Acidity Treatment – Ayurveda & Herbal Treatment

Our stomach produces hydrochloric acid to digest the food that we eat. Whenever we eat, cells within the lining of the stomach pump acid to liquefy all the elements of that sumptuous dinner.

Problems occur when these cells produce large amounts of acid, more than your stomach needs. When this happens, you will suffer from stomach acidity. You would know if you were suffering from stomach acidity if you feel a burning sensation just above the stomach, or right below (the hollow part) your breastbone. This is the most classic sign of acidity.

The first thing to rule out would be your diet – if it consists of refined, acidic or oily foods then they are most likely the reason behind your acid indigestion.

According to Ayurveda, acid reflux is caused when the heat energy within our cells, known as Pitta, becomes imbalanced. Pitta is located in the stomach and is symbolized as a sharp, intense, hot and acidic energy.

When an individual consumes pitta aggravating foods like vinegar, citrus juices, tomatoes, chilies, onions, garlic, alcohol, and fried foods, it leads to heartburn. Consuming caffeine and sodas also aggravates the pitta.

Stress, irregular eating patterns, sleep deprivation and taking painkillers as well as antibiotics also increases production of heat toxins which leads to heartburn. Let’s find out more about acid reflux treatment in Ayurveda.

Cause of Acidity:

There are various little clues that your body gives you to prove that you are suffering from acid indigestion like the symptoms given below. If you notice one or more of the following symptoms on a daily basis over a prolonged period of time, it may very well be due to acidity.
  • Respiratory problems
  • Sudden weight loss
  • Burping and belching
  • Vomiting
  • Dry throat and chronic dry cough
  • Lack of appetite
  • Pain in ears
  • Heartburn
  • Chest and stomach pain
  • Hair loss
  • Bitter taste in the mouth
  • Irritation in the rectal region
  • Flatulence
  • The pressure in the chest after eating
  • Feeling of restlessness
  • The occurrence of blood may be seen in the stools

Symptoms of Acidity:

In Ayurvedic Acidity treatment, the main cause is considered to be the aggravation of Pitta Dosha in the body. Pitta is an Ayurvedic humor that symbolizes heat or fire.

There are many causes for the aggravation of Pitta, main among them are: Eating foods that do not suit the constitution or foods that should not be taken together (milk and fish, milk and salt), excessively sour or spicy foods and liquids, white flour products and white sugar products, smoking and excessive consumption of tea, coffee and alcohol, eating in a state of indigestion, suppressing urges of urination and stool, sleeping in the daytime after meals, staying awake late into the night, excessive stress, anger and hunger, excessive exposure to sun and heat and gastro-duodenal ulcer.

All of these causes along with assistive diagnosis provided by Bhagwati Ayunique protocol engine, are considered by Jiva doctor to provide precise, root-cause Acidity treatment to the patient.

Acidity and Ayurveda

In Ayurveda, acidity is referred to as Amla Pitta. By its very name, we can see that this disorder is caused by an imbalance of Pitta Dosha. The humor is governed by the elements of Fire and Water; these, in turn, govern the digestive fire and stomach enzymes.

This is also the reason why people of Pitta constitution tend to suffer from hyperacidity, peptic ulcers, and heartburn. Things that aggravate the Pitta dosha like stress, anger, hot and spicy foods, the extremely hot environment can also bring on a bout of acidity.

While Pitta is usually the one blamed for acid indigestion, the Kapha dosha has its seat in the stomach and the chest. Because Kapha controls the digestive juices and generates mucus, indigestion that stems from weak metabolism and mucus congestion are common patterns in acid reflux.

You can identify a Kaphic acid reflux if you have a feeling of sluggishness, feel a bitter taste in your mouth after late-night meals, chest congestion in the morning, a heavily coated tongue and a tendency to pile on weight.

Ayurvedic Hyperacidity Treatment

How to Diagnose

The best way to diagnose if you are suffering from acidity is to confirm it with a stomach acid test. This will help you determine if you have too much or too little stomach acid. Some of the diagnostic tests for acidity are as follows:
  • Endoscopy: An endoscope of a tube with a light and camera is inserted via the throat to study the esophagus and stomach, their contents and the health of their mucus lining.
  • Barium: A barium solution is swallowed and its movement is tracked using X-rays.
  • pH Monitoring: The esophagus is implanted with a device for a period of 1-2 days. This device measures the levels of acid.
  • Esophageal Manometry: A thin, pressure-sensitive tube is passed through the nose into the esophagus to track the movement of food and pressure in the esophagus and the lower esophageal sphincter.

Ayurvedic Management:

Hyperacidity is known as Amlapitta in Ayurveda (Amla means sour and Pitta means heat). Hyperacidity, therefore, is a condition characterized by an increase of sourness and heat in the body.

The aggravated Pitta impairs the digestive fire, leading to improper digestion of food and production of ama (toxins). This ama gets accumulated in the digestive channels and causes Hyperacidity.

Acidity treatment in Ayurveda is focused on pacifying the aggravated Pitta Dosha. Cleansing herbs are also administered to eliminate toxins from the body and cleanse the channels. This automatically enhances the digestive fire, leading to better digestion.

Home Remedies to Prevent Acidity:

  • Take powder of roasted cumin and coriander seeds (25 gm each) and mix with 50 gm of sugar. Take half spoon of it 3 times a day to get rid of hyperacidity.
  • Make a powdered mixture of equal parts of rock candy (or unrefined sugar), fennel, and green cardamom. Whenever you feel heartburn, mix 1 teaspoon of the mixture in a glass of cold milk and drink.
  • Drink 100-500 ml of tender coconut water twice a day for relief from hyperacidity Mix equal parts of powdered fennel, licorice root, basil leaves and coriander seeds. Have ½ teaspoon of this mixture with ½ teaspoon of powdered rock candy (or unrefined sugar) 15 minutes before lunch and dinner.

Diet & Lifestyle Advice

  • Avoid tea, coffee, and carbonated or alcoholic beverages.
  • Avoid processed and fermented foods.
  • Avoid using garlic, ginger, onions, tomatoes, and vinegar in cooking.
  • Also avoid rich gravies, sour, salty, and spicy foods.
  • Curd should be strictly avoided at night.
  • Take meals in a relaxed atmosphere at regular intervals.
  • Practice Yoga and Pranayama such as Vajrasana, Bhujangasana, Salabhasana, Bhastrika Pranayama,Shitali Pranayama and Shitkari Pranayama.