Home Blog

Esophagitis may be defined as inflammation of the epithelial lining of esophagus, the latter being colloquially defined as food pipe that connects the mouth to the stomach. The prime causes of esophagitis are fungal infection of the esophagus, intake of certain medicines, GERD (or gastroesophageal reflux disease), surgery of the digestive tract, and so on. The major causes of the conditions are infection of the digestive tract, the prime infection causing agents being fungus and virus. The symptoms of esophagitis are heartburn, mouth sores, nausea, vomiting, and painful swallowing, among others.

Some of the effective home remedies for esophagitis are listed as under:

• One of the most effective remedies for esophagitis is to consume aloe vera juice, which serves to soothe your digestive tract. You can consume half a cup of aloe vera juice before your meals to treat esophagitis.
• Usage of marshmallow, scientifically called Althaea officinalis, is also a useful remedy to treat esophagitis. Marshmallow is an herb, and it can be used in treatment for esophagitis by consuming its root extract. You can prepare the extract by boiling the roots in water, allowing it to cool. Consume it three times a day for best results.
• Another effective remedy to relieve esophagitis is to consume an extract made of slippery elm bark. Slippery elm is native to North America and is botanically referred to as Ulmus rubra muhl. The bark of the plant is supposed to contain mucilage, which would lubricate the lining of the esophagus, thereby relieving esophagitis and other gastrointestinal problems.
• Another remedy that is widely used as an effective treatment for esophagitis is the intake of raw ginger. You can peel a piece of ginger and keep it in the mouth for 30 minutes. This will help relieve inflammation in the digestive tract.
• Intake of ginger juice with honey after meals also helps relieve esophagitis.
• Another effective treatment for esophagitis is the intake of garlic extract, which is anti-inflammatory in action.
• The intake of yogurt is also an effective remedy to treat esophagitis.

Other than these remedies to treat esophagitis, you need to modify your diet. One of the imperatives of a diet for esophagitis is to consume a lot of water and fluids to lubricate the lining of the digestive tract. You must refrain from consuming spicy foods as such foods inflame the lining of stomach. You should also eat a lot of fruits and vegetables to nourish the cellular lining of esophagus. Avoid consuming citric fruits like oranges, lemon, and grapefruit so as to avoid acid formation in stomach, which can lead to GERD.

Some of the foods that must be avoided as part of diet for esophagitis and gastritis are black pepper, chocolate, onion, tomatoes, peppermint, vinegar, spearmint, and coffee. You should also avoid alcohol and smoking as well as the intake of carbonated or aerated drinks. Also avoid consuming processed foods. You must also refrain from eating foods high on starch and carbohydrate content, and as such, you must not eat potatoes, processed cereals, and complex sugars.

There are also certain measures for a better general state of health, which can be taken as treatment for esophagitis.

• Eat frequent but small meals, and always chew your food properly and eat smaller bites.
• Avoid filling your stomach with water right after meals. It is best to drink water only 30 minutes after a meal.
• Avoid stress as stress also leads to acid secretion in the body, which causes inflammation of stomach lining. You can try yoga and meditation, which can help prevent and treat esophagitis, by negating stress.

If these remedies and preventive measures do not help much and the symptoms of esophagitis persist, you must consult a doctor for diagnosis of the cause of the affliction and for prescribed treatment.