Festivals are the season of celebration, joy, and laughter. While food is the show stopper of all the celebrations so are stomach-related issues. During this festive spirit, it's normal to snack on oily, fried, and spicy snacks, and this may leave our stomach feeling uncomfortable, hijacking the spirits of our festive mood. Even mild pain or discomfort is enough to make us look for quick remedies to get relief.
Here, we will learn about some natural remedies for stomach pain and acidity. While doing so, we will try to understand why stomach pain medicines that are herbal are considered safe and are in vogue. But first, let us know why you get those annoying stomach pains.
A range of reasons stretching from indigestion and gas to some serious stomach conditions like infections or ulcers can cause stomach pain. Let's explain a bit about some:
Indigestion: Dyspepsia in modern medicine and Agnimandya in Ayurveda, results due to overconsumption of food, especially those that are hard to digest, eating in a hurry without chewing. Agnimandya is said to be the result of weak digestive fire and leads to gas, bloating, and stomach pain.
Gastritis: The medical term gastritis means inflammation of the stomach. Nausea, bloating, and stomach burning may result due to this. As Pitta dosha is responsible for Agnimandya, so is it in gastritis. The stomach lining gets irritated due to wrong food choices and improper eating habits and sometimes stress may disturb the digestive fire.
Acidity: Like most of the other problems, pitta dosha brings up amla pitta or acidity. The stomach acid when reverses its flow and comes into the esophagus, causes burning and even pain.
Ulcers: Frequent bouts of acidity may irritate and damage the stomach lining, resulting in peptic ulcers. Ulcers are lesions that develop due to a damaged stomach and small intestinal lining.
A piercing uncomfortable sensation in the upper abdomen is often referred to as a burning sensation in the stomach. It is typically due to acid reflux or GERD. This burning is often felt in the chest and hence called heartburn.
The common stomach burning causes or triggers are oily or spicy foods, caffeine, overeating, some medication, and stress. All these factors trigger the production of stomach acids and weaken the stomach lining, causing burning and irritation. Stomach burning causes pain, bloating, reflux, heartburn, and discomfort.
The best medicine for acidity in the stomach is one that not only suppresses the symptoms but also effectively treats the cause of discomfort. If you are seeking stomach pain medicine the factors responsible for it are commonly indigestion, acid reflux, inflammation of the stomach lining, and ulcers. The medicine to treat these causes may help relieve stomach pain. Some of the natural remedies for acidity are:
Ginger Tea: This is a good old traditional remedy for almost all minor stomach issues. A concoction of ginger neutralizes stomach acid and reduces inflammation of the stomach, providing natural relief from stomach pain.
Fennel Seeds: Fennel seeds or Saunf are commonly served after meals in Indian households. This herb is a natural antiacid that reduces heartburn and helps in digestion.
Buttermilk: We think buttermilk being sour may aggravate acidity, but the fact is it is alkaline in nature and helps neutralize stomach acid, relieving symptoms of acidity.
Bananas: Bananas have alkaline properties and balance stomach acids. This fruit has other stomach-related beneficial qualities such as it soothes the stomach lining and protects from gastritis and acid reflux.
The best medicine for stomach pain should not only provide relief from acidity but should also promote digestion, and detoxification of the digestive tract, which may lead to a cleaner stomach and healthy stomach and intestinal lining. Herbal medicines for stomach pain and acidity are prepared following traditional methods and with natural herbs and so are considered safe. More and more people are opting for the branch of alternative medicines like Ayurveda for fewer side effects.
In addition to medicines, changes in one's lifestyle serve as a natural solution for stomach-related problems such as stomach pain and acidity. Eat smaller meals to prevent the stomach from producing excess amounts of acids. Limit the consumption of acidic, fatty, and spicy food that may exacerbate the symptoms. Don't lie down immediately after having your meal, it may cause acid to travel back into your esophagus. And, don't forget your mental health plays an important role in causing stomach issues, so manage stress by practicing some stress-relieving techniques. They not only help in reducing acidity but also keep you away from other heart and sugar-related health issues, promoting overall well-being.
Understanding the causes of stomach pain and burning helps in seeking the right stomach pain medicine and the best medicine for acidity in the stomach.
If you are aware of why stomach pain happens, you can be more mindful of what you eat, how you eat, and what stomach pain medicines are safer to be taken as per your symptoms. Self-medication can be injurious, consulting a registered practitioner is a wise decision, if suffering from severe stomach issues that need urgent medical attention.
