Aloe Vera Juice to Soothe Gastritis and Heartburn

Many studies have claimed the efficacy of aloe vera juice in gastritis.

Aloe vera has long been revered for its soothing and healing properties. From skincare to hair care to body care, Aloe vera has a special place in every regime because of its incredible healing properties.

The humble plant contains several beneficial compounds, including vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and amino acids. It can help alleviate inflammation and promote healing in the gastrointestinal tract. Just drinking a glass of Aloe vera juice every day can keep your digestive woes away.

Also Read: 10 Natural Home Remedies for Acid Reflux

The rising cases of Gastritis and Heartburn – A case study

The cases of gastritis and heartburn are witnessing an unprecedented rise because of unhealthy dietary habits, high stress, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, and increasing use of medications. Here is a case study that highlights how simple habits of modern life are contributing to the rise of gastritis.

Smriti, a 40-year-old mother of two kids, works as a designer in an advertising agency. Her work demands long hours in front of the computer. In addition to this, she spends hours creating invoices, attending pitch meetings and convincing clients about new design concepts. The highly competitive nature of her profession created undue stress and she started relying on coffee for sprouts of creativity.

Be it meeting with her clients, brainstorming with the team, or sitting at the desk working on the computer, her cup was never empty. She was gulping down 10 to 12 cups of coffee every day!

Smriti is not the only patient I know who is suffering from this high-pressure work regime. Today, most professionals have to be on their toes to keep their jobs safe. This takes a toll on their mental, physical, and emotional health and the first sign of such burnout is digestive issues.

Treating Gastritis and Heartburn

Smriti developed acute upper abdominal pain, which forced her to visit a doctor. The GP examined and prescribed pantoprazole and antacid gels. The doctor recommended she cut down on her coffee intake. She tried taking the medicines and following the doctor’s advice, but it lasted only for a few days.

Her epigastric pain resurfaced. When she visited the doctor, he repeated the same prescription and advice. This kept on happening every now and then. But she struggled to find a permanent cure and with time, it kept getting worse. The gruelling work and strict deadlines were causing high stress and food became her comforter.

She kept gulping coffee and munching cookies, which caused havoc in the gut. It also triggered cravings for sugar, obesity, and a poor sleep cycle. The vicious cycle went on, until one day when she fell so ill that she vomited in the office and could not stand the chest pain.

Her colleagues rushed her to the hospital and the doctors put her on emergency care. They ran an echocardiogram, CT Scan of the abdomen, and MRI of the brain along with a series of blood tests. The reports looked normal. Finally, they ran an endoscopy which revealed that she was suffering from a gastric ulcer.

The doctor advised her to follow a bland diet and prescribed a few medicines. This helped her recover and she could even resume work. But soon it was again the same – high work pressure, high dose of caffeine, junk look, sleepless nights, followed by abdominal pain!

Also Read: 7 Ayurvedic Home Remedies for acidity relief

Using Aloe Vera Juice to Soothe Gastritis and Heartburn

Since, every time she was doing the same things and getting the same temporary results, Smriti decided to try alternate medicines in the hope of a permanent cure. One of her friends recommended her to consult me and she booked an appointment immediately.

I understood her history of abdominal pain and took into account her diet, lifestyle and other health details. I understood her concerns and asked her to drink Aloe Vera juice 30 ml every day in the morning on an empty stomach and before dinner. Along with this, I also asked her to drink 12 glasses of water without a miss.

Since she was struggling with coffee, I guided her in learning how to quit coffee and effectively manage stress by introducing her to Yoga Nidra, a powerful relaxation technique. Through my guidance, she gained a deeper understanding of the practice and its numerous benefits.

The Aloe Vera juice worked wonders. Smriti completely recovered from gastric ulcer within two months. The endoscopy result confirmed the same.  It’s been three years since she visited me and not a single day did she have any discomfort or abdominal pain. Thanks to the magical healing properties of Aloe Vera juice. 

How does Aloe vera juice help with curing gastritis and heartburn?

Aloe Vera gel has been in vogue since the reign of Cleopatra. The gel from the leaf was used as skin dressing to treat burns and minor wounds. The gel forms the basis of aloe vera juice, given to treat people with digestive disorders, heartburn, and ulcers.

Aloe vera juice and gel are packed with antioxidants and antibiotics, therefore, work as stimulators of cell growth and have scar and pain inhibitor properties. Extensive research proves that aloe vera reduces cholesterol levels, fights diabetes, acts as an effective detoxifying medicine, and contains anti-aging properties. 

Conclusion

Aloe Vera juice is one among the several herbal juices that are truly an Indian Ayurvedic phenomenon. Known as the swarasa therapy in Ayurveda, the tradition of drinking herbal juices was considered an effective medicine for wellness and illness. However, it waned due to non-availability, lack of awareness, and affordability issues over the years. 

However this rich, deep-rooted tradition is being revived, thanks to Ram Dev Baba. His vision, acumen, and meticulous marketing campaign, combined with an incredible networking ability have brought back India’s glorious traditions. But for his tremendous campaigns, this erstwhile herbal juice-making cottage industry, producing only a few liters of herbal juices and catering only to a select few, would not have gained the popularity it enjoys today. 

The herbal juice industry has grown to a multi-million dollar empire across India and the Indian diaspora. Many small-scale industries and MNCs have entered the fray in order to cater to the elite and the common man alike. 

Today India’s health consciousness has increased to a greater extent. People are constantly choosing lifestyle products and treatments that include herbal juices and organic foods, to live longer and healthier. 

(Note: The name of the individuals in this article has been changed to Smriti to ensure their privacy.)