Alternative Medicine

Acid Reflux, What It Is And What Can Be Done About It

2011-02-06T11:47:00.001-08:00

What is Acid Reflux?

This condition, also known as GERD or GORD, is caused by stomach acid escaping from the stomach and passing up the tube that connects the stomach with the mouth. When you swallow, food passes down the tube known as the esophagus and into the stomach. At the end of the esophagus, is a flap that prevents food and acid escaping from the stomach and passing back up toward the mouth. Unfortunately, for sufferers of acid reflux, this is what happens to them and can result in very painful heartburn.

Things you can do to lessen the effect of acid reflux

First of all, try eating smaller meals more often. We all tend to eat our normal three meals a day, but this can lead to an over production of stomach acid. This is made worse if we eat a particularly large meal and we end up suffering for it. By making each meal much smaller in terms of the quantity of food, and by having more frequent small meals, we put less strain on our digestive system and consequently we produce less stomach acid. Sufferers also experience the condition at night. Some relief can be found by sleeping with the head raised with an extra pillow or two and also try avoiding having anything to eat about two hours before going to bed.

Changes to your diet can reduce the severity of acid reflux. Foods to avoid, or reduce, include fruits and fruit juices that are acidic. Typically, lemons, limes and oranges are considered to be quite acidic. Avoid highly spiced foods such as curries or anything with chillies. Fatty foods are to be avoided; these include cheese, full fat milk as well as burgers and fries. Other foods include chocolate, tea, coffee and peppermint.

Some studies have shown that sleeping on the left hand side helps to reduce the occurrence of night time acid reflux.

We all know the harmful effects of smoking, but cigarettes also make the condition worse.

Medication

There are a number of medicines that can be prescribed for this condition. One group are known as “proton pump inhibitors”. They work by preventing the body from producing acid at the source. It is the proton pump that produces the acid that causes the discomfort. Various antacids are also available and are usually taken before a meal or when the first signs of an attack become apparent. There are also other drugs that are used for the treatment of acid reflux and a sufferer may have to try several alternatives before finding a drug that will help with their complaint.

It is worth noting that drugs used to treat this condition are among the most prescribed medicines in the western world. Given that obesity levels are high in the western world and that our diet has become one where a large amount of saturated fats are consumed, it may be worthwhile looking at other cultures and taking on board some of their lifestyle choices. It may well be to our advantage to change our diets and to exercise more frequently. Above all, there are enormous health benefits to be gained by losing a few extra pounds. Other types of medical treatments such as herbal remedies may be the way forward in treating acid reflux.

Do you suffer from acid reflux .If you want to find out more about alternative treatments for this condition, then visit my website for more information about great natural cures for acid reflux.

Ten tips that will help you tackle heartburn

2008-12-14T07:25:00.000-08:00

Heartburn Help - Ten Useful Tips
By Robert Pillans

Heartburn, what is it?

If you suffer from heartburn, you will know the feeling well. A burning sensation, that starts from the stomach and travels all the way up your throat. Eventually it reaches your mouth, leaving an unpleasant taste. The culprit is stomach acid, which has found its way out of the stomach and is now burning the sensitive parts of your gullet. The tube that connects your mouth to your stomach is called the esophagus, and at the point where it joins the stomach there is a flap that keeps the stomachs contents strictly where they belong. However, under certain conditions this flap can be overcome allowing the contents to make their way back up the esophagus. This is partly digested food that is coated with acid, and it is this acid that burns the esophagus. This condition has nothing to do with the heart, despite its name, but boy can it burn. Another name for this condition is acid reflux, because the acid reflux-es (or travels back) up the esophagus.

There are a number of things that can make you more prone to heartburn. Amongst them are being overweight, wearing tight clothing and eating large meals. Each of these puts extra pressure on the stomach, pushing partly digested food upwards past the flap and into the esophagus. Smokers are more prone to heartburn because cigarette smoke contains chemicals that weaken the muscle which holds the flap closed. Finally, as any mother will tell you, heartburn goes hand in hand with being pregnant. Again, it is the extra pressure on the stomach that forces the acid laden food back up the esophagus.

