Acidity and GERD

Acidity, GERD, and Appetite

Acidity, GERD, and Appetite Normally I do not dwell too much on ailments and health matters, here on my blogs. But the guru exhorts thus: “We all must care for the body as does a good jockey for his horse. At times we may have to dote a bit on the physical organism.” Our loving parents gifted the body with its unique genes and traits (music, hand dexterity, sharpness, good memory, etc.) to us. And we must treat it with diligence, good nutrition, intelligence, and moderate exercise (or physical activity). 

 I may illustrate this irritating problem (pardon the pun) with some examples: We had a neighbor (a school master) with severe GERD and stomach disorders. This was decades before I knew about the GERD (Gastro esophageal reflex disease). Probably trained Ayurvedic practitioners are fully aware of all these digestion disorders. He used to throw up after a sumptuous lunch. Perhaps to soothe the accompanying heartburn often he would ingest 3-4 tablespoons of baking soda with water. Soon he developed ulcers in the stomach and suffered many years with it without any real cure. A close relative continually suffers with throat burning, lump in the throat, acidity, and untimely burping. In severe indigestion episodes, people throw up (vomit) after heavy spicy meals. 

 In early stages, acidity can easily be managed. Here we concern ourselves only with a healthy digestive system, i.e., stomach with no ulcers or obstructions. Foremost we all need a bit of regular exercise or activity. In Nagpur outskirts I used to watch elders walking briskly along roadside, in temple gardens, and military grounds. Mostly people take their long strolls before 9 a.m. to avoid the scorching sun. With semi transparent light clothes we can catch the benefits of slanting morning sunrays. It promotes vitamin D synthesis in the body. In the villages men (young boys) would stand in front of the rising sun with oil all over the body; they used to utilize ten fifteen minutes in other chores like washing, cleaning utensils, bathing cattle, or brushing teeth with a neem twig. Then dive into the canal or Godavari waters for a refreshing swim followed by a scrubbing of the entire body with soap, chana dal, or soft riverbed clay (or the costly packaged multani dirt). Perhaps, some still do this in obscure little hamlets far away from the dusty urban places. 

 For many decades we have addressed this touchy ailment with gentle traditional Indian methods. Earlier generations used pan (or saunf) for minor discomfort. After heavy meals it helps (stimulates) the digestive processes. Fruits like papaya also aid in easy digestion. Raw plantain (as a curry) is slightly alkaline – it tries to neutralize excessive acidity. Many if not most of the foods we consume are acidic (pH < 7) in nature. Next to movie theaters and big auditoriums, the Indian roads are filled with pan shops or juice/ice cream bars. In earlier times they would sell freshly made soda, buttermilk, or lime soda (in India the yellow lemon). In the hot tropical India a short nap (siesta) cures most stomach disorders. Alas, in the modern day there are no naps; people work in the nights and sleep during day – thus disrupting the natural rhythm of the body. Also, they often take meals at odd (irregular) times. In Bengaluru even the famed Nobel laureate Sir C. V. Raman had time for a coffee break (high tea) in the afternoons; often he would take his students or guests home for an afternoon snack. 

 Now coming to a few gentle home remedies and Ayurvedic treatments, here are some very inexpensive tricks: 1. At the earliest sign of discomfort, take a pinch (about ½ teaspoon) of Hinghvastika Churna. I prefer Baidyanath’s time tested powder. When you take it with warm (or lukewarm) water, it immediately relieves heaviness in the stomach. This powder is not a habit-forming medicine. You take it when it is really needed and then skip it. This preparation is very gentle on the stomach and it is well tolerated with other modern prescription medicines. Still, you can consult with your physician for safety. Generally protein rich foods like fried somasa, pakora, pappad can put extra burden on delicate stomachs. Either one avoids such fried foods or takes them in moderation. 2. Yogurt. Both freshly made yogurt (curd) and sour curds have soothing effect on stomach disorders. Buttermilk is also good but just a tablespoon of good yogurt immediately brings back the balance (of stomach). I prefer homemade yogurt. Many troubles of stomach upset are resolved with just plain cooked rice and yogurt. 3. If you have access to a soda machine, then drink half a glass of soda with a little lime juice and a pinch of table salt. It relieves the heaviness of stomach and after couple of burps, things should return to normal. 4. Early in the morning, try to drink a half-cup of warm water with a bit of lime juice (5 – 10 drops) and a pinch of salt. It is refreshing and relieves any lingering stomach discomfort. 

