Indigestion can happen to anyone and occurs from time to time for various reasons. Knowing what to do and how to get rid of indigestion is crucial for relieving yourself from discomfort and pain.
If you really want to get rid of it, you need to dig into its causes, symptoms and treatments and we have made it easy for you by taking into account the following points:
- What is indigestion
- Causes of indigestion
- Symptoms of indigestion
- Indigestion treatment
- Home remedies for indigestion
What is indigestion
After a heavy meal, we might feel pain and discomfort in the stomach, it is due to indigestion. It usually happens after eating food that’s fatty or spicy. In medical terminology it is described as dyspepsia. It occurs due to excessive production of digestive juices in the stomach, which also results in an acid reflux. This in turn could also cause heartburn, a very discomforting condition indeed. While some people go through occasional bouts of indigestion, others may go through it more frequently.
Causes of indigestion
Here are some of the things that trigger and cause indigestion:
- Overeating– Remember the time when you wanted to eat just about everything and had an upset stomach later on. Indigestion after eating too much is common. There are a lot of chances of indigestion if you happen to over eat.
- Eating spicy food- at times, the digestive tract finds it difficult to digest spicy food leaving you with indigestion issues.
- Eating fatty food– a lot of cholesterol and oil in fatty food products makes it a bit tough for your digestive system to digest.
- Underlying condition– Different medical conditions can also trigger indigestion like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), thyroid problem, stomach infection, ulcer, obesity, and irritable bowel syndrome. Even certain medications can cause indigestion.
Symptoms of indigestion
Symptoms of indigestion may be different for different people depending on their age, health and diet. Symptoms and signs of indigestion include the following:
- Upper abdominal pain
- Heaviness in chest
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Growling stomach
- Gas
- Bloating
- Acidic taste in the mouth
- Burning sensation in the upper abdomen
Indigestion treatment
If you are looking for immediate indigestion relief, the doctor may prescribe you medicines belonging to two categories: alginates and antacid.
Antacids are a kind of medicine that gives immediate relief from mild to moderate symptoms of indigestion. They help to neutralize the acid in your stomach so it doesn’t irritate your stomach lining and cause pain. Some of the antacids are Zantac, Tagamet, Pepcid, and Nexum.
A medicine called alginate is also present in some antacids. They provide relief from indigestion that results from acid reflux. Your doctor will prescribe this if you are experiencing symptoms of acid reflux. Acid reflux happens when the stomach acid rises up into your esophagus. Alginates coat the stomach lining and prevents stomach acid from harming it and reaching the esophagus.
In case you are going through constant indigestion, your doctor may give you medications for indigestion apart from just antacids and alginates. These medications consist of:
- Antibiotics
- Proton pump inhibitors
- Antidepressants
- Prokinetics
- H-2-receptor antagonists
Your doctor may even ask you to avoid NSAIDS like aspirin and ibuprofen as a treatment.
To avoid all the horrifying side effects of medicines, you can easily get relief from indigestion symptoms by using ingredients in your kitchen and go for natural remedies.
Home remedies for indigestion
Wondering what to take for indigestion? Here are 10 effective side-effect-free home remedies for indigestion. However, do consult your doctor to avoid any kind of a serious condition.
1. Ginger
Did you know ginger helps the digestive juices to work efficiently and facilitate the digestion of food that is stuck in the stomach? This makes ginger one of the best remedies for indigestion. You think the cause of your indigestion is overeating? Then definitely take ginger as it helps to transport the food faster to the large intestine from your stomach. You can even prevent indigestion by chewing on fresh slices of ginger right after munching on a heavy meal.
- Grate some fresh ginger.
- Add it to a glass of warm water.
- Add some honey and lemon juice to make it taste better.
- Stir well and drink it.
OR
- Prepare ginger tea to find relief from stomach aches, gas, cramps and bloating.
- Take a cup of water and add a teaspoon of grated ginger to it.
- Let it simmer for 5 minutes.
- Strain the solutions and drink.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar
There is hardly any home remedy list that does not contain apple cider vinegar. That’s because of its multi-functional nature. It is not just good for your skin or hair, but also indigestion. You might think apple cider vinegar to be bad for indigestion, but it’s actually good for your acidic stomach because of its alkaline nature that cures indigestion.
- Take a cup of water and add a tablespoon of raw apple cider vinegar
- Add a teaspoon of honey and stir well.
- Consume this drink twice or thrice a day for instant relief.
3. Fennel Seeds
Have you eaten something spicy or fatty lately and since then you have been facing indigestion issues? Well, fennel seeds can be your savior. It helps in neutralizing the acidity caused by spicy food and reduces nausea accompanied by it helping you feel better.
- Roast and grind some fennel seeds.
- Take a glass of water and add two teaspoons of fennel seeds and drink it.
- Drink two times a day.
OR
- You can simply chew on a teaspoon of fennel seeds.
OR
- Prepare fennel tea by adding two teaspoons of crushed fennel seeds in a cup of boiling water.
4. Carom Seeds
To get rid of indigestion, another seed that can prove to be fruitful is carom seeds also known as Bishop’s weed. Carom seeds contain carminative and digestive quality that helps to cure diarrhea, indigestion and flatulence.
- Grind dried ginger and carom seeds to make a powder.
- Take a cup of warm water and add one teaspoon of this powder along with a little pepper.
- Drink this solution one to two times a day.
OR
- Just chew on a 1 ½ teaspoon of carom seeds.
