation if left untreated

Erosive gastritis: also known as reactive gastritis involves both inflammation and erosion of the stomach lining

Non-erosive gastritis: comprises only inflammation of the stomach lining without erosion

 Tests advised in Gastritis^3,4

Physical examination:

• Doctor asks for symptoms of gastritis

Lab tests

• Urea breath test: The patient is asked to swallow a urea capsule and then breathe out to see if carbon dioxide is exhaled which indicates H.pylori infection
• Blood tests to test for infection
• Stool examination to look for any presence of H.pylori infection

Endoscopy

• Upper GI endoscopy: to check inflammation in the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. A small sample of tissue for biopsy is also taken to test for infection in the stomach lining

Upper GI examination 

• Barium solution is asked to swallow by the patient which coats the stomach lining and thus provides detailed X-ray images

Gastritis – Ayurvedic View

Amlapitta as per Ayurveda is a condition in which there is increased amla guna of Pitta dosha. Amla pitta is classified into two categories namely Urdhwaga and Adhoga.  Considering the symptoms mentioned under gastritis we can correlate Urdhwaga Amlapitta to Gastritis.⁵

Causes of Urdhwaga Amlapitta (Gastritis) according to Ayurveda

Intake of excess sour, pungent, salty food items, also intakes of heavy and oily food items.

Keeping oneself on an empty stomach and then immediate consumption of food can also cause Urdhwaga amlapitta.

Taking hot beverages like coffee and tea on an empty stomach can also cause gastritis as mentioned by present-day Ayurveda Practitioners.

Symptoms of Urdhwaga Amlapitta⁵

1. Udarashoola– Pain Abdomen
2. Avipaka- Indigestion
3. Tikta Amlodgara– Bitter and Sour belchings.
4. Kanta-hrut- kukshi daha– Burning Sensation in the throat, chest, and abdomen
5. Aruchi– Tastelessness
6. Chardi– Vomiting

Ayurvedic Treatment for Gastritis

Ayurvedic Gastritis Treatment depends on the doshas involved and the severity of gastritis. If the symptoms are mild then ayurvedic medicines are advised to cure gastritis. If the symptoms are severe and the accumulation of doshas is more then the elimination of excessive doshas is done through purification or panchakarma treatments such as Vamana (emesis) in Kapha dominant state or virechana (purgation) in the pitta dominant state.

Ayurvedic Medicine for Gastritis: The Magical Remedies!

Various kinds of ayurvedic medicines have been used for gastritis (urdhwaga amlapitta) based on the symptoms which can be classified under the following categories.

Tablets(Vatis)

• Kamadugha rasa ( with or without mookta bhasma)
• Sutashekhara rasa
• Pravala pishti
• Pravala panchamruta rasa
• Dhatri lauha

Powders(Choornas)

• Avipattikara choorna
• Triphala choorna
• Lavana Bhaskara choorna
• Panchasharkara choorna
• Panchasama choorna
• Hingwashtaka choorna
• Vaishwanara choorna
• Narikela Lavana

Ghee preparations (Ghritha)

• Shatavari Ghrita
• Dadimadi Ghrita
• Sukumara Ghrita
• Indukanta Ghrita
• Drakshadi Ghrita

Decoction (Kwathas)

• Bhunimbadi Kwatha
• Patola katurohinyadi Kashayam

Syrups and Rasayanas

• Madiphala rasayana
• Kushmanda rasayana
• Amalaki rasayana
• Amlapitta mishran

Diet for Gastritis⁶

Along with gastritis treatment, it’s important to correct the diet and lifestyle to prevent relapse of the disease. Ayurveda emphasizes eating right to cure the disease completely and is known as pathya in Ayurveda. For each condition, there is a special dietary change you need to make for quicker results.

Food to be taken- Barley, wheat, Green gram, an old variety of Red rice, boiled water, sugar, honey, sattu( fried gram flour), bitter gourd, pumpkin, ridge gourd,  fruits like Banana, pomegranate, Indian gooseberry, lemon, lemon juice, fenugreek seeds.

Foods to avoid- sesame, black gram, horse gram. Sour and pungent items. Oily and junk foods.

Lifestyle to be followed

Food should be taken at regular intervals

Coffee and tea should be taken only after food and not be taken on an empty stomach

Avoid immediate sleeping or lying down after food

Physical exercises like walking and jogging are necessary

Regular yoga and pranayama are beneficial

Sleeping on your left side and raising your head while sleeping is beneficial to prevent gastritis

Gastritis Treatment at Home⁷

Let’s dive into the treasure trove of herbal remedies that can help alleviate gastritis and get your digestive system back on track:

1. Coriander and Cumin Tea: A Sip of Comfort!

These two kitchen superheroes team up to create a soothing concoction for your belly:

• Boil one teaspoon each of coriander seeds and cumin seeds in two cups of water.
• Let it simmer until the water reduces to one cup.
• Strain and sip on this tea throughout the day.

2. Aloe Vera Juice: The Cool Quencher!

Aloe vera’s cooling properties can calm the inflammation in your stomach:

• Mix two tablespoons of fresh aloe vera gel with a glass of water.
• Add a dash of honey and consume it before meals.

