Indigestion, digestive problems - symptoms, causes, naturopathy

What helps with digestive problems?

Indigestion (dyspepsia, Greek: Fehlverdauung) means a number of symptoms that can occur throughout the gastrointestinal tract. These include, for example, abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, feelings of fullness and heartburn. The causes can be very diverse and diverse and are not always easy to recognize. In the field of digestive problems, medicinal plants from natural medicine show very good effects. They are suitable for restoring the physiological digestive function. Nevertheless, in case of suspected serious illness and if no improvement occurs in the foreseeable future, a doctor should always be consulted.

contents

• What helps with digestive problems?
• Indigestion - A quick overview
• First aid for indigestion
• Quick help with feeling of fullness
• Quick help with bloating
• Quick help with constipation
• Fast help with diarrhea
• Quick help with heartburn
• The digestive process
• Diagnosis - What does the doctor do??
• Possible causes
• Respond immediately in case of emergency
• Medicinal plants and natural remedies

Indigestion - A quick overview

Digestive problems are a collective term for several gastrointestinal symptoms. Often the symptoms indicate a disturbed digestive function. Here is a brief overview:

• definition: Indigestion is medically referred to as dyspepsia. This includes several symptoms such as abdominal pain, flatulence, diarrhea, feelings of fullness and heartburn, which can occur throughout the gastrointestinal tract.
• bloating: A feeling of fullness is expressed by pressure in the epigastrium and the unpleasant sensation of being full. This may occur after a luscious meal, but may also be triggered by gas accumulation due to lack of digestive activity.
• bloating: Flatulence is caused by a gas surplus in the stomach or intestine area. Common causes include flatulent foods such as processed foods, onions, cabbage, legumes, fresh bread, refined sugar or high-fiber foods.
• stomach pain: Abdominal pain often causes diffuse discomfort in the stomach. They can express themselves by oppressive or stinging pain. Often, abdominal pain is caused by impaired digestion.
• constipation: Constipation occurs when the intestine is defecated less than three times a week. Often the chair must be discontinued with strong pressing. Low-fiber diet or increased stress may be the cause, as well as illnesses or certain medications.
• diarrhea: Diarrhea occurs when a thin-bodied stool occurs in large quantities several times a day. Common causes include infections or food poisoning.
• heartburnHeartburn is a burning or scratching sensation in the esophagus or upper stomach. It is caused by high-rising gastric acid, which enters areas that are not protected from the acid.

Digestive problems are a common term for complaints in the gastrointestinal tract. These include symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloating, constipation and heartburn. (Image: underdogstudios / fotolia.com)

First aid for indigestion

Especially home remedies, medicinal plants and herbal medicine show good effect on many complaints in the gastrointestinal tract, as long as no more serious disease is behind it. If the help shown here has no effect within a short period of time, a doctor is strongly advised. Here are some natural treatments that can help with the common symptoms of indigestion.

Quick help with feeling of fullness

In many cases, this feeling is not based on a serious illness. For treatment, home remedies have proven many times over. Here, for example, ginger to call, which can also help with nausea remedy. The root can either be peeled and chewed or processed into a tea. In case of frequent feeling of fullness you should drink a cup of fresh ginger tea before eating. Even a drink made of apple cider vinegar and honey shows good effect. Simply mix two teaspoons of naturally cloudy apple cider vinegar and one teaspoon of manuka honey in a glass of lukewarm water and drink before eating.

After eating fresh pineapple or papaya as a dessert to help against the feeling of fullness. Furthermore, a shot glass full of artichoke juice from the health food store has proven itself. Likewise, seasoning with turmeric can have an increasing effect on the bile juice production and thus counteract feelings of fullness.

When should one visit a doctor at fullness?

If feeling of fullness regularly and in conjunction with other symptoms such as bloating, gastric pressure, loss of appetite, heartburn, incomplete evacuation, pain in bowel movements, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, there may be a disease in which home remedies reach their limits. Here should necessarily be promptly a doctor visit.

Air pockets and gas formation in the abdomen can lead to discomfort such as bloating and flatulence. (Image: snyGGG / fotolia.com)

Quick help with bloating

Among the best home remedies for bloating include teas from chamomile, lemon balm, peppermint, anise, cumin, fennel, coriander or cardamom. Also recommended is the so-called four-winds tea, which has a strong deflating and at the same time anticonvulsant effect. Caraway seeds, fennel seeds, horse mint leaves and chamomile flowers are mixed in equal parts for the production. One to two teaspoons of this mixture should be drawn for five to ten minutes in 250 milliliters of boiling water and then sieved. Two to three cups a day should bring relief. On the other hand, one should better abstain from bulking foods. These include:

• fresh bread,
• cabbage,
• onions,
• legumes,
• ready meals,
• refined sugar.

