Nilutpal Gogoi asked:


WHAT EXACTLY IS INDIGESTION?

If you have been to a party and have taken too many fatty foods, you would in all likelihood have indigestion. Indigestion is a common tummy dysfunction. Everybody has felt this discomfort called indigestion at some point or the other. However, the most complain of indigestion is flatulence or formation of gas in the tummy. Long with it comes the uneasy feeling of something solid and bitter coming up the food pipe or the esophagus. This is nothing but the stomach acid rising.

INDIGESTION SYMPTOMS

Some other symptoms of indigestion are nausea, a burning sensation or pain particularly in the upper portion of your abdomen, and you may even feel bloated. Indigestion also causes heartburn and unstoppable burping.

INDIGESTION DISORDERS

There is, of course, no need for worry if you had indigestion after a heavy dinner. However, if indigestion keeps on recurring with an uncanny regularity, then do consult a doctor. Such frequent indigestion can be a sign of a serious tummy ailment. Indigestion without having any fatty meals is definitely not natural.

Prolonged and rather repeated indigestion can be the cause of the irritation of the tummy lining or of the duodenum. The duodenum hollow tube connects the stomach and the jejunum (the central and shortest portion of the small intestine). Such aggravation can aggravate into life-threatening ulcers. Mentionably, many confuse heart burn with this dysfunction. But heart burn is basically due to the irritation of the esophagus.

DYSPEPSIA

Dyspepsia refers to the recurring pain in the tummy. Dyspepsia is also accompanied by heart burn, nausea and indigestion. Dyspepsia can be caused by ulcers in the stomach. These ulcers are formed by the hydrochloric acids. The situation can be aggravated by heart burn and indigestion. Certain drugs used in schizophrenia and arthritis have also been identified as primary causes of dyspepsia.

MEANS TO AVOID INDIGESTION

If you go to bed late or take your major meals quite late, you can have acid indigestion. So, always follow a proper diet roster. It is always advisable to have homemade meals. If you cannot make the time, then opt for a hygienic locale. Moreover, have the meals at the fixed times. Go for a nutritious breakfast. Then you can skip the lunch. Have lunch before noon and supper latest by nine. Avoid fast food as much as possible.

Don’t hit the bed immediately after the major meals. Allow the meal to settle down. Walk leisurely for some time after the meals.

Kick away the habit many people have of drinking water between and immediately after the meals. The water leads to flatulence formation. Allow at least 30 minutes between the meal and the glass of water.

Spice may be appealing to the palate. It is very dangerous for the tummy. Spicy foods trigger off flatulence. Similar is the case with the mouth watering dairy products. How many can say ‘NO!’ to chocolates? But then don’t rue the day if you have acid indigestion later on. The best option is to stay away from these lollipop booby traps. Having them in limited quantity once in a blue moon is okay, though!

Just as overeating is akin to inviting indigestion so also is drinking too much of alcohol or even caffeine. The other popular hobby of hundreds of people, namely smoking is also a culprit.

RELIEF FROM INDIGESTION

To get immediate relief, you can go for antacids. These antacids are readily available in any chemist’s shop. Antacids cure indigestion by neutralizing the hydrochloric acids that form in the tummy. The fatty substances that we consume accelerate the acid formation process. This leads to the uncomfortable feeling of indigestion.

BREATHING & YOGIC EXERCISES

To provide your body guaranteed immunity from indigestion, take to breathing and yogic exercises. One simple yogic byam also called asana (exercise) is the ‘Bajrasana’. After you have your meal, kneel down with your feet fingers bent outside under your buttocks. Place your hands on your knees. Close your eyes. Take deep breaths and concentrate on the food in your tummy. Imagine that they being digested. Wait for just five seconds and then exhale. Repeat it 10 times. Email me if you do not feel relaxed.

Early in the morning after brushing your teeth, just gulp down five grains of rice. Wait for some time and then drink at least 400 milligrams of water. This will stop indigestion and also ensure smooth bowel movement. Besides, you won’t feel hungry or feel the formation of gas if you have to skip lunch during the day.

Last but not the least, remember this principle. It is after all your body. Learn to respect it and it will respect you. Don’t overuse this machine. The parts may get worn out. Don’t treat is as a dustbin! You may have to spend a fortune overhauling it!



Nathaniel

Dr Savitha Suri asked:


The word “Indigestion” is commonly used to describe the discomfort in one’s belly mostly caused after food consumption. Fullness, bloating, nausea, heart burn are other symptoms of Indigestion.

