Gastritis is the inflammation, irritation or erosion of the inner lining of the stomach, known as the gastric mucosa. It can occur suddenly (acute) and can last for one or three days, or it can be chronic, lasting for several days or weeks. Most often the term "gastritis" is misused to include many different upper abdominal problems, but true gastritis refers to the stomach lining (gastric mucosa) that is inflamed.

According to a study published in the Scholars Journal of Applied Medical Studies, the incidence of gastritis in India is approximately 3 in 869, that is about 12,25,614 people suffering from gastritis out of the total 1,06,50,70,607 population. The symptoms of gastritis can be loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, heartburn, uneasiness, bloated stomach, bad taste in mouth, foul breath etc. So, if you have any of these similar symptoms and popping a 'pudina' pill or antacid tablet is not doing you any help.