Homemade Angelica

Has proven also an Angelikalikör. In this angelica seeds (60g), aniseed (8g), fennel seeds (8g) and coriander seeds (6g) are used as a powder in 220 ml brandy or grain. The liquid has to rest for eight days and is then fortified with one liter of water and 500 grams of sugar. After another rest day, the liqueur should be poured through a fine-mesh sieve and is now to be used against flatulence. Please remember: This is alcohol and therefore an application in children is inappropriate! The same can apply to people who for other reasons should abstain from alcohol.

From when should you with flatulence to the doctor?

If the flatulence recurs again and again, flatulence is particularly severe, home remedies have no effects or other symptoms are added, a doctor should be consulted so that serious causes can be excluded or other therapeutic measures may be taken.

Quick help with constipation

As an effective home remedy for constipation, the apple has proven particularly useful. According to experts, regularly two apples are enough for a healthy intestine. A homemade custard can help against constipation. For this purpose, a washed apple with peel in 125 grams of low-fat curd cheese should be grated and mixed with a teaspoon of flaxseed and a teaspoon of honey. In addition, care should be taken to drink enough (adults two to three liters daily). Suitable drinks are water, unsweetened teas and occasionally juice spritzers. Likewise, caffeinated coffee can boost digestion. However, chocolate, sweets, red wine and white bread should be avoided since they slow down bowel movements.

These foods stimulate the intestines

Fiber-rich foods help stimulate digestion. For this example, are suitable vegetables such as lettuce, radish, tomatoes, brussels sprouts, asparagus, fennel, radishes, kohlrabi, broccoli, spinach, cauliflower, carrots and celeriac, as well fruit like grapes, honeydew melon, plum, pineapple, mango, peach, raspberry and banana or legumes like lentils, chickpeas, peas, beans, corn and peanuts. Also tree nuts hazelnuts, almonds or walnuts contain plenty of fiber.

With constipation to the doctor?

Common causes of constipation are lack of fluids, physical inactivity, poor diet, metabolic or electrolyte imbalances, and stress and mental stress. In many cases, blockages can be eliminated with naturopathic measures and home remedies or they disappear within a few days on their own.

If this is not the case or if other symptoms appear or if the blockages return again and again, medical advice should be sought as the symptoms may also be indicative of more severe conditions such as hypothyroidism or diabetes. In particular, if blood occurs in the stool, this should be clarified immediately with a doctor, as it could be, inter alia, a colon carcinoma (colorectal cancer).

Fast help with diarrhea

Since diarrhea is associated with the loss of water and mineral salts, it is very important to drink enough. Adults should take three to four liters a day to counteract dehydration. As drinks are broth, still mineral water and unsweetened herbal teas from peppermint, fennel or chamomile. Likewise, a home-made tea made from dried blueberries has proven to be a home remedy for diarrhea. To do this, place two to three tablespoons of dried blueberries in a quarter liter of cold water, bring to a boil, simmer for ten minutes and strain through a sieve. Caution: Only dried blueberries should be used for the tea, as fresh blueberries have a laxative effect.

Food composition and electrolyte balance

From coke and pretzel sticks in case of diarrhea, you should better keep your fingers. Instead, a homemade electrolytic solution helps to rebalance lost minerals. This can be made from one liter of boiled water. Mix the water with a teaspoon of salt, the juice of four oranges and seven teaspoons of glucose (glucose). Electrolyte preparations from the pharmacy also help. Also, the healing power of carrot soup according to the recipe of Professor Ernst Moro is not to be underestimated in case of diarrhea. Once the stool has stabilized, mashed bananas, rusks and grated apples (up to three a day) can be used to nourish your diet. As a transition to the normal diet potatoes, boiled rice and steamed vegetables are recommended.

When should diarrhea be treated by a doctor?

If diarrhea lasts longer than three days, or if there is mucus or blood in the liquid stool, urgently consult a doctor. This also applies if additionally fever and / or heavy exhaustion occur. In children and infants, it is generally advisable to ask a doctor for advice, because with them the risk of internal dehydration is particularly great.