Ten tips that will help you tackle heartburn

Avoid the temptation to lie down, standing keeps gravity on your side in keeping stomach acid where it belongs. For the same reason, avoid eating for the three hours before bedtime. Heartburn during the night is common amongst those who have had a meal too close to bedtime.

Another thing not to do is bending over after you have just had a meal. Again, this puts pressure on the stomach that in turn forces the stomach contents past that flap.

If you do feel heartburn coming on, try drinking a large glass of water to dilute that acid and ease the burning.

Grate some root ginger, and add a teaspoon of it to a cup of hot water. Let it stand for about ten minutes and then drink. The ginger helps to combat the effects of heartburn, and can also be effective if you add it to you meal during cooking.

Saliva is very effective in helping with the fight against heartburn. The more you chew your food before swallowing, the more saliva you will produce. So chew plenty before you swallow, also a bit of chewing gum after a meal helps produce more saliva that can reduce the risk of heartburn.

Some vegetables are very effective at fighting heartburn because they are alkaline (the opposite of acidic) and can really help especially if eaten raw. Try having carrot, cucumber and beetroot in your side salad.

A large glass of milk can also help with the effects of heartburn.

Another popular remedy is to eat an apple when heartburn strikes. This helps most people with the symptoms.

Instead of eating three large meals throughout the day, try having six. Do remember to make each one a lot smaller.

For those that suffer from heartburn during the night, try raising the head of your bed by a few inches. Placing some books under the feet of the bed will create a downward slope that will help stomach acid stay put.

I have suffered from heartburn in the past, and usually relied on the usual antacid tablets to help. However, I've discovered some additional methods to use that have helped me to get relief and have really helped when used alongside traditional antacids. I have included the tips in this article, along with some other helpful suggestions at http://www.squidoo.com/cures-for-heartburn

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_Pillans
http://EzineArticles.com/?Heartburn-Help---Ten-Useful-Tips&id=1742983

Acid Reflux

2008-12-09T14:31:00.000-08:00

I've added a new lens to Squidoo about acid reflux. For those of you who suffer from this, I suggest that you visit the lens by clicking its title on the right. You will get free advice on this condition as well as some kitchen cupboard fixes and herbal remedies.
If you find that the remedies are helpful, then I recommend the book "Stop Heartburn Fast". It has lots more advice and is written by Thomas Dwyer who had cured his own condition without using drugs, taking exercise or following some faddy diet. Just Click on the large Running Man Heart on the right to get instant access to his book.

I hope that you find the permanent cure you seek.

New lens at Squidoo

2008-12-07T03:07:00.000-08:00

I've just added another lens to my Squidoo account. It's about migraines and talks about herbal remedies for these terrible headaches. The big advantage that herbal cures have over traditional medicines is that you will not suffer from side effects.

The herbs I recommend are Ginkgo Biloba, Feverfew, Chamomile, Rosemary and Mint. There is also one more surprise ingredient that will make you shake your head in wonder. It just shows that herbs have a wide variety of uses, cooking with them is just one way to take advantage of them.
Why not find out more by clicking here:- herbal-cures-for-migraine-headaches

Do you suffer from heartburn?

2008-12-03T12:33:00.000-08:00

Most people suffer from heartburn at some time, but for others it is a constant hell.
Heartburn is also known as Acid Reflux or GERD, and it is a digestive problem caused by acid in the stomach travelling back up the oesophagus.
I've created a lens over at Squidoo that will give you free tips and heartburn remedies that you can try. Of course, these are alternatives to the more traditional medicines usually offered as a cure.

click this link 10 hot tips to tackle heartburn You can rate the lens by using the star rating at the very top of the page, and please leave a comment in the guest book. If you have any questions, I will do my very best to answer them for you.
If you like this blog, then leave me a comment. Let me know what you think of it