A Mind-Body Approach to Indigestion & Ulcers
Lately, I have been under a lot of stress and emotional pain. Even though I try my best to keep a healthy diet and regular mindfulness practice, I have recently started feeling symptoms of stomach acidity and ulcers. These include frequent burping, acid reflux and indigestion.
"Just because a symptom is common, it doesn't mean it is normal."
These symptoms seem really benign at first, but if left untreated they can progress to more serious gut imbalances, so it is important to tackle them as soon as they show up. Remember, just because a symptom is common, it doesn't mean it is normal.
At the First Sign of Gut Imbalance, Go Back to the Basics
There is so much information out there in regards to healing your gut naturally, and you might feel overwhelmed. When experiencing gut problems, it is important to go back to the basics and work with a holistic health care practitioner if you are able to.
Going back to the basics mean:
Eat a diet rich in whole foods that agree with you. It might include as vegetables, pasture-raised/wild caught animal products, and whole fruits and grains. Remember everyone reacts to foods differently. At this point, avoid any foods known to cause sensitivity.
Avoid processed foods (that come in a package, or fast foods) and refined sugars.
You might also want to avoid common inflammatory foods such as gluten, dairy, soy and sugar. That being said, a lot of practitioners believe in the power of raw dairy and fermented whole and organic soy products. It is up to you to experiment and see what works for YOU!
Take a break from your coffee and alcohol intake.
Drink lots of water in between meals. Add a dash of Real Redmond Salt, and other nourishing foods like marshmallow tea, chamomile, ginger juice, etc.
Add foods that soothes the digestive system and control H. Pylori, such as bone broth, aloe vera, cabbage juice and cooked vegetables. Dr. Axe explains in more detail here.
Support Your Gut Health with Yoga and Ayurveda by Ekata
As you know, I am a fan of a taking a mind-body approach to physical ailments. In my quest to find a yoga practice supportive of my digestive health, I came across Yoga with Ekata's Youtube Channel, and a wonderful Yoga sequence for Acidity & Ulcers. See below:
Ekata is a 500-hour certified yoga teacher from Bangalore, India. She was trained in the Sivananda Ashram and focuses on prenatal yoga and nutrition. Her sequence includes twists and poses laying down, which helps energy flow through your digestive system and also offers physical stimulation to the stomach, intestines, liver and other digestive organs.
She also includes a few Ayurvedic tips on how to manage stomach acidity and ulcers, which I couldn't agree more!
Start your day with a glass of warm water.
Every morning take 1 tbsp aloe-vera juice, diluted in 1 tbsp water.
Drink 2-3 liters (0.2-0.5 gallons) of warm water during the day.
Avoid drinking water or juice while eating.
Eat frequent small meals every 2 hours, to avoid acid production.
Do Not Skip Professional Care
It is true we can do a great deal of self-healing through diet, lifestyle and exercise. However, I am a big proponent of working together with holistic practitioner to get the correct testing and diagnosis in order to arrive at a targeted healing protocol, which might also include a specific supplementation schedule.
Ask your provider about different Comprehensive Stool Analyses such as those from Great Plain Labs or Diagnostic Solutions. These will help you understand if you have any infections or parasites that might be causing your symptoms.
Like these tips? Give Ekata a follow on her Youtube Channel or Instagram Page, and sign-up for my newsletter!
Yoga Knowledge Disclaimer
I am currently studying yoga through the Bhodi Yoga Center. Bodhi Yoga™ is a therapeutic style of yoga that benefits beginners and challenges advanced students of any age or ability. It utilizes the power of the "slow approach," where the journey is as important as the destination.
Consult your physician before starting any new intense workout regimen.
Yoga is a ancient tradition linked to Indian cultures. I am not of Indian cultural descent and try to practice yoga from a place of learning and deep respect for cultures that made this practice available for all of us. Any yogic knowledge you see on this page was not created or invented by me, rather established and practiced for thousands of years. For more information on the history of Yoga, click here and visit the Indian Yoga Association webpage.
