You enjoy a delicious meal and start to relax. After a while, you notice a burning sensation emanating from your stomach. Soon, you start to experience bloating, belching, and nausea.
All the deliciousness from the meal is now replaced with an unpleasant feeling in your mouth as well as your stomach. Do you find yourself in such situations? If you do, then you may be suffering from indigestion.
Indigestion is a common issue, and almost everyone has experienced it at some point in time or another. It affects one in four people annually (1). If it happens rarely and can be related to the food you ate, the timing, or some other similar factors, then it will go away in a while with the use of natural remedies for indigestion.
However, if the problem is persistent, then indigestion may be a symptom of an underlying issue, such as ulcers, gallbladder disease, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). In such cases, you need to consult a doctor and treat the underlying issues.
Want to know more about what to do for indigestion or how to cure indigestion? You will have answers to these questions by the end of this article.
Naturopathic Remedies for Indigestion
Did You Know!
You can be genetically susceptible to indigestion. |
What are the Symptoms of Indigestion?
Different people experience indigestion in several forms. While some suffer from bloating, some others experience a burning sensation in the stomach, and some others may suffer from vomiting. Here are some of the most common symptoms for indigestion:
- Burning Sensation: You may feel heat or a burning sensation in the area between your breastbone and navel.
- Bloating: You feel and look bigger around the abdomen. You also feel tighter around the abdomen.
- Nausea: You may feel like you want to vomit. Indigestion can also cause vomiting.
- Fullness: You may have been hungry before the meal, but you feel full halfway into it. You may find yourself unable to finish a normal amount of food. You can experience even after the meal.
- Excessive Gas: You may hear gurgling sounds from your stomach. These may also be accompanied by frequent belching or burping. When you burp, you may also feel some liquid rising through the food pipe.
- Abdominal Pain: You may experience mild to severe pain in the abdominal region.
- Acidic Taste: All the burping and belching can lead to an acidic taste in the mouth. It can make it unpleasant to eat anything afterward.
- Loss of Appetite: The fullness feeling stops you from feeling hungry.
The neurons that pass information about esophagus to the brain pass close to those that pass information about the heart. This is why it can be confusing to distinguish between the heart and digestive issues. |
What Causes Indigestion?
It is not just the symptoms that vary from person to person; the cause of indigestion can be equally varied. The causes of indigestion cover a wide spectrum of things ranging from food allergies to smoking to overeating to other diseases. To identify what to take for indigestion, you need to know what caused it in the first place. Here are some of the most prevalent causes of indigestion.
- Drinking Habits: Drinking large quantities of coffee, alcoholic beverages, or carbonated drinks is one of the common reasons for indigestion.
- Eating Habits: Eating too much or too fast impacts the digestion process negatively. Certain food items, such as ones that are too greasy, spicy, fatty or acidic, do the same.
- Smoking can also cause indigestion.
- Stress: If you are feeling stressed or anxious, then your digestive process gets affected. It can lead to indigestion.
- Medications: Indigestion is a common side-effect of many medicines. Medicines, such as aspirin, painkillers, antibiotics, thyroid medication, blood pressure medicines, cholesterol medicines, and contraceptives are known to cause indigestion.
- Other Diseases: Indigestion is mostly a symptom of some other disease. Ulcers, gastritis, irritable bowel syndrome, stomach cancer, acid reflux, etc. are some of the common health issues that impact your gastrointestinal tract and lead to indigestion.
How to Get Rid of Indigestion?
Whatever may be the cause of your indigestion, there is a common thread across all of them – the discomfort is unbearable and stops you from carrying out your day to day tasks. It may lead you to wonder what can you take for indigestion.
There are many over the counter medications that can help you. However, natural remedies for indigestion are always a safer alternative. There are no side effects, and most of them utilise the basic ingredients you can find around the house. Here are some of the best and most effective ways of how to relieve indigestion.
CURE 1: Home Remedies for Indigestion
1. Apple Cider Vinegar for Indigestion
Why does it Work?
When you think of indigestion and how to stop indigestion, an acidic substance may be the last thing on your mind. However, the insufficiency of stomach acid can also lead to indigestion. In such cases, apple cider vinegar is a safe way to increase the level of stomach acid (2).
How to Use it?
You should always dilute ACV with water before drinking it. Drinking a cup of ACV and water mixture half an hour before your meals can help in preventing gas, heartburn, and indigestion.
How Much to Use?
Mix one or two teaspoons of unpasteurized, raw ACV with a cup of water and drink this mixture.
[Read: Natural Remedies of Apple Cider Vinegar]
2. Ginger for indigestion
Why does it Work?
