You might as well have swallowed a cinder block. That mystery meat sandwich from the cafeteria is sitting in your stomach like a ten-pound hunk of marble, refusing to be digested, refusing to move along and leaving you with a bellyful of discomfort.
Lots of things can cause indigestion (also called nonulcer dyspepsia [NUD]): eating too much too fat, eating spicy or fatty foods, even being tense, upset or emotional when you're eating. For whatever reason, your body occasionally has trouble breaking down the foods you eat, sometimes resulting in stomachaches, cramps, flatulence, nausea and other problems.
Some natural remedies used in conjunction with medical care and your doctor's approval may help prevent or relieve indigestion, according to some health professionals.
FOOD THERAPY
There are 2 major forms of indigestion. One is in the upper tract: a stomach filled with acid, which is usually the result of plopping a lot of protein into the stomach and the stomach responding with a big gush of acid to digest it. For that kind of indigestion, it's a matter of not eating protein-rich foods too late in the day. So, if you must have meat, have it for lunch, and stick with pasta for dinner.
The other form of indigestion is due to swallowed air in the lower gastrointestinal tract, and that's often a matter of how fast you're eating. For that, the best thing is to slow down, chew each mouthful at least 10 to 15 times, avoid drinking with meals and minimize talking while eating.
HERBAL THERAPY
Traditional herbal remedies for indigestion include peppermint, ginger and chamomile teas. Drink a cup of these teas after every meal. Iberogast is an herbal formula that contains digestion-stimulating substances (glucosinolates and cucurbitacins, derived from crown's mustard (Iberis amaral) in a base of liquid extracts of angelica, chamomile, caraway, milk thistle, melissa, peppermint, celandine, and licorice. Iberogast has been a popular herbal produt in Germany since 1968. Detailed, well-designed clinical studies have confirmed its effectiveness in improving causes of indigestion such as nonulcer dyspepsia (NUD), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and drug-induced dyspepsia. No side effects have been reported in over 30 years of use. There are no known drug interactions and it is considered safe during pregnancy and lactation.
Consult Your Health Care Provider When:
- You continue to feel pressure, fullness, squeezing or pain in your chest despite taking antacids.
- You develop other symptoms such as shorness of breath, sweating, nausea or vomiting, dizziness, fainting, general weakness or pain radiating from your chest into your back, jaw or arms.
- Your indigestion is accompanied by changes in the frequency or appearance of your bowel movements.