Indigestion

What you need to know

There can’t be many people who don’t suffer an occasional bout of this uncomfortable, but rarely serious, condition. As long as it doesn’t happen too often, and when you suspect it’s your fault - eating too quickly or too much, a glass too many of your favourite tipple, that over-spicy food - the sensible advice is . . . well, don’t.

We’re not always sensible - particularly at times like Christmas, weddings, special birthdays, parties or anniversaries. But the good news is that if you prefer to use natural remedies, there are several which are extremely effective.

Hiatus hernia is also a common cause of Indigestion.

The most useful Supplements:

Other supplements which might be helpful:

Betaine hydrochloride (if stomach acid deficiency is the cause) - start with one capsule with each meal and increase over several days until a feeling of warmth in the stomach is felt. At this point drop the dose until this feeling stops.

The most useful Herbs:

Peppermint tea - probably the best known herb for digestion - make it yourself or buy commercial, preferably organic, tea bags. If you know you’ve gone a bit over the top on the food, leave the coffee alone and ask for this.

Other herbs which make useful teas:

Agrimony, Dried tangerine peel, Galangal

Homoeopathy

Homeopathic remedies appropriate to this condition include:

• Carbo vegetabilis
• Lycopodium
• Nux vomica

Aromatherapy

You can also use the following essential oils in a lotion or diluted with a carrier oil and rubbed onto the stomach to soothe digestive tract:

• Black pepper
• Fennel
• Ginger
• Peppermint
• Roman Chamomile

Dietary changes that may be beneficial:

If you get chronic Indigestion, and as long as any serious cause has been ruled out by conventional medicine, there are some simple dietary and lifestyle changes that are really important:

• Take time to eat - don’t grab a piece of toast and eat it while you’re travelling to work, munch a midday sandwich as you’re in the middle of important phone calls or eat supper while you’re helping the kids with their homework or looking through papers for tomorrow’s meeting
• Eat small, regular meals if they fit your lifestyle better. There’s no rule that says you have to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner at the ‘conventional’ times
• Eat more Artichokes - every French housewife knows that they’re the perfect start to a rich meal as they increase the flow of bile, improve fat digestion and prevent Indigestion (dyspepsia)
• Processed meats like salami and sausages, and greasy, deep-fried foods are real enemies to good digestion - so go easy on them. If you like them, have them in small quantities.

There are several foods, which really are the enemies of good digestion. They include:

• Raw onions
• Pickles
• Hot, spicy dishes, chilli and curries
• Radishes
• Cucumber
• Peppers
• Excessive amounts of coffee

Surprisingly, Bananas, a very good source of many nutrients, particularly Potassium, are extremely indigestible when they look at their best. Bright yellow Bananas can be a common cause of severe Indigestion. As they ripen, the starch changes to sugars, which are much more digestible and they should never be eaten until the skins start to turn slightly speckled.

Plantains, so popular in West Indian and African cooking, must never be eaten raw, but unlike ordinary Bananas, they’re wonderful when cooked.

Many people suffer chronic Indigestion for which no specific cause is found, even after extensive investigations. In this situation, it’s worth trying to follow the Hay diet for a couple of months. This involves not combining protein foods - Meat, Fish, Poultry, eggs, Cheese - with starchy foods - bread, rice, pasta - in the same meal.

Always keep well hydrated by drinking at least 2 litres of water per day. This ensures your stomach has the fluids to produce enough gastric juices for proper digestion.

Traditional remedies:

Put a generous pinch of baking soda straight on the tongue, this is not the most pleasant of medicines, but it is extremely effective and does not have the high aluminium content of many of the proprietary antacids.

Other useful advice:

The following therapies can both stimulate the digestion, which relieves heartburn:

• Acupressure
• Reflexology
• Yoga

If you are a chronic Indigestion sufferer, then abdominal exercises to strengthen the stomach muscles can make all the difference.

Avoid aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which may make symptoms worse.

Back

This information is licensed for use by Wellbeing Information Systems Ltd ("WIS"), and protected by international copyright law. All rights are reserved. (email info@wisinfo.co.uk). The information provided by WIS is for guidance only. Whilst it is based upon the expert advice of leading professionals, and extensive research, it is not a substitute for diagnosis by a qualified professional. Always consult your doctor, pharmacist or qualified practitioner before making any changes or additions to prescribed medication.