Ayurveda Treatment for Gastric Reflux or Acidity is a common concern in today’s fast-paced world, often arising from stress, irregular eating habits and unhealthy diets. Ayurveda offers a holistic solution addressing the root cause of the disease and treating it through personalized approaches
What exactly is Gastroesophageal Reflux disease (GERD)
Gastro means stomach. The oesophagus is your food pipe (a muscular tube through which food and liquid travel from the mouth to the stomach) Reflux means to flow back or return. Thus Gastroesophageal reflux refers to the backflow of stomach contents including Acid and partially digested food into the esophagus. This happens when the lower oesophagal Sphincter(LES) becomes weak allowing stomach content to return back into the oesophagus
Understanding the symptoms of Gastroesophageal Reflux (GER) and when to seek help
Common symptoms include
- Heartburn: you feel a burning sensation in the chest, especially when eating or lying down
- Chest pain: it may mimic heart-related issues
- Regurgitation: Backwash of food or sour liquid in the throat
- Difficulty swallowing: it is called dysphagia. You feel like food is stuck in your throat or chest
- Chronic cough or sore throat: if you have more acid reflux at night time you may experience persistent coughing or throat irritation
- Nausea: feel like vomiting, especially after meals
If you are experiencing some of these symptoms very regularly like more than twice a week or if they disrupt your daily life you need to see a doctor
How do I know I’m having heartburn or not a heart attack?
Don’t be panic! here are some key differences
Heartburn usually causes a burning sensation or pain in the chest. usually behind your breastbone, it can also rise up into the throat and you experience a sour or bitter taste in the mouth
A heart attack often feels like a squeezing or pressure in the centre or left side of your chest .it may radiate to the arm, neck, jaw, shoulder or back
If your heartburn medication doesn’t help and your chest pain is accompanied by these symptoms, call for medical attention right away
Ayurveda Treatment for Gastric Reflux
From an Ayurveda point of view GERD is seen as an imbalance in Pitta Dosha which can be compared to Amlapitta explained in Ayurveda texts. the Amla Guna (sour quality) can get aggravated due to factors like stress, spicy foods irregular eating habits etc. leading to symptoms of acid reflux and discomfort
Several reasons can weaken your digestive fire and cause an imbalance in pitta
Including,
- Consumption of Alcohol or smoking
- Use of Antibiotics very frequently
- Blood thinning medicines
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
- Helicobacter pylori
- Stress etc.
How Ayurveda can help you Overcome GERD
GERD treatment in Ayurveda should be done along the lines of Amlapitta therapy to get rid of morbid pitta through deep detoxification like Virechana, Dosha balance restoration using simple herbal medication and lifestyle modification and making dietary changes. also enhancing digestion, remembering lifestyle management remains critical and maintaining a proper balance of pitta in the stomach is crucial in reversing GERD
If you leave GERD untreated the aggravated pitta can also imbalance Vata and Kapha worsening further
If you have chronic acid reflux symptoms your ayurvedic physician may recommend Amana (therapeutic emesis) andVirechana (therapeutic purgation) to help eliminate excess Kapha and pitta Dosha followed by internal medications
Though Ayurveda offers effective home remedies and single herbs like Malaki Guduchi Yashtimadhu, etc., for managing Acid reflux, it is essential to consult a doctor to understand the root cause and receive appropriate treatment, as every patient is different, and the line of management also varies.
