INTRODUCTION

Hyperacidity or acid dyspepsia is a very common dietary disorder which affects almost 25% people in the US each year. Hyperacidity could be described as a disorder of the modern and urban cities where the eating habits of people are quite irregular. Curbing the problem of hyperacidity needs a total overhaul of the dietary regimen in addition to healthy exercise and lifestyle.

Conquering hyperacidity is certainly a very important issue. The right way to fight against this disease is to become well-informed about its various aspects.

Definition of Hyperacidity / Acid Dyspepsia (Amalpitta)

Hyperacidity or acid dyspepsia simply means increase of acidity in the stomach. The human stomach secretes hydrochloric acid which is necessary for the digestion of food. When the stomach contains an excessive amount of hydrochloric acid, then the condition is called as hyperacidity or acid dyspepsia.

Sometimes, hyperacidity is confused for a simple bellyache. This is because people with hyperacidity usually generally get pains in their stomachs with similar symptoms as bellyaches. This confusion is more rampant in children who cannot differentiate between different kinds of stomach ailments. However, hyperacidity can be found out with the sour belching and aftertaste of the already eaten food in the mouth.

Causes of Hyperacidity / Acid Dyspepsia (Amalpitta)

The prime medical factors of hyperacidity or acid dyspepsia are as follows:-

(i) Stomach Ulcers – Ulcers in the stomach are one of the prime causes of hyperacidity. Once this is diagnosed, the treatment will be done by the surgical removal of the stomach ulcers.

(ii) Acid Reflux Disease – Some people have a gastric disorder called as the acid reflux disease. In this condition, the acids of the stomach, i.e. gastric acids or hydrochloric acid, get refluxed up to the food pipe, which is biologically called as the esophagus. When this happens, it builds up the level of acidity in the stomach.

(iii) Stomach Cancers – Stomach cancers can also cause hyperacidity as one of their symptoms. This is a very rare case, but the mortality rate is quite high. Hence, a hyperacidity that lasts more than two weeks must be immediately shown to the doctor and got checked for any cancer. A timely diagnosis can enable complete treatment of the disease.

Hyperacidity gets aggravated by the following triggers:-

Excessive intake of oily, spicy and salty foods

Excessive intake of sour foods that contain high acid content

Inadequate exercise

Going to bed immediately after a heavy meal

Too much mental stress and worries

Taxing the mind excessively

Consumption of alcohol

Smoking and drug addiction

Addictive consumption of coffee

Too much intake of therapeutic drugs like aspirin

Diseases of the digestive organs such as the stomach, intestines, gallbladder or the pancreas

Peptic ulcers

Spinal lesions

According to the theories of Ayurveda, amalpitta or hyperacidity is a result of the imbalances in the agni of the body. Agni is the fire of the body which is responsible for proper digestion. In a normal person, the agni is properly balanced; while in a person with digestive disorders, there is an imbalance of agni.

There are different causes of vitiation of agni. The important ones are:-

Prajnaparadha , i.e. intellectual blasphemy

Asatmyendriyartha Samyoga , i.e. unwholesome conjunction of sense organs with their objects

Kaala or Parinama, i.e. fluctuations of time and weather conditions

Any vitiation in agni causes an imbalance of the pitta dosha. It is this vitiation in pitta dosha that causes amalpitta. Hence, amalpitta can be caused by low amounts of agni (mandagni) or with high amounts of agni (teekshagni).

Symptoms of Hyperacidity / Acid Dyspepsia (Amalpitta)

Hyperacidity symptoms are observed a couple of hours after eating, when the food has been digested and still excess acids are left within the stomach. At this stage, the following symptoms are seen:-

• A typical feeling of restlessness
• Feeling of nausea (wanting to throw up) and actual vomiting
• Sour belching with an aftertaste of the already-eaten food
• Stiffness in the stomach, which is called as atonic dyspepsia
• Lack of desire for any other type of food
• Indigestion
• Constipation

Complications due to Hyperacidity / Acid Dyspepsia (Amalpitta)

Several digestive complications are known to be caused due to prolonged hyperacidity. The following are some of them:-

Hyperacidity is generally a simple condition that can be resolved by some simple medication. However, in certain types of people, this situation becomes more complicated. Hyperacidity is more dangerous in people if:-

1. They are above fifty years of age.
2. They are trying to lose weight below the normal values.
3. They are suffering from anorexia.
4. The hyperacidity condition is continuing for more than two weeks.
5. There is a feeling of some mass in the stomach.

Under any of the above situations, immediate doctoral attention is needed. There are high chances of there being a complication under the guise of simple hyperacidity.

Transmission of Hyperacidity / Acid Dyspepsia (Amalpitta)

Hyperacidity is a functional disorder of the digestive system. It is not a communicable disease and hence there is no question of transmission

Prevention of Hyperacidity / Acid Dyspepsia (Amalpitta)

Hyperacidity can be taken care of with a strict and healthy dietary routine. The following principles must be observed:-

1. A person with hyperacidity problems must totally abstain from consuming heavy food.
2. It is very important to perform some light exercise after every meal in order to burn some calories. Alternatively, the person can go on a brisk walk.
3. Smoking and alcoholism must be totally avoided by people having repeated complaints of hyperacidity.
4. The mind should be kept free and devoid of tensions during eating.

Diet during Hyperacidity / Acid Dyspepsia

Hyperacidity is caused by indigestion. Hence, a proper hyperacidity diet is the most proper way to get the disease treated. The following dietary regimen must be followed by people to get their hyperacidity treated:-

1. The diet must be pitta pacifying, as hyperacidity is caused due to vitiation of the pitta dosha. To obtain such a diet, salads and legumes must be included. The diet must contain more of bitter and astringent tastes.
2. Foods that are difficult to digest must be avoided. This includes salty, oily and spicy foods.
3. Sour foods have acid content; hence they must be avoided. Tamarind contains tartaric acid; lemons contain citric acid; curds contain lactic acid. Thus these foods can increase the acidity within the stomach.
4. The intake of pulses must be avoided as they cause heat in the stomach.
5. The food must be properly cooked, but not overcooked, in order to aid digestion.

Ayurvedic Treatment for Hyperacidity / Acid Dyspepsia (Amalpitta)

Hyperacidity is a pittaja, i.e. it is caused by vitiation in the pitta dosha. Hence, Ayurveda tries to control the disorder by using herbs that are known to be pitta-pacifying. The list given below gives some of these herbs with their actions on the human body.