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Condition

Acidity, acid reflux and gastritis: what Ayurveda offers

Curcumin eased indigestion more than placebo in one small trial. We found no trial of Ayurveda for reflux disease or gastritis itself.

Pending review

The honest summary

Where it may help

The best evidence is for curcumin, the main compound in turmeric (haldi), in functional dyspepsia. That is long-lasting indigestion with no ulcer or other cause found. In a trial of 132 people, four weeks of curcumin eased pain scores more than a placebo did. Curcumin and omeprazole did not differ significantly.[1]

Where evidence is thin

Functional dyspepsia is not reflux disease, gastritis or an ulcer, and neither curcumin trial tested healing of the gut lining. Not differing significantly from omeprazole in a small trial does not show curcumin is as good. Curcumin capsules are also not haldi in food. A second, larger trial has since been corrected, and we could not read the correction.[1][2][3]

When to see an allopath

For acid reflux, a doctor may prescribe a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) such as omeprazole (Omez) or pantoprazole (Pan), which reduces how much acid the stomach makes. If that does not help, or other symptoms appear, a doctor can try other treatments and look for the cause. Some of those symptoms need urgent care, as listed on this page.[4]

How the texts understand it

अविपाकक्लमोत्क्लेशतिक्ताम्लोद्गारगौरवैः । हृत्कण्ठदाहारुचिभिश्चाम्लपित्तं वदेद्भिषक् ॥

Madhava's diagnostic text says a physician recognises amlapitta by indigestion, tiredness, nausea, bitter or sour belching, heaviness, burning in the chest and throat, and loss of appetite. The overlap with acidity is real but loose. The verse does not separate reflux disease, gastritis and functional dyspepsia, which doctors treat as different conditions.[6]

विड्भेदो गुरुकोष्ठत्वमम्लोत्क्लेशः शिरोरुजा । हृच्छूलमुदराध्मानमङ्गसादोऽन्त्रकूजनम् ॥ कण्ठोरसी विदह्येते रोमहर्षश्च जायते । सामान्यलक्षणं त्वेतद्विशेषश्चोपदेक्ष्यते ॥

Kashyapa lists the general features of amlapitta as loose stools, heaviness in the abdomen, sour nausea, headache, chest pain, bloating, weakness, rumbling bowels, burning in the throat and chest, and gooseflesh. Only part of this matches reflux, and the text has no way of telling acid damage or H. pylori infection apart.[7]

Codes: ICD-11 DA22 (Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease)[8]; ICD-11 DA42 (Gastritis)[8]; ICD-11 TM2 SM39 (Dyspepsia disorder (TM2))[8]; ICD-11 TM2 SM3A (Hyperacidity disorder (TM2))[8]; ICD-11 TM2 SM3F (Gastritis disorder (TM2))[8]; NAMASTE EB-4 (Amlapitta, listed against SM39 (dyspepsia). A terminology link, not a one-to-one diagnosis.)[9]

What trials found

RCTDouble-blind trial of 132 people with functional dyspepsia: 45 took curcumin, 43 omeprazole and 44 a placebo, for four weeks. Pain scores fell by 16.98 points with curcumin against 10.53 with placebo, a significant difference. Curcumin and omeprazole (14.69) did not differ significantly, which is not the same as being equally good. The trial did not include reflux disease, gastritis or ulcers.[1]

RCTDouble-blind trial of functional dyspepsia: 206 people were randomised to curcumin 2 g a day, omeprazole 20 mg a day, or both, for 28 days, and 151 completed. A correction to this paper has been published (PubMed record created 12 June 2024, in the journal issue dated 22 September 2025). We could not open the full correction, so we do not report this trial's results.[2]

Signs that need a doctor

  • Vomiting bright red blood, or vomit that looks like ground coffee. Go to a hospital emergency department.[5]
  • Black, sticky, very smelly stools. Go to a hospital emergency department.[5]
  • Severe tummy or chest pain that started suddenly. Go to a hospital emergency department.[5]
  • Losing weight without trying. See a doctor urgently.[5]
  • Pain or difficulty when swallowing, or food that feels stuck in your throat. See a doctor urgently.[5]
  • Being sick again and again. See a doctor urgently.[5]
  • Feeling full very quickly when you eat, losing your appetite, or a lump in your tummy. See a doctor urgently.[5]

Withheld until review

Treatment approach and protocols appear only after a vaidya on our medical board has reviewed this page. Treatment depends on the person, which is what a consult is for.

Questions people ask

Can Ayurveda cure acid reflux?

None of the trials we found showed that. Both curcumin trials were in functional dyspepsia, a different condition from reflux disease, and lasted about four weeks.[1][2]

Which Ayurvedic medicine is best for acidity?

We found no trial comparing Ayurvedic acidity medicines with each other or with omeprazole. The trials we found tested curcumin capsules, not a classical churna or a branded syrup.[1][2]

Related

Formulation

Avipattikar Churna

A classical acidity powder that is half sugar and one third trivrit, a purgative root. Its only study we found was in rats.

Evidence

Does curcumin help indigestion (functional dyspepsia)?

In a 132-person trial, curcumin eased indigestion more than placebo over four weeks. That does not make it equal to omeprazole.

Interaction

Turmeric and acidity medicines (omeprazole, pantoprazole)

A trial gave curcumin with omeprazole and measured indigestion symptoms, not drug levels. We found no interaction study of turmeric with acidity medicines.

Sources

  1. Yongwatana K, Harinwan K, Chirapongsathorn S, Opuchar K, Sanpajit T, Piyanirun W, Puttapitakpong C. Curcuma longa Linn versus omeprazole in treatment of functional dyspepsia: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 2022;37(2):335-341. PMID 34652861.
  2. Kongkam P, Khongkha W, Lopimpisuth C, Chumsri C, Kosarussawadee P, Phutrakool P, Khamsai S, Sawanyawisuth K, Sura T, Phisalprapa P, Buamahakul T, Siwamogsatham S, Angsusing J, Poonniam P, Wanaratna K, Teerachaisakul M, Pongpirul K. Curcumin and proton pump inhibitors for functional dyspepsia: a randomised, double blind controlled trial. BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine. 2023;28(6):399-406. PMID 37696679.
  3. Correction to Kongkam et al. 2023 (PMID 37696679). BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine. 2025;30(5):358. DOI 10.1136/bmjebm-2022-112231corr1. PMID 38866470.
  4. NHS. Heartburn and acid reflux.
  5. NHS. Gastritis.
  6. Madhava Nidana, Amlapitta Nidana, verse 2. MIU PDF, page 107.
  7. Kashyapa Samhita, Khila Sthana 16.14-15 (Amlapitta Chikitsita), MIU transcription.
  8. World Health Organization. ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics, release 2026-01, simple tabulation.
  9. Ministry of Ayush. NAMASTE portal, Ayurveda terminology, row 558.

Updated 4 November 2026

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