Amlapitta: Acidity, Heartburn, Gastritis

Introduction
Hetu (Causative factors)
Treatment
Commonly used drugs
Pathya-apathya (dos and don'ts)

Introduction
It is said that vata, pitta and kapha, the three doshas present in the human body are found in the grahani (duodenum), which is considered as the seat of digestive fire or agni. For details chcek out Doshas and Ayurveda Body Types. It is also said that eating and fasting during indigestion leads to problems like acidity, heartburn, gastritis, which is referred as Amlapitta, in Ayurveda.

Hetu (Causative factors of Amlapitta)

Incompatible combination of food consumption (viruddha anna)
Impure food (Dushta anna)
Sour food
Spicy food causing burning sensation like pickles, papad etc.
Food and drinks that cause increase in pitta or acidity.

Symptoms of Acidity (Amlapitta)

In Ayurveda, Amla pitta is classified in three main categories, namely:

UrdhwagaAmplapitta (upward)
Adhoga Amplapitta (downward)
Amlapitta caused by Vata, Pitta & Kapha

Urdhvaga (upward) Amla Pitta Symptoms

Vomiting of sour material that is similar to mutton wash, thin, sticky, followed by kapha.
Vomiting with bitter or sour taste often due to empty stomach.
Belching of similar nature.
Burning sensation in the chest, upper abdomen and throat, in the palms and soles.
Headache
Burning sensation
Loss of appetite.
Fever
Appearance of rasnas.
Circular itching on the skin.

Adhoga (downward) Amlapitta Symptoms

The symptoms are like thirst, burning sensation, fainting, giddiness, diarrhea, oppression in the chest, skin Rashes

Amla Pitta Symptoms Due to Vata, Pitta & Kapha

There are various symptons of amlapitta or acidity, heartburn, gastritis caused by Vata, Pitta & Kapha. Symptons caused by vata are like tremors, fainting, feeling of pins and needles, weakness, darkness before the eyes, giddiness, delusion. Amla pitta symptoms caused by pitta are like expectoration of thick phlegm, loss of appetite, feeling of heaviness, coldness, vomiting, coating on the tongue, strength loss, skin itching, sleepy etc. Similarly for amla pitta caused by kapha and pitta both, the symptoms are sour and pungent tastes, burning sensation in the chest, giddiness, loss of appetite, faiting, vomiting etc.

Treatment of Acidity Using Ayurveda

Ayurvedic Medication recommended for Amlapitta (upward evacuation):

Emesis with mild emetic drugs and downward evacuation with laxatives.
After evacuation, the body of the patient should be purified and snehapana (oleation therapy) and shaman chikitsa ahara (pacificatory management) should be administered.
Anuvasana basti (or enema prepared with unctuous substances and medicament).
Samshodhan Chikitsa in which all the three doshas are vitiated in amla pitta samshodhan (evacuation).

Ayurvedic Medication recommended for urdhvaga amlapitta (upward amlapitta):

Vamana or emesis · adhog amlapitta (downward amlapitta) virechana (or evacuation by purgatives and laxatives).
For patients with dominance of kapha dosha, decoction of parval leaves, neem-leaves madanphala, honey and saindhav should be given for emesis or nishottar powder added with kwath should be given to a patient as a purgative.
Edibles made of yava (barley) and godhuma (wheat) should be given to patients without salt, red chilli powder or sour and pungent in taste.
Sugar and honey with Laja sattu should be regularly taken in diet.

Commonly Used Ayurvedic Medicines

Choorna: Panchanimbadi, Choorna Trikautkadya Choorna, Choorna Avipattikar.
Madhu pippali yoga: Eladi Choorna, Pippali choorna with honey should be given in the morning.
Rasakalpa:Amlapittatank, Rasa Leelavilas Rasa,Sootshekhar Rasa
Ghrita:Yashtimadhu grhita,Shatavari grhita,Jitakadya grhita
Avaleha:Khanda Kushmanda avaleha, Haridra khanda yoga,Pippali Khanda