Introduction:

                Indigestion is discomfort or a burning feeling in the upper abdomen, often accompanied by nausea, abdominal bloating, belching, and sometimes vomiting. It is also  known as upset stomach or dyspepsia. People of all ages and of both sexes are affected by indigestion. An individual's risk is increased with excess alcohol consumption, use of drugs that may irritate the stomach, other functional disorders such as gastro esophageal reflux disease, and emotional problems such as anxiety or depression.

Symptoms:

                The person suffering from indigestion may have a pain or a burning feeling in the upper portion of the stomach, nausea, feeling bloated, sometimes uncontrollable burping, heartburn, feeling feverish, and a bitter taste in the mouth from stomach acid coming up into the esophagus rumbling in the stomach., sense of fullness after eating, a feeling as though something is lodged in the esophagus, pain and discomfort at the xiphoid region, sudden chills, comparable to those felt during fevers. Indigestion can be a sign of more serious disease, if a person has vomiting, weight loss, or appetite loss, black tarry stools or blood in vomit, severe pain in the upper right abdomen, discomfort unrelated to eating, indigestion accompanied by shortness of breath, sweating, or pain radiating to the jaw, neck, or arm and symptoms that persist for more than 2 weeks.

Causes:

          Indigestion might be caused by a disease in the digestive tract such as ulcer or gastro esophageal reflux disease, but for many people, it results from eating too much, eating too quickly, eating high-fat foods, or eating during stressful situations Indigestion is caused by the excessive acid accumulation in the stomach, and over consumption of alcohol. There is a sphincter (muscle) at the join between the stomach and the esophagus. It relaxes to let food into the stomach but then tightens to stop stomach acid coming out and back up into the esophagus. Sometimes the sphincter doesn't work very well, allowing acid back up and causing the uncomfortable symptoms of indigestion.

            Some people have persistent indigestion that is not related to any of these factors. This type of indigestion is called functional or non ulcer dyspepsia which may be caused by a problem in the muscular squeezing action of the stomach (motility). Acid indigestion is a type of indigestion involving an excess of hydrochloric acid n the stomach. Frequent occurrence of acid indigestion can lead to ulcers.

Diagnosis:

                    To diagnose indigestion, the physician must first rule out any underlying conditions such as ulcers. He may have X-rays of the stomach or small intestine. He may also use an instrument to look closely at the inside of the stomach, referred to as an endoscope. An endoscope is a flexible tube that contains a light and a camera to produce images of the stomach and intestines in a procedure called endoscopy. A gastro copy is a similar procedure used to evaluate just the inside of the stomach.

Treatment:

                  As indigestion is a symptom rather than a disease, treatment usually depends upon the underlying condition causing the indigestion. Keep in mind that excess stomach acid does not cause indigestion, so using antacids will not help the indigestion. To treat indigestion caused by a functional problem in the digestive tract, the doctor may prescribe medicine that affects stomach motility. Avoiding foods and situations that cause indigestion are the best ways to treat it.

                      Changing the following eating habits can help to get relief from indigestion. They are chewing with your mouth open,  talking while chewing and eating food too fast. Drink fluids after rather than during meals, and avoid late-night eating. Try to relax after meals. Avoid spicy foods, smoking, and alcoholic beverages. Sometimes aspirin can irritate the stomach lining. If this occurs, switch to acetaminophen. If indigestion is a functional or non ulcer condition, the physician may prescribe medications that affect stomach function.

Prevention:

The best way to treat indigestion is to prevent it by avoiding the foods and situations that seem to cause indigestion.

Eat small meals so the stomach does not have to work as hard or as long.

Eat slowly.

Avoid foods that contain high amounts of acids, such as citrus fruits and tomatoes.

Caffeine causes the stomach to produce more acid, so reduce or avoid foods and beverages that contain caffeine.

If stress is a trigger for indigestion, reevaluating lifestyle may help to reduce stress.

Smokers should consider quitting smoking, or at least not smoking right before eating, as smoking can irritate the stomach lining.

Avoid wearing tight-fitting garments because they tend to compress the stomach, which can cause its contents to enter the esophagus.

Do not exercise with a full stomach. Rather, exercise before a meal or at least one hour after eating a meal.

Do not lie down right after eating.

Wait at least 3 hours after the last meal of the day before going to bed.

Sleep with the head elevated (at least six inches) above your feet and use pillows to prop yourself up. This will allow digestive juices to flow into the intestines rather than to the esophagus.

The patient should not stay awake late at night and should be free from mental stress, anxiety, fear and grief.

Do not eat while moving or traveling in a car, watching television or reading.

Do not eat fast food or food that has been cooked in a microwave oven. Eating should not be too fast or too slow and the food should be properly chewed.

Sleeping during the day, especially after lunch is not recommended, as it produces indigestion.

Home remedies:

              Taking fruits, fruit juices and boiled vegetables for one week is also a beneficial way of fasting.

Lemon juice mixed in warm water taken three times a day improves digestion.

Chewing a small piece of fresh ginger with salt, five to ten minutes before meals, stimulates digestion.

Take equal amounts of ginger powder, black pepper, dried mint leaves, asafetida (hing), anise seeds, coriander seeds, cumin, fennel and common salt. Grind together to make a fine powder. Dosage: Take about 1 teaspoon of this powder with water, twice a day after meals.

Drinking buttermilk after a meal improves digestion. Roasted cumin seeds and a little salt in the buttermilk enhance its effectiveness.

Drinking water gives immediate relief to symptoms like wind, distended stomach and acidity.

Eat half a teaspoon of aniseed to improve digestion.

A teaspoon of ginger juice mixed in a quarter cup of warm water can be taken two or three times a day. A teaspoon of lemon juice and a pinch of salt can also be added to make it more effective.

Mix equal parts of baking soda and water in a glass and drink it.

Have papaya fruit and get some relief.

Take a teaspoon of aj.wain with a little rock salt

A teaspoon of cinnamon water taken half an hour after meals relieves from indigestion.

Ground cardamom seed mixed with ginger, cloves and coriander is an effective treatment for indigestion.

Herbal Remedies:

Acigon is the best classical herbal combination for amlapitta-hyperacidity. It’s an everlasting solution for acid peptic disorders. It relieves gaseous distention and bilious symptoms.

Mulathi (Glycyrrhiza glabra) is effective anti-ulcer herb, gives miraculous results in acid peptic disorders. It is very effective in treating pain due to stomach ulcers, as it soothes the irritation caused by acids.

Marich (Piper nigrum): Pepper has a stimulating effect on the digestive organs and produces an increased flow of saliva and gastric juices. It is an appetizer and a good home remedy for digestive disorders.

Sunthi (Zingiber officinale): Ginger has been used to aid digestion and treat stomach upset.

Pippali (Piper longum): Piper Longum helps to stimulate appetite and it dispels gas from the intestines.

Also visit http://www.herbsandcures.com