CHRONIC INDIGESTION - HOME REMEDIES

CHRONIC INDIGESTION - HOME REMEDIES 

"Indigestion or dyspepsia " can be defined in short as disturbed digestion which can be caused by any of the following conditions too much of stress or anxiety, taking alcohol, eating too much or too fast, irregular eating habits, eating fatty, rich or spicy food, certain drugs (like NSAID?s, corticosteroids, digoxin, etc.) and also in certain disorders (like peptic ulcer disorder, gastritis, gallstones, IBS, hepatic or pancreatic diseases). It has a varied collection of symptoms like pain or discomfort in the abdomen or even in the lower chestregion, flatulence, heartburn, bloating of the abdomen, belching, water brash, regurgitation,  anorexia,  nausea, vomiting, pecacua and constipation. The symptoms usually disappear by allowing the stomach to rest for a few hours, but if they don't and if the symptoms keep recurring the condition is termed as chronic indigestion. Persons suffering from chronic indigestion tend to loose a lot of weight and can also become anaemic. Prolonged negligence can result in complications like ulcers in the stomach and 

intestine, colitis, liver disorders, etc. 

Sleeping after lunch during daytime produce indigestion, but sleeping before lunch during daytime helps in the digestion. This should be kept in mind when treating these patients. Certain rules to be followed regarding eating are that never to eat and drink together; eat slowly chewing properly; do not eat on a full stomach or when you are not hungry; eat only meals that are freshly prepared and not stale and never to sit down to eat when you are tensed, tired excited or in a bad temper. Eating two times daily only during meal times and avoiding in between nibbling will help most of the indigestion. Do not sleep or lie down for atleast two hours after eating. 

HOME REMEDIES 

1. Avoid spicy, fatty and rich food. Reduce or eliminate the consumption of coffee, cigarettes and tea. Avoid rice, beans, lentils (masoor), cauliflower and eggplant in your diet since they are difficult to digest.

2. Take peppermint tea or anise tea daily.

3. Grapes and dates are rich in minerals and remove the irritation of the stomach and are easily digested.

4. One teaspoon of fresh grape wine half an hour before meals helps reduce the complaints.

5. Increase the intake of buttermilk (with a quarter teaspoonful of pepper powder and a little bit of cumin powder) in your regular diet.

6. Drink the juice of one whole lemon with some salt in a glass of lukewarm water every morning and also before meals.

7. Sweeten shredded ripe apples, blueberries or figs (anjeer) with honey and papaya or pineapple and take it daily after meals.

8. Half a glass of pineapple juice should be taken once daily, preferably after a meal.

9. One teaspoonful of mint juice mixed with an equal quantity of honey and lemon juice forms a useful appetizer and a good remedy for indigestion and gaseous distension of  the abdomen. Chutney made from mint (pudina) is useful.

10. Powdered cinnamon (tuj), ginger, cloves (lavang) and cardamoms (elaichi) when added to the daily preparation of meals reduce the gassiness of the meals.

11. Adding cumin seeds (jeera) in the meals also helps.

12. One tablespoonful of pomegranate (anar) juice, mixed with a tablespoonful of honey is valuable especially in cases where the indigestion is associated with a little bit of giddiness. The seeds of this fruit also act as a useful stomach tonic when mixed with a little rock salt and black pepper powder.

13. Having half a cup of coconut milk in the morning before breakfast helps.

14. Roasted coriander seeds (dhania) are useful for indigestion.

15. Half a glass of carrot juice, diluted with an equal quantity of water should be taken daily. It is a rich source of nutrients and vitamins and is very easy to digest.

16. Juice of ripe mangoes is taken with water, sugar, cardamoms (elaichi) and cloves (lavang) whenever in season.

17. Dry seedless dates and black raisins are useful.