Quick help with heartburn

Even with heartburn does not have to be immediately reacted with chemical drugs. There are numerous effective home remedies for heartburn that can help. These include, for example, chamomile tea, lemon balm, oatmeal, artichokes, potato juice, white cabbage juice and healing earth. As a first measure chamomile tea is recommended. This should be a tea from a tablespoon of real chamomile flowers prepared to 150 ml of hot water. This should draw ten minutes. Then the tea should be drunk in peace.

Rollkur with chamomile tea

Camomile has an anti-inflammatory, wound-healing and anticonvulsant effect. A gastrointestinal chamomile cure can relieve heartburn discomfort. All you need is two cups of chamomile tea, about 20 minutes and a place to lie down. After drinking a few sips of tea, relax on your back and relax for about five minutes. Then drink a few more sips and lay aside for five minutes. Repeat this procedure with the other side and the prone position. The aim of the Rollkur is to achieve as much gastric mucosa as possible with the tea to intensify the healing effect. It is best if the Rollkur is carried out daily for at least a week.

Occasional heartburn is relatively harmless. However, if the symptoms occur regularly, a doctor should be consulted. It could be a reflux disease. (Image: Adiano / fotolia.com)

Must be heartburn medically treated?

Occasional heartburn occurs in many people. In most cases it is harmless. A frequent occurrence should not be ignored, because there are serious consequences of heartburn. Physicians then speak of gastroesophageal reflux. This disease can lead to esophagitis or degeneration, which can range to a cancer of the esophagus. For this reason, frequent heartburn should always be taken seriously and medically examined.

The digestive process

The digestive process begins with the absorption of material products in the form of food. In the mouth, the saliva prepares the food for disintegration by disintegration and cleavage, the stomach acid kills bacteria and other germs, in the small intestine the prepared food is then finely analyzed for its use in order to either be utilized or excreted. This requires various digestive juices, which are provided by the surrounding organs and released into the small intestine: The pancreas provides the aggressive enzymes for carbohydrate, fat and protein cleavage, the liver also contributes the necessary bile for fat digestion.

Disorders lead to symptoms

Disorders in any of these areas, especially a deficiency or excess of digestive juices, result in a digestive disorder with the symptoms of heartburn, nausea, vomiting, including abdominal pain or abdominal cramping, bloating, flatulence, bowel noise, diarrhea, and constipation. The symptoms can be isolated or in different combinations.

Indigestion is often associated with symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain or flatulence. (Image: ag visual / fotolia.com)

The causes can be organic, psychological or functional

The dysbalance of the digestive juices can arise as a result of an inflammatory bowel disease, but also by intestinal tumors. Often there is also a weakness of individual organs or their secretion and digestive function. Also a disturbed bacterial flora in the intestine, for example after taking antibiotics or an infestation with intestinal fungi (especially with the yeast fungus Candida albicans) and malnutrition lead to fermentation and decay processes and thus to gas formation (flatulence), which causes abdominal pain and foul-smelling gases (flatulence).

Likewise, at the mental level, anxiety and unprocessed conflicts may come into question, or stress and nervousness. The irritable stomach, in which organic findings are largely absent, is also referred to as "functional dyspepsia".

Diagnosis - What does the doctor do??

The doctor first tries to get an overview of the possible causes in a detailed patient interview. Usually followed by a general physical examination, in which the abdominal region is examined more closely. By sampling and listening, the possible causes can be narrowed down further. It is also possible to check the blood pressure and take blood. Depending on which suspicion is substantiated in this investigation, various other diagnostic options are available:

• Ultrasonic: To detect problems of the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, or to develop free fluids in the abdomen or lymph node swelling.
• roentgen: In case of discomfort in the abdomen, suspected constriction or gas accumulation, gallstones or kidney stones; Using a contrast agent, mucosal changes, polyps, diverticula or tumors can also be detected.
• endoscopyBy gastroscopy or colonoscopy can be revealed diseases of the stomach or the intestine. Taken tissue samples can be examined in the laboratory and provide further digestion.
• Computed Tomography: If the doctor suspects an organ as a cause, this can be clarified by a CT. As a result, any changes, thickenings or enlargements in the individual organs can be represented.
• Tests and samples: Stool or urine specimens and pH measurements in the esophagus and a lactose or fructose tolerance test are other ways to determine the exact causes.

