Any Indian who has grown up around her grandparents will have a wealth of home remedies or gharelu nuskhe that are like quick fixes for almost every physical ailment. These remedies involving natural ingredients like everyday spices and herbs have been passed down through generations of Indians, who still believe that these work better than any chemical medicine or treatment. There are certain lesser known yet magical concoctions and potions prepared in various ways by different communities across the subcontinent, which are yet unknown to others.One such preparation is the 'chaata churan' that is fed to infants in Punjabi and Sindhi households. I remember a small steel container sitting on my one-year-old nephew's bedside cabinet. My aunt would often feed him just a little bit of the greyish white powder from that steel container, before every meal. It was only later that I came to know that even I was fed the churan, when I was a kid, and that it is supposed to improve digestion and prevent constipation in babies.

The churan is a powder made by grinding several Indian spices including cumin or jeera, carom seeds or ajwain, dried ginger powder or sonth, crushed almonds, cardamom or elaichi, rock sugar or mishri and finally fennel seeds or saunf. All the ingredients are ground very finely, mixed together and fed to kids, either mixed with a spoonful of honey or in a bowl of milk. But how safe is this churan for toddlers?

According to Ayurveda expert Dr. Dhanvantri Tyagi, the churan is ideal for kids between ages one and eight and that it's good for multiple reasons. "This is a traditional preparation and all the ingredients in it are great for digestion and also promote liver and stomach health." Dr. Tyagi says that the powder can be a great immunity booster for kids and adds, "The dried ginger or sonth in the powder is a good appetite stimulant and it also regulates body temperature, while mishri acts as a tonic for the kids. This powder can also give an energy boost to the kid. Moreover, this churan is also anthelmintic in nature, which means that it has anti-parasitic properties and it can kill germs in the body."

Dr. Tyagi says that all the ingredients in this churan are cooling for the kids' bodies, adding that there's a similar preparation for kids between ages eight and 14 called trikatu. "This powder is made from three ingredients- sonth, kaali mirch (black pepper) and pippali or Indian long pepper. But this is not good for toddlers as the pepper can result in vomiting and diarrhea in kids that small."

The chaata churan, on the other hand, is perfectly safe, is easy-to-prepare and store and is extremely beneficial for newborns. It should be stored in air tight containers and just a pinch of it can work wonders for the digestive health and immunity of your toddler.

Indigestion can be pain or discomfort in your upper abdomen (dyspepsia) or burning pain behind the breastbone (heartburn).

Dyspepsia and heartburn may occur together or on their own. Symptoms usually appear soon after eating or drinking.

Common associated symptoms include:

feeling full or bloated
feeling sick (nausea)
belching
bringing up (regurgitating) fluid or food into the gullet (oesophagus)
Indigestion is a common problem that affects many people, but in most cases it's mild and only occurs occasionally.

Read more about the symptoms of indigestion.

Why it happens
Indigestion may be caused by stomach acid coming into contact with the sensitive, protective lining of the digestive system (mucosa). The stomach acid breaks down the lining, leading to irritation and inflammation, which can be painful.

The majority of people with indigestion don't have inflammation in their digestive system. Therefore, their symptoms are thought to be caused by increased sensitivity of the mucosa (to acidity or stretching).

In most cases indigestion is related to eating, although it can be triggered by other factors such as smoking, drinking, alcohol, pregnancy, stress or taking certain medications.

Read more about the causes of indigestion.

Treating indigestion at home
Most people are able to treat indigestion with simple changes to their diet and lifestyle, or with a number of different medications, such as antacids.

Read more about the treatment of indigestion.

Read how to ease indigestion in pregnancy.

Very rarely, a serious underlying health condition is the cause of indigestion. If this is suspected, then further investigation such as an endoscopy will be required (see below).

When to see your doctor
Most people will not need to seek medical advice for their indigestion. However, it is important to see your GP if you have recurring indigestion and any of the following apply:

you are 55 years old or over
you have lost a lot of weight without meaning to
you have increasing difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
you have persistent vomiting
you have iron deficiency anaemia
you have a lump in your stomach
you have blood in your vomit or blood in your stools
This is because these symptoms may be a sign of an underlying health condition, such as a stomach ulcer or stomach cancer. You may need to be referred for an endoscopy to rule out any serious cause.

An endoscopy is a procedure where the inside of the body is examined using an endoscope (a thin, flexible tube that has a light and camera on one end).

Severe indigestion can cause long-term problems with parts of your digestive tract, such as scarring of the oesophagus or the passage from your stomach. Read more about the possible complications of severe indigestion.

