Home Remedies for Gastritis

Gastritis is an inflammation of the lining of the stomach. The inflammatory lesions may be either acute or chronic. Gastritis is actually the medical term for almost any stomach upset, sometimes also referred to as gastroenteritis.

Gastritis refers to a common inflammatory digestive condition that affects the stomach lining but is not a disease in itself. It is a health condition that could be brought on by some other disease as a symptom or it could have various other causes. Gastritis is characterized by the development of severe cramping or pain in the stomach or upper abdomen. This symptom of gastritis is often referred to as dyspepsia. Gastritis may be of two types, with the sudden and brief occurrence of gastritis referred to as acute gastritis, while the more persistent variety of the condition is referred to as chronic gastritis. Chronic gastritis may be present because of another health condition. Gastritis or stomach upsets that develop due to the consumption of alcohol or certain medications like aspirin are classified as acute gastritis. The symptoms that point to acute gastritis can be worrying in children, but treatment with natural methods should suffice. On the other hand bacterial infections caused by bacteria like Helicobacter pylori cause infections of the stomach that may result in chronic gastritis. Chronic gastritis may also be due to conditions like peptic ulcers, but it should also be noted that chronic gastritis can cause a development of ulcers over time. Chronic gastritis treatment should never be neglected as it can also increase the risk of developing stomach cancer. Do not attempt to treat even mild chronic gastritis with natural treatments or chronic gastritis remedies alone, as you would need medical advice for an accurate diagnosis in the first place.

Gastritis is one of the most common of all medical conditions, for which help is sought, with up to 10% of all visits to hospitals with abdominal pain being diagnosed as gastritis.

In most cases where there is no serious underlying condition gastritis diet treatment should suffice, providing relief from gastritis symptoms and helping cure the infection.

Gastritis Symptoms

Loss of Appetite

The main symptoms of gastritis are loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, headache, and dizziness. There is pain and discomfort in the region of the stomach.

Coated Tongue, Bad Breath

Other symptoms are a coated tongue, foul breath, bad taste in the mouth, increased flow of saliva, scanty urination, a general feeling of uneasiness, and mental depression. In more chronic cases, the patient complaints of heartburn and a feeling of fullness in the abdomen, especially after meals. Often there is constipation, but occasionally, there may be diarrhoea due to intestinal catarrah.

Keep in mind that the gastroenteritis symptoms may not always reveal the true extent of physical changes and damage to the lining of the stomach. An examination conducted with an endoscope, using a tiny camera can help doctors examine the stomach lining for an accurate diagnosis. At times severe gastritis may be present without the symptoms developing, while in other cases symptoms of severe gastritis may surface despite only minor changes to the stomach lining. Elderly individuals need to be particularly cautious as symptoms are less likely to develop in them, with there being no nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain and they may simply take ill without warning, experiencing internal bleeding.

The appearance of pain, abdominal cramps or great uneasiness in the region of the upper abdomen would be the most general symptom of gastritis. Gastritis pain usually tends to appear in the left upper region of the stomach and back. This pain appears to radiate through and through. The pain from gastritis is often described as burning or a feeling of soreness; this pain could however be sharp and stabbing.

Some other symptoms of gastritis that may not be taken too seriously include:

Frequent belching that does not help relieve the abdominal pain, but may relieve it temporarily.

Depending on how severe the stomach inflammation is there may appear clear or greenish or yellow vomit. There may also be blood in the vomit.

Other symptoms of gastritis would include the ones mentioned below:

• Belching: This would not commonly relieve any pain. If it does, it would do so only for a short period.

• Vomiting and Nausea: The vomit would appear green, yellow or clear, blood-streaked, or completely bloody. This would also depend on how severe is the inflammation of the stomach.

• The sensation of bloating and fullness is another common experience for gastritis patients. There may also be some feeling of burning in the area of the upper belly.

In cases of gastritis that are severe there may also be bleeding in the stomach and you may notice other symptoms like these:

• There may be a loss of color, increased perspiration and a heavy and rapid heart beat

• The patient would probably experience shortness of breath and a feeling of faintness.

• In addition to the severe abdominal pain there may also be some chest pain.

• Severe or chronic gastritis may cause the vomiting of significant quantities of blood.

• There may also be traces of blood in bowel movements. Besides one may also notice the stools to be dark and sticky, smelling exceedingly foul.

