Ayurvedic Treatment for Heartburn Causes Symptoms and Remedies

Heart Burn

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Introduction

Heartburn is described as a burning sensation in the chest and is often associated with regurgitation, difficulty swallowing, and chest pain. It is a condition caused when acidic stomach contents back up into the esophagus, causing discomfort. Heartburn is quite common with many medical and gastrointestinal conditions such as GERD, peptic ulcer disease, gastritis, hiatal hernia, esophagitis, gallbladder disease, pancreatitis, several cardiac diseases, and also acid reflux during pregnancy. Heartburn requires a doctor’s attention if it occurs frequently, becomes severe, or is accompanied by alarming symptoms such as weight loss, distressed swallowing, or chest pain, which may all indicate an underlying serious condition.

According to Ayurveda, disturbed digestion due to an imbalance in Vata and Pitta Dosha leads to acid reflux. The disturbances in the Jatharagni (digestive fire), cause improper digestion and fermentation in the stomach. Food becomes undigested and ferments, producing excessive acidity. Excess Pitta, in combination with acidic food, leads to the formation of Amavisha, which generates toxins in the stomach and esophagus, causing heartburn.

Understanding the causes of heartburn, its symptoms, and effective remedies for heartburn, including Ayurvedic treatment for heartburn, gas, and acidity, is essential for managing this condition effectively.

What are the Causes of Heartburn??

If detected early, symptoms can be treated properly and complications avoided. Causes of heartburn include the following:

Dietary Choices: Spicy, fatty, or acidic foods, as well as caffeine and alcohol, can cause heartburn.
Lifestyle Habits: Eating large meals, Smoking, lying down immediately after eating, or eating late at night can increase the risk.
Medical Conditions: Obesity, pregnancy, hiatal hernia, GERD, peptic ulcer disease, gastritis, esophagitis, gallbladder disease, pancreatitis, cardiac conditions, and gastroparesis can be cause heartburn.
Stress: Severe stress results in the excessive release of acid inside the stomach; hence heartburn.

According to Ayurveda principles, heartburn is generally induced by two prime causes- Pitta and Vata dosha imbalances. Indulging in a diet of spicy, sour, or oily foods strains the Pitta in the stomach. Scientific research indicates that various factors, including stress, irregular eating patterns, and certain medications, can disrupt Vata, which plays a crucial role in regulating movement and ensuring the proper functioning of the digestive system.

What are the Symptoms of Heartburn?

Detecting symptoms early helps in getting the right treatment and avoiding complications. Some of the frequent symptoms of heartburn include –

A burning sensation occurs after meals and worsens at night or while lying down.
A sour or bitter acid backflow into the throat and mouth.
Difficulty swallowing or feeling of some obstruction in your throat.
The sensation of acid irritating the throat for long causes coughing or irritation to the throat.
Anything acidic reaching the vocal cords can provoke a hoarse voice.

In Ayurveda, these symptoms are expressed as Amlodgara (sour and bitter belching), Hrit-kantha Daha (heartburn/retrosternal burning), Gaurava (heaviness), Avipaka (indigestion), Hritshula (chest pain), etc, which are the symptoms of Amlapitta.

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Diagnosis of Heartburn

In Ayurveda, heartburn is assessed after an overall study of the person’s health, including diet and behavior, other factors affecting health, and the balance of the three doshas. Different types of diagnostic methods like pulse diagnosis and tongue diagnosis are utilized by Ayurveda practitioners to analyze the condition and to trace the causal factors of the imbalance.

Diagnosis usually includes a medical history and symptom record but may require further examinations when symptoms become severe or persistent.

Personal History: might include a detailed symptom and lifestyle history.
Endoscopy: This method employs an endoscope, a flexible tube with an attached camera that captures images and visualizes irregularities within the esophagus and stomach.

pH Monitoring: Monitoring the acid concentration in the esophagus to see if acid reflux is present.
Oesophageal Manometry: Measuring the movement and pressure in the esophagus.

Diagnosing in time helps treat the person better and rule out other more serious conditions.

Ayurvedic Treatment for Heartburn

In Ayurveda, Amlapitta (heartburn) is treated comprehensively with the principles of Nidana Parivarjana (avoiding factors causing a disturbance), Shodhana (cleansing therapies), and Shamana (palliative treatment), dietary and lifestyle changes, thereby restoring the disturbed equilibrium of Pitta-Vata.

Nidana Parivarjana is a principle avoiding factor provoking the onset of heartburn. Basic recommendations here are the avoidance of dry food, Langhana (fasting), Vatika Annapana (Vata-aggravating foods), and Adhyashana (eating too soon after meals). All these guidelines would help to prevent dosha aggravation and maintain digestive health.
Shodhana (detoxification and elimination of accumulated toxins) and to bring the dosha back in balance. The procedures adopted include Vamana (therapeutic emesis) and Virechana (therapeutic purgation). These procedures are to be done under the guidance of qualified Ayurveda practitioners.
Shamana (Palliative Treatments) are herbal preparations and lifestyle changes that help pacify the aggravated doshas and ease the symptoms. Traditionally, Ayurveda practitioners utilize soothing, anti-inflammatory, and acid-neutralizing herbs and spices to address the root causes of heartburn.