Indigestion can be pain or discomfort in your upper abdomen (dyspepsia) or burning pain behind the breastbone (heartburn).

Dyspepsia and heartburn may occur together or on their own. Symptoms usually appear soon after eating or drinking.

Common associated symptoms include:

feeling full or bloated
feeling sick (nausea)
belching
bringing up (regurgitating) fluid or food into the gullet (oesophagus)
Indigestion is a common problem that affects many people, but in most cases it's mild and only occurs occasionally.

Read more about the symptoms of indigestion.

Why it happens
Indigestion may be caused by stomach acid coming into contact with the sensitive, protective lining of the digestive system (mucosa). The stomach acid breaks down the lining, leading to irritation and inflammation, which can be painful.

The majority of people with indigestion don't have inflammation in their digestive system. Therefore, their symptoms are thought to be caused by increased sensitivity of the mucosa (to acidity or stretching).

In most cases indigestion is related to eating, although it can be triggered by other factors such as smoking, drinking, alcohol, pregnancy, stress or taking certain medications.

Read more about the causes of indigestion.

Treating indigestion at home
Most people are able to treat indigestion with simple changes to their diet and lifestyle, or with a number of different medications, such as antacids.

Read more about the treatment of indigestion.

Read how to ease indigestion in pregnancy.

Very rarely, a serious underlying health condition is the cause of indigestion. If this is suspected, then further investigation such as an endoscopy will be required (see below).

When to see your doctor
Most people will not need to seek medical advice for their indigestion. However, it is important to see your GP if you have recurring indigestion and any of the following apply:

you are 55 years old or over
you have lost a lot of weight without meaning to
you have increasing difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
you have persistent vomiting
you have iron deficiency anaemia
you have a lump in your stomach
you have blood in your vomit or blood in your stools
This is because these symptoms may be a sign of an underlying health condition, such as a stomach ulcer or stomach cancer. You may need to be referred for an endoscopy to rule out any serious cause.

An endoscopy is a procedure where the inside of the body is examined using an endoscope (a thin, flexible tube that has a light and camera on one end).

Severe indigestion can cause long-term problems with parts of your digestive tract, such as scarring of the oesophagus or the passage from your stomach. Read more about the possible complications of severe indigestion.
Indigestion can be pain or discomfort in your upper abdomen (dyspepsia) or burning pain behind the breastbone (heartburn).

Dyspepsia and heartburn may occur together or on their own. Symptoms usually appear soon after eating or drinking.

Common associated symptoms include:

feeling full or bloated
feeling sick (nausea)
belching
bringing up (regurgitating) fluid or food into the gullet (oesophagus)
Indigestion is a common problem that affects many people, but in most cases it's mild and only occurs occasionally.

Read more about the symptoms of indigestion.

Why it happens
Indigestion may be caused by stomach acid coming into contact with the sensitive, protective lining of the digestive system (mucosa). The stomach acid breaks down the lining, leading to irritation and inflammation, which can be painful.

The majority of people with indigestion don't have inflammation in their digestive system. Therefore, their symptoms are thought to be caused by increased sensitivity of the mucosa (to acidity or stretching).

In most cases indigestion is related to eating, although it can be triggered by other factors such as smoking, drinking, alcohol, pregnancy, stress or taking certain medications.

Read more about the causes of indigestion.

Treating indigestion at home
Most people are able to treat indigestion with simple changes to their diet and lifestyle, or with a number of different medications, such as antacids.

Read more about the treatment of indigestion.

Read how to ease indigestion in pregnancy.

Very rarely, a serious underlying health condition is the cause of indigestion. If this is suspected, then further investigation such as an endoscopy will be required (see below).

When to see your doctor
Most people will not need to seek medical advice for their indigestion. However, it is important to see your GP if you have recurring indigestion and any of the following apply:

you are 55 years old or over
you have lost a lot of weight without meaning to
you have increasing difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
you have persistent vomiting
you have iron deficiency anaemia
you have a lump in your stomach
you have blood in your vomit or blood in your stools
This is because these symptoms may be a sign of an underlying health condition, such as a stomach ulcer or stomach cancer. You may need to be referred for an endoscopy to rule out any serious cause.

An endoscopy is a procedure where the inside of the body is examined using an endoscope (a thin, flexible tube that has a light and camera on one end).

Severe indigestion can cause long-term problems with parts of your digestive tract, such as scarring of the oesophagus or the passage from your stomach. Read more about the possible complications of severe indigestion.

