What Is Gastritis?
Gastritis is essentially an inflammation of the stomach’s inner lining. This inner lining can get eroded leading to an ulcer. The stomach lining is responsible for producing the stomach acids and different enzymes for digestion. In an inflamed state, it produces lesser quantities of these chemicals, hence causing the various symptoms (1, 2).
Gastritis Types
Gastritis is mainly of two types. These are – (i) Acute Gastritis – This starts suddenly and lasts only for a short period. (ii) Chronic Gastritis – When the issue is not treated, it becomes an ongoing problem that can last for years (1, 2). Let us now look at the causes of this ailment of the digestive system.
Causes For Gastritis
The primary cause of gastritis is when the stomach lining gets damaged. This can happen due to various reasons –
Unhealthy eating Excessive smoking and drinking Unchecked popping of painkiller medicines like ibuprofen and aspirin Helicobacter pylori infection (bacterial infection) Autoimmune disorders Extreme stress Viral infections like the herpes simplex virus (seen in people with low immunity levels) (1, 2)
Below are the signs and symptoms of gastritis.
Signs And Symptoms Of Gastritis
The symptoms can range from mild irritation in the abdomen that we can easily ignore to severe pain that could be indicative of perforations in the lining. The other common symptoms of gastritis include –
Nausea Vomiting Loss of appetite Abdominal pain and bloating Incessant hiccups Tarry stools Vomiting blood
The last two signs can prove to be dangerous and require immediate medical attention (1, 2). It is not as gloomy as it sounds to be! If you don’t actively ignore the signs your body is giving you about the battered stomach lining, you should be able to combat the problem quite well. Instead of resorting to over the counter medicines when gastritis rears its ugly head, try these time-tested home remedies that can fight gastritis effectively.
Home Remedies For Gastritis
Get Relief From Gastritis With These Remedies
1. Apple Cider Vinegar For Gastritis
You Will Need
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar 1 teaspoon honey A glass of water
What You Have To Do
How Often You Should Do This
Have this once or twice a day.
Why This Works
Apple cider vinegar reduces the excess acid production in the stomach and restores the balance. It also kills the microorganisms that are causing damage to the stomach lining (3). Honey in this drink helps to soothe the damaged stomach lining.
2. Aloe Vera For Gastritis
You Will Need
2 teaspoons fresh aloe vera gel A glass of water
What You Have To Do
Blend the aloe gel with the water and drink it.
How Often You Should Do This
You can have 1-2 glasses of this every day.
Why This Works
Aloe vera juice is extremely soothing for the irritated stomach. It also reduces the inflammation of the stomach lining with its anti-inflammatory activity. Being an antiseptic agent, it can also inhibit the infection-causing bacteria (4).
3. Baking Soda For Gastritis
You Will Need
1 teaspoon baking soda A glass of water
What You Have To Do
How Often You Should Do This
Use this remedy as and when required.
Why This Works
The burning sensation in the stomach that can entail gastritis can be gotten rid off with this remedy. Baking soda acts as an antacid and brings down the acid levels in the stomach (5).
4. Coconut Water For Gastritis
You Will Need
Coconut water
What You Have To Do
Drink a glass of this in between meals.
How Often You Should Do This
Drink 3-4 glasses of tender coconut water a day.
Why This Works
Both young and mature coconut water possesses anti-inflammatory properties that can be beneficial in soothing your inflamed stomach lining (6).
Caution
Be sure that the coconut water is not tangy as that can cause acid reflux.
5. Cabbage Juice For Gastritis
You Will Need
Green cabbage
What You Have To Do
Add a few carrots and celery stalks to make this juice healthier and tastier.
How Often You Should Do This
Drink cabbage juice 3-4 times a day.
Why This Works
Cabbage contains the ulcer healing factor known as vitamin U, that can heal the stomach lining and get rid of gastritis within a few days (7). This juice also has a cleansing effect on the stomach and intestines (8).
6. Coconut Oil For Gastritis
You Will Need
Virgin coconut oil
What You Have To Do
Ingest the oil of your choice by itself or as part of your meals.
How Often You Should Do This
Have 2-3 teaspoons of these oils in a day.
Why This Works
Coconut oil contains antioxidants that can help reduce the oxidative stress being exerted on the stomach lining due to gastritis. It also possesses anti-inflammatory properties that can offer relief from gastritis symptoms (9).
Caution
Do not ingest pine nut oil unless you are sure that you are not allergic to it.
7. Green Tea For Gastritis
You Will Need
1 teaspoon green tea herb 1 teaspoon honey A cup of hot water
What You Have To Do
How Often You Should Do This
Have two cups of green tea in a day.
Why This Works
Green tea contains plenty of antioxidants that exert a protective effect on the stomach lining and alleviate gastritis symptoms. Drinking this tea regularly can also help in treating the chronic form of gastritis (10).