These symptoms of severe gastritis will not necessarily develop gradually but there could be a sudden onset of these dramatic symptoms, particularly in those past the age of 60.

Gastritis Causes

Irregular or Excessive Eating

The most frequent cause of gastritis is a dietetic indiscretion such as habitual overeating; eating of badly combined or improperly cooked foods; excessive intake of strong tea, coffee, or alcoholic drinks; or habitual use of large quantities of condiments and sauces.

Worry, Anxiety

Other causes include worry, anxiety, grief, and prolonged tension, use of certain drugs, strong acids, and caustic substances.

Digestive Disorders

Digestive disorders are the main cause of gastritis troubles. Improper bowel movements can be treated with the aid of balanced diet to treat severe gastritis. Have a sigh of relief with the treatment of gastritis.

Bacterial Infection

Helicobacter pylori is a bacteria most commonly found to be responsible for chronic gastritis. The bacteria are thought to be present in most of us and believed to be widely passed on, but it does not cause any health problems in most cases. In some cases however it may cause severe damage to the stomach lining, breaking down its inner protective. The reasons for which these bacteria affect some people while others remain unaffected is not clearly understood. It is likely that other causes like stress could make one more vulnerable to the infection.

Regular or Prolonged Use of Pain killers

The regular use of pain killers and non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs can cause either acute or chronic gastritis.

Alcohol

The excessive consumption of alcohol can cause severe irritation to the stomach lining, damaging it and leaving it vulnerable to infections with a high likelihood of gastritis developing. Occasional or rare consumption of excessive alcohol is however more likely to cause acute gastritis. Bile reflux diseases may also cause gastritis as bile may flow into the stomach instead of into the small intestine. This could cause inflammation and a condition of chronic gastritis.

One of the other common causes of gastritis may be autoimmune diseases wherein your body’s immune system attacks cells of the stomach lining itself. Certain connective tissue disorders or specific medical conditions like Crohn’s disease and AIDS may also cause the growth of chronic gastritis.

Home remedies for Gastritis

Gastritis treatment using Coconut

Coconut water is an excellent remedy for gastritis. It gives the stomach the necessary rest and provides vitamins and minerals. The stomach is greatly helped in returning to a normal condition if nothing but coconut water is given during the first twenty-four hours.

Gastritis treatment using Rice

Rice gruel is another excellent remedy for acute cases of gastritis. One cup of rice gruel is recommended twice daily. In chronic cases where the flow of gastric juice is meagre, such foods as require prolonged vigorous mastication are beneficial as they induce a greater flow of gastric juice.

Gastritis treatment using Potato

Potato juice has been found valuable in relieving gastritis. The recommended dose is half a cup of the juice, two or three times daily, half an hour before meals.

Gastritis treatment using Marigold

The herb marigold is also considered beneficial in the treatment of gastritis. An infusion of the herb in doses of a tablespoon may be taken twice daily.

Gastritis Diet

Fasting, Water

The patient should undertake a fast for two of three days or more, depending on the severity of the condition. He should be given only warm water to drink during this period. This will give rest to the stomach and allow the toxic condition causing the inflammation to subside.

All-Fruit Diet

After the acute symptoms subside, the patient should adopt an all-fruit diet for the next three days and take juicy fruits such as apples, pears, grapes, grapefruit, oranges, pineapple, peaches, and melons.

Avoid Alcohol, Tobacco, Spices, Meat, Sweet, Strong Tea/Coffee

The patient should avoid the use of alcohol, tobacco, spices and condiments, meat, red pepper, sour foods, pickles, strong tea and coffee. He should also avoid sweet, pastries, rich cakes, and, aerated waters.

Have Curd and Cottage Cheese

Yoghurt and cottage cheese should be used freely. Too many different foods should not be mixed at the same meal. Meals should be taken at least two hours before going to bed at night. Eight to ten glasses of water should be taken daily but water should not be taken with meals as it dilutes the digestive juices and delays digestion. Above all, haste should be avoided while eating and meals should be served in a pleasing and relaxed atmosphere.

Well-Balanced Diet

He may, thereafter, gradually embark upon a balanced diet consisting of seeds, nuts, grains, vegetables, and fruits.

