Acidity Relief the Ayurvedic Way: Causes and Natural Cures

You have likely heard the term “Acidity” before, whether at home among family members or at the workplace. This common discomfort can arise from various factors, including lifestyle habits or certain foods. But what exactly does acidity mean?
Let's explore this condition in depth, understand its causes, and natural cures.

Define- Acidity

In our body below your diaphragm, the stomach secretes gastric juice to digest food. But when this system goes awry, it can trigger anything from mild heartburn to severe burning pain, often leaving you exhausted. Ayurveda identifies this as a pitta imbalance, treatable through diet and herbs!

How Rasayana approaches the concept of Acidity

In Ayurveda, acidity is known as Amlapitta, derived from where amla means sour and pitta means fire. The digestive fire, basically the agni, governs metabolism, and an imbalance in Vata and pitta doshas often triggers acidity. While body constitution plays a role such as problems like modern lifestyle and eating habits, irregular eating can easily worsen it. Even your favourite foods can sometimes betray you easily. With mindful dietary choices and lifestyle practices, Amlapitta or Acidity can be effectively managed.

How is acidity caused?

Changes in the amount of gastric juice or hydrochloric acid secreted by the body can cause acidity.  It can also be due to the weak digestive fire leading to heartburn, bloating, and sour burps. The following are the key causes of acidity:

1. Eating habits and nutritional deficiency (Ahara Hetu)

• Spicy food: Overly spicy foods and fried foods can stimulate pitta in the esophagus, overstimulating the digestive system process and leading to acidity.
   
• Sour foods: Sour foods are not that bad for the body, sour products like vinegar, pickles, and citrus.  But they can create problems for acidity-prone individuals.
   
• Processed foods: This type of food is not very good for the body, as it can create some health concerns as well as weaken the agni. Overeating processed food can create disruption in digestive function.
   
• Beverage intake: Tea or coffee are basic drinks that many people enjoy, but they can increase acid secretion in the stomach. Similarly, alcohol consumption may also contribute to heightened acidity.

2. Lifestyle Factors (Vihara Hetu)

• Stress and anxiety can easily disrupt Vata-Pitta balance
• Sedentary habits slow digestion, also reducing life quality, increasing the chances of developing other disturbances and diseases.
• An irregular sleep cycle can negatively impact gut health. When we sleep, our digestive system functions optimally. However, disrupted sleep delays the digestion process, potentially leading to acidity and other imbalances.
• Smoking is injurious to health, is common say everyone knows, and the quote invoking that it can also be a reason for acidity as well.

3. Body Imbalance (Dosha Dushti)

• Pitta aggravation creates excess heat in the body.
• As the digestive process slows down, leading to weak Agni, low digestive fire, the digested food ferments
• The toxins accumulated from the food make it toxins (ama) from poor digestion.

4. Other causes

• If the particular individual suffering from acidity can be caused as a side effect or any reaction due to the usage of certain medications.
• For females during pregnancy, acidity is very common due to hormonal changes.

How Acidity can be cured with natural cures

In the Ayurveda perspective, Acidity is rectified by pitta vata balance. Here are a few tips on how to holistically regain through natural cures.

1. Dietary modifications

• Induce more foods that have a cooling effect, such as coconut water, ripe bananas, pomegranate, and cucumber, to balance pitta.
• Warm milk with 1 teaspoon of ghee can soothe the stomach lining.
• Also introduce to more herbal drinks infused with coriander, cumin, fennel.
• Avoid eating curd at night.

2. Ayurvedic herbs

• Amla (Gooseberry) and Licorice are good pitta balancing agents.
• Intake of Amlapitta Mishran powder with honey can reduce and soothe inflammation.

3. Panchakarma Therapies

• In our holistic approach, panchakarma is a detoxification process to reduce and remove the toxic elements for better bodily functions. Virechana can help in removing excess Pitta, and Abhyanga is an oil massage, helps to cool the body.

Conclusion

Are you struggling with Acidity? Want a holistic approach, and are you looking for the best Ayurvedic rejuvenation centre in Kerala? Ayurvedic therapies at Rasayana can strengthen Agni, flush out Ama, and restore gut health, helping conquer acidity naturally. Our Best ayurvedic treatment in Kochi offers personalized attention with herbal remedies, panchkarma therapies, and dietary guidance tailored to fix the doshas. Get in touch with us or call our team to book appointments.