For the treatment of heartburn, GERD, or acid reflux, you might have tried everything. But still, on this page, it means you need some help with this condition. This seems like a simple condition, and an antacid a day seems more than enough for this. Still, it needs proper treatment, and here we will be discussing the Ayurveda treatment of heartburn, acid reflux, or GERD in detail, from Samhita’s perspective.
First things first:
- Bananas and cold milk right from the refrigerator
- High-fiber diet
- Taking ginger, pippali, tulsi, etc.
- Asafoetida (Hing)
- Buttermilk
If you are doing any of these in the hope that these remedies will help with acid reflux or heartburn, this is not true. And you end up with a more complex state. These remedies are common on the internet, but without a scientific understanding of the disease, you end up with nothing.
Heartburn and Acid Reflux: Is it really about Pitta Dosha?
When you talk about the “heat” and “warm” in general in the context of Ayurveda- you just conclude one thing- PITTA DOSHA. Perhaps this is the reason why banana, cold milk or buttermilk, and coconut water are high on the list of “remedies” suggested immediately for Ayurveda treatment of heartburn, GERD, and acid Reflux.
It is not Pitta dosha, at all.
Hyperacidity has nothing to do with pitta dosha alone, and seriously, you might have read in many places on our website that no disease can happen with a single dosha. But in the case of heartburn or GERD- Pitta is not the primary dosha.
Ayurveda divides the human body into three areas, where doshas are naturally located and dominant. When we look at the aamashya (gastrum/stomach), this is the place for Kapha Dosha. So this condition has a lot to do with Kapha dosha.
Vata determines the peristaltic movements, and if this vata is “low,” it will impact the delayed emptying of the stomach. This is known as gastroparesis. Patients with this condition face bloating along with hyperacidity.
There is a dosha-kledaka kapha in the stomach that helps in the breaking down of food and also makes sure that HCl with a low pH value like 3 won’t erode the mucosal layers of the stomach. This is like a protector. When this protection weans off, this leads to the burning.
Simple example: “hot” will feel “hot” if you are not using any protection.
So this is all about the weaning off of the protective layer. But in the name of Ayurveda treatment of heartburn, acid reflux and GERD we always want to suppress the Pitta Dosha by using cold foods and cold drinks. This is the reason why treatment fails and so-called natural and home remedies fail to help you permanently.
A Must Read: Cold is not Cold Always
How does Ayurveda cure hyperacidity?
Ayurveda aims at balancing the doshas and bringing them back to their “normal places.”
As said above, this is not the only Pitta dosha. We need to work on the Kapha and Vata also.
The treatment for the milder cases can be done alone with the medicines. Medicines should not be alone in neutralizing acid by using antacids. Antacids are never a solution to the problem. Ayurveda Treatment of Heartburn, acid reflux, and GERD is basically about solving the cause.
| Causes behind Heartburn | Ayurveda Treatment of Heartburn |
|---|---|
| Dislocated Pitta dosha in the stomach (which is the place for Kapha dosha mainly). | To return the Pitta dosha to its habitat. |
| Weaning off of Kapha Dosha | To strengthen the Kapha dosha without increasing it. |
| Slowed-down Vata Dosha | Improving the vata dosha for proper movement of food from the stomach |
So this is all scientific and it is not about just using some Dhaniya, jeera and other stuff. You should opt for proper treatment for this condition before it turns to peptic ulcers or some other complicating condition because of the acid in the stomach.
You can consult us for the proper treatment guidelines.
