How to Heal Your Acid Reflux

By Charlie Reese

Do Natural Remedies for Acid Reflux Really Work?

Many people are skeptical of natural remedies for acid reflux, thinking that there is no way they could work as effectively as the more conventional treatment methods that are available. This is actually a myth, and in fact, some of the natural remedies for acid reflux that are available have proven to be better than more conventional methods.

Ideas

There are some great ideas that you can choose to go with when it comes to natural remedies for acid reflux.

There are many advantages that you will receive by choosing to use natural remedies for acid reflux, including that you will not have to deal with the unfavorable and unwanted side effects that you would with other options.

A few of the best natural remedies for acid reflux include chamomile, meadowsweet, slippery elm, cancer bush, fennel, catnip, angelica root, ginger root, and aloe. Chamomile helps by relieving irritation in the esophagus, and is thought to have calming and relaxing properties. It also has the ability to reduce the amount of stomach acid and promote normal digestion.

Next to chamomile, slippery elm is the most popular of all natural remedies for acid reflux. It is such a specific remedy for helping acid reflux and similar conditions that it is really too bad doctors and hospitals do not prescribe it more.

One of the most favorable qualities of slippery elm is how quickly it works, and acid reflux sufferers can feel relief almost immediately. It is also a very safe herb so you do not have to worry as much about overuse.

Tips

There are a few things that you should keep in mind if you plan to use any natural or home remedies for your acid reflux. More than anything you need to realize that just because these herbs are helping relieve the pain you will still need to take other steps including making changes in your lifestyle in order to find a long term solution.

It is important that you eat a healthy, well balanced diet and get plenty of exercise if you want to have permanent relief of your acid reflux, and also stay away from foods that will aggravate your condition, such as tomatoes, mashed potatoes, French fries, ground beef, sour cream, cottage cheese, macaroni and cheese, spaghetti, ice cream, and eggs. Also keep in mind that although herbal remedies are generally safe they are still a form of medicine and so you need to use common sense when starting on any of them.

About the Author:

Charlie Reese enjoys talking about acid reflux because its something that he has had to deal with for many years. Charlie admits that acid is uncomfortable to have in your stomach.

Is Prescription Medication For Acid Reflux The Answer?

For many acid reflux sufferers a visit to the doctors results in a prescription medication for acid reflux to treat the symptoms, however little is usually offered in the way of preventing or treating the underlying cause of why acid reflux developed in the first place.

Acid reflux medication can be very effective in dealing with symptoms however, it is usually only prescribed in short course of 4 –8 weeks. Unless the cause of the acid reflux is addressed it’s likely that there will be many more trips to the doctor in the future for a repeat prescription. Is this something you want to have to do over and over again as you go through life?

There are many people who have an aversion to taking any type of medication. Some won’t bother with a painkiller when they have a headache, and would rather let it go away on its own. Others fear what medications can do to their bodies in the long run and rarely think it is a good idea to take anything. For others, cost is an issue – repeat prescriptions can start to get rather costly. If the thought of being reliant on medication to control your acid reflux concerns you then you’ll have to find an alternative way of dealing with the issue.

If you really want to avoid taking prescription medication for acid reflux, making some simple lifestyle changes can successfully address the underlying cause of your condition. You may find it beneficial to take medication to get your reflux under control initially, especially if there is damage to the delicate esophagus lining, but implementing lifestyle changes at the same time means that you’re targeting the cause immediately.

If you are overweight, you should try to lose the excess weight. The extra weight can weigh heavily on your stomach and esophagus, especially when lying down. This can place excess pressure on the muscle at the top of the stomach (lower esophageal sphincter) that holds your stomach contents in, leaving it weakened and unable to close properly.

Plus, if you’re a smoker, you should aim to stop or at the very least cut down significantly as smoking also acts to weaken the lower esophageal sphincter muscle.

Diet also plays an important role when controlling acid reflux symptoms naturally. There are a number of common trigger foods that can bring on symptoms in most acid reflux sufferers including:

Alcohol
Chocolate
Fatty or fried foods
Spicy or rich foods
Fatty red meats
Tomatoes and tomato based sauces
Onion and garlic

When and how much you eat can also have an impact on your acid reflux symptoms and can be just as important as what you eat. Rather than having 3 large meals a day aim for 5 – 6 smaller meals and don’t rush your food. By eating smaller meals more frequently and chewing food thoroughly, you reduce the risk of developing acid reflux symptoms.

Eating your evening meal earlier can also help you avoid acid reflux or heartburn symptoms when you get into bed at night. Try to eat at least 3 hours before you go to bed to allow your food time to digest and leave your stomach.

Sleeping with the upper part of your torso elevated allows gravity to do its job and keep acid in your stomach where it belongs. Try this by either propping up your bed head with some bricks (making sure it’s sturdy) or through pillows – either purpose bought acid reflux pillows or by stacking ordinary pillows. Sleeping on your left-hand side can also help to reduce the risk of nighttime acid reflux.

These simple lifestyle steps can help you keep acid reflux at bay, however it’s important never to stop taking prescription medication for acid reflux without first consulting your physician.

Author Resource: Grab your free copy of Kathryn Whittaker's brand new Acid Reflux & GERD Newsletter here http://www.naturally-stop-acid-reflux.com/?source=is which is overflowing with easy to implement methods to help you combat Acid Reflux and GERD.

