Indigestion

Dyspepsia
Indigestion or Dyspepsia manifest with abdominal pain or discomfort, often with bloating, belching and nausea. The symptoms are often intermittent and may be aggravated by diet, stress, irregular eating habits etc.

As Hippocrates said “All Disease begins in the Stomach”, indigestion can be viewed as the instigator or origin of many diseases. From a Traditional Medicine point of view, the signs of indigestion indicate improper digestion which will result in poor quality blood, excess humors, and a build up of improperly digested dross in the system. Therefore, the treatment of Indigestion is very important.

The most important thing in treatment is to first stop feeding the problem. A food diary kept for a few weeks writing down any symptoms that appear after eating will often show inappropriate foods. Meal times should be regular, diet should be light, food should be chewed thoroughly and food intake should be reduced if overweight.

Ginger tea, prepared from fresh Ginger root is a wonderful stomach medicine, and taken before each meal can promote better digestion and enhance stomach function. It also helps to digest undigested matter.

It was common to have a formula that could be taken before food to stimulate appetite and awaken the stomach. This would often be a formula with Spices along with the aromatic seeds, as in Peptic Powder (see also 15 Powders to Warm the Stomach). These powders can also be taken after meals if symptoms such as belching, fullness, or nausea are felt.

See also


Diseases of the Stomach

Western Tradition

Digestionem confortant – Strengthen Digestion
Elixir Vitae (Tincture of Life)
Holy Tincture 
Aromatic Rose Powder (Aromaticum Rosatum)
Electuary of Apples

Electuary for Stomach Debility (Unani)
Hiera Logadii
Hiera Diacolocynth
Stomach Pills (Mesue)
Pills of Diarrhodon
Pilulae ante cibum (Nicolai)

Sama Sarkara Churna (Ayurveda)


Digestionem procurant – Benefit Digestion
Elixir Vitae (Tincture of Life)
Holy Tincture 
Vinegar of Squill
Aromatic Roe Powder (Aromaticum Rosatum)
Condited Citron
Condited Orange peel
Condited Quince
Condited Chebula

Powder of Ambergis (Diambra) (Mesue)
Powder of Cumin Greater (Diacyminum) (Nicholas)
Powder of Three Peppers (Diatrionpipereon) (Mesue)
Cooling Pearl Powder (Diamargariton
)
Electuary for Stomach Debility (Unani)
Electuary of Cumin (Diacyminum) (Mesue)
Confection to Strengthen the Stomach
Aromatic Pills of Aloes (Aloephangine) (Mesue)
Pills of Turbith
Trochisci de Gallia magna


Agnimurkh Churna
Nutmeg 14 (Dza ti bcu bzhi)
Pomegranate 5 (Se bru 5) (Tibetan Medicine)


Digestion, to Promote–Indigestion
Syrup of Mint

Elixir Vitae (Tincture of Life)
Holy Tincture 
Confected Chebulic Myrobalan
Ginger Conserve
Quince Conserve
Citron Peel confected

Aromatic Rose Powder (Aromaticum Rosatum)
Powder of Galangal Compound (Diagalanga) (Mesue)
Powder of Cumin Greater (Diacyminum) (Nicholas)
Diacalaminthum
Diatrion Pipereon

Confection to Strengthen the Stomach
Electuarium Acharistum (Nicholas)
Electuary for Stomach Debility (Unani)
Theriac of 4 Ingredients (Diatessaron)
Triphera Saracenica (Mesue)

Aromatic Pills of Aloes (Aloephangine) (Mesue)
Oil of Wormwood
Oil of Mint


Calamus 4 (Tibetan Medicine)
Costus 6 Powder (Ru rta drug pa) (Tibetan Medicine)
Rhododendron 9 (Dwa li dgu pa)
Pomegranate 8 Petalled Lotus (Se ‘bru pad ma ‘dab brgyad)
Pomegranate 9 Decoction (Se bru dgu thang) (Tibetan)
Pomegranate All Inclusive Pill (Se ‘bru kun ‘dus)
Powder of 8 Ingredients (Ayurveda)
Sama Sarkara Churna (Ayurveda)
Varahi’s Combination (Phag mo grub sbyor) (Tibetan)


Indigestion from Phlegm–Damp
Ginger Conserve
Elixir Vitae (Tincture of Life)
Holy Tincture 
Citron Peel confected
Powder of Galangal Compound (Diagalanga) (Mesue)

Diatrion Pipereon
Balancing Comforter (Bde byed snyoms)
Pomegranate 4 (Se ‘bru bzhi thang)
Pomegranate 5 (Se bru lnga pa)
Varahi’s Combination (Phag mo grub sbyor) 


Indigestion from Heat–Bile
Abbots Confect of Rose (Dairrhodon Abbatis)
Electuary for Stomach Debility (Unani)
Black Camphor 10 (Gar nag 10)
Great Black Combination (Sman nag chen mo)
Pomegranate 8 Petalled Lotus (Se ‘bru pad ma ‘dab brgyad)
Swertia 25 (Tig ta nyer lnga)


Indigestion from Wind–Qi Stagnation
Holy Tincture 
Aromatic Clove Powder (Aromaticum Caryophyllatum)
Powder of Cumin Greater (Diacyminum) (Nicholas)
Diacalaminthum
Diatrion Pipereon

Pacific 6 (Zhi byed drug pa)


Food, aversion to
Electuary of Aromatics
Aromatic Rose Powder (Aromaticum Rosatum)
Aromatic Clove Powder (Aromaticum Caryophyllatum)
Syrup of Mint



Nausea
Infusion of fresh Ginger
Syrup of Ginger
Syrup of Mint
Aromatic Rose Powder (Aromaticum Rosatum
)



Overeating
Vomiting was typically recommended.
Mint tea
Ginger tea
Lesser Cumin Composition (Diospoliticum) (Galen)
Confection to Strengthen the Stomach


Food Stagnation
Ginger tea
Lesser Cumin Composition (Diospoliticum) (Galen)
Confection to Strengthen the Stomach
Electuary for Stomach Debility (Unani)
TCM Classification

Indigestion

Qi Stagnation / Liver Qi Attacking Stomach
Indigestion that comes and goes, worse when stressed, epigastric pain, hypochondriac distention
Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang
Xiao Yao San
Mu Xiang Shun Qi Wan
Xiao Yao San
Yue Ju Wan
Costus 6 Powder (Ru rta drug pa) (Tibetan Medicine)


Phlegm Damp Obstruction
indigestion with fatigue, nausea, heaviness in the chest, excess mucus and saliva, foggy head, wanting to sleep, dizziness.
Er Chen Tang
Liu Jun Zi Tang
Ping Wei San
Shen Ling Bai Zhu San
Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang
Huo Xiang Zheng Qi Shui
Bu Huan Jin Zheng Qi San
Pomegranate 5 (Se bru 5) (Tibetan Medicine)


Spleen Qi Deficiency
chronic indigestion, pale face, shortness of breath, lethargy, loose stools.
Si Jun Zi Tang
Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang
Jian Pi Wan


Stomach and Spleen Cold
Indigestion, feels the cold, desire warm food and drink, aggravated by cold, pale tongue and face, white coat
Li Zhong Wan
Fu Zi Li Zhong Wan


Indigestion from Food Stagnation
See below

———————————

Food Stagnation
Upper abdominal and epigastric distension, foul belching, foul-smelling flatulence, bad breath, acid reflux, heart burn, constipation maybe alternating with diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, dirty tongue coating
Bao He Wan
Jian Pi Wan
Xiang Sha Ping Wei San
Mu Xiang Bing Lang Wan
Zhi Shi Dao Zhi Wan