Table of Contents
Digestive disorders refer to conditions that interfere with digestion and cause immense discomfort in form of acid reflux, constipation, pain in the abdomen, flatulence, gas, vomiting, belching etc. There are different kinds of digestive disorders like infection, temporary indigestion, acidity, chronic indigestion caused by consumption of food items that might be stale and gone bad or you might simply be intolerant to it.
Dysfunctional esophageal valve leads to acidity as the acid from stomach seeps into the esophagus and food tract. Diseases and disorders like Diverticulitis, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcers and celiac diseases are some other causes of indigestion. In this write up we will introduce you to various simple and effective home remedies for he digestion related issues.
Common Digestive Disorders Home Remedies
Carom Seeds
Carom seeds also known as Bishop’s weed and possess properties that relieve gas and flatulence. They ease and aid the movement of gas buildup and flow it out of the system. In fact after taking them you may find a temporary increase in flatulence and belching which would mean that they have started working.
This remedy is very effective in cases of gas and pain induced by it. There are different methods through which you can take it in. Take 2 spoonful of carom seeds and boil them half a cup of water. Reduce the water by heating until half of the original quantity is left. Strain and consume this water thrice a day.
You can also chew them down with a pinch of salt or cumin powder. Another ayurvedic remedy recommends soaking carom seeds in lime juice and drying it in indirect sun. Ones dried, grind it into fine powder. Consume a spoon of this powder thrice with water.
Mint
Mint and specifically peppermint is very effective ingredient for indigestion. It contains menthol which is a base ingredient in many herbal medicines that are prescribed for stomach and digestion related issues. The main action of mint that relieves indigestion is to encourage bile flow.
It is also an anti-spasmodic herb and controls the spasms caused by contraction of stomach and abdominal muscles while ingesting gas and food. It has proven effective for irritable bowel syndrome and the pain caused by it. You can boil a bunch of mint leaves in water and consume this water 2-3 times in a day. Or simply crush 9-10 leaves of mint with a spoon of water. Extract this juice and consume for relief.
Vinegar
Cringing at the word vinegar is very natural when you are already suffering from major acid reflux and acidity in general. However, the fact is that apple cider vinegar has a lower Ph balance than the acid in our stomach. Consuming vinegar can restore the acidic balance of our stomach which is very important for proper digestion.
You can use vinegar when you are suffering from indigestion. Initially after its intake you may feel uncomfortable but gradually it washes out and restores acidic balance. Apple cider vinegar is best for this purpose but make sure that you use unprocessed and pure vinegar. Dilute it with equal part of water and gulp it down for relief.
Asfoetida
It is an ancient remedy in Indian community. Asfoetida relieves flatulence and belching by moving the gas through stomach and intestines and out of the body. In fact an external application of this ingredient is also used for colicky infants. The best way of consuming it is to take it right after your meal.
Mix a spoon of powdered Asfoetida in warm water and consume. The taste of Asfoetida is not very pleasant so you can just add half a spoon of it to your food preparations and it will relieve chronic digestive disorders. Adding it to the food preparation has an additional advantage of adding flavor to the dishes and not leaving a bad taste on your tongue while you have them.
You may also consume it with some carom seeds. For infant, mix half a spoon of Asfoetida in warm water and apply it around the navel. Iron a wash cloth so that it becomes warm, and place it on the stomach so that it covers the stomach almost entirely. This is known to provide immense relief to babies.
Banana
Bananas promote healthy bowel movement and is a great remedy for both constipation and loose motions. Bananas contain potassium and so they can restore the electrolyte balance in the body which is lost when one suffers from loose motions, dehydration or dysentery.
It is also high in fiber content which adds volume and softness to bowel movement and makes its excretion easy. 5-6 bananas in a day are recommended if you have been suffering from constipation. They are also safe for infants who are on semi solids.
Guava leaves
Guava leaves and roots are known to aid digestion. They are also anti-bacterial in nature which makes them ideal for digestive problems caused by infection and peptic ulcers. Take some tender young leaves which are extremely soft to touch.
Grind 5-6 of them and extract their juice. consume a spoonful at least 3 times in day for relief. You may also make a tea out of the guava root and leaves. For this boil 10-11 leaves and a piece of roughly chopped root in the water. Consume this water 3-4 times in day. This potion may also help you in treatment of diarrhea.
Ginger
Ginger aids movement of food into the intestines. This action promotes digestion. It is also known to relieve nausea and vomiting where you might be suffering from dysentery caused by stomach upset. Ginger can also relieve bloating and gas formation in your guts.
For relief you can prepare tea out of a crushed piece of ginger. Boil and add some honey for anti-microbial action. You may also simply chew the ginger with a spoon of honey if you are fine with the tangy and strong taste of this herb.
Oatmeal
Oatmeal is a high fiber food item. It promotes healthy bowel movement by keeping them soft and adds bulk to it. For issues arising out of constipation, oatmeal is a great and simple remedy. However, do not forget to top it up with some water. Having One bowl of oatmeal for breakfast can set the fine tuning of body for rest of the day.
It is a very versatile breakfast cereal in which you can add bananas, honey, strawberries etc that can help you further with the digestion. You can also make them salty and add some carom seeds and ginger while tempering in the oil and adding oatmeal and water to it.
Fluids
No matter how many remedies or medicines you might try for relieving your digestive issues, nothing would work if you do not have plenty of fluid intake. Water, fruit or vegetable juices can relieve constipation and are a great medium for restoring electrolyte balance in cases where a lot of retained fluid is lost because of diarrhea and dysentery.
This fluid loss causes imbalance of electrolytes as well. You may add a little salt to the juices for sodium. Fruit and vegetable juices also contain vitamins that help and aid the metabolism of body by regulating digestion.
