acidreflux

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herbal remedies , " dogking1996

<dogking1996> " <dogking1996> wrote:

> hi,

>

> I am looking for a good remedy for acidreflux dose anyone have

> one.

 

> Tim

 

 

Tim,

 

You may want to research an English herbal combo known as " Potter's

Acidosis " (meadowsweet,vegetable charcoal, and rhubarb), tried and

true. Also, I read recently about the success of using acidophilus

(as in, from the capsule on the back of the tongue) to aide in the

burning. I have included an article that I wrote for a class, you'll

see why soothing with acidophilus may be better than the little

purple pill, also known as " Blue Haired Crack " .

 

Hope this is of some assistance,

Richard

 

Acid reflux or GERD (gastro esophageal reflux disease) is a backward

flow of digestive juices or stomach contents into the esophagus. It

is the single most diagnosed illness in history. The function of the

lower esophageal valve (LES) is to allow food into the stomach and

keep the contents of the stomach from flowing into the esophagus. If

you have acid reflux your LES relaxes more often than it should or at

inappropriate times. This is called " LES relaxation. " Since the

esophagus does not have the same thick mucous lining as the stomach,

any HCL that slips past the valve can severely burn the esophagus.

There are a number of factors that cause this condition. Among these

are: allergies, enzyme deficiencies, gallbladder problems, stress,

ulcer, hiatal hernia, delayed gastric emptying, overeating, improper

diet, excessive weight, pregnancy (the increased hormone levels can

loosen the valve), and excessive use of stimulants such as coffee,

teas, and nicotine.

 

When a person has GERD he/she may exhibit any or all of the following

symptoms: Regurgitation of stomach contents into the throat or mouth,

excessive belching, burning sensation in the throat or chest,

heaviness or warmth in the chest, swallowing difficulty, mild

abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting.

 

The most common treatment is to prescribe antacids. The problem with

this therapy is that if you are dealing with excess stomach acid you

can reduce it but you are only addressing a symptom not the problem.

An even bigger problem is that sometimes GERD can be caused by an

underproduction of HCL in combination with a weak LES. As the stomach

works hard for an extended period of time to evenly distribute the

acids, the food and digestive juices can be pushed up past the LES.

The use of antacids will temporarily relieve the discomfort but it

will also substantially reduce the stomach's level of acidity. This

in itself will add to the existing problems of digestion.

 

The first thing you should focus on is your digestive system as a

whole. A good cleansing and detoxing would be in order, making sure

that you do nothing to aggravate the condition. Eat easy to digest

foods. Eat smaller amounts, and eat more often. Eat your last meal of

the day no less than five hours before retiring. Refrain from bending

and lifting heavy objects after meals. You should also reduce your

fat intake and stay away from fried foods. Avoid carbonated beverages

after your meal, as they tend to increase pressure on the stomach and

increase gassiness. Other " trigger foods " to be aware of may include:

butter, margarine, mayonnaise, citrus, nuts and chocolate.

 

Develop an overall diet that reduces your problems so that your body

will be able to heal. Focus on maintaining a simple balanced diet,

like those that cultures from around the globe have used for

centuries. A good guideline is to incorporate at least 20%-30% whole

grains and proteins. This group of food is known as " primary foods. "

Whole grains are rich in fiber and have a slower absorption rate.

This is easier on the system, particularly the pancreas, and more of

the carbohydrates can be burned as fuel and are less likely to be

converted and stored as fats. Reduce the amounts of yeast breads.

Substituting low-fat unleavened bread will be of great benefit. If

there is difficulty in digesting the grains, they can be cooked with

more water and for a longer period of time. This should be altered

over the course of treatment so that the system is challenged and

tonified. Try to maintain a protein intake of between 20%-30%.

Protein sources can include animal proteins, beans (including other

legumes such as lentils), and bean products such as tempeh and tofu.

Remember that protein values per ounce are much lower in beans than

animal products therefore one must consume larger amounts for the

same levels of protein. And don't forget to combine these with foods

that contain the amino acids that will provide your body with the

building blocks for complete proteins.

 

The next group of foods is known as " secondary foods " . This group is

comprised primarily of fresh, local, seasonal vegetables, which are

your main source of vitamins and minerals. This group should

compromise approximately 30% - 40% of your diet. Vegetables should be

lightly cooked unless there is a problem with digestion. Although

overcooking will reduce the amount of nutrients, this is often made

up by the fact that more nutrients are actually absorbed. Seaweeds

are very important vegetables and salads add bulk to the diet and are

useful in detoxification.

