 In Naturopathy, the natural remedy for gastritis is to take on a fast in both acute and chronic cases. In acute cases, the patient will usually recover after a short fast of two or three days. In chronic condition, the fast may have to be continued for a longer period of seven days or so. The fast may be conducted on fruit juices. By fasting, the intake of irritants is at once successfully stopped, the stomach is rested and the toxic condition, causing the inflammation, is allowed to settle. After the acute symptoms subside, the patient should adopt an all-fruit diet for further three days. Juicy fruits such as apple, pear, grapes, orange, pineapple, peach and melon may be taken during this period at five-hourly intervals.
The patient can after that gradually embarks upon a well balanced diet of three basic food groups, namely: (i) seeds, nuts and grains, (ii) vegetables, and (iii) fruits on the following lines: Breakfast: Fresh fruits, such as apples, orange, banana, grapes, grapefruit or any available berries, a handful of raw nuts and a glass of milk. Mid-morning snack: One apple, banana, or any other fruit. Lunch: Steamed vegetables, two or three slices of whole meal bread or whole wheat chappatis, according to the appetite and a glass of butter milk. Mid-afternoon: A glass of fresh fruit or vegetable juice or sugarcane juice. 
Dinner: A large bowl of fresh salad of green vegetables such as tomatoes, carrots, red beets, cabbage, and cucumber with dressing of lemon juice and cold-pressed vegetable oil, all accessible sprouts such as alfalfa seeds, fresh butter and fresh home made cottage cheese.
Bed time snacks: A glass of fresh milk or one apple.
The use of alcohol, nicotine, spices, and condiments, flesh foods, chilies, sour things, pickles, strong tea and coffee should be avoided by the patient. He should also avoid sweets, pastries, cakes and aerated waters. Carrot juice in combination with the juice of spinach is considered highly advantageous in the treatment of gastritis. Too many different foods should not be mixed at the same meal. Meals should be taken at least two hours before going to bed at night. Eight to ten glasses of water should be taken on a daily basis but water should not be taken with meals as it dilutes the digestive juices and delays digestion. And above all, haste should be avoided while eating and meals should be served in a pleasant and relaxed atmosphere. Coconut water is an excellent food remedy for gastritis. It gives the stomach needed rest and provides vitamins and minerals. The stomach will be significantly helped in returning to its normal condition if nothing except coconut water is given during the first twenty four hours. Rice gruel is another effective medication in acute cases of gastritis. In chronic cases where the flow of gastric juice is meagre, such foods as require prolonged vigorous mastication will be beneficial as this induces a greater flow of gastric juices. From the beginning of the treatment, a warm water enema should be used on a daily basis, for about a week, to cleanse the bowels. If constipation is habitual, all steps should be taken for its eradication. The patient should be given daily a dry friction and sponge bath. Application of heat, through hot compressor or hot water bottle twice in the day either on an empty stomach or two hours after meals, should also prove beneficial. The patient should not undertake any hard physical and mental work. He should, however, undertake breathing and other light exercises like walking, swimming, and golf. He should avoid worries and mental tension. |
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