Indigestion
Indigestion or dyspepsia is one of the most common
ailments today and is caused by dietetic errors. It is a condition of the
stomach in which digestive juices are incorrectly secreted, resulting in
discomfort.
The alimentary canal and the process of digestion
begin at the mouth. The stomach, which is the most abused organ of the body,
looks like a pear-shaped pouch. It forms part of the digestive tract which is a
tube coiled in loops nearly 28 feet in length. It varies in size and position depending
on how much food it contains. An overloaded stomach tends to prevent the diaphragm
from functioning properly. It may also press on the heart.
Symptoms
Abdominal pain, a feeling of undue fullness after
eating, heartburn, loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting and excessive wind or
gas, are the usual symptoms of indigestion. Other symptoms include a bad taste
in the mouth, coated tongue, foul breath and pain in the upper abdomen.
Causes
The feelings of discomfort and distress in the
abdomen are often caused by overeating, eating too rapidly or not chewing
properly. Overeating or eating frequently produces a feverish state in the
system and overtaxes the digestive organs. It produces excessive acid and
causes the gastric mucus membrane to become congested. Hyperacidity is usually
the result. Overeating makes the work of stomach, liver, kidneys and bowels
harder. When this food putrefies, its poisons are absorbed back into the blood
and consequently, the whole system is poisoned. Many people gulp their food due
to stress or hurry. When food is swallowed in large chunks, the stomach has to
work harder and more hydrocholoride is secreted.
Eating too fast also causes one
to swallow air. These bad habits force some of the digestive fluids into the
esophagus, causing burning, a stinging sensation or a sour taste, giving an
illusion of stomach acid. Certain foods, especially if they are not properly
cooked, cause indigestion. Some people react unfavourable to certain foods like
beans, cabbage, onions, cucumber, radishes and seafood. Fried foods as well as
rich and spicy foods often cause abdominal discomfort and gas, and aggravate
the existing condition. Excessive smoking and intake of alcohol can also cause stomach
upsets. Constipation may interfere with the normal flow of ingested matter
through the gastro-intestinal tract, resulting in gas and abdominal pain.
Drinking too much water with meals, insomnia, emotions such as jealousy, fear
and anger and lack of exercise are among the other causes of indigestion.
Treatment
The only effective treatment for indigestion is a
thorough cleansing of the digestive tract; adoption of a sensible diet and a
change in the style of living. The best way to commence the treatment is to
adopt an all-fruit diet for about five days. After the all-fruit diet, the
patient may take to a restricted diet of easily digestible foods, consisting of
lightly cooked vegetables, juicy fruits and buttermilk for about 10 days. He
may thereafter gradually embark upon a well-balanced diet. The use of fruits in
general is beneficial in the treatment of indigestion. They flush out the undigested
food reside and accumulated feces and re-establish health to perfect order.
Being rich in water, they clean body mechanisms thoroughly.
The best among the
fruits in dyspepsia is lemon. Its juice reaches the stomach and attacks the
bacteria, inhabiting the formation of acids. Lemon juice removes indigestion by
dislodging this acid and other harmful substances from the stomach, thereby
strengthening and prompting a healthy appetite. The orange is another effective
food remedy in chronic indigestion. It gives rest to the digestive organs and
supplies nutrition in a most easily assimilable form. It also stimulates the
flow of digestive juices thereby improving digestion and increasing appetite.
It creates suitable conditions for the development of friendly bacteria in the
intestines.
Another fruit useful in indigestion is grapes. They
are a light food which removes indigestion and irritation of the stomach in a
short time and relieves heat. Pineapple is also valuable. It acts as a tonic in
dyspepsia and relieves much of the digestives disorders of dyspeptics. Half a
glass of pineapple juice should be taken after a meal in this condition. The
sufferer from indigestion must always follow the under-mentioned rules
regarding eating:
- Never eat and drink together. Water or other liquids should be
taken half an hour before and one hour after a meal. Milk, buttermilk and
vegetables soups are, however, foods and can be taken with meals.
- Never hurry through a meal. Eat very slowly and chew your food as
thoroughly as possible.
- Never eat to a full stomach. Always leave the table with a feeling
that you could eat more.
- Never sit down to a meal, feeling worried, tired, excited or in a
bad temper as such feelings temporarily paralyze the manufacture of
digestive juices including hydrochloride.
- Do not eat if appetite is lacking. Miss a meal or two, if
necessary, until real appetite returns.
- Never boil vegetables, always steam them.
- Do not mix too many foods at the same meal. Never eat raw
vegetables and raw fruits together as they require a different set of
enzymes. Take protein and starchy foods separate as far as possible.
Yogic asanas such as ardh-matsyasana, srvangasana,
uttanpadasana, pavnmuktasana, vajrasana, yogamudra, bhujangasana, shalabhasana,
and shavasana, kriyas like jalneti and kunjal, and pranayamas like kapalbhati,
anuloma-viloma, and ujjai are highly beneficial in the treatment of
indigestion. Light exercises such as walking, golf and swimming also help
digestion.
Hydrotherapy
A daily enema should be administered to cleanse toxic
bowel waste. Other beneficial water treatments include wet girdle pack applied
at night, application of ice bags over the stomach half an hour after meals, a
daily cold friction bath and alternate hot and cold hip baths at night. Massaging
of the abdomen also helps.
Source: www.healthlibrary.com through www.scribd.com
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