Do’s:

Eat barley, ridge guard, green gram, gooseberry, bitter gourd, green veggies, wood apple, wheat, pomegranate, honey, cane root, meat broth, cold water, banana, raw sugar, white gourd melon.
Drink room temperature water or water infused with coriander seeds.
Maintain timing for meals.
Do Sheetali Pranayama.

Don’ts:

Refrain from eating chickpea flour, rice, brinjals, black gram, potato, spicy and salty food, fast food, sour vinegar, and rock salt.
Avoid drinking tea, coffee, or alcohol.
Refrain from sleeping during day time especially soon after meals

Home Remedies for Heartburn

Apart from Ayurveda treatments, several home remedies alleviate heartburn.

Ginger is anti-inflammatory and reduces irritation of the digestive tract through dietary incorporation. Thus, drinking ginger tea, and chewing ginger with a little honey after a meal can help
After meals, chewing roasted fennel seeds or ajwain balances digestion and settles the stomach.
Freshly made buttermilk reduces irritation and soothes the stomach lining.
Aloe vera juice balances Pitta and alleviates heartburn symptoms.
Food should consist of bitter taste such as bitter gourd, excluding sour, pungent, and salty ingredients while including barley and wheat.
Laja sattu- flour of parched grains should be given as a drink mixed with honey and sugar according to the balance of doshas.

These remedies help relieve mild symptoms and prevent recurrence.

When to Seek the Doctors

Consult a healthcare professional if you experience:

Frequent heartburn (more than twice a week)
Chest pain or any pain while swallowing
Unexplained weight loss
Any symptoms that continue even after taking OTC medications

These symptoms may denote the existence of an entity as grave as GERD, in which case you should seek medical intervention.

Conclusion

Heartburn is prevalent and treated with due diligence. Diet, other lifestyle factors, and medical conditions may lead to heartburn. Knowing the causative factors helps select the best treatment. An Ayurveda treatment aims to balance the Pitta and Vata Dosha by administering Nidana Parivarjana, Shodhana, and Shamana. Home remedies or lifestyle changes might be beneficial in the case of mild symptoms. However, persistent severe symptoms necessitate a medical visit. Continued follow-up and diet and lifestyle advice will help maintain digestive health and prevent recurrence.

FAQs

What is the best instant relief for heartburn?

For quick comfort, take cold milk mixed with a spoon of ghee or chew on some holy basil leaves. Jeera water or coconut water sips help nullify the excess stomach acid, and deep-breathing exercises tend to calm the digestive system.

What Ayurvedic food is good for heartburn?

Remedies for heartburn as per Ayurveda include cooling foods such as cucumber, coconut, rice, and sweet fruits. Bitter vegetables like bottle gourd and bitter gourd relieve symptoms of heartburn. Fresh yogurt, when consumed at room temperature, can be soothing. Avoid spicy, fried, and acidic foods.

How to stop acid reflux in Ayurveda?

Ayurvedic treatment for gas and acidity/ acid reflux includes eating according to your dosha, maintaining regular meal times, and mindful eating. Include herbs like licorice root, fennel, and amla in your diet. Regular practice of Vajrasana after meals and avoiding food at least 3 hours before bedtime can significantly reduce acid reflux.

How to cure my heartburn naturally?

Natural healing requires an appropriate eating schedule, stress-management techniques such as meditation, and natural remedies such as ginger tea and aloe vera juice. The head should also be elevated when sleeping, and one should be of healthy weight for long-term relief from heartburn.

What are some effective Ayurvedic remedies for heartburn?

Ayurvedic treatment for heartburn includes utilizing herbs like gooseberry, ginger, and cumin, ajwain, and fennel half an hour before or after meals. Certain yoga asanas like Pawanmuktasana can help relieve stress.

REFERENCES

Naliboff, B et al. (2001). The Effect of Life Stress on Symptoms of Heartburn. Psychosomatic Medicine, 66, 426-434
Fass, R et al. (2020). AGA Clinical Practice Update on Functional Heartburn: Expert Review. Gastroenterology
Naram, S P et al. (2024). MANAGEMENT OF GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE THROUGH AYURVEDA: A CASE STUDY. International Journal of Advanced Research
Patil, S. S., & Khilare, M. C. (2022). Ayurvedic management of amlapitta with special reference to hyperacidity: A case study. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 16(02), 1022-1027
Nimje, S et al. (2024). A systematic review on causes and triggers contributing to Amlapitta in contemporary era. Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences

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