Gastritis and Homoeopathy
Abstract:
Gastritis is a common disease of GIT. It is an inflammation of gastric mucosa. It can be acute or chronic. Symptoms include epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting, bloating, indigestion, etc. Homoeopathy is very helpful for such cases of gastritis with an individualized approach in management of gastritis. This article aims to highlight the role of individualized homoeopathic medicines which have peculiar symptoms in the management of gastritis. Remedies such as lycopodium, carbo veg, Nux vom, Arsenicum album, Sulphur, etc., are commonly used in day to day practice.
Keywords: Gastritis, Homoeopathic remedies, Individualization
Etiology:
∙ Bacterial factor: Colonization of gastric mucosa by H. pylori causing chronic inflammation
∙ Drug-induced gastritis: Long-standing NSAID therapy leading to mucosal damage
∙ Alcohol-related injury: Regular heavy intake causing epithelial irritation and erosion
∙ Smoking-related risk: Decreased mucosal protection and delayed repair mechanisms
∙ Stress-related gastritis: Gastric inflammation secondary to severe physical stress or illness
∙ Infective causes: Viral, fungal, and parasitic organisms leading to gastric mucosal injury
∙ Autoimmune mechanisms: Immune-mediated destruction of gastric lining cells
∙ Dietary triggers: Excessive intake of spicy, oily, sugary, processed foods and caffeine
∙ Chemical irritation: Reflux of bile from duodenum into stomach
∙ Age-related changes: Reduced mucosal thickness and regenerative ability in elderly
∙ Associated disorders: Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, HIV infection, chemotherapy-induced mucosal damage
Pathophysiology:
Acute Gastritis
This is also called erosive or haemorrhagic gastritis. Of these, the most common cause is use of aspirin and other non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These agents cause gastric mucosal damage by inhibiting prostaglandins, gastric bicarbonate and mucous, disrupting epithelial tight junctions and altering gastric mucosal micro-circulation. The mucosal damage can result in either slow upper GI bleeding which can be detected as positive faecal occult blood test or can manifest as massive upper GI bleeding. In some patients, epigastric discomfort, anorexia and nausea may be present.
Chronic Gastritis
Chronic gastritis progresses over years in three stages. In chronic superficial gastritis, there is infiltration of lymphocytes and plasma cells in the lamina propria; however, the mucosal thickness is normal. In atrophic gastritis, there is reduction in the gastric glands (parietal and chief cells) along with infiltration of plasma cells and lymphocytes. When there is associated poly morpho nuclear cells infiltration, gastritis is termed active. In gastric atrophy, glands are lost, mucosal thickness is reduced, infiltration of lymphocytes and plasma cells is minimal and there may be foci of intestinal metaplasia.
Dietary Management:
Eat slowly and chew properly
Eat a light diet regularly and at regular times.
Avoid spicy food, alcohol, smoking, caffeinated drinks and food that is allergic to you. Slow walking after meals.
Avoid sleeping immediately after meals
Homoeopathic Remedies:
Pulsatilla
Averse to fat food, warm food, and drink. Eructations; taste of food remains a long time; after ices, fruits, pasty. Bitter taste, diminished taste of all food. Pain as from subcutaneous ulceration. Flatulence. Dislikes butter (Sang). Heartburn. Dyspepsia, with great tightness after a meal; must loosen clothing. Thirstlessness, with nearly all complaints. Vomiting of food eaten long before. Pain in stomach an hour after eating (Nux). Weight as from a stone, especially in the morning on awakening. Gnawing, hungry feeling (Abies c). Perceptible pulsation in the pit of the stomach (Asaf). All-gone sensation, especially in tea drinkers. Waterbrash, with foul taste in the morning.
Sulphur
Complete loss of, or excessive appetite. Putrid eructation. Food tastes too salty. Drinks much, eats little. Milk disagrees. Great desire for sweets (Arg nit). Great acidity, sour eructation. Burning, painful, weight-like pressure. Very weak and faint about 11 am; must have something to eat. Nausea during gestation. Water fills the patient up.
Nux Vomica
Sour taste, and nausea in the morning, after eating. Weight and stomach pain in stomach; worse, eating, some time after. Flatulence and pyrosis. Sour, bitter eructations. Nausea and vomiting, with much retching. Ravenous hunger, especially about a day before an attack of dyspepsia. Region of stomach very sensitive to pressure (Bry; Ars). Epigastrium bloated, with the pressure of a stone, several hours after eating. Desire for stimulants. Loves fats and tolerates them well (Puls opposite). Dyspepsia from drinking strong coffee. Difficult belching of gas. Wants to vomit, but cannot.
Cabo Vegalis
Eructations, heaviness, fullness, and sleepiness; tense from flatulence, with pain; worse lying down. Eructations after eating and drinking. Temporary relief from belching. Rancid, sour, or putrid eructations. Waterbrash, asthmatic breathing from flatulence. Nausea in the morning. Burning in the stomach, extending to the back and along the spine. Contractive pain extending to chest, with distention of abdomen. Faint gone feeling in stomach, not relieved by eating. Crampy pains forcing patients to bend double. Distress comes on a half-hour after eating. Sensitivity of epigastric region. Digestion slow; food putrefies before it digests. Gastralgia of nursing women, with excessive flatulence, sour, rancid belching. Aversion to milk, meat, and fat things. The simplest food distresses. The epigastric region is very sensitive.
Arsenicum Album
Cannot bear the sight or smell of food. Great thirst; drinks much, but little at a time. Nausea, retching, vomiting, after eating or drinking. Anxiety in the pit of stomach. Burning pain. Craves acids and coffee. Heartburn; gulping up of acid and bitter substances which seem to excoriate the throat. Long-lasting eructations. Vomiting of blood, bile, green mucus, or brown-black mixed with blood. Stomach extremely irritable; seems raw, as if torn. Gastralgia from slightest food or drink. Dyspepsia from vinegar, acids, ice-cream, ice-water, tobacco. Terrible fear and dyspnśa, with gastralgia; also faintness, icy coldness, great exhaustion. Malignant symptoms. Everything swallowed seems to lodge in the śsophagus, which seems as if closed and nothing would pass. Ill effects of vegetable diet, melons, and watery fruits generally. Craves milk.
Conclusion:
Despite the involvement of infective, drug-related, lifestyle, and stress factors in gastritis, homoeopathy emphasizes individualisation by addressing causation, characteristic symptomatology, and personal response patterns, providing a holistic approach especially suited to chronic and stress-associated gastritis.
References:
1. Harrison’s principles of internal medicine [21st edition]
2. Pocket Manual of Homoeopathic Materia Medica & Repertory by William Boericke.
3. Organon of medicine by Dr Samuel Hahnemann [ 6th Edition]