 

The third group, or " tertiary foods, " is composed of foods that

should either be eliminated or consumed in small quantities. They

represent 7% - 12% of the total diet. Fruits can over stimulate the

pancreas due to their high levels of sugar. Local fruits should be

consumed in moderation according to their growing season. We should

be careful and consume imported fruit and juices in small quantities

unless they are being used for therapeutic purposes. Eggs are another

member of this group. They are a very good protein, vitamin and

nutrient source. For digestion and assimilation purpose, many health

care practitioners are currently recommending that we eat whole raw

organic eggs, but still in restricted amounts. Fats represent

approximately 2% of the tertiary food group. They not only come from

animal products but also include vegetable oils. Remember fats can be

very difficult to digest and often trigger reflux symptoms. Monitor

your fat intake and correct if necessary. Other foods in this group

that one would want to reduce consumption of or eliminate are the

mucous producing dairy products and red meats. Also remember that raw

meat and dairy products often contain high levels of contaminates

(anti-biotics, hormones, etc.) and you should shop wisely if you

choose to include them in your diet.

 

Proteins and fats are very important in our diet. Protein is

responsible for repairing damaged cells and stimulating and

maintaining the metabolism. If protein intake is to low, a number of

health issues may arise such as heart disease, poor metabolism,

difficulty in healing, weight management issues and more. We must be

aware of not only our protein intake but also how the body digests

and assimilates it. If we do not properly prepare and consume our

protein foods then we put unnecessary strain on our digestion, which

can contribute to acid reflux. Fats provide a large portion of our

caloric intake and are essential for our absorption of the fat

soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K. Two problems with the average

American diet is that much of our protein is derived from meat, which

is not consumed for optimal digestion and to much of our fat

consumption comes from sources whose fats are very difficult to

digest. A high fat meal combined with animal protein stays in the

stomach longer than most other food combinations. If you have

problems with your digestion, this combination will most likely add

to these issues.

 

When we are not digesting our food properly our body does not receive

full benefit from the foods we eat. This is also true for our macro

and micro nutrients. More often than not, digestion problems are

caused by decreased production of HCL and enzyme deficiency as

opposed to excess. It is estimated that only 40% of Americans produce

adequate levels of HCL in the stomach. In people over 60, it is

estimated that fewer than 50% of the population has enough HCL to

initiate protein digestion. There are several vitamins and minerals

that require HCL for absorption. Some healthcare professionals

believe that since calcium requires HCL for absorption, that low HCL

may be a major contributor to osteoporosis. If you are suffering from

problems of indigestion you may want at some point to consider an HCL

and enzyme supplement.

 

Lets take a look at foods that we can add to our diet that may help

with this situation. There are several kitchen spices that are

beneficial to the digestive process. Herbs such as basil, bay leaves,

caraway, cardamom, cayenne, cloves, allspice, fenugreek, ginger, and

rosemary are good either as an aide to digestion or for indigestion

itself. Marjoram is helpful for upset stomachs and sage is a good

anti-inflammatory. Cooking with these herbs can be very beneficial to

the digestive process as well as other systems in the body. And

should you happen to get a stomachache from indigestion, a cup of

dill tea will usually bring relief.

 

There are many herbs beyond our kitchen spices that can assist with

acid reflux.

 

Aloe juice has wonderful healing properties for burns and wounds and

may be beneficial if there is damage to the esophagus.

 

Anjelica and goldenseal can be taken as a tea or tincture and are

specific for dyspepsia and weak digestion. A goldenseal tea is a good

bitter taken 30 minutes before a meal to stimulate the digestive

process. Anise seed makes a delicious tea and is not only a

digestive aid but also relieves belching. Asafoetida steeped in

boiling water or added to your food is helpful in to individuals with

weak digestion.

 

Papaya contains the enzymes papain and chymopapain, which can be very

beneficial when there is an enzyme deficiency. The primary enzymes in

papaya specifically aid in the digestion of protein. To obtain the

enzyme benefits you can either consume the fruit or take a supplement

containing a derivative.

 

Chamomile is calming to the digestive system and lemon balm is a

stomachic that assists in digestion. Both make a delicious tea.

 

Una de gato and devil's claw are good anti-inflamatories. Una de gato

can be taken as a tea or tincture but due to the extreme bitterness

of devils claw I would recommend either a tincture in water (or

juice) or in tablet form.

 

Slippery elm is a demulcent that promotes healing of ulcers. Malva

and Marshmallow root have soothing, demulcent, and anti-inflammatory

properties that are helpful. These herbs are usually consumed as

infusions and often in combination with more harsh herbs to minimize

there irritating effects.

 

Calamus assists with acidity. You can drink this in a tea or add a

tincture of calamus to a glass of water. If you need temporary help

with high acidity you can chew on the root and you should find almost

immediate relief.

 

 

There are other factors that can improve or worsen your situation.

Following these simple guidelines may solve your problem or it may

only be a start. The good thing is that it is a start in the right

direction. You will be assisting helping your body in dealing with

the problem, not just perpetuating the problem by masking the

symptoms.