Natural GERD Ayurvedic Treatment | Ayurveda Yogashram
GERD or gastroesophageal acid reflux disease is quite common these days. The basic cause of GERD is improper closing of the muscle at the end of the esophagus. The esophagus is a tube transporting food from mouth to stomach. When the transportation is over, the ring of muscle at the lower end of the esophagus is supposed to act as a valve, relaxing and shutting down the route. If the shutting down does not happen properly, the stomach contents would reflux or leak back into the esophagus, irritating its walls. This results in GERD (Gastro-esophageal acid reflux disease). The symptoms of GERD are: heartburn, burning feeling in throat, the taste of stomach fluids at the back of the mouth, nausea, vomiting, hiccups, chest pain, regurgitation of sour liquid, dry cough, wheezing, trouble swallowing, feeling of choking, feeling of a lump in the throat, hoarseness of voice, bad breath, etc. One who experiences these symptoms more than twice a week is sure to suffer from GERD. People of any age can suffer from GERD. The possible GERD triggers are:
- Obesity
- Smoking
- Alcohol intake
- Caffeine intake
- Eating citrus fruits
- Over-eating
- Stress
- Eating hurriedly
- Eating spicy food
- Wearing tight-fitting clothes
- Eating close to bedtime
- Anatomical defects like hiatal hernia, visceroptosis
- Conditions like hypercalcemia
Symptoms
- Burping up contents of stomach
- Upper abdominal distention and fullness with burping
- Upper abdominal pain
- Feeling of food trapped behind the breastbone
- Heartburn or burning pain in the chest that is
- Relieved by antacids
- Increased by lying down, bending over, or eating
- Worse at night
- Abnormal taste in the mouth
- Nausea after eating
- Difficulty swallowing
- Hiccups
- Headache
- Rough / hoarse voice or sore throat and associated coughing
- Wheezing
Home Remedies For GERD
- Take ginger root extracts mixed with honey. This is a proven home cure for GERD.
- Drink chilled skim milk to get rid of the burning feeling of severe acid reflux.
- Mix 1 teaspoon cumin powder in 1 glass water and drink early in the morning. This controls gas formation and prevents GERD.
- Eat lots of papaya. It eases GERD discomforts.
- Intake of Aloe Vera juice treats GERD effectively.
- Drink chamomile tea daily. It gives relief from GERD.
- Every meal should be followed by the eating of 1 apple. This aids digestion and prevents GERD.
- Drink the juice of 2 raw potatoes daily to get rid of GERD.
- Soak 5-7 almonds in water overnight. In the morning, remove the skin and eat the almonds.
- Eat bananas everyday. This will check GERD and make you feel better.
- Drink lots of water. It checks acid reflux.
- Stay away from consumption of onion, garlic, citrus fruits and sour sauces.
- Avoid caffeine intake, alcohol and smoking.
- Do not take spicy fried food.
- Do not lie down immediately after meals. Wait for at least 3 hours after eating.
- Do not wear excessively tight fitting garments. They increase pressure on stomach and cause GERD.
- Do not eat much at a time; in stead go for frequent short meals. Sleep with head on an elevated position.