Ginger has the opposite effect of ACV. It reduces the level of acid in the stomach. If your indigestion is caused by acidity, then ginger is your best friend. (3)
How to Use it?
A cup of ginger tea is the best option for reducing indigestion. You can also consume ginger candy or ginger water. To make ginger water, add one or two pieces of ginger root to four cups of water and bring the mixture to boil. You can drink it after it cools. You can also add some honey to make this drink more palatable. Do not consume ginger ale as it is a carbonated drink that can cause further harm.
How Much to Use?
You can drink one or two cups of ginger tea or ginger water in a day. Your overall consumption of ginger should be less than 3 to 4 gms in a day.
3. Baking soda for Indigestion
Why does it Work?
Baking soda is an alkaline substance that can neutralize the excess acids in the stomach. It can relieve acid reflux, heartburn, bloating, and gas.
How to Use it?
You can drink a mixture of baking soda and water. However, be cautious about the amount of baking soda you use and how often you use this remedy. Too much of baking soda can lead to constipation, vomiting, and other issues.
How Much to Use?
How much baking soda to consume for indigestion? You can dissolve half a teaspoon of baking soda in around 120 to 150 ml of warm water. Wait for at least two hours after drinking this concoction for the symptoms of indigestion to subside.
[Read: Baking Soda Health Benefits & Uses]
4. Lemon Water
Why does it Work?
Lemon water can also neutralize the excess acids in the stomach and combat indigestion. In addition to this, it also aids in digestion and prevents the fullness feeling. The ascorbic acid in lemon protects the stomach from cancers and damages. (4) Stomach cancer can cause indigestion, and lemon water is an excellent way to protect yourself stomach from such damages.
How to Use it?
You should drink lemon water around 20 to 30 minutes before your meals to prevent indigestion. It is more of a preventive measure.
How Much to Use?
Since lemon juice is acidic, do not drink the juice without diluting it with water. You can mix one tablespoon of lemon juice with a glass of water and drink this mixture.
The pH of lemon juice is close to that of gastric juice. |
5. Cumin
Why does it Work?
Cumin is a traditional remedy used for treating gas, bloating, and indigestion. It enhances the ability of digestive enzymes and helps you digest food faster (5). Cumin also aids the liver in releasing bile. Bile is used to break down fat molecules. It also aids in better absorption of nutrients.
How to Use it?
There are many ways to use this spice to reduce indigestion. You can add cumin to your meals. You can also add cumin to water and drink this water throughout the day. If you experience some of the severe symptoms of indigestion, such as burning sensation, a feeling of fullness or loss of appetite, then you can chew a teaspoon of cumin seeds.
How Much to Use?
A teaspoon of cumin is all you need to enjoy its benefits.
6. Aloe Juice
Why does it Work?
The juice from the flesh of this tropical plant has many benefits. It is anti-inflammatory and loaded with amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. This also helps in detoxifying the body and reducing indigestion. It also aids in the digestion process. (6)
How to Use it?
The juice is made from the flesh of the aloe leaves. You can drink the juice around 20 to 30 minutes before consuming your main meals.
How Much to Use?
Around 50 ml of aloe vera juice is enough for single time consumption.
[Read: Aloe Vera for Constipation at Home]
7. Basil
Why does it Work?
Basil has a calming effect on your stomach. It reduces inflammation and helps in healing the damage caused by acid to the internal stomach lining. Since indigestion can be a symptom of ulcers and inflammation in the stomach and basil helps counter this, it is a very effective natural remedy for indigestion. (7)
How to Use it?
You can chew on a couple of fresh basil leaves to relieve the symptoms of indigestion. One can also make a concoction by boiling water and basil leaves and consume this. You can also add some honey to this if you prefer.
How Much to Use?
You can use around three to four basil leaves for a cup of water. The same amount can be used for chewing also.
8. Liquorice
Why does it Work?
Liquorice root can calm the inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract and help control muscle spasms. It can also increase the rate of repair of the stomach lining. The glycyrrhizic acid in liquorice is responsible for these properties. (8) Not only does it relieve you of indigestion, but it also reduces the chances of ulcers and helps in healing ulcers.
How to Use it?
You can make liquorice tea by boiling liquorice roots in water. It is recommended that you chew liquorice root or drink liquorice tea half an hour before or one hour after your meals.
How Much to Use?
Around two gms of liquorice is enough to show results. You should pay attention to the amount of liquorice and ensure that you do not exceed 2.5 gms per day.
9. Yogurt
Why does it Work?
Yogurt has a soothing effect on your stomach. It reduces inflammation. Since it is rich in probiotics, it boosts the healthy bacteria in the gut that can aid digestion. A healthy gut is vital for proper digestion, and it keeps indigestion at bay. (9)
How to Use it?
