Dyspepsia, known as indigestion, is a very common digestive complaint these days. Fortunately, there are effective natural indigestion remedies that can treat dyspepsia. But first, let’s take a look at indigestion and what causes it.
What is Indigestion?
Indigestion refers to the inability to digest food properly. It includes problems such as heartburn, acidity, stomach pain, burping, bloating, gas, and nausea or vomiting.
One of the most common causes of indigestion is overindulging. Overeating or eating too frequently puts strain on the system and overtaxes the digestive organs. The body produces excess acid to try and digest the food and this results in hyperacidity, or an overly acid stomach. It can cause the stomach lining to be inflamed, leading to gastritis.
Eating too rapidly or not chewing food properly are other common causes of indigestion. Gulping food down in large chunks requires the stomach acid to work harder and more acid is secreted. Eating food too fast causes air to be swallowed. This forces some of the digestive fluids into the esophagus and causes burning, stinging, or a sour taste.
People who suffer from weak digestive systems should also be careful what foods they eat. Rich, spicy, and oily foods can easily aggravate existing conditions and bring on indigestion attacks.
If your bouts of indigestion are chronic, they could be due to a more serious underlying problem which you should see your doctor about. Peptic ulcers, gastritis, gallbladder disease, and hiatus hernia are just a few gastrointestinal ailments that have indigestion as their symptoms.
However, uncomplicated and occasional indigestion can easily be helped with herbs.
Why Natural Indigestion Remedies are Best
Unfortunately, antacids are promoted as an easy solution to indigestion. Eat what you want and take an antacid afterwards to neutralize the stomach acid. — simple! However, as stated on the packaging of most antacids, they shouldn’t be taken for more than 14 days at a time. Acid blockers, which inhibit the production of stomach acid, can also be detrimental when taken for more than 8 weeks at a time. Not only do they not address the underlying cause of the indigestion, the body needs stomach acid for a variety of important reasons.
In particular, lack of stomach acid impairs the body’s ability to absorb nutrients, especially vitamin B12 (necessary for nerve and brain function) and calcium (necessary to prevent osteoporosis). Stomach acid is also required to activate pepsin (the digestive enzyme required for protein digestion) and to kill harmful microbes, which will otherwise flourish. Candida overgrowth is a common example. Low stomach acid has also been linked to H pylori bacterial infection.
This study found that extended use of proton pump inhibitors such as Prilosec, Nexium, and Prevacid were associated with a significant drop in serum Vitamin B12 levels. Taking recommended dietary allowance supplements of B12 wasn’t enough to correct the problem.
Natural Indigestion Remedies that Work
As mentioned above, certain herbs are excellent for treating digestive disorders. Different herbs perform different functions, so it’s a good idea to take a specially formulated blend that targets your specific disorder. For indigestion we recommend:
1. Digest Assist
Digest Assist is a herbal remedy in fast acting drop form, to be taken to support digestive comfort after meals. It contains a blend of important digestive herbs ginger, fennel, peppermint, and stomach bush.
Ginger and fennel stimulate digestion and dispel gas. They also help move food through the digestive tract and reduce irritation.
Peppermint is an extremely well known digestive herb that’s been used for centuries. It supports the digestive tract and the flow of natural digestive juices and bile, and helps to relax the muscles of the digestive tract. It was used in combination with other herbs in this study to successfully treat dyspepsia.
Stomach bush is used to support the stomach and its functions by the indigenous people of South Africa. It’s a calming, general supportive tonic.
2. Gastronic Dr.
Gastronic Dr., when taken in combination with Digest Assist, will help soothe your stomach. Its key ingredient is German chamomile.
Chamomile is renowned for its anti inflammatory properties. This scientific review confirms the medicinal use of chamomile for the digestive system.
Other beneficial ingredients include meadowsweet, which helps improve the health of the stomach lining and digestive mucosa, and slippery elm which is rich in nutrients and also helps improve the condition of the digestive tract.
3. Acid Free-Flux
If heartburn and acid reflux are symptoms of your indigestion, you’ll also benefit from taking Acid Free-Flux.
This 100% homeopathic remedy is registered with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Homeopathic remedies work by triggering the body to heal itself.
One of the key ingredients in Acid Free-Flux is Nat phos (6X), which is known as the ‘biochemic antacid’. It’s widely used to alleviate digestive comfort, especially after meals, and is of great benefit for people who tend to suffer from common indigestion and burning.
Other Natural Remedies that Can Help Indigestion
If you’re suffering from troublesome and persistent indigestion, you may find it beneficial to also take a prebiotic supplement to balance your digestive bacteria, and digestive enzymes to help aid the digestion of your food.
A thorough cleaning of your digestive tract can also work wonders. Kiwi Klenz is excellent for this. In case you’re unaware, the health benefits of kiwi fruit for digestion are numerous and scientifically supported.