Indigestion can be pain or discomfort in your upper abdomen (dyspepsia) or burning pain behind the breastbone (heartburn).

Dyspepsia and heartburn may occur together or on their own. Symptoms usually appear soon after eating or drinking.

Common associated symptoms include:

feeling full or bloated
feeling sick (nausea)
belching
bringing up (regurgitating) fluid or food into the gullet (oesophagus)
Indigestion is a common problem that affects many people, but in most cases it's mild and only occurs occasionally.

Read more about the symptoms of indigestion.

Why it happens
Indigestion may be caused by stomach acid coming into contact with the sensitive, protective lining of the digestive system (mucosa). The stomach acid breaks down the lining, leading to irritation and inflammation, which can be painful.

The majority of people with indigestion don't have inflammation in their digestive system. Therefore, their symptoms are thought to be caused by increased sensitivity of the mucosa (to acidity or stretching).

In most cases indigestion is related to eating, although it can be triggered by other factors such as smoking, drinking, alcohol, pregnancy, stress or taking certain medications.

Read more about the causes of indigestion.

Treating indigestion at home
Most people are able to treat indigestion with simple changes to their diet and lifestyle, or with a number of different medications, such as antacids.

Read more about the treatment of indigestion.

Read how to ease indigestion in pregnancy.

Very rarely, a serious underlying health condition is the cause of indigestion. If this is suspected, then further investigation such as an endoscopy will be required (see below).

When to see your doctor
Most people will not need to seek medical advice for their indigestion. However, it is important to see your GP if you have recurring indigestion and any of the following apply:

you are 55 years old or over
you have lost a lot of weight without meaning to
you have increasing difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
you have persistent vomiting
you have iron deficiency anaemia
you have a lump in your stomach
you have blood in your vomit or blood in your stools
This is because these symptoms may be a sign of an underlying health condition, such as a stomach ulcer or stomach cancer. You may need to be referred for an endoscopy to rule out any serious cause.

An endoscopy is a procedure where the inside of the body is examined using an endoscope (a thin, flexible tube that has a light and camera on one end).

Severe indigestion can cause long-term problems with parts of your digestive tract, such as scarring of the oesophagus or the passage from your stomach. Read more about the possible complications of severe indigestion

Indigestion — also called dyspepsia or an upset stomach — is a general term that describes discomfort in your upper abdomen. Indigestion is not a disease, but rather some symptoms you experience, including abdominal pain and a feeling of fullness soon after you start eating. Although indigestion is common, each person may experience indigestion in a slightly different way. Symptoms of indigestion may be felt occasionally or as often as daily.

Indigestion can be a symptom of another digestive disease. Indigestion that isn't caused by an underlying disease may be eased with lifestyle changes and medication.

Symptoms
People with indigestion may have one or more of the following symptoms:

त्रास अपचनाचा – कारणे, लक्षणे आणि उपचार

अपचन म्हणजे अन्न नीट न पचणे. आजच्या धकाधकीच्या जीवनात बऱ्याच जणांमध्ये अपचन, गॅसेस, अॅसिडिटी याचा त्रास होताना दिसतो, याला कारण आपली फास्ट जीवनपद्धती.
अपचनाचा त्रास प्रत्येकात वेगवेगळे लक्षण घेऊन प्रकटू शकतो. यामूळे भोजनानंतर अस्वस्थ वाटणे, डोके दुखणे, छातीत जळजळणे, हृदय अधिक धडकणे, वारंवार ढेकर येणे, घाम येणे या लक्षणाबरोबर मळमळणे, कोष्ठबद्धता (शौचास साफ न होणे) हे लक्षणसुद्धा आढळतात.

अन्न पचन प्रकिया :

पोटामध्ये अन्नाचे पचन करणाऱ्‍या पाचक स्त्रावांची (Digestive enzymes) निर्मिती होत असते. पचन म्हणजे खाल्लेल्या अन्नाचे पाचक रसात रूपांतर होणे, ज्यामुळे आपलं पोषण व शरीरधारणा होत असते. आपली पचनसंस्था म्हणजे तोंडापासून गुदद्वारापर्यंत गेलेली एक लांबलचक पोकळ नळीच होय, ज्याची लांबी साधारणपणे नऊ मीटर इतकी असते. अन्नाचे पूर्ण पचन करून त्यातली पोषणद्रव्ये शरीरात शोषून घेणे व शेवट राहिलेला मळ शरीरातून गुदद्वारामाग्रे बाहेर टाकणे हे काम पचनसंस्था अव्याहतपणे करत असते.
सामन्यता घेतलेले अन्न अन्ननलिकेतून पोटामध्ये आल्यानंतर त्यावर पाचक स्त्रावांची प्रक्रिया होते व त्या अन्नाचे पचन योग्य रितीने होते. मात्र जेंव्हा ह्या पाचक स्त्रावांची उत्पत्ती कमी होते तेंव्हा अन्नाचे पचन योग्य रित्या होत नाही यामुळे अपचनाच्या तक्रारी उद्भवतात.

