Gastritis — Questions & Answers

Gastritis is inflammation of the stomach lining, most commonly caused by H. pylori infection, chronic NSAID use, or autoimmune attack on gastric cells. Symptoms range from mild indigestion and loss of appetite to severe epigastric pain, nausea, and ulcer formation over time. Antacids and PPIs reduce stomach acid and relieve symptoms temporarily, but acid suppression does not heal inflamed gastric mucosa or eradicate H. pylori — the inflammation continues beneath the surface, often progressing silently to more serious damage. True healing requires identifying and eliminating the causative factor, supporting gastric mucosal repair with evidence-based AYUSH herbs, optimising stomach acid levels, and using dietary protocols that allow the stomach lining to fully regenerate.

What Is Gastritis — and Is It the Same as Acidity?

Gastritis is inflammation of the stomach lining — not just excess acid production. You can have gastritis with normal, low, or high acid levels. The most common causes in India are H. pylori infection (present in ~60–70% of Indian adults), long-term NSAID use (ibuprofen, diclofenac), and alcohol. Autoimmune gastritis is rarer but occurs. Acidity and gastritis often coexist — H. pylori causes both — but treating only the acid without repairing the inflamed lining leads to persistent symptoms despite negative H. pylori tests.

Gastritis Symptoms — How to Recognise It

• Burning or gnawing upper abdominal pain — especially between meals or at night
• Nausea and occasional vomiting
• Feeling full quickly even with small meals (early satiety)
• Loss of appetite
• Belching and bloating
• In erosive gastritis or ulcers: dark (tarry) stools or vomiting blood — requires immediate medical attention

Gastritis Diet — What to Eat and Avoid

Foods that worsen gastritis:

• NSAIDs and aspirin — even occasional use significantly sets back healing
• Alcohol — directly dissolves the protective mucus layer
• Coffee, spicy food, and fried food — irritate the inflamed lining
• Smoking — dramatically slows mucosal healing and increases H. pylori virulence

Foods that support mucosal healing:

• Rice kanji and soft khichdi — soothing, easy on the stomach
• Ash gourd (petha) and bottle gourd — mucoprotective, alkalising
• Aloe vera juice — anti-inflammatory, promotes mucosal regeneration
• Banana and papaya — gentle, stomach-soothing, high in protective compounds

Can Gastritis Lead to Stomach Cancer?

Chronic atrophic gastritis — long-standing H. pylori inflammation that progressively destroys stomach gland tissue — is a recognised precancerous condition. India has among the highest H. pylori prevalence rates in the world. Early detection, eradication, and mucosal repair dramatically reduce long-term cancer risk — but most patients are never informed of this connection.

The AYUSH Approach to Gastritis Healing

Mucosal repair is the cornerstone of AYUSH gastritis treatment. Yashtimadhu (DGL licorice) directly rebuilds the stomach lining and inhibits H. pylori adhesion. Shatavari reduces inflammation; Amla provides gastroprotective antioxidants without increasing acid. At Thavira, our gastritis protocol runs 8–12 weeks, targeting both eradication of the cause and active mucosal repair — the combination standard medicine rarely provides.