Digestive issue is a broad term. It may span from simple complaints of bloating to being as severe leading to Malnutrition as well. The Medical Science has advanced quite fast in the past few decades and so have our lifestyle and expectations. As mentioned in our prior blogs, lifestyle and eating habits are major contributors to our health in all aspects, Digestive system being a major field. Homeopathy, when practiced earnestly and properly, as its motto- Simple and minimum works best. Unlike, the common notion that homeopathy works slowly, its purely dependent on the patients & diseases’ individual character. Acute disease will see quick results, while chronic will take a little longer.
Introduction
The major function of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is the digestion of food and absorption of nutrients and water. Problem of one function eventually leads to fail both. Digestion is a complex process done by various cells and tissue with the help of multiple organs and digestive juices secreted by them, and also the organ motility .
Since childhood, many households have witnessed several kind of digestive disorders, small children having loose motion, vomiting, worms senior citizens having constipation, piles; maybe the middle- aged people with heartburn or irregular bowels etc. Every household has nux vomica, carbo veg, robinia or kalmegh. Besides these homeopathy medicines, we can also find- gelusil, Rantac, Pudin hara(childhood fav) and then Kayam Churna, isabgol and we can go on and on.
So, by now you must have got the idea, what is going wrong!! Either lifestyle issues or self-medication. This self-medication make our task teasy, because of another false notion about homeopathy that it has no Side effects so you can have it any way you like it. Absolutely not !! If the medicine is correct, then only it works else causes accessory symptoms if consumed in large quantities, in fact correct medicine overdose causes aggravation of the existing symptoms. So, its a humble request to all, kindly do not self-medicate.
Commonest digestive complaints , causes and common homeopathic medicines
- Bloating – it is gas formation. The abdomen feels distended, sometimes painful, sometimes painless. Few may have frequent eructations, burping or even passing flatus, which may be embarrasing in public at times.Mostly caused by certain foods like fried items, carbonated drinks or if any food intolerance like that of milk and gluten;chronic condition like Irritable bowels disease as well contribute to it. Commonest homeopathic medicine used are Carbo veg &Nux
- Heartburn– acidity. It may mimic as sour taste in mouth, constant dry cough or clearing throat, waterbrash,bad breath etc.Commonest cause being- rich , spicy foods, overeating, pain medications, poor sleep, stress & anxierty and sedentary lifestyle. Homeopathic medicines to help are- Robinia, Nux, pulsatilla et.
- Constipation– difficulty passing stool, hard stools, not yet done feeling, irregular bowels. It may be chronic or acute complain. Commonly seen in almost all age groups these days, although mostly was seen in old age and young children.Its common cause is less fibre in diet, less water intake, sedentary habits, too much processeed food etc. Commonest medicines to help are- Nux vom, Sulphur.
- Diarrhoea- loose stools, mostly acute condition. Variable range of infections are the cause, due to contaminated food especially and some food allergies. Best first aid is to have good amount of fluid intake, WHO recommended ORS (not the commercial ones) . One of the best medicine used for food poisoning is Arsenic, where loose motions are accompanied by vomiting. Other medicines can be Podo, aloes.
- Nausea & vomiting– sensation to have vomiting is called Nausea. Throwing up is vomiting. Commonest cause being- stomach upset, hyperacidity, infection, chest congestion, motion sickness, or nerve issues like Spondilytis. Commonest homeopathic medicine – Ipecac, Arsenic.
Though mentioned only 5 complaints , yet there is a long list to go on. We shall be discussing them in further blogs. The idea here is to make people aware that all symptoms are interconnected as our body, no one part is sick , may be we see trouble in one part but problem can be somewhere else. The simplest example is constipation- bloating- tender abdomen/stomach pain- heartburn-retching-Nausea& vomiting. This chain of symptoms, isnt it obvious? So what do we see here is that though different complaints but affect a person as a whole, may mimic only a symptom or two or all of them. We correct the cause, we correct the health. And with Homeopathic approach, we do exactly the same, we cure the disease taking a picture of whole.
The homeopathic medicines mentioned above are used very often in households and their reference is from Kents Repertory & Boericke’s repertory. Other contents have been referred from Medicine book of API-12th edition.
