Better Management of Gastritis with Ayurveda Naturally:

What is Gastritis?

Gastritis of hyperacidity refers to as imbalance between the acid secretion and impairment of protective mechanism of the stomach and proximal intestine. It is most common gastrointestinal problem in everyone’s life. There are many other terms for gastritis such as peptic problem, gastric, heart burn, acid belching etc. The inner lining of the stomach is damaged or eroded by the excessive secretion of acid sometimes due to irritant, acidic, spicy food. That acid basically causes inflammation of the mucus membrane. Many other factors responsible for gastritis like strong tea or coffee, ingesting chemical poisons, H. pylori infection, reflux of bile, worry or stress.

Classification of Gastritis:

• Erosive Gastritis: Also called as reactive gastritis, the acid eroded the stomach lining causing inflammation. The causative factors may include excessive alcohol intake, corticosteroids, smoking, bacterial or viral infection etc.

• Non erosive gastritis: in this case the lining of the stomach gets inflamed but not eroded and is less harmful and subsides early.

 Ayurveda view point over Gastritis:

Ayurveda termed Gastritis as Amlapitta. The word Amlapitta dissociates into Amla means sour or acidic and Pitta stands for digestive juices or secretions. According to Ayurveda human body consists of three body humors like Vata, pitta and kapha. The pitta signifies hotness in the body. when a person ingest food and perform activities that are of hot potency then the Pitta Dosha gets elvated giving rise to the symptoms of hyperacidity. Aggravation of pitta dosha leads to vitiation of the Agni (digestive fire) that causes poor digestion and accumulation of Toxins known as Ama in the stomach.

What causes Gastritits according to Ayurveda:

• Foods such as spicy, sour, salty, stale, fermented
• Excessive intake of tea or coffee
• Lesser intake of water
• Irregular meal times
• Skipping meals
• Eating late night
• Insufficient sleep at night
• Sleeping immediately after meal
• Excessive exposure to sun or fire
• Suppression of natural urges like urine, stool etc
• Lack of rest
• Stressful lifestyle
• Emotions like worry, anxiety, anger, fear, jealously
• Prolonged intake of medicines such as NSAIDs (pain killers)
• Infections like Helicobacter Pylori infection
• Seasons like autumn (Sharad ritu)

How patients present with the condition like Gastritis:

• Heart burn (retrosternal burning)
• Sour or bitter belching
• Nausea and vomiting
• Regurgitation of food or sour substances
• Gaseous distention of abdomen
• Pain in abdomen
• Headache
• Feeling of fullness
• Bad breathe
• Mouth ulcers
• Excessive thirst
• Severe burning sensation over hands or feet
• Fatigue or tiredness
• Fainting or giddiness
• Itching all over body

Managing Gastritis with Modern medicines:

• Proton pump inhibitor: proton pump medications are the medications that blocks the cells that secretes acid. These includes Omeprazole, Pantaprozole etc. however, the long term use of these medicines gives side effects like:
• Increased risk of spine, wrist, hip fracture etc
• Risk of renal failure
• Nutrients deficiency
• Dementia

• Antacid: Antacids are commonly used as rapid pain reliever in gastritis. These neutralize the excess acid in the stomach. These includes calcium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, aluminium hydroxide etc. but their persistent use gives symptoms like:
• Constipation or diarrhea
• Gas
• Headache
• Nausea and vomiting
• Stomach cramps
• Pain in abdomen

• Acid Reducing medications: medicine like Famotidine is helpful is reducing production of acid in the stomach. But the prolonged use can leads to digestion issues.

• Probiotics: probiotics replenishes the digestive flora and heal the gastric ulcers. But the prolonged use of probiotics may triggers the symptoms like:
• Allergic reaction
• Upset stomach
• Flatulence
• Bloating
• Diarrhea

Ayurveda Management of Gastritis:   

Ayurveda while managing Gastritis focuses on pacifying aggravated Pitta Dosha and enhancing the Agni (digestive power) to resolve the condition of Ama (toxin acculation) making the gut healthy. Panchkarma procedures such as vaman ( induced vomiting), virechana (medicated purgation) etc are useful in balancing doshas and removal of excessive pitta inside the body and clears the gut.

Some highly effective herbs for the condition of  gastritis are:

• Yastimadhu or mulethi: Mulethi is mild laxative that soothes the stomach lining, relieves spasm, abdominal pain which are the common symptoms of gastritis
• Amalaki or Amla: Alma cleanses the intestine, rich in vitamin C that heal stomach ulcers, relieves inflammation and it mild laxative and appetizing properties.
• Bringaraja: It removes the toxins out of the body, heal inflammation, mild laxative and have rejuvenating properties.

Some ancient classical formulation for Gastritis:

• Sootshekhar rasa
• Kamadudha rasa
• Narikela lavan kshara
• Karpardika bhasma
• Amlaki rasyan
• Triphala churna
• Yastimadhu ghrita

Managing Gastritis with Chandigarh Ayurved Centre:

1. Agnimukha Churna

This herbal churna is prepared from ingredients like Vacha (Acorus calamus), Pippali (Piper longum), Sonth (Zingiber officinale), Ajwain (Trachyspermum ammi), Haritaki (Terminalia chebula), etc that balances vata & kapha doshas in the body. It gives effective results in indigestion, anorexia, abdominal pain, constipation, loss of appetite, flatulence, bloating, intestinal gas, intestinal gas, etc.

Recommended Dosage: Take a half teaspoon of this churna twice daily with normal water.

2. Digestion Support Tablet

This tablet is unique blend of best digestive herbs like kutaz chal, bilav, dhania, mustak, shankh bhasm, piper mint, and dadim that maintain natural Ph balance in the stomach and aid digestion of all types of food. The herbs present in this control acidity, gas, flatulence and constipation. These all complex problems are root cause of all diseases. If digestive system is proper it leads to proper assimilation of the nutrients in the body.

Recommended Dosage: Take tablet twice daily.

3. Sheet Dhara Syrup

This herbal syrup is prepared from ingredients such as ajwain satav, mushak kapoor, peppermint, etc that naturally relieve the symptoms like bloating, blenching, nausea, vomiting, feeling of discomfort, etc. The regular use of this herbal syrup neutralizes the high acid content, reduces
abdominal pain, & cramps.

Recommended dosage: Take half teaspoonful of this syrup in half a cup of water. Drink this mixture twice daily on an empty stomach.

4. Pitta Balance Tablet

Pitta doshas is responsible for digestion, metabolism, blood quality, thirst, appetite, eyesight, skin color and quality, body temperature, and mental abilities of intelligence and courage. Pitta doshas is composed of a fire element that digests almost everything that a person eats or drink. The eaten food is transformed into energy for the body to use in various functions of the body.

Recommended Dosage: Take 1 tablet twice daily with normal water.

5. Trikatu Syrup:

Trikatu combines the goodness of Black pepper, Ginger and, Long pepper to create an herbal remedy for digestive ailments, sluggish metabolism, obesity, and high cholesterol. This syrup has best results in anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, and expectorant. It also help to tackle the weight problems or obesity. It can modulate your body’s immune response while cutting the characteristic inflammation associated with the back pain.

Recommended Dosage –Take 2 teaspoonful twice a day before meal with normal water.