Indigestion is a term used for a group of symptoms like fullness in the abdomen after eating, abdominal discomfort/pain, excessive gas, and belching (burping). Indigestion is also known as dyspepsia and is very common. Everyone experiences indigestion at some point, and this is usually related to bad eating habits.
Safe and Long-Term Relief
Homeopathy offers a natural and very effective solution for the symptoms of indigestion, while conventional medicine mainly relies on antacids, PPIs (proton pump inhibitors), and histamine receptor antagonists for cases of indigestion that help relieve the symptoms. However, its effects are short-term. Homeopathy offers a long-term cure by treating the underlying cause of indigestion. It is a well-known fact that there are no side effects of homeopathic medicines. This is due to the reason that homeopathic medicines are prepared from naturally obtained substances that do not contain any chemicals or harmful toxins. Thus, homeopathy is a very safe and natural mode of treatment with no harm or side effects.
Efficient in acute as well as chronic cases
Homeopathic medicines are beneficial for both acute and chronic cases of indigestion. In acute cases, medicines bring immediate relief and recovery happens quickly. In chronic cases, the symptoms start improving in the beginning only, but treatment needs to be continued for a little longer, maybe even a few months. In chronic cases, the medicines gradually reduce the severity and frequency of symptoms, and as time passes, the symptoms resolve completely.
Addresses the root cause
Homeopathic medicines focus on the cause associated with indigestion to bring complete recovery. Since the cause for indigestion varies from case to case, addressing that particular cause is needed to get the best possible results. Homeopathy uses highly diluted natural medicines that help to fight the cause behind indigestion.
Individualized prescription
Homeopathic medicines for indigestion are selected on the basis of unique, individual symptoms in every given case, which boosts the natural healing forces in the body to overcome health issues naturally and bring about safe and natural recovery.
Homeopathic medicines for indigestion.
Top 10 Homeopathic Medicines for Indigestion
The top indicated homeopathic remedies that treat indigestion naturally are Carbo Vegetabilis, China Officinalis, Lycopodium Clavatum, Iris Versicolor, Nux Vomica, Robinia Pseudacacia, Colocynthis, Ipecacuanha, Pulsatilla Nigricans and Arsenic Album.
1. Carbo Vegetabilis –For Gas In Abdomen And Marked Upper Abdominal Discomfort
Carbo Vegetabilis is an effective homeopathic medicine for indigestion if there is excessive gas in the abdomen along with marked upper abdominal discomfort and fullness. The upper abdomen is distended. An aching and cramping pain is felt in the upper abdomen. Burning in the upper abdomen may also be present. Abdominal discomfort, pain, and burning tend to aggravate from eating. Empty burping of gas, bitter, sour or offensive-smelling substances is felt. Burping helps relieve gastric complaints. Gastric complaints that worsen from eating the simplest of food are treated well with this medicine.
When to use Carbo Vegetabilis?
This medicine should be administered to manage gas in the abdomen accompanied by discomfort and fullness in the upper abdomen.
How to use Carbo Vegetabilis?
The use of this medicine is recommended in both low and high potencies. Initially, one may use it in 30C potency twice or thrice daily. For using higher potencies, prior consultation with a qualified homeopath is a must.
2. China Officinalis – For Gas and Bloating in whole Abdomen
China Officinalis is a natural homeopathic remedy well indicated for cases of indigestion with gas and bloating felt in the entire abdomen. The whole abdomen feels distended and tight due to obstructed gas. Movement brings relief in the abdominal bloating, and there may be excessive rumbling in the abdomen due to gas. There may be a sensation of heat in the abdomen. This medicine is suitable in cases where the consumption of excessive tea, fruits, and milk causes indigestion.
When to use China Officinalis?
China Officinalis is a highly valuable medicine to manage indigestion with gas and bloating of the entire abdomen.
How to use China Officinalis?
This medicine is mostly advised in 30C potency twice or thrice daily.
3. Lycopodium Clavatum– For Indigestion with Abdominal Fullness/bloating After Eating
Lycopodium is an effective homeopathic remedy for cases of indigestion where there is abdominal fullness and bloating as soon as one has taken a meal. There is gas formation with abdominal bloating immediately after eating (even a small quantity of food) The abdomen feels tense and there may be rumbling, croaking and gurgling sensations. Abdominal colic may be felt due to gas. Rubbing the abdomen may relieve one of pain. A burning sensation may be felt in the stomach that extends to the throat. Vomiting of food, bile or sour substances may be present. Food that triggers the complaint mainly includes onions, beans, wheat, cabbage, and starchy foods.
