Indigestion remedies

Indigestion is a very common problem in the world today. The medical terminology for indigestion is dyspepsia. What makes this problem occur is when too much stomach acid starts churning around in the stomach and then splashes or moves up into the esophagus. This causes pain, bloating, burning, a feeling of fullness, and a sour or nasty taste in the mouth and throat.

There are many reasons that indigestion may occur. One of the most common causes is eating large heavy meals. Here in the United States people are eating more each year. The food that we eat can be a culprit as well. Foods that are fried, greasy and heavy in nature can cause indigestion. Other causes can include eating too fast. Society today is always in a big hurry. No one takes their time to really sit down and eat their food properly. That being said, most do not chew their food as well as they should either. This can cause problems with indigestion.

Stress is another cause of indigestion. In the fast paced world that we live in today stress is a part of most people’s lives. Anxiety is another factor that can lead to indigestion. Incessant worry that can go along with anxiety can cause indigestion to occur as well. These issues can lead to problems with sleeping. A lot of people who do not sleep well complain of indigestion late at night.

Lifestyle choices can lead to problems with indigestion. People who consume alcohol or smoke cigarettes are more prone to having indigestion than those who do not. Women who are pregnant are much more likely to have indigestion due to the fetus pressing on the abdominal organs. Peptic ulcer disease can cause problems with indigestion. Other disease processes that affect the abdominal or digestive organs can cause symptoms such as indigestion. Some medications can increase indigestion such as NSAID’s.

There are some things that anyone can do to alleviate indigestion. The first thing is to stop eating large heavy meals. Try eating five to six small meals a day instead. This keeps regular amounts of food in the stomach at most times of the day and will alleviate stomach acid problems. Avoid drinking alcohol or smoking to reduce problems with indigestion. People who have chronic indigestion can raise the head of their bed six inches which can help alleviate indigestion problems especially at night. Avoid drinking large amounts of coffee, soda, and tea each day as these increase the amount of stomach acid that is produced. Increase water intake and foods that are high in fiber to help the digestive process. Use hypnosis, meditation, and deep breathing exercises to reduce stress and anxiety.

Some herbal preparations that can be used to help indigestion. One such preparation is ginger tea. Try drinking one cup of ginger tea before meals and before bedtime. You can also place three to five drops of mint extract such as peppermint in a glass of water and drink it three to four times a day. Another remedy is to drink a glass of water with one teaspoon of lemon juice or one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar prior to meals each day. Any of these remedies should help calm down the symptoms that are associated with indigestion. Baking soda can be utilized to help reduce the symptoms of indigestion as well. Caution should be used however with using baking soda long term as it can affect the electrolyte balance of the bloodstream. Chamomile tea is a great tea to drink to help relax the nerves, reduce anxiety and can help to relieve indigestion as well.

Last updated on Jul 12th, 2010 and filed under Digestive Health. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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