8. Ginger For Gastritis
You Will Need
An inch-long piece of ginger A cup of water
What You Have To Do
Another Ayurvedic remedy for gastritis is a cocktail of ginger powder, rock salt, and asafoetida—a pinch of each in a cup of warm water. Drink this concoction for immediate relief from gastritis.
How Often You Should Do This
Repeat this every morning for best results.
Why This Works
This super herb can immensely benefit patients suffering from gastritis (11). It has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that suppress the inflammation caused by Helicobacter pylori (12).
9. Yogurt For Gastritis
You Will Need
Plain yogurt
What You Have To Do
Have yogurt along with your meals or as a snack.
How Often You Should Do This
It is recommended to have 1-2 cups of yogurt daily for gastritis.
Why This Works
Yogurt is an excellent probiotic. Probiotics are known to accelerate healing of gastric ulcers while also helping with the eradication of H.pylori, one of the main causes of gastritis (13).
10. Honey For Gastritis
You Will Need
2 tablespoons honey A glass of warm water
What You Have To Do
How Often You Should Do This
Do this daily in the mornings.
Why This Works
Honey can effectively kill the harmful bacteria in the stomach as it is bactericidal in nature. It also possesses anti-inflammatory properties and antioxidants that can help with the healing process of the stomach lining (14).
11. Jeera Water For Gastritis
You Will Need
1 tablespoon cumin seeds (jeera) A glass of warm water
What You Have To Do
How Often You Should Do This
Drink this with meals, twice or thrice a day.
Why This Works
The antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties exhibited by cumin seeds can help alleviate the symptoms of gastritis and can also speed your recovery from the disease (15), (16).
12. Kefir For Gastritis
This fermented milk beverage contains a large number of microorganisms that make it a natural probiotic drink. Consuming kefir can help improve the digestion process and also bring back the acid balance in the stomach. It also exerts antimicrobial effects in the body. This property proves beneficial when the gastritis is being caused by a bacterial infection (17). Purchase organic kefir from the market and drink it daily.
13. Oatmeal For Gastritis
You Will Need
1/2 cup oatmeal 1/2-1 cup water or milk
What You Have To Do
Cook the oatmeal with either water or milk (according to your preference) and eat it. You can add some fresh non-acidic fruits like bananas, pears, and apples.
How Often You Should Do This
Eat a cup of oatmeal every day.
Why This Works
Oatmeal is rich in fiber and minerals that can regulate the digestive process. It also soothes the stomach lining with its alkalinity (18).
14. Pineapple For Gastritis
You Will Need
1 cup ripe pineapple
What You Have To Do
Eat this as part of your breakfast or as a snack.
How Often You Should Do This
Have a cup of pineapple every day to aid the digestion process.
Why This Works
Pineapple contains digestive enzymes such as bromelain that help in digesting protein without causing any irritation to the stomach lining. If you suffer from gastritis, try and consume this fruit as it is alkaline in nature and can counteract the increased acid levels in your stomach (19).
Caution
Be sure to eat very ripe pineapples because unripe pineapples sometimes aggravate the problem of gastritis.
15. Slippery Elm For Gastritis
You Will Need
1 teaspoon slippery elm powder Water
What You Have To Do
Ingest the herbal powder with water.
How Often You Should Do This
Do this twice a day, preferably once in the morning and then again in the afternoon.
Why This Works
Slippery elm is demulcent herb which means that it contains a high amount of mucilage. This mucilage is beneficial for gastritis treatment as it soothes the irritated and inflamed stomach lining (20).
16. Turmeric For Gastritis
You Will Need
1 teaspoon turmeric powder Water Yogurt OR banana
What You Have To Do
Make a paste by adding some water to the turmeric powder.
How Often You Should Do This
Repeat this every day.
Why This Works
Turmeric contains curcumin, an anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and antibacterial polyphenol, which soothes the gastric mucosa and reduces irritation in the gastrointestinal tract (21).
17. Marshmallow Root / Licorice Root
You Will Need
1 teaspoon marshmallow root powder OR DGL licorice root powder A glass of hot water
What You Have To Do
How Often You Should Do This
Have this once daily.
Why This Works
No, by marshmallow we don’t mean the gooey sweet treat, but the herb Althaea officinalis. Marshmallow is beneficial in soothing the inner lining of the digestive tract and stomach. This herb contains a lot of mucilage, which makes the tract slippery and allows easy passage of food, and treats reflux and heartburn as well (22). Licorice, especially its root, also protects your stomach’s inner lining and reduces chances of ulcer from gastritis by stabilizing the stomach acids (23). DGL licorice is recommended for best results.
