As we all know, anything we eat goes to our stomach through an esophagus which is known as a food pipe. Do you know that what we eat why does not come up? This is because of the sphincter at the opening of the stomach. At the entrance of the stomach, there is a valve or sphincter (ring muscle) which closes soon after the food enters the stomach. This sphincter is also known as a cardiac sphincter with a gateway between the esophagus and the stomach.
This mechanism is all because of rhythmic peristaltic waves. Any issues or problems with this sphincter lead to the disease called GERD or acid reflux. If this cardiac sphincter does not close at all, or partially, then the acid from the stomach regurgitates and irritates the esophageal lining and causes pain in the epigastric region. In this article, we are going to discuss acid reflux, its ayurvedic aspects, and home remedies in detail.
What is acid reflux?
As we mentioned above when the gateway of the esophagus and the stomach does not function properly then the acid from the stomach comes up and irritates the lining of the esophageal wall.
If this condition occurs for more than two weeks then you might have a disease called GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux or acid reflux or acid regurgitation)
Etiology/causes
One of the main causes is the improper working of the cardiac sphincter. So the most common reason why this sphincter is not working properly is hiatal hernia.
Other possible reasons:
- Eating large meals
- Lying down right after the meal
- Eating heavy meals and do strenuous exercises
- Eating snacks just before the bedtime
- Eating excessive citrus and spicy foods
- Smoking
- Drinking excessive alcohol, carbonated drinks, coffee, and tea
- Taking NSAIDS such as diclofenac, aspirin, ibuprofen
Clinical features/signs and symptoms
The two most common symptoms of reflux are heartburn (burning pain or discomfort in the epigastric region and regurgitation (a sour or bitter taste into your mouth or throat).
Other symptoms of this disease:
- Bloating
- Bloody stool or bloody vomiting
- Excessive burping
- Excess saliva production
- Dysphasia
- Heaviness in the abdomen
- Nausea
- Hiccups
- Hoarseness of voice
- Sore throat, phlegm in throat
- Dry cough
Diagnosis
It’s better to see your doctor when you have symptoms for more than two weeks. You may need one or more diagnostic tests for acid reflux
- Endoscopy: The most common diagnostic procedure for diagnosing GERD.
- Esophageal manometry: This procedure will check the function and movement of the esophagus and cardiac sphincter.
- pH monitoring: This test can check for acid in your esophagus.
- Biopsy
Ayurvedic overview of acid reflux
In Ayurveda, we can correlate this disease with amalpitta.
Parichay/definition
“Amlam ch pittam amalpittam” this shloka means acidification of gastric juices is amalpitta.
Nidana/causes
Following are the causes of amlapitta:
- Eating excessive acidic and hot food
- Drinking excessive alcohol
- Eating stale and heavy food
- Overeating or eating a toxic food combination
- Suppression of natural urges
Lakshan/sign and symptoms
Symptoms of amlapitta includes:
- Avipak (Indigestion)
- Utklesha (Nausea)
- Tikta-amlodgar (Acid eructations)
- Hridyakantha dah (burning in chest and throat)
- Aruchi (Anorexia)
Home remedies for acid reflux
If someone is facing this problem then he/she can adopt these home remedies for acid reflux pain:
1. Licorice
In traditional medicine, licorice is widely used to treat acid reflux. It is also known as Mulethi (Glycyrrhiza glabra). This herbal product has a soothing and antacid effect. It gives relief from the symptoms of acid reflux. It is also helpful in case of a sore throat which is also a symptom of acid reflux.
How to prepare and consume:
- Take 1 tsp of licorice powder
- Add it to a cup of boiling water
- Steep the solution for approximately 10 minutes
- Strain the solution
- Consume the tea at least twice daily
2. Decoction of coriander, cumin, and fennel
This is also known as Dhaniya, jeera, and saunf. Decoction of these three things gives you relief from acidity.
How to prepare and consume:
- Take 1/4rth of each coriander, cumin, and fennel. (Dhaniya, Jeera And Saunf)
- Boil all these in about 400 ml
- Boil to prepare the decoction
- Boil till 50 to 60 ml remains.
- Filter and drink twice daily before 20 minutes of the meal
3. Asafoetida
This is called hinga. It has medicinal properties, gives relief from bloating, acid reflux, indigestion, etc.
How to consume:
- Add 1 teaspoon daily to your meal for better results.
4. Apple cider
This is made from crushed apples. This apple cider maintains the pH of the stomach.
How to consume:
- Dilute the apple cider with a little amount of water and consume it twice daily.
5. Ginger
This is best for gastric problems. It helps in alleviating the symptoms of gastritis, acid reflux, indigestion, etc.
How to consume:
- Chop fresh ginger root
- Add the chopped ginger to a cup of boiling water
- Keep it covered for 10 minutes
- Strain the solution
- Add honey to the solution
- Consume the tea twice or thrice daily for a week to get wonderful results
6. Buttermilk
Buttermilk is a good home remedy for acid reflux and indigestion. It contains lactic acid which helps in soothing the stomach lining. It also acts as a natural probiotic.
How to consume:
- Take buttermilk and add black pepper (a pinch)
- Drink one glass of buttermilk daily
7. Amla
This is considered a good ayurvedic herbal fruit for acidity. It acts as a natural defense mechanism for acidity. It heals the injured lining of the stomach and esophagus.
How to consume:
- Eat two to four amla daily or you can take 1 tsp amla powder twice daily with lukewarm water
8. Mint leaves
In Hindi, it is known as Pudina. These mint leaves are very useful for acidity and indigestion. It gives a cooling effect to the digestive system.
How to prepare and consume:
- Take 8-10 leaves and blend them with some water
- Then add a pinch of rock salt
- Consume this preparation once a day daily
Other recommendations
There are several eating-related things you can do to mitigate reflux problems. These are the most commons ones:
- Drink plenty of water
- Don’t overeat
- Follow a low carbohydrate diet
- Limit your alcohol intake
- Don’t drink too much coffee
- Avoid raw onion
- Avoid too much citrus juice
- When you feel discomfort then elevate the head of your bed
- Quit smoking
- Lose weight
- Avoid eating late at night
- Eat smaller meals
- Avoid taking stress
- Do brisk walking after eating
- Avoid eating or drinking hot meals
Conclusion
Most people experience acid reflux a few times in life. But it can be managed by applying a healthy lifestyle and by some herbal remedies.
We can manage this disease by applying some home remedies. The above-mentioned remedies are very effective in managing acid reflux and its related problems.
