Amlapitta is a very common disease in present era. It is very troublesome disease and can give rise to many serious problems if not treated in time. Signs and symptoms of Amlapitta are very similar to gastritis or hyperacidity. According to conventional medical science the most common causes of gastritis are H. pylori infections and prolonged use of Non-Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS). According to Ayurveda vitiation of agni in Amashaya (stomach) region due to various reasons causes Amlapitta. Some of the common pitta vitiating factors are fasting, eating between meals, worry, hurry, spicy foods etc. These factors derange the pachaka pitta (digestive enzymes etc.) and as a result pachaka pitta vitiates. Thus developed condition is called Amlapitta. Hydrochloric acid (HCl) when not utilized well, or when produced in large quantity in the stomach region causes inflammation of stomach (gastric = related to stomach), that is called gastritis. This can derange the digestive procedures. The increased or normal level of HCl can destroy the soft tissue (epithelium) lining of esophagus, stomach,duodenum etc. If not managed on time this can give rise to ulceration (breech in tissue).Usually the esophageal sphincter muscle. contracts thus preventing the stomach acid from shooting up into the esophagus, but if this muscle are not functioning properly, the acid can slip past it and this is when heart-burn symptoms start, which is called Gastroesophageal reflux.

 

SIGN AND SYMPTOMS OF GASTRITIS: Inflammation/burning in chest,  Continuous pain the upper region of abdomen, Pain at empty stomach,  Frequent heartburn and dyspepsia,  Bloated feeling,  Bleaching,  Loss of appetite,  Pressure in chest/chest pain after meal,  Nausea,  Breathlessness,  Burping,  Vomiting,  Abrupt weight loss, Hair Loss,  Indigestion, Constipation, Throat dryness,  Dry cough,  Bitter taste in mouth,  Generally, feeling hungry, Muscular contraction pain,  Itchiness in the rectal region, Seems that something coming from stomach to mouth that leads to bitterness in mouth,  Flatulence, Respiratory problems,  Pain in ears

CAUSES OF GASTRITIS: Excessive intake of pungent and sour food items,  Drinking too much alcoholic beverages,  Hot food items,  Items like sweets, fermented foods,  Fried, spicy and fatty foods,  Gastric ulcer,  Digestion problem,  Obesity,  Habit of skipping breakfast,  More secretion of Hydrochloric Acid(HCL),  Spending more time under sun or heat, More intake of chocolate, tea, coffee, garlic, onions, Excessive smoking,  Stress, anxiety and tension, Showing more anger, fear, worrying,  Drugs like aspirin,  Negative emotion leads to gastric hyperacidity,  Irregular food habit,  Reflux of gastric acid,  Pregnancy,  Aging,  Weakness of valves

COMPLICATIONS OF GASTRITIS: Chronic dry cough, Gastritis,  Reflux cough,  Inflammation in the larynx,  Aspiration pneumonia,  Difficulty swallowing,  Gas Bloat Syndrome-Excessive formation of gas, flatulence, abdominal distension etc, Gastric Ulcer-Severe burning,  Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)-food comes into the food pipe and finally to the mouth.

RISK FACTOR OF GASTRITIS: Senior people of age more than 50 years,  Obesity, Smoking,  Pregnancy,  Taking alcohol, coffee, or other high stimulants beverages

TEST AND DIAGNOSIS OF GASTRITIS: Blood and urine tests,  Esophageal pH monitoring- to know irritability and sleep disturbances,  Upper GI series- to know about gastrointestinal problems, Upper endoscopy to determine the state of esophagus, stomach and duodenum.

DIET WHICH PRODUCE ACIDITY STOMACH: Acidity or Hyperacidity is one of the most common diseases caused due to more acid formation or acid alkaline imbalance. About 20% population is suffering from this disease. To reduce acidity, there is a need to balance between acid and alkaline diets.  Sour fruits, vegetables like citrus fruits, tomatoes, onion, leads to acidity or acidosis, Pickles, fried, oily and spicy foods causes gas in the stomach and comes under acidity diet, Avoid excessive chocolate to reduce acidity in the stomach,  At night, try to avoid protein and calcium rich food, Cheese, junk foods do give rise to acidity, Soft drinks, tea, alcohol, coffee etc., increase acidity by damaging inner lining of the stomach,  Take more quantity of water as it aids your digestion.

DIET TO REDUCE ACIDITY : Carbohydrate rich food should be preferred as these are associated with no acid formation, Fruits like apple, banana, dates and figs may be taken in more and more quantity as these are alkaline balanced diet.  Take more and more coconut, ripened mango, kiwi, watermelon and pears,  Leaves of carrot, celery and curry relives from acidity,  Sweet potatoes, carrot and beet root are alkaline rich diet helps to control acidity,  Seeds of cumin, coriander and cardamom overcome acidity, Avoid beverages like alcohol, coffee as these secrete more acid and damage the lining of stomach  Over processed and fatty foods like junk ones demand heavy work to be done by the stomach, Acidic fruits like tomatoes and from citrus family should be prevented as it helps to maintain PH balanced,  Go bye to overeating, Cut your smoking to save the lining of the stomach.

AYURVEDIC TREATMENT FOR AMLAPITTA: The main key for treating Amlapitta is to improve digestion. As the saying goes“Prevention is better than cure” it is better to avoid all the causative factors of Amla-pitta. One should follow the meal times. Avoid eating spicy foods, or foods containing excess amount of garlic, salt, oil, chillies, etc. very often. Include liquids like kokam juice, sweetlime juice, pomogranate juice, amla juice. Shatavari kalpa mixed with water. Medicated water. with ushir (wala) or coriander seeds, or laja (puffed rice). Shadangodak (water medicated with musta, parpatak, ushir, chandan, udichya & shunti). Moramla (jam of amla), gulkand (jam of rose petals) can be taken singly or along with milk gives good relief, dadimpak (sweet syrup of pomogranate juice). Vegetables like white pumpkin, bitter gourd, okra, all leafy vegetables can be eaten except methi which should be definitely avoided. Fruits like black grapes, sweet lime, pomogranate, fig, dry fig, black resins.

PREVENTION FOR ACIDITY- PRECAUTION FOR ACIDITY:  In today’s modern faulty lifestyle, acidity, gerd, heartburn and intestinal gas problems have become more common due to drastic change in our food habits. Foods like fast, junk, spicy etc. prompt  Drinking of water in early morning is beneficial in prevention of acidity.

  • Avoid spicy and highly acidic food prevent heartburn.
  • Your food should be alkaline in nature.
  • Stop smoking and drinking alcohol.
  • Fatty foods, spicy foods, caffeine, citrus, and carbonated beverages causes acidity.
  • Eat only when you are hungry.
  • Give up night awakening.
  • Say bye to stress and tension.
  • Eating banana daily prevent acidity.
  • Big gap between meals produce gas.
  • Sleeping on elevated pillow is desirable.
  • Take 4-5 litres of water daily.
  • Avoid raw salads of onion, cabbage, radish, chilly and pepper.
  • Chew your food properly.
  • Take more and more water as precationar measure to reduce acidity.
  • Avoid drinking water before and after meals.
  • Early to bed and early to rise reduces risk of secreting excessive acid in stomach.