What is Gastritis?
GASTRITIS is an inflammation of the stomach mucous lining. Gastritis is an inflammation of the lining of the stomach. It is a troublesome condition that may lead to many complications including ulcers if not treated in time. Constipation aggravates the condition more than any other disorder. The inflammatory lesions may be either acute erosive gastritis or chronic atrophic gastritis. The latter type has been found to be present in half the patients suffering from severe iron deficiency anemia.
Causes of Gastritis
The most frequent cause of gastritis is as follows :
- habitual overeating,
- eating of badly combined or improperly cooked foods,
- excessive intake of strong tea, coffee, or alcoholic drinks,
- habitual use of large quantities of condiments, sauces, etc.
- It may sometimes follow certain diseases such as measles, Diptheria, influenza, virus pneumonia, etc.
- Most often it also results from worry, anxiety, grief, and prolonged tension.
- The use of certain drugs, strong acids, and caustic substances may also give rise to gastritis.
What are the common symptoms of Gastritis?
- The main symptoms of gastritis are loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, headache, and dizziness.
- There is also pain and a feeling of discomfort in the region of the stomach.
- In more chronic cases, there is a feeling of fullness in the abdomen, especially after meals.
- The patient complains of heartburn. Prolonged illness often results in the loss of weight, anemia, and occasional hemorrhage from the stomach.
- There may be an outpouring of mucus and a reduction in the secretion of hydrochloric acid during acute attacks and also in most cases of chronic gastritis.
Treatment and Cure of Gastritis
The patient should undertake a fast in both acute and chronic cases of gastritis. In acute cases, the patient will usually recover after a short fast of two or three days.
In chronic Gastritis condition, the fast may have to be continued for a longer period of seven days or so. In the alternative, short fasts may be repeated at an interval of one or two months, depending on the progress being made. The fast may be conducted on fruit juices. By fasting, the intake of irritants is at once effectively stopped, the stomach is rested and the toxic condition, causing the inflammation, is allowed to subside. Elimination is increased by fasting and the excess of toxic matter accumulated in the system is thrown out.
After the acute symptoms of Gastritis subside, the patient should adopt an all-fruit diet for a further three days. Juicy fruits such as apple, pear, grapes, grapefruit, orange, pineapple, peach, and melon may be taken during this period at five-hourly intervals. The patient can thereafter gradually embark upon a well-balanced diet of three basic food groups, namely :
- seeds, nuts, and grains,
- vegetables, and
- fruits
Some home remedies for the treatment of Gastritis are:
- Carrot juice in combination with the juice of spinach is considered highly beneficial in the treatment of gastritis. 200 ml. of spinach juice should be mixed with 300 ml. of carrot juice in this combination.
- Eight to 10 glasses of water should be taken daily but water should not be taken with meals as it dilutes the digestive juices and delays digestion. And above all, haste should be avoided while eating, and meals should be served in a pleasing and relaxed atmosphere.
- Coconut water is an excellent food remedy for gastritis. It gives the stomach the necessary rest and provides vitamins and minerals. The stomach will be greatly helped in returning to its normal condition if nothing except coconut water is given during the first 24 hours.
The patient should not undertake any hard physical and mental work. He should, however, undertake breathing and other light exercises like walking, swimming, and golf. He should avoid
worries and mental tension.