3. Holy Basil (Tulsi) Infusion: A Sacred Sip!

Holy basil’s medicinal qualities can work wonders for gastritis:

• Steep a handful of fresh holy basil leaves in hot water for 5-7 minutes.
• Add a teaspoon of raw honey and enjoy this aromatic infusion.

4. Licorice Root Decoction: The Sweet Healer!

Licorice root’s demulcent action soothes the stomach lining:

• Boil one teaspoon of licorice root powder in two cups of water.
• Let it cool and sip on this healing decoction.

5. Pomegranate Juice: A Burst of Antioxidants!

Packed with antioxidants, pomegranate juice can promote stomach healing:

• Extract the juice from fresh pomegranate seeds and drink it daily.

6. Ginger and Turmeric Magic: The Dynamic Duo!

Ginger and turmeric, with their anti-inflammatory powers, can bring relief:

• Boil one teaspoon each of ginger and turmeric in two cups of water.
• Strain and drink this magical potion twice a day.

7. Triphala Churna: The Three-Fruit Wonder!

Triphala, a blend of three fruits, aids digestion and soothes the stomach. Mix half a teaspoon of Triphala churna in warm water and drink it before bedtime.

Few other herbs that help in gastritis

• Fennel or Saunf- one teaspoon of Fennel powder with a glass of warm water.
• Black Cumin seeds- chew cumin seeds directly or boil one teaspoon in a glass of water.
• Cloves- chewing a piece of clove regularly helps relieve gastritis.
• Cardamom- chewing one pod of cardamom is beneficial
• Mint leaves
• Regular use of buttermilk prevents gastritis.
• Ginger as a part of your diet helps prevent gastritis.
• Ajwain- use of ajwain on a daily basis is beneficial.
• Fruits like bananas and papaya also are helpful.
• Milk and ghee: one or two teaspoons of ghee mixed in hot milk at bedtime is effective. 
• Licorice root: A teaspoon each of licorice root and jaggery mixed with warm water.

When to see a doctor ^3,8

Consult a doctor if symptoms do not go away or if you notice the following:

• If you are suffering from Gastritis for more than a week.
• If you are vomiting blood
• If the stools appear black
• Severe abdominal pain
• Unexplained weight loss

Conclusion

In the earlier days, gastritis was not a major disease. It was only seen as a symptom in other gastrointestinal diseases. Nowadays because of the altered lifestyle people are getting more prone to gastritis. Ayurveda has a wide range of remedies like panchakarma therapies and also a lot of medications as mentioned above. So, adapting the Ayurvedic line of treatment for treating gastritis would be beneficial.

Remember, Ayurveda is all about restoring balance in your body and mind. Embrace the wisdom of this ancient science, and your tummy will thank you for it! However, always consult a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner for personalized advice and treatment.

So, go ahead and embark on this delightful journey of healing with Ayurveda! Your tummy will be dancing with joy once again, free from the discomfort of gastritis. Cheers to a healthier and happier you!

FAQs: Your Burning Questions on Ayurvedic Medicine for Gastritis Answered!

Q1: Can Ayurveda completely cure gastritis?

A: While Ayurveda offers powerful remedies to alleviate gastritis, complete healing depends on various factors, including the severity of the condition and individual body constitution. Ayurveda aims to address the root cause and provide lasting relief and prevention.

Q2: Are there any dietary guidelines for gastritis in Ayurveda?

A: Yes, Ayurveda recommends avoiding spicy, oily, and acidic foods. Instead, opt for easily digestible, cooling, and nourishing foods like cooked vegetables, grains, and herbal teas.

Q3: Is Ayurvedic medicine safe for long-term use?

A: Ayurvedic remedies are generally safe for long-term use when taken under the guidance of a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner. However, it’s essential to follow the recommended dosages and seek professional advice if you have any pre-existing health conditions.

Q4: Can Ayurveda help with stress-related gastritis?

A: Absolutely! Ayurveda emphasizes the connection between the mind and body. Stress management through practices like meditation, yoga, and deep breathing can significantly help in reducing stress-related gastritis.

Q5: Are there any lifestyle changes I should make to support Ayurvedic treatment for gastritis?

A: Yes, Ayurveda suggests maintaining a regular eating schedule, eating in a calm environment, avoiding overeating, and engaging in light exercise regularly to support digestion.

NOTE:
“This article does not provide medical advice. It is intended for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment because of something you have read on this website. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call or visit your doctor.”
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References and citations

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7872234/
2. https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/digestive-disease-gastritis
3. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/10349-gastritis
4. https://www.healthline.com/health/gastritis
5. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/336434614_Studies_on_Urdhwaga_Amlapitta_Gastritis_and_its_Management_with_Shatavari_Ghruta
6. https:.//www.easyayurveda.com/2013/09/26/fruitful-ayurvedic-remedies-for-gastritis/amp/
7. https://pharmeasy.in/blog/home-remedies-for-acidity/amp/
8. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gastritis/symptoms-causes/syc-20355807