Herbs for hyperacidity

In addition to taking acid-neutralizing antacids, doctors recommend following a diet and using herbs for high acidity.

Increased secretion of hydrochloric acid and its excess in the gastric juice causes characteristic dyspeptic and pain syndromes: heaviness in the stomach after eating, heartburn, sour belching, pain in the epigastric region with an empty stomach, constipation. If these symptoms occur and, moreover, appear constantly, you need to go to a gastroenterologist to accurately determine the acidity level with the help of intragastric pH-metry, diagnose a specific pathology and begin treatment.

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Indications for the use of herbs for high acidity

Acid-dependent diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, in which herbs that reduce acidity can help, include: gastritis with increased secretion (acute and chronic), gastroesophageal reflux (reflux of gastric juice into the esophagus), peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum, ulcerative colitis, gastroduodenitis with increased acidity, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (pancreatic gastrinoma).

Doctors also include damage to the gastric mucosa, which often occurs after long-term use of certain medications, in particular, acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, among the pathologies in which it is advisable to use herbs that reduce acidity.

Herbal treatment for increased stomach acidity

Among the wide variety of plants with medicinal properties, herbalists use calendula (marigold), chamomile, yarrow, marsh cudweed, peppermint, calamus, St. John's wort, centaury, fireweed, etc. in herbal treatment of increased stomach acidity.

In many sources you can find recipes for decoctions and infusions of medicinal herbs for increased acidity, which include a wonderful plant - knotweed, also known as knotweed. Indeed, this herb, which grows near every rural hut, is used to treat gastritis, but only with normal or low acidity.

The same can be said about plantain. Glycosides, flavonoids and phytoncides of plantain leaves have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, which are manifested not only in bronchitis, but also in acute and chronic gastritis. But plantain preparations, as well as its decoctions or infusions prepared at home, are not used for gastritis against the background of increased acidity of the stomach.

Another plant - bogbean - is also mentioned in some herbal mixtures to reduce acidity. However, true experts in medicinal plants claim that this herb is recommended for stomach diseases and gastritis with low acidity. This plant contains bitter glycosides meniantin and meliatin, which - like any bitters - stimulate the digestive center and thus increase the production of gastric juice.

Pharmacodynamics of herbs for high acidity

The mechanism of therapeutic action, i.e. the pharmacodynamics of herbs for increased acidity, is based on the multifaceted positive effect that all chemical components of plants have on the human body: flavonoids, alkaloids, glycosides, tannins, saponins, macro- and microelements, organic acids, essential oils, etc.

Studies of the action of plant biologically active components at the molecular-cellular level are constantly being conducted. However, the exact mechanism of how the substances contained in many herbs behave has not yet been clarified. It is also unknown how the parietal cells of the gastric mucosa that produce hydrochloric acid react to the components of specific medicinal plants. And it is still unknown what biochemical processes occur between the biologically active substances of medicinal herbs and the hormones (gastrin, histamine and acetylcholine) that stimulate the production of hydrochloric acid, which are synthesized by the endocrine cells of the stomach.

Regarding the pharmacokinetics of herbs with increased acidity, it can be said that in nature, including in the microbiology of humans and the plant world, there is still a lot that is unexplored.

Herbs for gastritis with high acidity

The presence of chamomile in many herbal mixtures for gastritis with high acidity is explained by the versatility of this medicinal plant. Its main biologically active substance, chamazulene, has a strong anti-inflammatory and regenerating effect. And the glycoside apiin provides the antispasmodic effect of chamomile.

Biologically active substances, which calendula is rich in, act as bactericides, that is, they relieve various inflammations. In addition, they help restore damaged tissues, including the gastric mucosa. Licorice root contains almost three dozen flavonoids, many of which relieve spasms well, kill bacteria, block inflammation and normalize the process of producing gastric enzymes. Calamus rhizomes contain the glycoside acorin, which improves digestion, as well as essential oil, which is active against pathogenic and opportunistic microbes. Wormwood is in no way inferior, which contains absinthin and anabsinthin glycosides, which are extremely useful for gastritis, as well as turpentine alcohol - tujol.

Peppermint also successfully copes with stomach cramps and helps reduce the acidity of gastric juice - thanks to the action of its essential oil, ursolic and oleanolic acids and betaine.

