Chronic gastritis - Naturopathy

The most common sign and symptoms of gastritis are: 

• Gnawing or burning ache or pain in the upper abdomen 
• Nausea
• Bloating, burping, and belching
• Vomiting
• A feeling of fullness in the upper abdomen after intake of food
• Indigestion & loss of appetite

Naturopathy aims to treat the whole person that implies the mind, body, and spirit. It heals the diseases from the root, not just stop the symptoms.

Similar to the other treatment, in naturopathy, first the assessment of the health is done by an expert where a person is examined not only physically, but also emotionally. At this stage, the patient will be interrogated with questions based on his/her medical history, condition, lifestyle and eating habits, and any traditional treatment that he/she might be undergoing. An expert will make use of interventional methods like iris testing, assessment of the nails, and the tongue, etc to evaluate the patient’s medical health. Depending on the condition of the patient, he/she may also have to perform various tests such as stool test, hair test, or blood test, if needed.

After the complete assessment of the health, the doctor will get an idea and come up with a prescription that caters to the entire body of the patient. Then, the treatment course will start followed by a change in diet and lifestyle, massages & various therapies such as acupuncture, hydrotherapy, colon therapy, etc,  herbal medicines and fitness session such as Yoga & meditation, pranayama session, and relaxation techniques, etc to heal the disease from the root.

The system of Naturopathy is a comprehensive one, which needs a deep understanding of the patient. Hence the diagnosis aims at finding the fundamental cause behind the disease.  A well-trained naturopath will first ask the patient about diet, lifestyle, family background, environment, stress levels, previous medical history, or complaints. After taking a detailed assessment, the naturopath may use some other techniques such as analysis of blood, stool, and urine analysis, hair analysis, functional testing, iridology, kinesiology, etc to get an insight into the patient’s body. Then, after the extensive examination of the body, the expert will come up with the prescription that what treatment plan will best suit the patients to heal the disease from the root.

Risk factors are factors that do not seem to be a direct cause of any diseases but seem to be associated in any way. A risk factor makes the chance of getting a condition higher to suffer from it but does not always lead towards Gastritis. Some common risk factors of Gastritis are: 

• Bacterial infection
• Regular use of pain relievers like aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen can cause both acute gastritis and chronic gastritis. 
• As the age passes, the risk to develop gastritis increases because, with the age, the stomach lining becomes thin, and also older adults are more likely to possess H. pylori infection or autoimmune disorders than younger people.
• Excessive use of alcohol can erode the stomach lining, which makes the stomach more sensitive to digestive juices.
• Severe stress due to major surgery, burns, injury, or severe infections can cause gastritis.
• Other diseases and conditions: Gastritis could also be associated with other medical conditions such as HIV/AIDS, Crohn's disease, and parasitic infections.
• Attacking cells in the stomach: When the body attacks the cells that make up the stomach lining, the reaction can wear away at the stomach’s protective barrier. 

Different factors cause gastritis. Some preventive measures need to be taken in day-to-day life which reduces the chance of getting suffered from Gastritis. These are: 

• Take a healthy, balanced diet rich in antioxidants, fiber, and probiotics 
• Take fermented products such as yogurt, kefir, sour bread, sauerkraut, and kimchi
• Avoid smoking
• Avoid or reduce the use of NSAIDs, sometimes by talking to a doctor about other medications
• Practice good personal hygiene such as wash the hands frequently
• Exercising regularly
• Drink plenty of water to remain hydrated
• Manage stress and pain with relaxation techniques and practices, like meditation, yoga, controlled breathing, and acupuncture.

Naturopathy with a holistic and non-invasive approach offers a result-driven treatment to get rid of Gastritis permanently. Naturopathy believes in healing the body in the best natural way without any dependency on supplements or drugs. 

The treatment focuses to reduce discomfort and pain intensity, reduce the frequency of episodes of gastritis, prevent a recurrence, and manage associated health conditions. It looks at the plausible cause and trigger factors. The treatment methods include changes in lifestyle and dietary changes, the use of various therapies and massages such as mud therapy, hydrotherapy, colon therapy, etc. Naturopathy greatly emphasizes on regulating and striking the mind-body balanced through Yoga asanas, pranayama, and meditation session along with several other techniques to get rid of gastritis permanently. 

• Customized therapy such as acupressure & acupuncture, etc, and massages 
• Steam and sauna bath
• Regular yoga, meditation, and physical exercise session
• Diet therapy
• Intake of herbal juices and herbal tea
• Recommended changes to improve the quality of sleep
• Evaluation of personal lifestyle and fitness on a daily basis

Note: The treatment would be recommended to patient depending on their health condition as well as presence of any other health problems.