You can make yogurt a part of your daily diet by adding it to smoothies, oatmeal, or just having a small bowl of yogurt for a snack.
How Much to Use?
Yogurt’s benefits for indigestion depends on the quantity you consume. You should consume a small bowl of yogurt every day. Do not overboard with yogurt as it can have adverse effects.
[Read: Baking Soda for Indigestion]
10. Milk
Why does it Work?
Milk has a calming effect on your stomach. It soothes the stomach lining and reduces inflammation, thereby reducing indigestion. However, make sure you select skim milk or milk with the lowest fat content. Plant-based milk, such as soy milk, almond milk, etc. are alkaline and can neutralize the excess acid in the stomach that causes indigestion.
How to Use it?
You can drink a glass of milk whenever you start to feel the symptoms of indigestion. Since indigestion can also be caused by eating large quantities of food on an empty stomach, you can drink milk in between your meals to keep you full for longer. It will keep the hunger at bay and reduces the chances of overeating.
How Much to Use?
One glass or eight ounces of milk is all you need.
CURE 2: Herbs
Herbs are nature’s powerhouses. They are packed with flavors and health benefits. Whatever your ailment, you can always find a herb that treats it. The same goes for indigestion as well.
1. Peppermint
Why does it Work?
Peppermint aids in digestion and soothes an upset stomach. It prevents muscle spasms and relieves you of nausea. Peppermint also aids in the flow of bile, which then digests fats and reduces the chances of indigestion. Peppermint oil has proven to be very effective in treating irritable bowel syndrome, one of the causes of indigestion. (10)
How to Use it?
You can make peppermint tea by steeping a few leaves in boiling water. Drink this tea after your meals to soothe your stomach and improve digestion. You can also suck on a peppermint candy or chew the leaves.
How Much to Use?
A few peppermint leaves are enough for a cup of tea.
2. Chamomile
Why does it Work?
Chamomile is known as the calming herb. Not only does it help you calm down and induce sleep, but it also soothes your stomach and reduces inflammation. It can relieve abdominal cramps caused by indigestion. It can also help in preventing ulcers. (11)
How to Use it?
Chamomile tea is the best way to get the benefits of this herb.
How Much to Use?
You can make chamomile tea by placing one tea bag in a cup of boiling water for 5 minutes. If you prefer a stronger tea, use two tea bags instead of one.
3. Spearmint
Why does it Work?
Spearmint is another herb from the mint family that can be the answer to what to eat for indigestion. Spearmint is very effective in treating the symptoms of indigestion such as nausea, muscle spasms, diarrhea, and infections in the stomach.
How to Use it?
You can make spearmint tea from the leaves of the plant. If you do not have access to fresh leaves, you can buy spearmint tea from the market.
How Much to Use?
Spearmint tea is a very harmless natural remedy for indigestion and can be had throughout the day.
[Read: Best Home Remedies for Indigestion]
4. Green Tea
Why does it Work?
Green tea is a magic herb that is prescribed for many ailments. You may have already heard that it can improve digestion. It is also anti-inflammatory, can fight stomach cancer and ulcers. Since all of these are either a symptom of indigestion or its causes, green tea is a very powerful treatment for indigestion. (12)
How to Use it?
In a cup of boiling water, steep green one tea bag for a few minutes. You can add some honey to the tea if needed.
How Much to Use?
Green tea is a very safe herb. You can have a cup of green tea after your meals to aid digestion. To make the tea more potent, use two tea bags instead of one.
5. Black Tea
Why does it Work?
Black tea contains tannins which can tighten the intestinal lining and reduce inflammation. The anti-inflammatory property makes it useful for treating ulcers and acid reflux. It also aids food digestion. It is also very effective in treating diarrhea. (13)
How to Use it?
You can drink a cup of black tea when you experience indigestion. You can brew tea using tea leaves or tea bags, whichever is more convenient.
How Much to Use?
Since black tea contains a small amount of caffeine and caffeine can worsen indigestion, limit your black tea intake to one or two cups a day.
6. Bush Tea
Why does it Work?
Bush tea is also known as Rooibos tea or red bush tea. It is a type of herbal tea that is free from caffeine. It is ideal for those who want to enjoy the benefits tannins on the digestive system, but without the adverse effects of caffeine. This is perhaps the best tea for aiding digestion, reducing inflammation, relieving nausea and diarrhea and fighting indigestion. (14)
How to Use it?
You brew a cup of bush tea from tea-bags or leaves.
How Much to Use?
Since this tea is free from caffeine, you can have as much of it as you like without worrying about your sleep schedule or the impact of caffeine on your digestion.