5. Baking Soda
Baking soda is also a great indigestion treatment as its alkaline nature helps to neutralize the stomach acids. It is both simple and effective and works as a natural antacid.
- Take half a glass of water.
- Add 1 ½ teaspoon of baking soda in it and stir well.
- Drink the solution to get some relief.
6. Peppermint Tea
Feeling pain because of indigestion? Well, this is one of the best qualities of peppermint tea that it immediately brings about a calm and soothing feeling to your entire digestive system particularly when you are going through pain due to indigestion. Its soothing nature helps to calm down your digestive system and help you feel better.
- To prepare peppermint tea, take a cup of warm water.
- Place a peppermint tea bag in it.
- Let it stay for 3 to 5 minutes.
- Take out the tea bag and sip the tea slowly.
You can also prepare other herbal teas like chamomile tea to soothe your stomach.
7. Coriander
Coriander is cool and soothing in nature and facilitates the production of digestive enzymes, which in turn soothes the stomach.
- Take some fresh coriander leaves.
- Blend it with some water to extract the juice.
- Add a teaspoon of buttermilk.
- Drink twice or thrice a day to minimize acidity.
OR
- Take a glass of buttermilk.
- Add a teaspoon of roasted coriander seed powder.
- Drink one to two times a day.
8. Cumin
Cumin has been used since ancient times due to its medicinal qualities to treat indigestion including flatulence, diarrhea, nausea and gas. It helps to produce pancreatic enzymes that facilitate digestion.
- Take a glass of water.
- Add a teaspoon of roasted cumin seed powder.
- Stir well and drink the solution.
OR
- In case your stomach feels heavy, take a glass of buttermilk.
- Add some black pepper and a teaspoon roasted cumin seed to it.
- Stir well and drink the solution.
9. Basil Leaves
Owing to the carminative qualities of Basil leaves, it helps to relieve symptoms of acid reflux and indigestion like gas and nausea.
- Take a cup of hot water.
- Add a teaspoon of basil leaves.
- Let it stay for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Strain the solution and drink the tea.
OR
- Take 3 tablespoons of plain yoghurt.
- Add some black pepper powder, a quarter teaspoon of sea salt an 6 basil leaves.
- Mix it well and eat twice or thrice a day.
10. Cinnamon tea
You might think cinnamon may be counterintuitive due to its spicy flavor, but it actually aids in facilitating digestion. It is one of the most readily available spice around the world and provides relief from bloating and cramps.
- To prepare cinnamon tea take a cup of boiling water.
- Add one and a half teaspoon of cinnamon powder.
- Let it stay for some time and then drink it.
- Sip slowly.
So this was it about how to get rid of indigestion. Indigestion may be painful and discomforting but the remedies are simple and easy. If you feel the pain is severe, simply go to a doctor without waiting.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I handle digestive problems?
Start with the treatment as soon as you notice the symptoms discussed in the article. This way you will be able to avoid the discomfort that keeps developing when you leave it untreated. Vomiting, diarrhea, and the side effects of medicine that you might be taking could mean that your body is not getting enough nutrients to remain healthy. If the symptoms occur frequently or don’t get better, you should consult a doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Can I prevent digestive discomfort through my diet?
Making changes to lifestyle can in fact keep a lot of digest problems at bay. Cutting down or eliminating daily habits like skipping meals or eating too fast can end you up in an upset stomach. Make sure you chew properly and eat slowly or take several small meals the entire day.
Try to take a balanced diet and cut out on unhealthy foods such as too much sugar and processed food. Eat more vegetables, fruits and fibers.
If you happen to be sensitive to particular food items like dairy products, then don’t even touch them.you can first discuss with a nutritionist before completely eliminating a food item from your diet.
When do I call a doctor if I am having digestive problems?
Call your doctor without any delay when you notice the following signs and symptoms:
- Lasting or unusual stomach pain
- Difficulty in even swallowing the food
- Persistent heartburn that continues even after taking medicines
- Feeling so uneasy that you are unable to perform daily activities.
- Feeling of a food stuck in your throat or chest
- Vomiting with heartburn
- Vomiting blood
- Unusual weight loss
- Constipation that doesn’t go away
- Continuous diarrhea
- Black stools
My doctor is of the opinion that my acid indigestion is due to a different disease called GERD. What exactly is GERD?
GERD stands for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.There is a lower esophageal sphincter muscle present that serves as an opening into the stomach. It remains closed when a person swallows food. When it doesn’t close properly, the acid in the stomach rises up which is also known as an acid reflux. It causes a burning sensation also called heartburn. It is one the major symptom of indigestion.
I made changes in my lifestyle and drugs, but still my indigestion and GERD symptoms persist. The doctor suggests surgery to control the acid and keep it away from esophagus. If I just bear with the indigestion and leave it untreated, will it result in serious health issues?
If indigestion is left untreated for years, severe GERD can serious effects. It starts damaging the esophagus forming scar tissues that narrow the place further. This is called a stricture which traps food and makes the swallowing difficult. 10% of the people who suffer from severe GERD also go through the condition called Barret esophagus. In this condition stomach cells grow in the esophagus. This further increases the chances of esophagus cancer.
Sources
http://www.webmd.com/heartburn-gerd/indigestion
http://www.webmd.com/heartburn-gerd/home-heartburn-remedies-natural-remedies-heartburn
http://www.medicaldaily.com/extinguish-indigestion-6-ways-treat-uncomfortable-ailment-without-medication-307134
http://www.naturalnews.com/035720_acid_reflux_natural_remedies_heartburn.html…