Sampling, like the history, is one of the first diagnostic procedures that a doctor typically uses to narrow down the possible cause of indigestion. (Image: Blue Planet Studio / fotolia.com)

Possible causes

If a disease is behind the indigestion, a number of diseases come into question, which are exemplified here. The exact diagnosis is reserved for a qualified doctor.

gastritis

The most common cause of indigestion is an inflammation of the gastric mucosa (gastritis). It is manifested by symptoms such as upper abdominal pain, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and constant regurgitation. Gastritis is triggered by irritation of the gastric mucosa. This can be caused for example by alcohol, nicotine, certain medications or infections. In addition, if the intestine is inflamed, it is a gastro-enteritis. This is often accompanied by diarrhea to the complaints.

reflux disease

Gastroesophageal reflux is the disease that can be behind frequent heartburn. Reflux disease is characterized by dysfunction of the gastric sphincter causing reflux of acid gastric juices into the esophagus. This can cause irritation and inflammation, which in the worst case trigger tumor-like growths.

Intestinal infections and chronic inflammation

Constant diarrhea, constipation or bloody stools in the stool indicate diseases in the area of ​​the small and large intestine. On the one hand, these can be acute infections, on the other hand, chronic inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis can be behind it. An irritable bowel syndrome is also conceivable.

Food intolerance

Another possible cause of digestive problems is food allergies or intolerance to certain foods. Here, for example, the gluten allergy (celiac disease) to call, in the affected tolerate no gluten. Other examples include fructose or lactose intolerance, which can lead to abdominal cramping, bloating, nausea or diarrhea.

Food allergies such as gluten allergy (celiac disease) can be the cause of constant digestive problems. A change in diet often brings rapid improvement, once the polluters are unmasked. (Image: ferkelraggae / fotolia.com)

Organic causes

Organs such as liver and bile are important players in digestion. Thus, they are also considered as a cause of indigestion. Hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, gallstones, gallbladder inflammation, as well as tumor formation in the liver or bile, among others, can be the cause of the symptoms.

pancreatitis

The pancreas is also important for digestion. It produces important digestive enzymes. Diseases of this gland such as chronic pancreatitis (pancreatitis) or pancreatic cancer may be the cause of indigestion.

Other possible causes

Since indigestion is a very general and broad concept, many causes are possible. Other possible causes include:

• polyps,
• colon cancer,
• Appendicitis or appendicitis,
• Intestinal obstruction (ileus),
• ectopic pregnancy.

Respond immediately in case of emergency

If your abdominal pain is sudden and intense, or if you have circulatory problems, dizziness, or loss of consciousness, it is an emergency that needs immediate attention in a hospital. This condition is referred to in medicine as an acute abdomen. Behind this can be life-threatening causes such as stomach perforation or intestinal perforation.

Medicinal plants and natural remedies

In therapy, attention should be paid to the cause of indigestion. In conventional medicine, excess acids are suppressed with inhibitory drugs, digestive inertia is accelerated by laxatives and diarrhea is stopped by medication. In the great naturopathic approaches, for example, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda and the traditional Western (galenic) medicine, the digestive function is considered a major function for the overall health of a person. Therefore, there are a variety of medicinal plants that - experience-tested medical - depending on the need and cause of indigestion are used.

These medicinal plants and natural methods can alleviate many ailments in the stomach and intestinal area. For serious problems, however, a doctor should always be consulted first. (Photo: prockopenko / fotolia.com / heilpraxis.de)

Herbs can be relaxing, antispasmodic, germicidal, anti-inflammatory or against flatulence. On the organs, such as the liver or pancreas, they are either stimulating and invigorating or calming. Whether the plants are administered individually or in combination as a tea mixture, dragees or tincture, whether produced spagyric or prepared homeopathically, this is entirely at the discretion of the treating therapist. In addition, a nutrition plan should be worked out together, which ideally also takes into account the eating habits.

Hectic descent of food "on the side" can have as bad an effect on the digestion as the temporal distribution of meals against the biological rhythm. As an alternative to the administration of medicinal plants, by means of innumerable other natural remedies, e.g. psychological, physical and manual orientation that supports self-healing and restores digestion.

Osteopathic treatment relaxes and mobilizes internal organs

In osteopathy, for example, the sliding surfaces of the organs are seen as joints. If it comes to movement restrictions, it can also come to a problem in the function of the organ. Most of the organs are supported by the vessels, so mobilizing and loosening the structures can improve the organs' care.

Breathing also plays a role

An important component is respiration, which, by creating a negative pressure, provides good disposal and rocking motion that stimulates digestion and ensures its proper functioning. Decreased or shallow breathing may interfere with this movement necessary for digestion. Thus, in the osteopathic approach, besides the direct observation of the organs, the structures which have a mechanical influence on the organ function are also important. Since some digestive problems are caused by stress and hectic, it can be helpful not least to acquire methods for reducing stress. (jvs, vb; updated on 07 August 2018)