Before discussing Indigestion , understanding the process of digestion is very essential. The Ayurveda approach of explaining digestion is very simple and effective. The food we eat is digested by Agni or body fire which is present in our body. It is very much similar to the way we cook the food. The Agni or body fire helps to digest the food which is consumed, much like the fire of a stove cooks the food kept on it. The Agni is mainly situated in Jatara or in upper part of digestive system and is called as Jataragni. The Agni is further categorized as Bhootagni (which digests the 5 pancha mahabhoota factors present in food), Dhatwagni (The agni present in tissues which help them to absorb required nutrients), Malagni ( the agni which helps in formation of body wastes like stools, sweat and urine) . The Jataragni controls bhootagni, dhatwagni and malagni. Through this it is evident that ayurveda approach of digestion explains cellular metabolism too.

The factors which help agni to digest the food completely. : Thridoshas -Vata , Pitta and Kapha help agni to digest the food.

If the process of digestion is compared to that of cooking rice, the stomach,like the vessel., receives food. Vata provides the necessary conditions like the air blower, Pitta acts like the stove, providing optimum working conditions while Kapha provides the moisture needed much like the water in the vessel. When all these factors are normal and well balanced, an optimum condition is created to digest the food completely.

When food is completely digested by all the agnis, the body tissues will be well nourished and one is blessed with attractive complexion, glow, longevity, strength, good health, growth, enthusiasm, vitality and overall healthy development of body and mind.

The indigestion occurs when agni is imbalanced by the factors (tridoshas) which help agni to digest food. The variations of agni due to tridoshas are of 4 types.

Samagni (balanced agni) :The agni which is well balanced due to balanced tridoshas indicate the condition called Samagni . Samagni digests the food completely and nourishes the body tissues very well.

Vishamaagni (varying agni):- When vata is predominant this condition surfaces. The regular food gets digested normally on some occasions and poorly on others. Vata increasing foods and lifestyles lead to this condition. This variation of agni causes constipation, flatulence, pain in abdomen and other vata predominant diseases. The indigestion caused by this type of agni is called Vistabdhajeerna

Teekshnagni (increased agni) : This variation of agni occurs due to predominance of pitta. Pitta increasing foods and lifestyle cause this variation. This variation of agni causes increased hunger, thirst, acidity, heart burn and loose motions. The indigestion thus caused is called as Vidagdajeerna.

Mandagni (decreased agni): As increased moistness reduces the intensity of fire, the increased kapha reduces the intensity of agni. Kapha increasing foods and lifestyle cause this variation. Feeling Heaviness of body, swelling of eyelids (lower), belching which emit the smell of food consumed and water brash are few symptoms which of indigestion caused by mandagni. The indigestion caused by mandagni is called as amajeerna.

The decreased agni improperly digests the food and this indigested food is sticky in nature and improperly nourishes tissues, causing weakness of body. This sticky improperly digested food is called ama. Ama due to its sticky nature blocks the channels of body, vitiate doshas , contaminates tissues, imbalance body functions and cause diseases.

Causes of imbalance of agni which lead to indigestion

1.Spicy foods, chilly, oily foods, medicines, milk and milk products, tobacco and alcohol.

2.Irregular food habits and sleeping patterns.

3.Medications like pain killers, antibiotics, oral contraceptives and steroids.

4.Intestinal parasites.

5.Diseases of pancreas, liver, gall bladder, intestinal infections etc.

6.During pregnancy, premenstrual period, menopausal period in women.

7.Emotional upset like anxiety, stress, examination, family tensions, etc.

Home Remedies for Indigestion

1.Fasting completely for one day helps to normalize imbalanced agni and digest ama.

2.Consuming liquid foods, boiled vegetables or fruit juices for 2- 3 days also improves agni and relieves indigestion.

3.Avoid the factors (mentioned above) which cause indigestion.

4.Mix a ½ tea spoon of lemon juice, ½ tea spoon ginger juice and little salt in a cup of water and consume thrice daily.

5.Drinking ½ glass of warm water once in 2 hours increases agni and digests ama.

6.Cook ½ cup of rice with 4 cups of water with crushed ginger (1”) and salt. Powder long pepper (2 or 3)and fry it in a spoon of cow’s ghee and add it to gruel. Consume this when it hot. This is very light to digest and relieves colic pain.

7.Abdominal Massage also helps to relieve indigestion. It loosens the tight muscles and increases the blood supply to digestive system. American Journal of aphysical medicine and rehabilitation mentions that “Abdominal massage has positive effects on some clinical aspects of neurogenic bowel dysfunction in patients with spinal cord injury. “

Consuming well balanced food balances doshas and agni and hence keeps the body healthy and free from diseases.



Gilbert

mich asked:


I have trouble sleeping and usually will be awake all night ony to fall asleep in the early hours of the morning. I have stomach problems that cause diarreah, indigestion, heart burn. I have been diagnosed with thyroid disease. I am in my ealry thirties. Over weight by 100 lbs. I am active and play sports as much as I can. usually twice a week but it is getting harder to breath. Oh yeah… I have trouble breathing too. I know the most obvious answer is obesity, but please be helpful.

Bruce