AMLAPITTA
(GASTRITIS/ ACID PEPTIC DISEASE/ HYPERACIDITY)
Hyperacidity(Amlapitta) is one of the most common disease seen in the society. It is seen in all
ages, all classes, and all community. Hyperacidity refers to a set of symptoms caused by an
imbalance between the acid secreting mechanism of the stomach and proximal intestine and the
protective mechanisms that ensure their safety. The stomach normally secretes acid that is
essential in the digestive process. When there is excess production of acid in the stomach, it
results in the condition known as acidity.
CAUSES
‘Hurry’, ‘Worry’, and ‘Curry’ are the three main reasons for the disease.
Diet (Ahara)
Spicy food habits like eating samosa, burger, pizza, Chinesefood. Excessive use of chilly,
Cinnamon, clove, mustard, garam masala powder (spice mixture), garlic etc. in diet
Salty and sour foods like chips,
Eating of stale, fermented foods (dosa, uttappa,idli etc. bakery food items).
Excessive intake of fast food
Excessive intake of Oily foods, pickles
Intake of food and beverages in its hot condition like soups
Excessive intake of tea/coffee.
Lesser intake of water, dry food
Irregular meal times
Repeated food intake (before the digestion of the previously taken food)
Incompatible food like taking non-veg., pizza followed by milk shake.
Skipping meals.
Eating too late at night
Regimens (Vihara)
Lack of rest, fast moving lifestyle.
Insufficient sleep at night.
Sleeping immediately after meals.
Suppression of naturalurges.
Excessive exposure to sun and fire
Mental factors
Stressful life style
Excessive anxiety, worry, jealousy, anger, fear
Job dissatisfaction,
Other causes
Living in anoopadeshai.eassam, Bengal and costal region.
Sharadritu (Autumn season)
Addiction ofalcohol, smoking, tobacco chewing
Prolonged intake of NSAIDS (pain killers)
Helicobacter pylori infection
All the above factors result in excessive increase of ‘Pitta dosha’ in body and exhibits symptoms
of amlapitta.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Heart &chest burn (retrosternal burning),
Sour or bitter belching.
Nausea,
Throat burn.
Regurgitation of food or sour substance
vomiting
Gaseous distention of abdomen
Heaviness in abdomen
Indigestion.
Aversion towards food.
Pain in abdomen.
Chest pain.
Headache.
Bad breathe.
Foul smelling loose motions.
Severe burning sensation over feet, hands
Thirst,
Mouth ulcer,
Fatigue (especially in legs)
Tiredness
Fainting.
Giddiness.
Itching all over the body
INVESTIGATIONS
Gastroscopy (Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy)
Oesophageal pH monitoring
Gastrin levels in blood
Ba Meal x-ray
Serology + histology for H. Pylori
Stool routine examination
COMPLICATIONS
If not treated timely or if unwholesome diet, regimen and habits continued, it may lead to
Gastric Ulcer
Chronic Gastritis
Duodenitis
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Mal-absorption
Anemia
Peptic Stenosis
PREVENTION
As the saying goes “Prevention is better than cure” it is better to avoid all the causative factors of
acid-peptic disorder (amlapitta).
1. Avoid excessive salty, oily, sour and spicy foods
2. Avoid heavy and untimely food
3. Avoid smoking and alcohol intake
4. Food should consist mainly of bitters like bitter gourd, matured ash gourd
5. Include barley, wheat, old rice and green gram in diet.
6. Avoid overcooked, stale and contaminated food.
7. The food must be properly cooked
8. Follow mental relaxation techniques
MEDICAL MANAGEMENT
Line of treatment
1. Avoid causative factors
2. Palliative treatment
As the disease is of Pitta origin, all measures are undertaken to pacify pitta.
3. Panchakarma treatment
When patient cannot be well managed with oral medications ‘Panchakarma
procedures’ like Vamana (emesis) or virechana (purgation) whichever is needed
should be administered. In chronic cases Asthapanavasti (medicated enema) is
indicated.