The list of herbs for gastritis with high acidity would be incomplete without the Ivan-tea (narrow-leaved fireweed), known since time immemorial. Its unique anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic qualities show their therapeutic effect in any secretory pathologies of the stomach.

Herbs for high stomach acidity

In the complex therapy of a number of diseases of the digestive system, medicinal herbs are used for increased stomach acidity.

In case of hypersecretion of hydrochloric acid, herbalists recommend the following water infusions:

• centaury herb - 2 parts, St. John's wort herb - 2 parts, peppermint leaves - 1 part. Brew the herbal mixture (at the rate of a tablespoon per glass of water) with boiling water, let it brew for an hour and a half, strain. Take 150 ml three times a day 30-40 minutes before meals.
• in equal parts - chamomile, licorice root, fennel fruits (or dill seeds), peppermint. Pour boiling water (500 ml) over two tablespoons of the herbal mixture, leave for 2.5-3 hours, strain. Drink a third of a glass three times a day - an hour after meals.
• yarrow herb (3 parts), St. John's wort herb (3 parts), chamomile (3 parts), celandine (1 part). Pour a glass of boiling water over a tablespoon of the herbal mixture, leave it under a lid for about an hour, strain. Take a third of a glass 30 minutes before meals - three times a day.

Method of administration and dosage

The only way to use medicinal herbs for high acidity is internally, in the form of a decoction (with boiling) or infusion (without boiling). By the way, it is very convenient to use a small thermos to prepare herbal infusions.

The following composition is considered to be a basic herbal mixture that reduces acidity: marsh cudweed (9 tablespoons), birch leaf (7 tablespoons), calendula (5 tablespoons), chamomile (3 tablespoons), wormwood (1 tablespoon), yarrow (1 tablespoon). Take a tablespoon of the herbal mixture, brew it with 500 ml of boiling water, leave it in a closed container for at least an hour, and then strain it. The dosage of this infusion is half a glass 3-4 times a day - about an hour after meals. For chronic gastritis, you can add natural honey to the infusion (half a teaspoon per dose, that is, per half a glass).

For diseases associated with high acidity, the following decoction of medicinal herbs is also recommended: marsh cudweed (4 parts), fireweed (4 parts), calendula (3 parts), calamus rhizome (2 parts), peppermint (1 part).

Pour a glass of boiling water over a tablespoon of the herbal mixture, bring to a boil, cover the container with a lid and let it brew for an hour. Method of administration and dosage: take two tablespoons orally three times a day - 25-30 minutes before meals.

As for overdose, as well as the interaction of herbs with other drugs in case of increased acidity, then, as phytotherapists claim, there are usually no problems here. Because the herbal infusion acts gently, the active substances of the plants used do not accumulate in the body, and the effect of antacid drugs prescribed by the doctor does not contradict the therapeutic focus of phytotherapy.

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Contraindications and side effects

However, as they say, for every barrel of honey there is always a fly in the ointment... The popular belief that medicinal herbs cannot harm human health is not true. All contraindications to the use of herbs for high acidity are directly related to their possible side effects.

And the side effects of herbs for high acidity are the following:

• St. John's wort (if taken over a long period of time) can cause narrowing of blood vessels, which leads to an increase in blood pressure;
• Naked licorice can also raise blood pressure and lead to the formation of edema. In addition, this plant stimulates the production of hormones;
• Wormwood, when used for a long time, can cause muscle cramps and even hallucinations. This herb should not be used during pregnancy;
• Marsh cudweed is not used for low blood pressure, since its active substances dilate small blood vessels;
• yarrow can cause dizziness and skin rashes, as well as decreased blood pressure. Moreover, medicinal collections with yarrow are absolutely contraindicated for those who have increased blood clotting and problems with veins in the legs. For this reason, it is strictly forbidden to use this plant during pregnancy.

By the way, independent use of herbs for increased acidity during pregnancy and lactation without a doctor’s recommendation is unacceptable.

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Storage conditions for herbs in high acidity conditions

In order for medicinal plants to retain their natural properties, not to spoil and not to absorb moisture and foreign odors, they should be stored in glass containers with a lid. The optimal temperature is room temperature. The shelf life is 2 years, but it should be borne in mind that the longer dry herbs are stored, the less their therapeutic potential.

Normalizing the secretory function of the stomach - with the help of an appropriate diet and adequate medication - is within the power of anyone who takes their health seriously. And herbs for increased acidity can help with this.