Wedding season is at its peak these days, along with several festivities in order. Along with good times, some uninvited guests also show up and stir your health: Gas and acidity are the expected guests nobody invites over.
Making healthy lifestyle choices is the right approach of treatment, but what about instant relief from gas and acidity when they suddenly strike?
Ayurveda has the perfect answer to this in the form of natural remedies. In this blog, we’ll discuss the ayurvedic perspective of digestion, what are the triggers of gas and acidity, top 5 Ayurvedic remedies, highly recommended Ayurvedic medicines, and lifestyle tips to prevent gas and acidity.
The Role of Agni (Digestive Fire) in Gut Health
As per Ayurveda, the digestion process is believed to process not just food but also experiences, thoughts, and emotions. It is governed by digestive fire (Agni) that helps in the breakdown of food particles, extraction of nutrients, and elimination of waste. Based on the intensity of doshas, Agni is characterized as delicate digestion (Vata), intense digestion (Pitta), and slow digestion (Kapha).
A strong Agni ensures proper digestion function, whereas weaker Agni leads to dosha imbalance and causes issues like gas, acidity, heartburn, bloating, and constipation. Poor eating habits like overeating, irregular eating, or suppressing nature’s call are also the cause of gut issues. Consuming processed, fried, dosha, incompatible, and contaminated foods are also considered the main causes of gas and acidity in Ayurveda.
Takeways
Types of Agni Based on Doshas
- Vata: Erratic or delicate digestion.
- Pitta: Intense or fiery digestion.
- Kapha: Slow and stable digestion.
Causes of Gas and Acidity in Ayurveda
- Imbalanced Agni and doshas
- Improper eating habits such as:
- Overeating or irregular eating.
- Consumption of heavy, cold, or incompatible foods.
- Suppression of natural urges.
- Fasting, indigestion, or contaminated food intake.
Gas and Acidity Triggers
Gut health is largely affected by diet and lifestyle habits. As discussed before, Ayurveda suggests dosha and agni imbalances as the main cause of gas and acidity. There are some triggers around us that create this imbalance. Let’s understand one of each:
Triggers of Gas
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Dietary Choices
- High-FODMAP Foods: Foods rich in fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols (FODMAPs) such as beans, lentils, onions, garlic, etc,. are poorly absorbed in the small intestine which leads to excessive gas production.
- Carbonated Beverages: Drinks like soda and beer have carbon dioxide which causes gas in the digestive tract.
- Dairy Products: Some people are lactose intolerant and become gassy when consuming milk.
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Swallowing Air
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Digestive Health
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Conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), celiac disease, and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) can alter digestion and lead to increased gas production.
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Certain medications, including antibiotics or laxatives, may also disrupt gut flora and cause slow digestion, which results in gas.
Triggers of Acidity (Acid Reflux)
- Dietary Factors
- Eating too much spicy and fatty foods, chocolate, caffeine (coffee and tea), alcohol, mint, garlic, and onions can lead to back flow of stomach acid into the esophagus. These food items relax the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and cause acid reflux.
- Overeating or consuming large meals can increase stomach pressure and promote acid reflux symptoms.
- Lifestyle Habits
Eating too quickly or lying down immediately after meals can induce acid reflux symptoms. Eating while standing is also an acid reflux trigger.
Obesity is another major cause of acidity. Excess weight increases abdominal pressure, which can push stomach contents up into the esophagus.
- Health Conditions:
Conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) involve frequent acid reflux episodes. GERD can be diagnosed after recurrence of acid reflux episodes.
Stress can also affect digestion and aggravate acidity symptoms by altering gut function.
- Medications:
Some medications like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), certain muscle relaxants, and medications for asthma may relax the lower esophageal sphincter or irritate the stomach lining. This triggers acid reflux symptoms.
Benefits of Ayurvedic Remedies for Quick Relief
Ayurveda focuses on overall well-being by harmonising the body, mind, and emotions. It recognises the strong connection between gut health and mental health.
Ayurvedic remedies support digestion by following the six stages of the digestive process, each linked to a specific taste: sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. These remedies work by restoring balance to the doshas (the body’s natural energies), strengthening Agni (the digestive fire), and helping the body break down food efficiently. This allows nutrients to be absorbed into the body’s tissues, like blood, muscles, and more, while eliminating waste effectively.
By addressing the root cause of digestive issues, Ayurveda helps relieve discomfort from gas and acidity naturally and sustainably, ensuring long-term digestive health.
Top 5 Ayurvedic Remedies For Gas And Acidity
Ayurvedic remedies focus on balancing the body's doshas, particularly pitta, which is often associated with acidity issues in Ayurveda. Healthy lifestyle habits and gut supportive herbs can help get long term relief from gut issues.