When to use Lycopodium Clavatum?
Lycopodium is a beneficial medicine to help in cases of indigestion with prominent fullness and bloating of the abdomen soon after eating, which may be accompanied by abdominal pain.
How to use Lycopodium Clavatum?
Lycopodium is available in both low and high potencies. To start with, one may use it in 30C power once a day. Higher potencies should be used only after seeking consultation from a qualified homeopath.
4. Iris Versicolor – For Indigestion with Burning in the Stomach
Iris Versicolor is a really helpful medicine for treating indigestion with a marked sensation of burning in the stomach. The burning may extend to the food pipe and the throat. This is accompanied by vomiting (especially after meals). Vomiting may be sour or of food that has just been eaten. It is also a top-listed medicine for migraine/headache with gastric issues, indigestion, acidity, heartburn, nausea, and sour vomiting.
When to use Iris Versicolor?
Iris Versicolor is a useful medicine to manage burning sensation in the stomach due to indigestion that may be accompanied by vomiting and headache.
How to use Iris Versicolor?
Iris Versicolor can be used one to two times a day in 30C power.
5. Nux Vomica – For Indigestion from Spicy Food or Excessive Alcohol Intake
Nux Vomica is a natural homeopathic medicine for treating indigestion that happens due to spicy food or excessive alcohol. The symptoms to look for to use Nux Vomica are heartburn, sour/bitter belching, and nausea after eating. Vomiting of ingesta, bile, oily matter, or sour mucus is present, along with marked retching. The epigastric region is also distended, full after meals, with a sensation of pressure. Cramping, clawing pain in the stomach may also be present. The stomach region is sensitive to pressure, and there is a loss of appetite.
When to use Nux Vomica?
Its use is highly suggested to treat indigestion related to eating spicy food and alcohol. The key symptoms for its use are sour or bitter burps, heartburn, vomiting, nausea, and stomach pain.
How to use Nux Vomica?
It is advised to use this medicine in 30C potency twice or thrice daily, depending on the intensity of the symptoms.
6. Robinia Pseudoacacia – For indigestion with Heartburn, Sour Burps and Vomiting
Homeopathic medicine Robinia is a top medicine to manage heartburn and really sour burps and sour vomiting. It is a leading homeopathic remedy for GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). Heartburn and vomiting tend to aggravate during the night hours or when one lies down. It is accompanied by marked nausea. A constant sensation of weight and fullness in the stomach is present along with the above symptoms. Dull pain in the stomach after meals is often present.
When to use Robinia Pseudoacacia?
This medicine should be administered to relieve heartburn and sour burps/vomiting and acid reflux that is a result of indigestion.
How to use Robinia Pseudoacacia?
Robinia works well in 30C potency that can be taken once or twice a day.
7. Colocynthis – For managing stomach pain
Colocynthis is a very suitable medicine to manage stomach pain due to indigestion. Pain can be cramping, or one may feel a knife-like sensation. There is obstructed gas in the abdomen. Pain gets better from bending forward, or by applying pressure and also after passing gas.
When to use Colocynthis?
Its use is recommended to manage stomach pain with obstructed gas in cases of indigestion. It gets better when one bends forward, when pressure is applied and after passing the gas.
How to use Colocynthis?
Its use is usually done in a 30C potency one to two times a day. If one is using 200C potency, one dose a day is enough.
8. Ipecacuanha – For Indigestion with marked Nausea
Ipecacuanha is an excellent homeopathic medicine for indigestion accompanied by intense nausea. The nausea is almost constant. Vomiting of watery fluid, white mucus or food eaten may be present. Weakness may appear with nausea and vomiting. There is an excessive accumulation of saliva along with empty burps. Distress or knife like sensation in the stomach may be present, and the tongue looks clean.
When to use Ipecacuanha?
Ipecac is the best medicine in cases of nausea, which may be constant, and can be attended with vomiting resulting from indigestion.
How to use Ipecacuanha?
It is advised to ingest Ipecac 30C one to two times a day.
