Dyspepsia is known by different names such as functional dyspepsia, non-ulcer dyspepsia and indigestion. Dyspepsia is a functional disease with several vague symptoms which include upper abdominal pain, belching, nausea, abdominal bloating or distension and early satiety. The symptoms are most often provoked by eating. Dyspepsia is believed to be due to a dysfunction of the muscles of the organs of the gastro-intestinal tract or the nerves controlling the organs. Visceral hyper-sensitivity, small-intestinal bacterial overgrowth, depression, and menstruation are known to precipitate dyspepsia. This is a chronic disease which usually lasts for several years, however, complications from this disease are relatively limited. The diagnosis of this condition is based upon exclusion of other diseases.

The Ayurvedic treatment of dyspepsia is aimed at treating the symptoms and treating the underlying cause, if known. Medicines are used to control burning and stomach pain, nausea and vomiting and control abdominal bloating. The choice of medicines is made according to the predominance of symptoms. Medicines like Sutshekhar-Ras, Praval-Panchamrut, Praval-Bhasma, Shankh-Bhasma, Kamdudha-Ras and Bhunimbadi-Qadha are used to control upper abdominal pain and burning in the stomach. Medicines like Laghu-Sutshekhar-Ras, Vishwa (Zinziber officinalis), Amalaki (Emblica officinalis), Marich (Piper nigrum), Pippali (Piper longum), Jeerak (Cuminum cyminum), Pudina (Mentha spicata) and Swarjika- Kshar are used to treat nausea and vomiting. Medicines like Shankh-Vati, Chitrakadi-Vati, Lashunadi-Vati, Hingashtak-Churna, Samudradi-Lavan and Lavan-Bhaskar-Churna are used to treat belching, abdominal bloating and distension.

A significant proportion of people affected with this condition also have associated anxiety and depression. Such patients therefore, also need to be given additional treatment like Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri), Jatamansi (Nardostachys jatamansi), Shankhpushpi (Convolvulus pluricaulis), Mandukparni (Centella asiatica), Vacha (Acorus calamus) and Sarpagandha (Rauwolfia serpentina). To treat suspected small-intestinal overgrowth, medicines like Panchamrut-Parpati, Kutaj-Parpati and Sukshma-Triphala are used.

On the whole, a majority of patients with dyspepsia can be adequately controlled with the above mentioned medicines. Several courses of treatment may need to be given in order to adequately control the symptoms. People affected with dyspepsia are advised to avoid known precipitating food stuffs. It is very important to positively rule out other serious diseases of the gastro-intestinal tract like peptic ulcer before starting treatment for dyspepsia.