Indigestion

If you have discomfort in the upper abdomen or chest, often accompanied with belching, and bringing up acid through the esophagus and into the mouth, you are probably suffering from indigestion.

Possible Causes for Indigestion:

Indigestion is usually caused by overeating, eating especially acidic or spicy foods, eating too quickly, fatty foods, too much alcohol, caffeine drinks, or eating a substance, such as dairy, which your body can’t process easily.  

Occasionally, indigestion can be caused by other ailments like gallstones, hernia, ulcers, obesity, or stomach cancer, and can be caused or aggravated by many medications, both over the counter, and prescription.

Precautions:

People over forty years of age, who are suffering indigestion, but have never had symptoms before, or who experience a change in bowel movements, lose weight, or experience frequent pain, should consult a medical professional.  These could be signs of serious illness, and could require medical testing and intervention.

Home Remedies For Indigestion:

Vinegar and Baking Soda:

We've all heard of Alka-Seltzer right? Did you know the active ingredient of America's remedy for indigestion is BAKING SODA?

Here's a great recipe to make a short term remedy that will make your stomach ache all better.

• 2 TBL Vinegar. (Apple Cider Vinegar is preferred, but regular White Vinegar works too.)
• 1/4 Tsp Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda).
• 1 cup of cold water

More Stomach Soothers:

• Sip on a glass of water with 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar.
• Sip on a glass of water with 2 tablespoons of Lemon juice.
• Take a walk thirty minutes after eating.
• Eat some fresh pineapple or papaya.
• Drink a cup of peppermint or chamomile tea to relieve indigestion.
• Chew on a sprig of fresh parsley.
• A light carbonated beverage may help. Try a small serving of Ginger Ale, Sprite or 7-up for relief
• Drink ginger tea or eat candied ginger.

Longer Term Relief From Indigestion:

Herbal Teas:

Other herbal remedies include teas of peppermint, fennel, lemon balm, or cinnamon. Longstanding, recurrent indigestion can be treated in a variety of ways, and the herbalists at the health food stores are usually very helpful suggesting the one, based on your life and your symptoms, that would be best for you, but some potential herbal treatments for indigestion are dandelion, golden seal, ginger, thyme, meadowsweet, marigold, and marshmallow.

Dietary Changes:

Drinking plenty of healthy fluids, such as herbal or caffeine free teas, water, fruit juice, or other health drinks, eating smaller meals more often (as many as six small meals a day, which will take less time to digest, and not provoke your stomach to flood itself with large amounts of acid to digest large, heavy meals) should help.

Lifestyle Changes:

Try not to eat within three hours before lying down, getting enough sleep, raising the head of your bed a few inches, and even moderate exercise, such as walking, twenty to thirty minutes at least three times a week, will help regulate your bodily functions, to better control indigestion.

Reduce Stress:

Stress is likely the most common cause of many illnesses and symptoms, and indigestion is no exception. Stress weakens us, throws our sleep cycle out of whack, and because people under stress produce stress hormones, a good amount of stomach acid included. Reducing stress along with the dietary and lifestyle changes can often help many ills.

Fasting:

A natural restorative treatment for indigestion is a twenty-four hour fast, during which you consume only liquids such as apple juice or herb teas, like chamomile or green tea. An infusion (hot tea) of slippery elm powder (found in health food stores) is helpful in relieving inflammation of the digestive tract.