Gastritis is the inflammation of the stomach lining or the mucosa. The stomach is a hollow muscular organ located in the upper left quadrant of the abdomen. It is a part of the digestive system. The top part of the stomach is connected to the esophagus, and the lower part is attached to the duodenum. The stomach wall is lined with several layers of different tissues. The layers – from the exterior to the interior – are serosa, muscularis externa, sub mucosa and mucosa.

Serosa is the outermost layer of the epithelial and connective tissue that is a part of the peritoneum. The next layer, or the muscularis externa, helps in churning, mixing the food, and propelling it towards the intestines by contracting and relaxing. The sub mucosa layer contains the blood vessels, lymphatics, and nerves. The inner most layer or the mucosa is a soft, smooth surfaced layer that contains gastric glands and gastric pits. The gastric glands have various cells that produce mucus, an enzyme named pepsinogen, hydrochloric acid and the gastric intrinsic factor which helps in absorbing vitamin B12. The mucus protects the stomach tissue from being eaten away, damaged, or corroded by its digestive secretions. The hydrochloric acid kills micro organisms swallowed along with food and activates pepsinogen into pepsin to help in digesting proteins.

Any factor that disrupts the protective mucus barrier of the stomach exposes the stomach tissue to harm by the strongly acidic stomach secretions. This results in the inflammation of the stomach lining or the mucosa and is called gastritis. Gastritis may be acute or short term and chronic or long term in nature. It can also be nonerosive or erosive. In nonerosive gastritis, only the stomach lining is inflamed. In erosive gastritis, the mucus lining erodes, which leads to breaks, sores or ulcers in the stomach lining. Another form of gastritis is atrophic gastritis in which the gastric gland cells are destroyed due to long term inflammation and replaced by intestinal and fibrous tissue. This leads to the impairment of the production of hydrochloric acid, pepsin, and gastric intrinsic factor. Atrophic gastritis is either the result of long term Helicobacter pylori infection or is autoimmune in origin.

Homeopathic treatment for gastritis is very effective. Homeopathic medicines help to reduce the inflammation of the stomach lining and the symptoms that arise subsequently. These medicines are selected for each case individually as per the presentation of symptoms. Homeopathic treatment for gastritis is very helpful for both short term and long standing gastritis. If started well in time, homeopathic treatment for gastritis is quite beneficial in preventing the development of sores and ulcers in the stomach lining. Top homeopathic medicines for gastritis are Arsenic Album, Argentum Nitricum, Phosphorus, Lycopodium, and Bismuth.

Causes and Symptoms of Gastritis

The primary causes of gastritis are infection with Helicobacter Pylori bacteria, excessive use of non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs, and high alcohol intake. Other predisposing factors for gastritis include stress, injuries, burns, smoking, and Crohn’s disease. A person suffering from autoimmune disorders like Hashimoto’s disease and Type 1 diabetes will be prone to gastritis. The signs and symptoms of gastritis include pain in the upper mid abdomen that may be burning, aching or gnawing in nature, fullness or distension of the stomach, nausea, vomiting, belching, loss of appetite and anemia.

Top Homeopathic Medicines for Gastritis

1. Arsenic Album – Homeopathic Medicine for Gastritis With Burning Pain in the Stomach

Arsenic Album is one of the top homeopathic medicines for gastritis. It works well when there is a burning pain in the stomach due to gastritis. Ingesting even a little food or drink worsens the pain. Taking something warm may bring relief. Acidic and cold things worsen the pain and burning. Other accompanying symptoms are weakness, exhaustion, weight loss, and intense anxiety.

2. Argentum Nitricum – Homeopathic Medicine for Gastritis From Chronic Alcohol Intake

Argentum Nitricum is an excellent homeopathic treatment for gastritis. It helps persons suffering from gastritis caused by chronic alcohol intake. A primary symptom for using Argentum Nitricum is a pain in the stomach which radiates to all parts of the abdomen. The pain may be gnawing, burning or constricting in nature. Another symptom is frequent belching. Distension of the abdomen may also occur. Argentum Nitricum is also an often used homeopathic medicine to treat ulcers in the stomach.

3. Phosphorus – Homeopathic Medicine for Gastritis Accompanied by Nausea and Vomiting

Phosphorus is an excellent homeopathic treatment for gastritis. Gastritis, accompanied by nausea and vomiting, is the main symptoms for the use of Phosphorus. In such cases, the patient throws up food by the mouthful. There is constant nausea and a soreness in the pit of the stomach. Water brash and heartburn are other features that may arise. Some patients also complain of bitter or sour belching.

4. Lycopodium – Homeopathic Medicine for Gastritis When Fullness or Distension is a Prominent Symptom

Lycopodium is one of the top homeopathic medicines for gastritis in cases where fullness of the abdomen is a leading symptom. Eating tiny quantities of food can also lead to fullness and distension of the stomach. Along with fullness, there is a gnawing, burning or constrictive pain in the stomach. The pain may get better on rubbing. Nausea and sour belching may also be present. In a few cases, there is vomiting of food and bile. Another marked feature is the loss of appetite.

5. Bismuth – Homeopathic Medicine for Gastritis When Cold Drinks Relieve the Symptoms

Bismuth is another one of the top homeopathic medicines for gastritis. It works well in cases of gastritis where cold drinks bring relief to the symptoms. The burning in the stomach is relieved by drinking something cold. There is also a pain in the area around the stomach. Bending backward brings a little relief to the pain. Along with the pain, there is a sensation of pressure and heavy load on the stomach. There is also an inability to retain fluids in the stomach. Fluid is vomited as soon as it reaches the stomach. Along with this, vertigo and weakness also arise.