The treatment of common health disorder, Gastritis, is done following various alternative medicinal methods. The traditional medicines like Ayurveda, Homoeopathy, Naturopathy etc. are used quite frequently for the treatment of gastritis. Apart from these, people also use different home remedies, water treatments and follow various dietary restrictions for curing gastritis or Urdhavaga Amlapitta. All these treatment methods make good use of various herbs and natural ingredients to prepare medicines.
Gastritis is mainly diagnosed on the basis of medical history and physical examinations of the patients. The physicians also perform different tests for diagnosing gastritis. Blood test is performed to detect presence of H. pylori antibodies and a positive test indicates that a person has been infected by the bacteria at some time in his life. However, the positive test does not indicate that the person is suffering from gastritis at present. Sometimes, stool tests are performed to check the presence of H. pylori. The other useful tests for diagnosis of gastritis include upper gastrointestinal X-ray, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, etc.
Ayurveda provides an effective method for treatment of gastritis or Urdhavaga Amlapitta. The Ayurvedic medicine makes use of the herbs like Amalaki choorna or Triphala choorna, chamomile, English mallow, ginger (Zingiber officinale), Meadowsweet (leaves and flowers), Amla (Indian Gooseberry), Slippery Elm, Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra), etc. for treating gastritis. In case of a person is simultaneously suffering from constipation and gastritis, Avipattikara choorna is considered the most effective medicine. The most commonly used Ayurvedic medicines for treating gastritis include Dhaatri loha, Sukumara ghrita, Sootashekhara rasa, Kaamadudha rasa, Leela Vilas rasa, Chandrakala rasa, Amalapittantaka rasa, etc. In Homoeopathy, the treatment of gastritis or Urdhavaga Amlapitta is done using the medicines like Nux Vomica, Lycopodium, Phosphorus, Arsenic album, Veratrum album, Bryonia alba, Belladonna, Graphites, Carbo vegetabilis, Argenticum Nitricum, Mercurious, Kali bichromicum, China officinalis, Sulphur, Kali carbonicum, Pulsatilla, Aconite, etc.
Sometimes, various home remedies are utilised for treating this health disorder. Coconut water, rice gruel, potato juice, an infusion of marigold, etc. are used extensively in the home remedies for gastritis. The patients are also advised to follow some dietary restrictions. Fasting on water for two to three days is advised, depending on the severity of the condition. Once the acute symptoms of gastritis subside, an all-fruit diet is suggested and the patient is also prescribed to take juicy fruits like apples, pears, grapes, grapefruit, oranges, pineapple, peaches, melons, etc. The patient is required to avoid alcohol, tobacco, spices, meat, red pepper, sour foods, pickles, sweet, pastries, rich cakes, aerated waters, strong tea/coffee, etc. Curd and cottage cheese are advised to be taken quite frequently during treatment of gastritis and mixing too many different foods at the same meal is strictly prohibited.
As part of the dietary regulations, the patients are advised to adopt a well-balanced diet comprising seeds, nuts, grains, vegetables, fruits, etc. at the final stage of gastritis treatment. The other highly recommended substances include barley, wheat, at least one-year-old rice, cucumber, bitter gourd, green banana, pumpkin, pomegranate, cow`s milk, etc. There are various water treatments available for curing gastritis. In the beginning of the treatment, a warm-water enema is advised to be used daily for about a week to cleanse the bowels. The patient is advised to take dry friction and a sponge daily. Sometimes, application of heat using a hot compress or hot water bottle is considered beneficial for curing gastritis.
Apart from the above mentioned treatment methods, there are also a few preventive actions suggested for avoiding gastritis. The patients are suggested to avoid hard physical, mental work, worries and undertake breathing and other light exercises like walking, swimming, golf, etc. To avoid complications due to gastritis caused by medications, the patients are advised to switch pain relievers and strictly follow the physician`s advice. Maintaining a proper weight is helpful in curing gastritis, as symptoms like heartburn, bloating, constipation, etc. are tend to be more common in obese people. A good management of mental stress through practice of Yoga can also help a lot in effective treatment of gastritis.
As a whole, it can be said that though the alternative medicinal methods can treat gastritis quite effectively, taking preventive actions is the best way to stay away from gastritis. If gastritis is identified at an early stage, it can easily be treated with simple medications.