In naturopathy the best way to commence the treatment for indigestion is to adopt an all-fruit diet for about five days. After the all-fruit diet, the patient may take to a restricted diet of easily digestible foods, consisting of lightly cooked vegetables, juicy fruits and buttermilk for about ten days. He may subsequently embark upon a well balanced diet. The use of fruits in general is advantageous in the treatment of indigestion. They flush out the undigested food reside and restore health to perfect order. Being rich in water, they clean body mechanisms thoroughly. The best among the fruits in dyspepsia is lemon. Its juice reaches the stomach and attacks the bacteria, inhabiting the formation of acids. Lemon juice removes indigestion by dislodging this acid and other harmful substances from the stomach, thereby strengthening and prompting a healthy appetite.
The orange is another valuable food remedy in chronic indigestion. It stimulates the flow of digestive juices thereby improving digestion and increasing appetite. It creates appropriate conditions for the development of friendly bacteria in the intestines. Another fruit useful in indigestion is grapes. They are a light food which removes indigestion and irritation of the stomach in a short time and relieves heat. Pineapple is also valuable. It acts as a tonic in dyspepsia and relieves much of the digestives disorders of dyspeptics. Half a glass of pineapple juice should be taken after a meal in this condition.
The sufferer from indigestion should never eat and drink together. Water or other liquids should be taken half an hour before and one hour after a meal. Milk, buttermilk and vegetables soups are, however, foods and can be taken with meals. The patient of indigestion should eat very slowly and chew food as thoroughly as possible. Food should not be taken if appetite is lacking. A meal or two can be missed if necessary, until real appetite returns. Vegetables should never be boiled but steamed. Eating raw vegetables and raw fruits should be avoided.
Yogic asanas such as ardh-matsyasana, sarvangasana, uttanapadasana, pavana muktasana, vajrasana, yogamudra, bhujangasana, salabhasana, and shavasana, kriyas like jalneti and kunjal, and pranayamas like kapalbhati, anuloma-viloma, and ujjai are extremely helpful in the treatment of indigestion. Light exercises such as walking, golf and swimming also help digestion. A daily enema should be administered to cleanse toxic bowel waste. Other beneficial water treatments include wet girdle pack applied at night, application of ice bags over the stomach half an hour after meals, a daily cold friction bath and alternate hot and cold hip baths at night. Massaging of the abdomen also helps in the cure of indigestion.