Other Gastritis Treatment

Warm-Water Enema, Dry-Friction

From the commencement of the treatment, a warm-water enema should be used daily for about a week to cleanse the bowels.The patient should be given dry friction and a sponge daily.

Application of Heat with a Hot Compress or Hot Water Bottle

Application of heat with a hot compress or hot water bottle, twice a daily, either on an empty stomach or two hours after meals, will also be beneficial.

Avoid Hard Physical, Mental Work, Worries

The patient should not undertake any hard physical and mental work.He should avoid worries and mental tension.

Breathing Exercises are Essential

He should, however, undertake breathing and other light exercises like walking, swimming, and golf.

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Home Remedies for GERD

GERD is an acronym for Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease. It is backflow of gastric acid into esophagus. It is also called as reflux or reflux esophagitis. Mostly elderly people above 40 are more prone to GERD. British people spell GERD as GORD because British spelling for esophagus is oesophagus.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease also known as GERD or acid reflux disease is a condition caused by gastroesophageal reflux which is caused by the stomach acid rising from the stomach into the esophagus. The anatomical part of the stomach which connects to the esophagus is called cardia. This valve functions as a one way pass that acts as a barrier preventing duodenal bile, enzymes, and stomach acid from traveling back into the esophagus which is sensitive to the same and thus preventing damage to the same.

Unfortunately Gerd or gastroesophageal reflux disease is not limited to any specific age group or gender, but can affect absolutely anyone. It is more common among older individuals and those suffering from obesity, but it can even affect small children as well. GERD in babies is in fact a fairly common condition, but identifying infant GERD symptoms and providing appropriate treatment requires a great deal of attention and expertise. GERD is not very hard to treat and when dealing with adults, most cases can be remedied by enforcing some simple GERD diet restrictions. Digestive problems like heartburn and acid reflux are common symptoms in a pregnancy and GERD treatment during pregnancy is best limited to natural methods. GERD can be prevented and even treated effectively with simple diet and lifestyle changes, but these need to be maintained. The condition may not be life threatening but can be quite disturbing as GERD causes chest pain, palpitations, phlegm, shortness of breath, sore throat and at times may even be associated with weight loss.

Symptoms for GERD

Heartburn

The most common symptom of GERD is heartburn, generally after meals. When heartburn is very frequent or causes more severe problems then it is medically called GERD.

Other Symptoms

Apart from heartburn some other symptoms of GERD are regurgitation of gastric acid or sour contents into the mouth, difficulty while swallowing anything and pain in the chest. Some GERD patients may also experience pulmonary manifestations like coughing, asthma and inflammation in vocal chords accompanied by wheezing. GERD can also cause dissolution of tooth enamel if the acid reaches the mouth. It can also cause sore throat.

Symptoms of GERD differ from adults and children. In adults, the most common symptoms being heatburn, regurtitaion(the expulsion of material from the mouth, pharynx, or esophagus, usually characterized by the presence of undigested food or blood) and trouble or pain swallowing (Dysphagia). Other known symptoms include excessive salivation (since the body tries to compensate the acidity with saliva which is alkaline), Nausea, chest pains. GERD is also known to cause complications such as chronic coughs, erosion of dental enamel, damaged teeth and in some cases sinusitis.

Symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease gerd in children babies and infants are vague and are often overlooked due to their general nature. Commonly experienced symptoms in children are;

• Problems with swallowing which often results in gagging or a feeling of gagging.

• Increase in the frequency of hiccups and burps, runny noses.

• Excessive vomiting and feeling nauseous.

• Bad breath which is cause by an increase of acids in the body.

• Sleep apnoea is often caused by acid reflux and it may also lead to a host of other respiratory disorders such as bronchitis.

Symptoms occurring in infants are;

• Irritability causing sudden crying, especially babies who can be inconsolable when laid down on a flat surface.

• Refusing food or feeds or even in some cases demanding constant feeds for comfort.

• Acidic smelling diapers with the bowel movement being at the two extremes of frequent or the baby could be constipated.

• The baby might also vomit directly after a feed but may still appear healthy and gain weight while showing no other symptoms.

• In some cases, the baby may not vomit at all, although this is worse as the contents of an acidic stomach may just go up the esophagus and back down again causing more damage.

