Gastritis
Gastritis is an inflammation of the
lining of the stomach. It is a troublesome condition which may lead to many
complications including ulcers if not treated in time. Constipation aggravates
the condition more than any other disorder. The inflammatory lesions may be
either acute erosive gastritis or chronic atrophic gastritis. The latter type
has been found to be present in half the patients suffering from severe iron
deficiency anemia.
Symptoms
The main symptoms of gastritis are
loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, headache and dizziness. There is also pain
and a feeling of discomfort in the region of the stomach. In more chronic cases,
there is a feeling of fullness in the abdomen, especially after meals. The
patient complains of heartburn. Prolonged illness often results in the loss of
weight, anemia and occasional hemorrhage from the stomach. There may be an
outpouring of mucus and a reduction in the secretion of hydrochloric acid
during acute attacks and also in most cases of chronic gastritis.
Causes
The most frequent cause of gastritis
is a dietetic indiscretion such as habitual overeating, eating of badly
combined or improperly cooked foods, excessive intake of strong tea, coffee or alcoholic
drinks, habitual use of large quantities of condiments, sauces, etc. It may
sometimes follow certain diseases such as measles, diphtheria, influenza, virus
pneumonia, etc. Most often it also results from worry, anxiety, grief and
prolonged tension. Use of certain drugs, strong acids and caustic substances
may also give rise to gastritis.
Treatment
The patient should undertake a fast in
both acute and chronic cases of gastritis. In acute cases, the patient will
usually recover after a short fast of two or three days. In chronic condition,
the fast may have to be continued for a longer period of seven days or so. In
the alternative, short fasts may be repeated at an interval of one or two
months, depending on the progress being made.
The fast may be conducted on fruit
juices. By fasting, the intake of irritants is at once effectively stopped, the
stomach is rested and the toxic condition, causing the inflammation, is allowed
to subside. Elimination is increased by fasting and the excess of toxic matter
accumulated in the system is thrown out. After the acute symptoms subside, the
patient should adopt an all-fruit diet for further three days. Juicy fruits
such as apple, pear, grapes, grapefruit, orange, pineapple, peach and melon may
be taken during this period at five-hourly intervals. The patient can
thereafter gradually embark upon a well-balanced diet of three basic food
groups, namely: (i) seeds, nuts and grains, (ii) vegetables, and (iii) fruits
on the following lines :
Upon arising: A glass of lukewarm
water with freshly squeezed lemon and spoonful of honey.
Breakfast: Fresh fruits, such as
apples, orange, banana, grapes, grapefruit or any available berries, a handful
of raw nuts and a glass of milk.
Mid-morning snack: One apple, banana, or
any other fruit.
Lunch: Steamed vegetables,
two or three slices of whole meal bread or whole wheat chappatis, according to
the appetite and a glass of butter milk.
Mid-afternoon: A glass of fresh
fruit or vegetable juice or sugarcane juice.
Dinner: A large bowl of fresh
salad of green vegetables such as tomatoes, carrots, red beets, cabbage,
cucumber with dressing of lemon juice and cold-pressed vegetable oil, all
available sprouts such as alfalfa seeds mung beans, fresh butter and fresh
home-made cottage cheese.
Bed time snacks: A glass of fresh milk
or one apple.
The patient should avoid the use of
alcohol, nicotine, spices, and condiments, flesh foods, chillies, sour things,
pickles, strong tea and coffee. He should also avoid sweets, pastries, rich cakes
and aerated waters. Curds and cottage cheese should be used freely. Carrot
juice in combination with the juice of spinach is considered highly beneficial
in the treatment of gastritis. 200 ml. of spinach juice should be mixed with
300 ml. of carrot juice in this combination. Too many different foods should
not be mixed at the same meal. Meals should be taken at least two hours before
going to bed at night. Eight to 10 glasses of water should be taken daily but
water should not be taken with meals as it dilutes the digestive juices and
delays digestion. And above all, haste should be avoided while eating and meals
should be served in a pleasing and relaxed atmosphere.
Coconut water is an excellent food remedy for gastritis. It
gives the stomach necessary rest and provides vitamins and minerals. The
stomach will be greatly helped in returning to its normal condition if nothing
except coconut water is given during the first 24 hours. Rice gruel is another
effective remedy in acute cases of gastritis. In chronic cases where the flow of
gastric juice is meagre, such foods as require prolonged vigorous mastication
will be beneficial as this induces a greater flow of gastric juices. From the
commencement of the treatment , a warm water enema should be used daily, for
about a week, to cleanse the bowels. If constipation is habitual, all steps
should be taken for its eradication.
The patient should be given daily a
dry friction and sponge bath. Application of heat,
through hot compressor or hot water
bottle twice in the day either on an empty stomach or two hours after meals ,
should also prove beneficial. The patient should not undertake any hard physical
and mental work. He should, however, undertake breathing and other light
exercises like walking, swimming, and golf. He should avoid worries and mental
tension.
Source: www.healthlibrary.com through www.scribd.com
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