18. Mastic Gum For Gastritis
You Will Need
Mastic gum
What You Have To Do
Simply chew on a piece of the gum whenever you feel any symptoms of gastritis.
How Often You Should Do This
Use this remedy as and when required during the course of the day.
Why This Works
This remedy works well in the case of non–H.pylori gastritis. Mastic gum is often used to treat gastric ulcers as it can help to stabilize the stomach acids and also protect the lining of the stomach (24).
19. Potato Juice For Gastritis
You Will Need
2-3 raw potatoes Warm water
What You Have To Do
How Often You Should Do This
You can have a glass of this juice twice daily.
Why This Works
Potato juice is a rich source of alkaline salts which react with the excessive acid present in the stomach (25). It also reduces the stomach lining’s inflammation (26).
20. Rosemary For Gastritis
You Will Need
1 teaspoon rosemary herb A cup of boiling water
What You Have To Do
If you cannot find the herb, you can consume rosemary in the form of capsules or tincture.
How Often You Should Do This
Two cups of rosemary tea per day are recommended for gastritis.
Why This Works
Rosemary is blessed with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which work well to prevent as well as treat stomach ulcers that may lead to the development of gastritis if left untreated (27).
21. Vitamin C For Gastritis
Vitamin C is associated with the immune response of the body. That is why people suffering from gastritis often take over-the-counter vitamin C supplements. This helps the body to fight the infection better and faster. It also heals and protects the stomach and intestinal lining from damage and ulcers (28). The dosage of this vitamin should be decided by consulting your doctor. This is to ensure that the appropriate dosage is ingested for a faster recovery. Tips To Prevent Gastritis Check out the infographic below to learn the most effective and easily available remedies you can use for immediate relief from gastritis symptoms. • Keep a tab on the medications that you are taking. Any of them could be irritating your stomach lining and is best substituted for a milder medicine. • Try to identify which food item may be irritating your stomach. Spicy and fried foods are common culprits, so look out for them and keep them to a minimum. • Quit smoking and reduce alcohol intake as these are known to easily cause both acute and chronic gastritis. • Relax your mind and body by practicing meditation and yoga. This will help to relieve stress, which is a common reason behind gastritis. • Drink 6-8 glasses of water daily. • Exercise for 30 minutes at least 3-4 times in a week. Yoga For Gastritis There are some Yoga poses that you can practice every morning for relieving gastrointestinal stress. The Pavanamuktasana helps in releasing gases that are trapped in your body. The Viparit Karani yoga pose strengthens the back and abdominal muscles and helps pass accumulated gases. Ulcers and aggravated gastritis can also be alleviated by Ardha Sirsana. Foods That Soothe Gastritis • Food rich in antioxidants like flavonoids can help soothe the inflamed stomach lining. Some recommendations are as follows – • Fruits like apples, bananas, coconuts, and pineapples • Vegetable recommendations include onions, kale, squash, bell pepper, potatoes, spinach, and beans • Herbs like garlic, ginger, cumin, and turmeric are also beneficial • Whole grains and brown rice Foods To Avoid For Gastritis Some food groups increase the secretion of acids in your stomach and these must be consumed in small amounts or better still, avoided altogether. Some of these foods include – • Red meat and processed meat • Oily food and fried food such as French fries, onion rings, and margarine • Foods containing distilled vinegar • Sugary treats like cakes, cookies, and donuts • Carbonated and caffeinated drinks • Citric fruits Gastritis Vs Ulcer Gastritis involves inflammation of the stomach lining and can progress into an ulcer, which is an open sore in the lining. An ulcer can also form in the duodenum. The symptoms and causes of these two digestive system ailments are very similar. Your doctor can help you to diagnose and differentiate between the two. How to Identify Gastritis Pain? The pain experienced during gastritis is located in the upper abdomen. It often comes on with contact or shortly after consuming a food and drink. How Long Does It Take For Gastritis To Heal? Without appropriate treatment and changes in the diet, gastritis will not heal by itself. It keeps progressing and may form ulcers in the stomach. What Are The Long Term Effects Of Gastritis? Acute gastritis can progress to its chronic form and can last for years, if not treated. Is lemon good for gastritis? No. Due to its acidic nature, lemon or lemon juice may aggravate acid reflux. Therefore, it is recommended to avoid it.
If you are careful about your diet and follow a healthy lifestyle, you are less likely to encounter gastritis. But with stress becoming synonymous with urban life, gastritis has become a common grievance. But you can try resolving the issue with some of the home remedies for gastritis presented above. They are less invasive and have no side effects. A lot of people have found relief by adhering to these remedies. With discipline and healthy eating habits, you will too. Have you tried any of these gastritis home remedies? Or have you benefited from some concoction of your own? Tell us your success story of beating gastritis with home remedies!
