Acid Reflux or GERD
Explanation
Acid Reflux – commonly known as GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) occurs when valve between the esophagus and stomach gets weak. Generally, this valve opens up to get the food passes and shuts it tightly afterwards. In Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, this valve remains open, letting the stomach acids flow in the esophagus. This causes heart burns and many similar discomfort in the body. In this condition the liquid content in the stomach refluxes back into the esophagus. If you are suffering from heart burn more than twice a week or it doesn’t show any signs of improvement even after taking antacids, then you must be suffering from GERD.
Reasons/Causes
If you are consuming foods that aggravates Pitta or foods which haveunsuited nature(virudh aahar), this can lead to the unbalance of all kind of doshas in your body but the major affect is seen on the Pitta Dosha. These corrupted doshas produce certain kind of heating toxins which rise upwards in the food pipe leading to heartburn. Mostly this can happen when a person has increased the daily intake of beverages like tea or coffee, fried food or spicy food. This kind of imbalance eating habits intensifies Pitta in body and leads to acidity. Aggressive nature or hyperactivity can also be one of the reasons for this disease. Pitta aggravates in body because of wrong eating habits, drinking excessive alcohol, carbonated beverages, and working till late night hours. Even excessive intake of antibiotics can also cause heartburn and acidity.
Signs/Symptoms
Following are the major reasons behindGastroesophageal Reflux Disease:
GERD or Acid Reflux as per Ayurvedic Concept
As per the Ayurveda, GERD or Acid Reflux happens due to the aggravation of Pitta Dosha. In Ayurveda Pitta denotes heat or fire in the body. Person suffering from GERD suffers from hot, sharp, pungent, and acidic substance that comes from the stomach. It’s common in many individuals to have a reflux of liquid content in stomach through esophagus. But, for those who suffer from this disorder more than twice a week may have GERD.
Lifestyle Guide & Recommended Diet
Homemade Therapies
Acid Reflux – commonly known as GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) occurs when valve between the esophagus and stomach gets weak. Generally, this valve opens up to get the food passes and shuts it tightly afterwards. In Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, this valve remains open, letting the stomach acids flow in the esophagus. This causes heart burns and many similar discomfort in the body. In this condition the liquid content in the stomach refluxes back into the esophagus. If you are suffering from heart burn more than twice a week or it doesn’t show any signs of improvement even after taking antacids, then you must be suffering from GERD.
Reasons/Causes
If you are consuming foods that aggravates Pitta or foods which haveunsuited nature(virudh aahar), this can lead to the unbalance of all kind of doshas in your body but the major affect is seen on the Pitta Dosha. These corrupted doshas produce certain kind of heating toxins which rise upwards in the food pipe leading to heartburn. Mostly this can happen when a person has increased the daily intake of beverages like tea or coffee, fried food or spicy food. This kind of imbalance eating habits intensifies Pitta in body and leads to acidity. Aggressive nature or hyperactivity can also be one of the reasons for this disease. Pitta aggravates in body because of wrong eating habits, drinking excessive alcohol, carbonated beverages, and working till late night hours. Even excessive intake of antibiotics can also cause heartburn and acidity.
Signs/Symptoms
Following are the major reasons behindGastroesophageal Reflux Disease:
- An uncomfortable feeling of burning sensation behind the breastbone area, commonly referred as Heartburn.
- Vomiting gastric acid or getting stomach contents in the mouth.
- Feeling pain while swallowing food
- Pain in Chest area
- Some patients suffering for GERD experience lung manifestations like coughing, wheezing, asthma, and inflammation in vocal cord that creates hoarseness in voice.
GERD or Acid Reflux as per Ayurvedic Concept
As per the Ayurveda, GERD or Acid Reflux happens due to the aggravation of Pitta Dosha. In Ayurveda Pitta denotes heat or fire in the body. Person suffering from GERD suffers from hot, sharp, pungent, and acidic substance that comes from the stomach. It’s common in many individuals to have a reflux of liquid content in stomach through esophagus. But, for those who suffer from this disorder more than twice a week may have GERD.
Lifestyle Guide & Recommended Diet
- Avoid consuming carbonated drinks, coffee, tea or any kind of alcoholic beverages.
- Stop eating fermented foods and processed items.
- Limit or Stop the use of spices like ginger, garlic, onions, tomatoes, and vinegar in daily cooking.
- Avoid consuming any kind of rich gravy dishes, salty, sour or spicy foods.
- Curd should be completely removed from daily diet.
- Consume meals at regular intervals in a relaxed ambience.
- Practice Yoga daily with Pranayama likeBhujangasana, Vajrasana, Bhastrika Pranayama, Salabhasana, Shitkari Pranayama and Shitali Pranayama.
Homemade Therapies
- Mix equal parts of basil leaves, coriander seeds, powdered fennel and licorice root. Take ½ teaspoon of this mixture and mix with ½ teaspoon of crushed rock candy or unrefined sugar. Consume this 15 minutes before lunch and dinner regularly.
- Prepare a mixture of powder rock candy, green cardamom and fennel in equal parts. Consume the mix of 1 teaspoon in cold milk when you suffer from heartburn.