9. Pulsatilla Nigricans– For Indigestion from Fatty & Rich Food
Pulsatilla is one of the leading medicines for indigestion that results from fatty, rich, warm foods, pastries, fruits, and ice creams. The patient feels marked heaviness and tightness in the stomach after meals, and they often need to loosen clothing, with troublesome flatulence and heartburn. Eructations are frequent, and the taste of food—often bitter or offensive—lingers long after eating, with diminished enjoyment of food. There is characteristic thirstlessness despite gastric discomfort, and vomiting may bring up food eaten hours earlier. A stone-like weight or all-gone, empty sensation in the stomach is common, especially in the morning, with waterbrash and foul taste on waking.
When to use Pulsatilla Nigricans?
Pulsatilla is well indicated for indigestion due to fatty, rich, warm foods with heaviness, flatulence, and heartburn. It is especially indicated when there is thirstlessness, relief in the open air, and worsening of symptoms after eating.
How to use Pulsatilla Nigricans?
It can be initiated with lower potency — 30C — once a day or on a weekly basis.
10. Arsenicum Album – for Indigestion with Anxiety
Arsenicum Album is administered in severe, and irritable indigestion marked by intense burning pain in the stomach, nausea, retching, and vomiting even after eating small quantities of food or drink. There is too much thirst for frequent small sips, sour or bitter eructations, heartburn, and extreme gastric sensitivity as if the stomach were raw or excoriated. Indigestion is aggravated by acids, vinegar, ice-cold drinks, ice cream, tobacco, and watery fruits, and is often accompanied by anxiety, restlessness, exhaustion, and fear.
When to use Arsenicum Album?
Arsenicum Album works well in cases of indigestion with severe burning pain, sour or bitter eructations, and extreme gastric irritability after even small amounts of food.
How to use Arsenicum Album?
It can be started with 30C potency, once daily. Higher potencies such as 200C, 1M can be used only under the guidance of a qualified homoeopath.
Symptoms of Indigestion
The symptoms of indigestion include abdominal fullness soon after eating, upper abdominal pain/discomfort/burning, bloating in the upper abdomen, excessive gas/flatulence, belching, heartburn, nausea, and vomiting. These symptoms are managed magnificently with homeopathic medicines.
Causes of Indigestion
1. Overeating is one of the most common causes of indigestion
2. Consuming highly spicy or fatty food
3. Smoking
4. Excessive alcohol intake
5. Other gastric diseases,these may include gastritis (inflammation of lining of stomach), pancreatitis (inflammation of pancreas), celiac disease (an autoimmune disorder in which eating gluten which is a protein found in wheat, rye, barley causes damage to the small intestine), GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease in which the stomach acid back flows in the food pipe), gallstones, peptic ulcers (sores in the lining of the stomach or duodenum), and H. pylori infection (a bacterial infection affecting stomach)
6. Sometimes indigestion can arise from side effects of certain medicines like NSAIDs (e.g., aspirin, ibuprofen) and antibiotics
7. Anxiety and stress can also lead to indigestion
8. In some cases, there is no reason behind indigestion, which is known as functional dyspepsia
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Does diet play a role in indigestion?
Absolutely, it does. Spicy, oily, fried foods, excessive tea/coffee, and irregular eating habits commonly worsen indigestion.
2. Can lack of sleep lead to indigestion?
Yes. Poor sleep and irregular sleep patterns can negatively affect digestion and worsen indigestion symptoms.
3. Does indigestion get worse at night?
Yes. Symptoms may worsen at night or while lying down, especially after late dinners.
4. Can indigestion be caused by medicines?
Certain medicines, especially painkillers and antibiotics, can irritate the stomach and cause indigestion.
5. What lifestyle changescan I make to improve indigestion?
Simple lifestyle changes like regular meals, stress management, proper sleep, and healthy food habits can significantly improve indigestion.
6. Can indigestion cause bad taste or sour eructations?
Yes. Sour, bitter, or acidic taste in the mouth often accompanies indigestion.
7. How is indigestion diagnosed?
Indigestion is usually diagnosed based on symptoms and medical history. Physical examination is often sufficient in most cases.
8. Are tests always required for indigestion?
Most cases of indigestion do not require tests unless symptoms are severe, persistent, or unusual.
9. Can indigestion cause acidity or gastritis?
Yes. Long-standing indigestion can irritate the stomach lining and lead to gastritis.
10. Can indigestion cause ulcers?
Chronic indigestion, especially when associated with excess acid or H. pylori infection, may contribute to peptic ulcer formation.
12. Can indigestion affect mental health?
Ongoing digestive discomfort can increase anxiety, irritability, and restlessness.