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Understanding Acid Reflux Difficulty Swallowing

Sometimes, acid reflux is something that is a nuisance, but can be controlled with medications, changes in diet and sleep habits, or possibly by using homeopathic methods. However, when reflux has been left unchecked for some time, or when it is severe, bigger problems can occur. Sinus problems can be a complication, and some sufferers may find that they are prone to respiratory problems because of acid damage within the lungs. Even more troublesome for many is that they have, as a result of acid reflux, difficulty swallowing.

Acid that escapes the stomach and works its way up the esophagus can be very damaging to many of the tissues that it encounters. It can burn and damage the esophagus. The lungs and voice box might not fair too well, and some damage in the throat can scar over. When this scarring occurs, it may not be reversible by just treating your acid reflux. The muscles and tissues must flex for swallowing, and when scarred, they can no longer do that.

If you think you’re having difficulty swallowing as a result of acid reflux, you should make sure you see your doctor. As you can imagine, this is a serious situation that means you need medical evaluation and treatment. Difficulty swallowing can be indications of other more serious conditions and these may need to be ruled out before treatment can begin.

To determine why you’re having difficulty swallowing an endoscopy is usually carried out. This is where a tube with a small camera is inserted into your throat to see what is causing the obstruction in your throat or esophagus. That helps a doctor gauge the damage and also to see what they might have to do to fix it. Many things can happen next. In some cases, they may believe the issue will clear up on its own, and there are times the esophagus can be stretched with a special tool to loosen any tight scar tissue.

When the obstruction is severe, you may face surgery. While treatment is on-going, you may be told to eat only soft foods, to crush your mediations, and to get as many calories as you can in liquid form.

Thankfully, acid reflux difficulty swallowing is actually a very rare occurrence. When reflux is bad enough to cause such damage, it is very painful otherwise, and most seek treatment and get it under control before it becomes a problem. When you think about all of the things that the acid can do to your body, you can see why it is wise to seek help and take preventative measures. The problem of reflux can be considered just an inconvenience and not that serious in nature, but that is exactly what it can become if left untreated.

When the obstruction is severe, you may face surgery. While treatment is on-going, you may be told to eat only soft foods, to crush your mediations, and to get as many calories as you can in liquid form.

Author Resource: Grab your free copy of Kathryn Whittaker's brand new Acid Reflux & GERD Newsletter here http://www.naturally-stop-acid-reflux.com/?source=is which is overflowing with easy to implement methods to help you combat Acid Reflux and GERD.

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Gastritis: More than Just a Grumbling Stomach

Ever experienced vomiting blood or having coffee-ground like material and dark stool? Ever felt abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and constant hiccups? Then you might be one of the more than 10% of people who come to a hospital emergency department with gastritis. Gastritis is a common medical problem of the stomach.

The stomach is an organ of the digestive system, located in the abdomen just below the ribs. Swallowed food is mixed with gastric juices containing enzymes and hydrochloric acid. The lining of the stomach called the epithelium is layered with multiple folds. The epithelium is coated with mucus (gastric mucosa) secreted by special glands. Inflammation caused by gastritis occurs in this lining.

Gastritis occurs when a bacterium, Helicobacter pylori, or the chronic use of drugs or certain medications weakens the protective mucous coating of the stomach and duodenum, allowing acid to get through to the sensitive lining beneath. Helicobacter pylori bacterium is also responsible for most peptic ulcers.

However, gastritis is not just one disease but a group of conditions, all of which result in the inflammation of the stomach lining. Inflammation of the stomach means that white blood cells move into the wall of the stomach as a response to an injury to the stomach. Commonly, the inflammation results from infection with the same bacterium that causes most stomach ulcers. Yet other factors such as traumatic injury and regular use of certain pain relievers can also contribute to gastritis.

Gastritis may be caused by many factors including infection, alcohol, particular medications and some allergic and immune conditions. It can be either acute, with severe attacks lasting a day or two, or chronic, with long term appetite loss or nausea. In many cases, gastritis has no symptoms (asymptomatic). But, common symptoms may include:

Loss of appetite
Pain in the upper abdomen just under the ribs
Nausea or Indigestion
Hiccups
Blood in the bowel actions
Weight loss

Gastritis can be caused by many different factors, including:

Medications such as aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS)
Bacterial infection
Alcohol
Protracted vomiting
Overproduction of gastric juices, which is a stress response in some people
The backflow of bile from the small intestine (duodenum)
Some allergic and immune conditions – for example, pernicious anaemia
Severe stress due to major surgery, traumatic injury or burns
Exposure to radiation.

Diagnosing gastritis involves a variety of tests, including endoscopy and biopsy. In endoscopy, a thin flexible tube is threaded down the esophagus into the stomach. The endoscope is fitted with a small camera so the physician can look at the stomach lining. If the gastric mucosa is reddened, this may indicate gastritis. A biopsy is needed for confirmation. Biopsy involves small tissue samples which are taken during an endoscopy and tested in a laboratory. The pathologist will look for changes, including the presence of inflammatory cells and epithelium damage. Treatment of gastritis varies from person to person and depends on the specific cause. For most types of gastritis, reduction of stomach acid is helpful. Stomach acid is reduced by medication and antibiotics are given for infection. Most people recover from gastritis. Depending on the many factors that affect the stomach lining, gastritis symptoms may flare up from time to time. Overall, gastritis is generally a common, mildly troubling ailment that responds well to simple treatments. On occasion, rare forms of gastritis can be serious or even life threatening. Severe, ongoing symptoms or internal bleeding should alert a physician to search for a more serious underlying cause.

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