Can Functional Dyspepsia Go Away On Its Own & What Are It’s Natural Remedies?

Functional dyspepsia is a chronic condition of the upper gastrointestinal tract and it affects the sensation and the movement of the esophagus, stomach and the small intestine. This movement is called peristalsis and under normal circumstances, is directed downwards. This disorder is termed as functional because there is no identifiable or recognizable cause for this condition even though the symptoms exist and persist. This is a very common disorder seen in people around the world. ⁽¹⁾

Functional dyspepsia may go away on its own in a few cases. However, in most cases, it needs to be managed with the help of certain lifestyle changes, dietary discretion, medications or all or a combination of the above if needed.

Changing your lifestyle or diet may be one of the key factors in reducing your symptoms of functional dyspepsia. What or how you eat can certainly impact your symptoms. It is important to identify those foods that aggravate your symptoms and try to avoid them.

Some natural and homemade remedies may help in controlling and even reducing the symptoms of functional dyspepsia. These may include-

• Eating smaller and more frequent meals,
• Skipping high-fat foods as these may impact your digestion and slow it down
• Avoid hot and spicy foods as they may irritate your digestive tract and aggravate the symptoms
• Avoid packaged and processed foods as they are known to trigger your functional dyspepsia symptoms due to the high amounts of salt, MSG, preservatives, etc. added in them
• Avoid highly acidic foods like tomatoes, citrus fruits, etc. watermelon is also one of the leading fruits that trigger dyspepsia
• Observe if your functional dyspepsia symptoms get triggered by dairy products. If so, avoid all dairy products and if possible, try to replace them with non-dairy products like plant-based milk, yogurt, etc.
• Drink enough quantity of water throughout the day. Staying hydrated can keep your gut healthy and help it to function properly
• Try to control, lessen or eliminate the factors that cause stress, anxiety, and depression. Use techniques like yoga, meditation, massage, and other relaxation therapies to alleviate your mood and relieve your stress. Research shows that these psychological factors can impact your digestion as well
• Take enough rest. Having a good night’s sleep can surely help in treating many health conditions effectively. Also, try to wake up and go to bed around the same time each day. This will help set a routine and will give you a fair idea of what to expect each day
• It is good to keep your head elevated by a few inches when you sleep. It will help in avoiding any regurgitation or acid reflux
• Try to manage your weight if you are overweight or obese. Excess weight can worsen your symptoms and can make it even worse to treat and manage your symptoms
• Stop smoking and tobacco chewing. These are some of the key triggers for functional dyspepsia. Limit the intake of alcohol, if stopping it completely is not an option.
• Limit or eliminate the intake of caffeine, especially afternoon. Caffeine may impact your sleep and can thus play havoc with your digestion ^{(3) (4) (5)}

Alternative Treatment For Functional Dyspepsia- To cope with functional dyspepsia, many people turn to alternative medicine, to avoid complications or to manage the symptoms more effectively. Although no alternative treatment methods are proven to cure functional dyspepsia, they can be paired with conventional methods of treatment, like herbal supplements (peppermint, chamomile, lemon balm, milk thistle, caraway, etc.), to reap benefits from them. However, it is advised to use these methods with the proper guidance of your doctor. ⁽²⁾

Functional dyspepsia may not go away on its own but can be managed with the help of lifestyle changes, natural remedies, dietary discretion and the right kind of medication.

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Also Read:

• What is Nonulcer Stomach Pain or Functional Dyspepsia: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Diet, Prognosis, Risk Factors