Gastric reflux and acidity is causing throat infection - #31848

This is a common health concern. The use of pantoprazole and the question about Kapalbhati suggest that you are looking for both conventional and complementary approaches. I will provide an Ayurvedic perspective on your condition and address your question about Kapalbhati.

Ayurvedic Opinion on Gastric Reflux and Throat Infection

In Ayurveda, gastric reflux (also known as GERD) is primarily understood as a condition called Amlapitta. This is caused by an imbalance of the Pitta dosha.

Pitta Dosha: Pitta governs digestion and metabolism and is characterized by its hot, sharp, and liquid qualities.

The Imbalance: When Pitta becomes aggravated due to factors like stress, a poor diet, or an irregular lifestyle, its hot and sharp qualities increase. This leads to an excess of stomach acid, which can move upward into the esophagus and throat, causing a burning sensation (heartburn) and a sour taste.

Throat Infection: The constant exposure of the throat to this acidic reflux can irritate and inflame the delicate tissues, making them susceptible to infection. This is a classic symptom of Amlapitta affecting the upper channels.

While the 2-hour gap between your last meal and bedtime is a good step, it may not be sufficient for your specific constitution and imbalance. The problem might not be just the timing but also the type of food and your body’s a-g-n-i (digestive fire).

Ayurvedic Approach to Amlapitta

Dietary Modifications:

Pitta-Pacifying Diet: Avoid foods that are spicy, sour, salty, and fermented. This includes tomatoes, citrus fruits, yogurt (especially at night), and pickles.

Cooling and Soothing Foods: Incorporate cooling and bitter foods.

Ghee: A small amount of cow’s ghee can soothe the inflamed stomach and intestinal lining.

Amla (Indian Gooseberry): Amla is a potent Pitta-pacifying herb. It can be taken as juice or powder.

Cumin and Coriander: Cumin and coriander tea (boil seeds in water, strain, and drink) can help cool the digestive system.

Coconut Water and Buttermilk: These are excellent for neutralizing stomach acid and providing a cooling effect.

Mindful Eating: Eat your meals in a calm environment, chew thoroughly, and avoid overeating.

Kapalbhati and Gastric Reflux

This is a very important question. While Kapalbhati is an excellent practice for cleansing the respiratory system and boosting digestive fire, it is generally not recommended for people with active gastric reflux or an aggravated Pitta dosha.

The Mechanism: Kapalbhati involves forceful and rapid exhalations, which create a strong pumping action in the abdominal area. This can put pressure on the stomach and diaphragm, potentially forcing stomach acid upward and worsening the symptoms of reflux and heartburn.

The Risk of Throat Infection: The forceful breathing could also aggravate the already irritated throat, making it more prone to infection.

What to do instead:

Instead of Kapalbhati, more gentle breathing exercises (Pranayama) that are calming and cooling for the body.

Nadi Shodhana (Alternate Nostril Breathing): This practice is excellent for calming the nervous system and balancing the doshas. It is generally safe and soothing.

Sheetali Pranayama (Cooling Breath): This technique involves inhaling through a curled tongue (like a straw) and exhaling through the nose. It has an immediate cooling effect on the body and is specifically recommended for Pitta-related issues like acidity.

Chandra Bhedana (Left Nostril Breathing): This pranayama is known for its cooling properties and can help pacify the heat of Pitta.

Final Advice:

While Pantoprazole provides temporary relief, Ayurveda aims to address the root cause of the problem. A combination of a Pitta-pacifying diet, a stress-reducing lifestyle, and gentle yoga practices can provide long-term relief.

