Doctor’s Corner:
Acidity (Amlapitta)
Details
Common names used for acidity: gas trouble, gastritis, acid belching, Hyperacidity, acid reflux.
In ayurvedic system of medicne it is called as AMLAPITTA.
The word amla pitta is derived from two words-amla & pitta.—Amla means acidic in nature (super Sour Taste) and pitta is the Dosha. This means there is excessive secretion of Pitta Dosha( one of the three doshas) in the stomach.
‘HURRY’,’WORRY’ and ‘CURRY’ are the three main reasons for the disease.
COMMON SYMPTOMS
Indigestion
Acid belching
Regurgitation of food or sour substances
Gaseous distention of abdomen
Irregular appetite
Nausea, Vomitting
Tastelessness
Tired ness
Heartburn
Headache
Rarely constipation,back pain , disturbed sleep, lack of concentration & weak memory
CAUSES OF AMLAPITTA/ HYPERACIDITY/ GASTRITIS
Viruddha ahara -Incompatable food
Dushta ahara -Food with preservatives, pesticides etc
Sour substances
Spicy food
Pitta agravating food
If the condition is not treated in the early stage itself it might lead to gastric ulcer,malabsorption, headache ,backache.
AYURVEDIC MODE OF TREATMENT
First is to pacify the pitta with the help of medicines and diet modification
In extremely bad condition,emesis is carried out to pull out all accumulated acid
After subsiding the aggravated pitta,rejuvinative medicines are prescribed to prevent the remission of the condition.
COMMON HERBS USED IN GASTRITIS
Neem
Amla
Amruta
Haritaki
Ela
Jeerakam ( cumin seeds )
Common ayurvedic formulation-
Avipathi choornam
Dhanwantaram gulika
Eladi gulika
Drakshadi kashayam
Treatment Case Study
Sex – Male Age -48yrs
COMPLAINT:-
Patient was suffering from acute abdominal pain whenever he used to eat, along with some acid reflux. His stomach was bloated and foul smell in the mouth. He was scared of taking food, so used to consume very less amount of food.
HISTORY:-
Since he was young he was having on and off bouts of acidity but never gave him trouble unless he took spicy food. Few months ago patient followed some diet for weight loss and lost upto 10kgs, but after that his symptoms got aggravated, and whatever he used to eat gave him bloated stomach and burning sensation.
AYURVEDIC APPROACH:-
He was put under strict diet (which helps in healing the stomach and he won’t get the symptoms as above). He was advised some ayurvedic medicines for 1 week and was advised to do follow up.
After 1 week:- Bloated feeling had reduced and he was able to eat comfortably.
2nd week:- bitter taste of the mouth had reduced along with burning sensation.
3rd -4th week:- Patient was feeling relieved of all the symptoms.
Patient was still advised to follow the same diet and medication for 2 months.