GERD is diagnosed effectively by esophageal pH monitoring which effectively gets a physiologic measurement of the acid present in the esophagus and helps document reflux disease. Esophageal pH monitoring also helps assess the severity of the disease and is even sometimes used to diagnose laryngopharyngeal reflux. Before Esophageal pH monitoring, indwelling nasoesophageal catheter was used to measure esophageal acid exposure but his procedure was often known to cause discomfort, pain.

Causes for GERD

Lower Esophageal Sphincter Relaxes Abnormally

When we swallow any food stuff or liquid, the lower esophageal sphincter relaxes temporarily so that the food stuff or the liquid can reach the stomach. If the lower esophageal sphincter relaxes abnormally it causes gastric acid to reflux, causing heart burn. In GERD patients the lower esophageal sphincter relaxes more frequently, causing severe heart burn and other complications.

Other Causes

Sometimes obesity and pregnancy can also cause GERD.

GERD causes and symptoms are quite easy to recognize and there are specific GERD foods to avoid as they are known to trigger or aggravate the condition. Gerd can be caused by various other conditions and factors such as;

Obesity: A higher body mass index (BMI) has been observed to be directly related to a higher percentage of GERD

Various other medical reasons include;

Hiatus hernia: This is the protrusion of the stomach through usually a tear in the diaphragm into the thorax.

Visceroptosis: This condition is wherein there is a prolapsed of the abdominal viscera much below their usual positions.

Hypercalcaemia: This causes an elevated amount of calcium in the body and is also known to increase gastrin production, leading to increased acidity in the body.

Some other factors have been attributed as having contributed to GERD is Sleep apnea (characterized by pauses in breathing or abnormally low breathing) and even gallstones, although these haven’t been conclusively proved medically.

Remedies for GERD

Remedies for GERD

GERD can be prevented up to a certain degree by exercising simple steps mentioned and a few lifestyle modifications such as;

Wearing clothing that are tight around the stomach may cause acid and foods to reflux due to the pressure on the stomach.

Avoid sleeping with the head raised too high above the rest of the body as this does little to ease the situation and only puts additional pressure on the neck.

Eating excessively big meals can increase stomach acid. Also, be sure to avoid an excess of foods like acidic fruit, foods with high fat content, also foods like pretzels, coffee, tea, onions, peppermint, chocolate before bedtime and also highly spicy foods. While there is a lot of prescribed medication for GERD that is easily available over the counter, there are also many available home remedies for the same.

From the many remedies available, usually recommended remedies are

Ginger Root: Consuming ginger root extract mixed with honey is known to be a natural medication.

Cumin: Adding some cumin to your drinking water helps to stop the formation of gas in the stomach.

Skim Milk: Drinking small amounts of chilled skim milk will help ease the burning sensation of a severe acid reflux.

Lemon Balm: This is known to have certain homeopathic powers that help relax a nervous stomach

In addition to these, Peppermint and Apple Cider Vinegar in small quantities is known to help.

Remedies for Heartburn

If you experience heartburn then have a cup of vanilla ice cream to relieve yourself from the symptom. Lemons, almonds and cloves are also effective for heart burn.

Diet for GERD

GERD Diet

Avoid spicy and fried foods because they aggravate the symptoms. If possible take few small meals several times in a day, instead of large ones. Avoid alcohol, smoking, carbonated beverages, tomato sauce, onion, garlic, citrus fruits and chocolates all these contribute to GERD. Sedatives, channel blockers used for high blood pressure and tranquilizers can also aggravate the condition. Avoid orange juice on an empty stomach.

Suggestion for GERD

Other Suggestions for GERD

If GERD is left untreated then it can cause permanent damage to the esophagus. Never lie down immediately after meal. If you have severe complaint then avoid wearing tight clothes and belts. Use some extra pillows while sleeping to raise your head six to eight inches high.

GERD natural treatment can be extremely effective and typically involves minor modifications in diet and lifestyle. Long-term changes to lifestyle and diet are essential for an effective long-term GERD remedy.

Dietary Changes: Certain foods as specified above need to be avoided as they promote gastroesophageal reflux. Certain calcium carbonate based antacids were found to increase the acidity of the stomach how the net effect of the same is not as pronounced as other factors.

Lifestyle changes: Smoking needs to be avoided as smoking causes a reduction in the competence of the lower esophageal sphincter.

Avoid laying flat or sleeping about 3-4 hours directly after a meal.

Wear looser fitting clothes.

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