Here I have deliberately avoided the over-the-counter antacids. Occasionally there will be always some stubborn situations. We can utilize a teaspoon of milk of magnesia. It is always better to keep assorted home remedies ready in the cupboard. As much as possible we all would like to avoid unnecessary trips to the doctor. Man unfortunately is a creature of habits. A little indulgence of luxurious foods (chips, fried food, or cakes) can upset the stomach for anyone. There is no need to get unnecessarily upset over such discomforts. A close careful watch on the body and access to proper herbs, Ayurvedic medicines, and other tricks will do wonders. A competent family physician (general practitioner or internist) may prescribe a mild dose of pantoprazole (proton pump inhibitor) for keeping the heartburn in check. Such modern medicines should always be taken with doctor’s guidance/prescription. 

 Acidity, GERD, and stomach disorders also accompany poor appetite. What do they say? “Misery loves company.” So, how to increase or maintain good appetite? A few traditional herbs (or supplements) can be very handy. They will boost the appetite. Loss of appetite can also occur due to prolonged sickness, fever, stomach disorders, or some psychosomatic event (depression). There are several time-tested herbal (Ayurvedic) powders (sort of adjunctive food supplements): a) Roast 1-2 teaspoons of ajwain in cooking oil (preferably sesame oil or olive oil). Take it with steamed rice as a first course in a meal. b) Similarly, oil roasted freshly ground black pepper with a pinch of salt also works wonders in boosting appetite after prolonged sickness. c) Ground ginger powder (sonthi is preferred) with a little salt and ghee also aids with appetite and digestion. 

 In India (probably it is available in Indian grocery stores in US) we used Albo Sang (Dichane) powder with meals. In the village our grandma would carefully collect all the fallen Neem flowers and fry them for a tasty appetizing meal for children. There must be many other simple remedies known to a traditional Ayurvedic doctor (healer). In moderation all these food supplements are beneficial to the body with very minimum adverse effects. Still, one should be a bit watchful if one is taking a number of other prescription medicines (for heart, blood clots, etc.). The Internet has valuable data on the interfering (side effects) effects of herbs with blood thinning medicines; but one needs to be very careful in separating useful wisdom (grain) from the misleading information (noise, chaff) on the Internet. 

 In addition to food supplements and herbs, yoga also comes in handy for managing acidity. I have given some information in this regard in an earlier blog: https://pattri-pulu.blogspot.com/2011/05/digestion-problems.htmlThree asanas come to my mind. 1) Paschimottana 2) Bhujanga, and 3) Dhanurasana. For a beginner they are not easy to perform. But if you keep on doing it, even parts of an asana with full faith it will help you. May take several weeks to bring back the vigor and natural strength of the digestive system. Without good digestion, we will not have bodily vigor. Mental acuity also suffers due to poor digestion. 

అతి సర్వత్రా వర్జయేత్ Excesses should be avoided in most cases. Earlier caveats (like this is no substitute for a fully trained competent physician's advice) apply here in this context also. Lastly I want to add one illuminating observation: A close north Indian (UP) friend moved to Chennai for higher studies. For many months he could not adjust to the south Indian food served in the hostel - forcing hospital admission. Similarly, many south Indians seek spiritual progress in the Northern Himalayan foothills to live close to the Ganges. They get free food in many ashrams but it is vastly different from the south Indian menu. That too creates enormous discomfort and stomach upset for the frugal aspirants with language barrier. Like the Mahatma's writings on self healthcare (self help), I hope this article will help someone somewhere and alleviate her situation. Good luck! Copyright 2020 by the author