How to control pitta? Natural Home Remedies for Indigestion

8 Natural Home Remedies for Indigestion Everyone Should Know

Wondering how to balance acid reflux and indigestion? According to Ayurveda, indigestion and acid reflux are caused as a result of excess Pitta accumulating in the body. It is, thus, vital that you know how to balance your Pitta Dosha. If you want to know how to control Pitta naturally, here’s an answer – start consuming foods that are cooling in nature.

Further, make sure that the food you eat is light and easy on the stomach. You should, by all means, avoid eating greasy, heavy food. Also, it’s advisable to limit your intake of caffeine and other carbonated drinks. Spicy foods and chocolate should also be avoided as much as possible. There are also many natural herbs and ingredients, like ginger, fennel seeds, chamomile flower, peppermint, licorice, and apple cider vinegar, among others, that you can consume to bring Pitta to its optimum levels. Now that you know how to balance Pitta with dietary changes, you should, ideally, support these changes by exercising, practicing yoga, performing Abhyangas (self massages), and meditating.

You decide to visit a friend at their home for a quick chat. You figure you’ll only be there 15 minutes tops. Before you know it, they invite you to the dinner table for a meal. On arrival, your host serves you a 7-course meal. Not to look rude, you down it all. Inevitably, indigestion happens.

If you have a ‘weak’ stomach and suffer from a bout of indigestion or heartburn, you may use a commercial medication to take care. Alternatively, you can decide to treat indigestion naturally. In that case, there are plenty of natural remedies for GERD acid reflux and indigestion.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale)

Millions have been using ginger tea indigestion therapy. Adrak is used as one of the home remedies for stomach burn, and it has proved useful for centuries. As an effective acid reflux remedy, ginger is a rich source of antioxidants such as phenolic compounds that effectively reduce gastric contractions and gastrointestinal irritation. That means a reduction of contracting Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). Additionally, Adrak can help reduce inflammation, muscle pain, nausea, and swelling. Ginger, a traditional warming agent used to enkindle the digestive fire. So the herb helps digest well, so there won’t be the uncomfortable byproduct that can occur with sluggish weak digestion.

Ways to harness the power of ginger include:

• Drinking a cup of freshly grated Adrak tea
• Drinking ginger ale
• Sucking ginger candy
• Taking ginger water
• Taking one or two ginger capsules

Here’s a fun recipe to try:

• 1 or 2 pieces of Ginger Root
• 4 cups of Water
• 1 part of Lemon or Honey for taste

Boil the ginger root in the water. Add your preferred amount of honey or lemon to improve the taste.

Fennel Seeds

Fennel seeds have proved useful as a solution to indigestion. Saunf effectively helps the gastrointestinal system muscles relax. Failure to do so leads to disorders like ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and Crohn’s disease. Usage of fennel seeds is one of the natural ways to settle an upset stomach as it will reduce bloating, gas, and cramps. Saunf contains antibacterial properties which help maintain the digestive system.

It’s best to use saunf as a tea because it goes through less processing and is likely to be fresh. It also helps to chew and swallow some fennel seed to deal with indigestion directly.

Chamomile flower (Matricaria recutita)

As one of the remedies for treating indigestion naturally, Chamomile is one of the most unconventional. Most people use Chamomile before bedtime, so people assume that it’s only for inducing sleep. It is one of the herbs that soothe the stomach. Babuna has strong anti-inflammatory properties, which can help deal with issues such as colic, IBS, and diarrhea.

Caution: Chamomile may cause drowsiness, so don’t use it when you’re about to operate machinery. Preferable use at night when you’re about to go to sleep.

Avoid Chamomile if you’re taking a blood thinner as it has a coagulant ingredient.

Peppermint (Mentha x piperita)

Pudina is a herbal indigestion remedy that has been in use for centuries as it has antispasmodic properties that help in the management of indigestion, gas, and nausea. The peppermint compounds open an anti-pain channel in the colon that can reduce the pain from eating spicy food, and helps thwart IBS.

You can use Pudina as a tea, peppermint gum, or coated chamomile oil capsules.

Caution: if you have GERD, peppermint is not one of the natural remedies for GERD acid reflux you should use; it will make the symptoms worse.

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra)  

Ayurveda has been championing the use of Mulethi as one of the herbs for indigestion. Ayurvedic therapy promotes a holistic approach to wellness, and licorice utilizes the recommendations written in ancient Ayurvedic texts. It is one of the best herbs for stomach acid since it manages heartburn and acid reflux.

For effective use of Mulethi as one of the natural remedies for GERD acid reflux, use it as:

• A capsule
• Eat the root
• Drink the licorice root juice
• Take the deglycyrrhizinated licorice from which the glycyrrhizin has been removed.

Hot Water

Many people have found hot water effective at treating indigestion naturally. It works by breaking down the food faster, expanding the colon and blood vessels, and aiding bowel movement. Doing so helps remedy indigestion, gas, upset stomach, and bloating.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Sometimes you may have too little acid in your stomach. It is an imbalance that can cause you indigestion. Acid reflux may cause hypochlorhydria, which is low stomach acid levels. Apple cider will increase acid levels and manage the heartburn or reflux.

You can use this recipe when you have mild reflux. Take one teaspoon to 1 tablespoon of the apple cider vinegar and mix it with a glass of water. Take it before or after meals to reduce the effects of acid reflux.

Caution: avoid apple cider vinegar if you have a medium or severe case of acid reflux.

Baking Soda

As one of the indigestion remedies baking soda is effective at dealing with acid reflux because of its active ingredient. The sodium bicarbonate in baking soda contains an absorbable antacid that neutralizes excess stomach acid.

For the remedy to work, use the following recipe:

• ½ teaspoon Baking soda
• 1 cup of water

Warm the water and add the baking soda till fully dissolved.

Caution: the relief from acid reflux is only temporary since the sudden dip in acidity will serve to cause acid rebound, which may be worse than it was initially.

Avoid Foods that Trigger Symptoms

Alternatively, you may decide prevention is better than cure, in which case you may want to cut down on foods that cause indigestion and heartburn. It means avoiding foods that increase or drastically reduce stomach acidity. They include:

• Minimizing oily and fatty food
• Spicy foods
• Tomato and its juice
• Alcohol
• Chocolate
• Mint
• Citrus
• Onions and garlic
• Coffee and tea
• Carbonated drinks

Indigestion and acid reflux may cause you discomfort. Instead of popping the usual pills, why not try some of these home remedies for treating indigestion naturally? Additionally, it would help if you also changed your lifestyle by avoiding foods and drinks that may increase your chances of contracting indigestion and acid reflux.