For gastric reflux

1) Avipattikara churna- 3 gm +praval panchamrita-250 mg+ saptamrita loha 250 mg+ giloy satva500 mg - after food 3 times

2) sooth sekhar rasa - before food 3 times with water

3) mahatiktaka ghee - 10 ml - 1 hr after food 2 times with warm milk

Avipattikara churna-half teaspoon with water before meals Chitrakadi vati -one tablet to be chewed three times daily As kapalabati may increase abdominal pressure due to which the stomach acids may go upward and worsen heartburn so better to avoid If want to do , do on empty stomach with not much pressure and start with 5 repeats Avoid tea coffe sour curd at night snacks bakery items green chillies

Hello Niharika ji, I recommend the following treatment plan for you - TREATMENT- 1. KAMDUDHA RAS MOTI YUKTA-1-0-1 BEFORE MEAL 2. AVIPATTIKAR CHURNA-1TSF WITH LUKEWARM WATER TWICE A DAY BEFORE MEAL 3. UDARKALP CHURNA -1TSP WITH LUKEWARM WATER AT BEDTIME Diet- Avoid peas, cauliflower , capsicum. Drink ajwain water throughout the day Take light and easily digestible meals. Avoid tea, coffee, alcohol. Yoga- Mandookasana,kapalbhati , vajrasana Lifestyle modifications - Walk for 30 minutes after dinner. Take proper sleep at night.

Follow these and you will definitely get results. Take care Regards, Dr. Anupriya

Journal your foods and identify the triggering foods and avoid it.

1. Patupanchakadi gulika 1 at morning after food. 2. Avipathy choornam 1 tsp with ghee at night.

While sleeping slightly elevated your head. Always keep a regular sleep awake cycle. It is better to go bed before 10:00. Do some mild stretching exercises before bed time

Hlo niharika ji,

Thanks for the question, Hyperacidity ( amalpitta) is one of the most common diseases seen in society. During digestion of food , our stomach secrets gastric juices to break down food. Food generally stays 1-2 hrs in stomach.stomach linning also secrets mucosa to protect the lining and to neutralize acidity, but when stomach starts to secrets juices in excess amount,someone experience hyperacidity resulting in heart burn, dyspepsia, gastric inflammation and even gastric ulcers. We refers it as ‘amla pitta’ in ayurveda. When the symptoms of heart burn becomes more regular and intense such as twice a week or more, it can be diagnosed as GERD( Gastro oesophageal reflux disease)

Hurry , worry, curry are three main reasons for this. Your dietary and lifestyle habits trigger it.

Treatment plan - •Avoid causative factors such as spicy ,salty, oily food, smoking , tea, heavy or untimely food. • Palliative treatment - As the disease is pitta origin, all measures are undertaken to pacify pitta. • Panchkarma procedures such as vamana or virechana whichever needed should be administered.

Oral treatment - 1) avipattikar churn 4 gm BD before food 2) Tab amalant 2 tab BD after food 3) Tab livem 2 tab BD after food 4) Syp. Amalpittamishran 20 ml BD before food 5) kushmand avleh 1 tsf BD after food 6) SYP vomitab 2-2 tsf sos

Followed with panchakarma procedure virechana is Targeted to expel the increase pitta dosha and pitta along with vata and kafa suggested to be done in 1st week of October.

Advice - 1) coconut water 2) gulkand and saunf 1tsf after meal 3) in morning amla muraba or bilwa juice

Start with Shanka vati tab 1-0-1 before food Pravalapanchamritha pishti 1 pinch before food twice a day Madhiphala Rasayanam syr 10 ml twice a day after food Along with these medicines u can do kapalbhati too

Hello, Good to know that, you have 2 hours gap between dinner and going to bed. Please see to it that, you take kichdi / just cooked vegetables+ soup for dinner, so that stomach is almost empty when you go to bed. And also take yashtimadhu milk decoction as first thing in the morning(1 teaspoon yashtimadhu powder+3/4 cup of water+1/2 cup of milk;bpoil and reduce to one cup) 45 minutes After consuming milk decoction take one apple(skinned out) which is to be chewed well.

Medicines: 1. Ulsant D syrup(ayurchem) 1tsp 30 minutes before each meal for 30 days.

To be avoided: 1. Kapalabhati for a month 2. Oily-spicy-outside food

Take care, Kind regards.