Some important single drugs useful in Amlapitta
Shatavari, 3 gm twice a day with milk
Yashtimadhu 3 gm twice a daywith milk
Amalaki (Indian gooseberry) 3 gm twice a day with water
Sunthi (dry ginger) 1- 3 gm twice a daywith water
Some important Pharmacopeial Preparations
Kamdudha Rasa 250-500 mg twice a day with Honey
Sutashekhar Rasa 250 mg with Honey twice a day(or)
PrawalPishti 125 to 250 mg with Amalki Juice
PrawalPanchamrit Rasa 250-500 mg twice a day
DhatriLauha 1/2-1 gm BD with Ghee
ShankhBhasma 250 to 500 mg twice a day with Honey
SwarnaMashikBhasma 125-250 mg twice a day
Amlapittantakalouha 250 mg twice a day
NarikelaLavan 1 g with water
DashangKwath 14-28 ml twice a daywith 1 tsf of Honey
Bhoonimbadikwatha 15-20 ml twice a day
Patoladikwatha 15-20 ml twice a day
Gulucyadikashaya 15-20 ml twice a day
Aragwadhamrtadikashaya 15-20 ml twice a day
AmalakyadiChurna 3 gm twice a daywith water
AvipattikarChurna 3-6 gms with water twice a day
AmalakiRasayan 1-2 gm twice a day milk
Shatavarighrit 6-12 gm twice a day
Yashtighrit 6-12 gm twice a day
Sukumaaraghritam 6-12 gm twice a day
Dadimadighrta 6-12 gm twice a day
Nalikerekhanda 6-12 gm twice a day
Domestic Remedies
The Infusion of coriander seeds (Dhanyak) taken with sugar twice a day.
Water obtained from green fruit of Coconut 100-500 ml to be taken twice a day.
Powder of Amla 3-6 gm BD with water.
Powder of Shatapuspa (Saunf) (Anethumsowa) with sugar mixed in a glass of water - 20 ml
twice daily for 1 week or till the symptom subsides
Chewing of half a teaspoon of fennel seeds after food
Do’s (Pathya)
Follow the meal times.
Light food, Coconut water, articles having cooling properties
Vegetables like white pumpkin, bitter gourd, matured ash gourd,leafy vegetables except Methi
Wheat, old rice, barley, green gram, sugar candy, cucumber,
Fruits like gooseberry, dry grapes, black grapes, sweet lime, pomegranate, fig, dry fig,
Take adequate amount of fluids like pomogranate juice, lemon juice, amla juice, sweetlime
juice, Medicated water with ushir (wala) or coriander seeds, or laja (puffed rice). Warm water.
Dadimpak (sweet preparation made of pomegranate). Moramla (jam made from amla),
gulkand (jam made from rose petals) with milk
A cup of lukewarm milk after every two or three hours.
One teaspoonful of ghee with warm milk
Take adequate sleep & rest
Practice Yoga, Pranayam, meditation & exercise regularly
Don’ts (Apathya)
Avoid excessive spicy, sour and salty substances
Avoid fried and junk food items
Do not remain hungry.Avoid fast.
Do not overeat, take small frequent meals
Avoid untimely and irregular food habit
Avoid foods containing excess amount of garlic, salt, oil, chillies,etc. very often.
Avoid rice curd and sour fruits.
Avoid lying down immediately after food and in supine position. The best recommended
position is left lateral
Avoid, smoking, alcohol, tea, coffee and aspirin type drugs.
Avoid stress
MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What are the causes of acid peptic disorder (Amlapitta)?
Excessive intake of spicy, sour, pungent, oily and junk food items; untimely food habits;
Excessive consumption of tea/ coffee, alcohol, tobacco, smoking; certain chemical drugs,
especially some pain-relieving and anti-arthritic drugs and stress lead to acid peptic disorder
(amlapitta).
Which type of diet should I take? What is pathya for me?
Take Simple and small meals. Include vegetables like white pumpkin, bitter gourd, matured ash
gourd,cucumber, and leafy vegetables except Methi in diet. Have fruits like gooseberry, black
grapes, pomegranate and fig. Wheat, old rice, barley, green gram will be pathya.
Which type of diet should I avoid?
Spicy, sour, pungent, fried/ oily diet should be avoided. Say no to Junk and fast food.
I take simple diet, still why do I get acidity?
Milk in improperly cleaned vessel of curd get soured likewise simple diet also get soured due to
dosha (vitiated pitta) in the body.
Should I take breakfast or not?
Light breakfast should be taken every day. Don’t skip breakfast.
Is there any problem in my liver?
No, over secretion of acid in the stomach mostly causes acidity.
Will Panchakarma help me in curing acidity?
Yes, It cleanses the body, removes aggravated pitta.
I suffer from rheumatoid/arthritis, If need to take NSAID (pain killer) which one is safest
for me?
Take hot fomentation and apply medicated oil for relief of pain. Reduce pain killers as much as
possible.You can opt Ayurvedic treatment for arthritis which will be effective and safest
alternative.
What are the complications of hyperacidity?
If not treated timely or if unwholesome diet, regimen and habits continued, hyperacidity may
lead to ulcer, anaemia and various health problems.
Do I need any investigations like blood test or ultrasound?
Upper abdominal endoscopy will be helpful if primary medication fails to give expected
improvement.
Whether will I get total cure from hyperacidity?
Strict adherence with good habits, proper diet, healthy lifestyle and regimenalong with
medication mostly gives total cure from uncomplicated acid peptic disorder.