Top 5 Ayurvedic herbs that help manage gas and acidity symptoms
Indian Gooseberry (Amla)
Indian gooseberry is rich in antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties. It helps reduce excess pitta, which is responsible for acid reflux. You can consume it raw, as juice, or incorporate it into various recipes for digestive health.
Life Aveda’s gut care products like Acid O Flux capsules, Premium Amlaki capsules, Bhumi Amla capsules are packed with pure extracts of amla that stimulate digestive fire, balance doshas, and optimise digestion. Acid O Flux syrup is a highly recommended Ayurvedic syrup for acidity relief.
Cumin Seeds (Jeera)
Cumin seeds are known for their digestive benefits. To relieve acidity, you can powder cumin seeds and mix them with water to drink daily. This remedy helps stimulate the secretion of digestive enzymes and improves gut motility, thereby reducing symptoms of acidity and gas.
Life Aveda’s Digest Easy capsules, contains pure jeera extracts and enhance digestion and provides natural relief from gas and acidity.
Liquorice (Mulethi)
Liquorice root is effective in soothing the digestive tract and promoting mucin production, which protects the stomach lining.
Mix liquorice powder with honey and consume it twice daily after meals for relief from acidity. Additionally, brewing liquorice root tea can coat the stomach lining and reduce inflammation.
Life Aveda’s Premium Herbal Lax Lite capsules help in relieving bloating and naturally support digestive health.
Mochrus (Shalmali)
Mochrus is a cooling herb that balances vata and pitta dosha. Mochrus soothes the digestive system and aids in relieving symptoms of gastrointestinal discomfort.
Try Life Aveda’s Premium Gastro G capsules rich in high quality mochrus and other potent herbs. These high quality IBS capsules effectively enhance digestion.
Fennel Seeds (Saunf)
Fennel seeds are traditionally used to promote digestion and reduce gas formation. Chewing on a teaspoon of fennel seeds after meals can alleviate acidity and bloating due to their anti-inflammatory properties. You can also prepare fennel tea by boiling the seeds in water for additional benefits.
Life Aveda’s Digest Easy capsules are a potent blend of gut health supporting herbs including fennel seeds, which helps relieve gastrointestinal bloating and gas.
Try our gut care Ayurvedic medicines formulated with naturally extracted herbs working together as probiotic treatment for your digestive health.
Top 5 Ayurvedic Lifestyle Tips To Prevent Gas And Acidity
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Mindful Eating Habits
Take your time to chew food thoroughly and enjoy meals instead of stuffing. Stitch to fixed meal times to regulate digestion and avoid overeating. Avoid consuming large quantities of food which can put pressure on the digestive system, leading to gas and acidity.
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Post-Meal Practices
Take a light walk after meals. Physical activities after meals aid digestion and prevent excess gas buildup. Refrain from lying down immediately after eating as it may trigger acid reflux. Wait at least two to three hours before lying down.
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Dietary Modifications
Avoid spicy, sour, and acidic foods (like tomatoes, citrus fruits, and vinegar) that can aggravate acidity. Also, reduce consumption of processed and fermented foods that are hard to digest and lead to gas. Use spices like cumin, coriander, fennel, and ginger in cooking. These herbs can enhance digestion and help alleviate gas. Stay hydrated with warm water throughout the day. Avoid drinking too much water during meals to prevent dilution of digestive enzymes.
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Stress Management
Practice Yoga and Pranayama to reduce stress and improve digestive health. Some suggested yoga poses are Vajrasana (Thunderbolt Pose) and Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose), along with breathing exercises like Bhastrika and Shitali Pranayama.
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Adequate Sleep
Ensure you get enough restful sleep each night (7-8 hours). Proper rest reduces stress, supports overall health, and helps maintain digestive balance.
When to Seek Medical Advice
Although gas and acidity are common problems that can be managed with home remedies, you should consider medical advice if symptoms persist. Such cases might indicate an underlying health condition which should be quickly dealt with. Symptoms to watch out for:
- If gas and acidity symptoms are accompanied by abdominal pain
- If acid reflux is occurring more than twice a week, it might be gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Severe bloating, abdominal pain, or discomfort that interferes with daily activities
- Rectal bleeding which may and may not be painful
- Fever or chills alongside gas and acidity
Conclusion
Ayurveda offers a sustainable solution for digestive health by addressing the root cause of imbalances. Through mindful eating, stress management, and natural remedies, it supports optimal gut function and provides relief from issues like gas and acidity.
Embracing Ayurvedic practices ensures long-term digestive wellness. They say a healthy gut is the secret to overall happiness. Revise your lifestyle choices with ayurvedic way of life.