अपचनाची कारणे :

अपचनाचा विकार मुख्यत: दोन कारणांनी होतो. अयोग्य जीवनशैलीमुळे आणि काही शारीरिक व्याधीमुळे अपचनाचा त्रास होतो.

शरीरात पाचक रसांचा अभाव किंवा कमतरता निर्माण झाल्यास अपचनाची समस्या उद्भवते.

१.अयोग्य आहारामूळे,
२.आवश्यकतेपेक्षा अधिक प्रमाणात भोजन करणे,
३.रात्री उशीरा भोजन करणे,
४.भोजनाच्या वेळा न पाळणे,
५.भराभर जेवण करणे,
६.अन्न व्यवस्थित न चावता गिळणे,
७.अधिक तेलकट , मसालेदार चमचमीत पदार्थ खाणे,
८.चहा ,कॉफी , सोडावाटर यांचे अधिक सेवन करणे.
९.दारू, तंबाखूच्या व्यसनामूळे अपचनाच्या तक्रारी वाढतात.
१०.रात्रीच्या वेळी जास्त जागरण करणे
११. अतिताण, मानसिक तणाव, अतिकाळजी या सर्वामुळे अपचनाचा विकार वाढतो.
१२.वेदनाशामक औषधे, स्टिरॉईड्स यांचा अतिरिक्त वापरामुळे अपचनाच्या तक्रारी वाढतात.

अपचनाची लक्षणे :
१. भूक न लागणे,
२. आंबट ढेकर येणे
३. तोंडात आम्ल पाणी येणे,
४. मळमळ होणे, छातीत जळजळणे.
५. डोके दुखणे, चक्कर येणे, हृदयअधिक धडकणे.
६. पोटात गॅस तयार होतो भोजनपश्चात पोट फुगणे.
७. बद्धकोष्ठता (शौचास साफ न होणे).
८. अन्न न खाण्याची इच्छा होणे.
९. वारंवार सुस्ती येते, कोणत्याही कार्यात मन लागत नाही.
१०. अल्प परिश्रम केल्यावरही थकवा जाणवतो.
११. अनिद्रा, वारंवार झोपमोड होणे यासारखी लक्षणे अपचणात जाणवतात.

अपचन ही समस्या काही गंभीर आजारांचे पूर्व लक्षण असू शकते. म्हणूनच अपचनाबरोबरचं सतत उलट्या होणे , उलटीत रक्त पडणे , वजन कमी होणे वा भूक मंदावणे, घास गिळताना त्रास होणे –अशी लक्षणे दिसून येत असतील तर डॉक्टरांचा सल्ला लवकरात लवकर घ्यावा .
सुरक्षितेसाठी खालील काळजी घ्या.
१. संतुलित पोषक आहार घ्या.
२. पचनास हलका असा आहार घ्या.
३. वरण-भातातून तूप घालून खावे.
४. दिवसभरात एकाचवेळी भरपूर जेवण्यापेक्षा अनेकदा थोडे थोडे जेवावे.
५. आवश्यक ती विश्रांती घ्या.
६. मानसिक व शारीरिक ताण कमी करण्यासाठी योग वा रीलॅक्सेशन थेरपीचा अवलंब करावा.
७.जड आहार, तिखट, तेलकट पदार्थांचे सेवन करू नये.
८. तंबाखुचे सेवन, मद्यपान, धूम्रपान करने टाळा.
९. चहा, कॉफी, कोल्ड्रिंकचे सेवन करू नये.
१०.जेवल्यावर लगेच झोपू नये. शक्य असल्यास शतपावली करावी. ते शक्य नसल्यास किमान थोडावेळ बसून रहावे व मगच झोपावे .

उपचार :
त्रिकटु, ब्राह्मि, विडंग, विदरी, अश्वगंधा सोबत गो पियुष युक्त कल्पाचा अपचनावर उत्तम औषध सिद्ध झाले आहे.