Following are the signs that indicate the presence of this ailment:
Feeling of heaviness or uneasiness in the stomach
Stomach ache
Coated tongue
Loss of appetite
Nausea
Constipation
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Acidity
Wind
Distention in the stomach
Laziness
Weakness
Headache
Pain in the lower legs
Causes
Indigestion can be caused due to the aggravation of any of the
following doshas or all three of them and by the following eating
or physical habits carried on by individuals:
Improper eating habits
Eating a lot of fried foods, meat, sweets, heavy foods and
overeating
Eating incompatible food items
Eating at irregular times
Eating before the last meal is fully digested
Eating very quickly or mixing too many foods in one meal
Consuming too much tea, coffee and alcohol
Smoking
Staying up late ·Emotional disturbances (stress, grief,
anxiety)
Taking drugs like antibiotics, painkillers and steroids.
Remedies
Fasting completely for one day is an efficient method to digest
Ama.
Taking fruits, fruit juices and boiled vegetables for one week
is also a very beneficial way of fasting.
Lemon juice mixed in warm water taken three times a day improves
digestion.
Chewing a small piece of fresh ginger with salt, five to ten
minutes before meals, stimulates digestion.
Take equal amounts of ginger powder, black pepper, dried mint
leaves, asafetida (hing), anise seeds, coriander seeds, cumin,
fennel and common salt. Grind together to make a fine powder.
Dosage: Take about 1 teaspoon of this powder with water, twice
a day after meals.
Drinking buttermilk after a meal improves digestion. Roasted
cumin seeds and a little salt in the buttermilk enhances its effectiveness.
Drinking water gives immediate relief to symptoms like wind,
distended stomach and acidity.
Eat half a teaspoon of aniseed to improve digestion.
A teaspoon of ginger juice mixed in a quarter cup of warm water
can be taken two or three times a day. A teaspoon of lemon juice
and a pinch of salt can also be added to make it more effective.
Dos and don'ts
Eat boiled seasonal vegetables, fruits, fruit juices and lemon
juice.
Spices like cumin, coriander, turmeric, fresh ginger, black
pepper and asafetida.
Physical exercise, according to the strength and energy of the
patient, is beneficial.
Do not eat while moving or traveling in a car, watching television
or reading.
Do not eat fast food or food that has been cooked in a microwave
oven. Eating should not be too fast or too slow and the food should
be properly chewed.
Sleeping during the day, especially after lunch is not recommended,
as it produces indigestion.
The patient should not stay awake late at night and should be free
from mental stress, anxiety, fear and grief.
