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Natural treatment of acid reflux

Acid reflux, also known as "reflux esophagitis", is an inflammation of the esophagus caused by regurgitation of the contents of the stomach. Acid reflux is most often recognized by its symptom of "heartburn" which reportedly affects 1 out of every 10 adults in the U.S. on a daily basis.

Also called "Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease" (GERD), as well as "reflux" or "reflux esophagitis", it is a problem almost everyone experiences at some time - it occurs when acid from the stomach backs up into the esophagus - some people experience it in a severe and frequent manner.

Today, in our drug-oriented society, the treatment of acid reflux is mostly based on the suppression of acid. These drugs are promoted as miracle cures for heartburn for millions of people and are major moneymaker$ for the drug companie$. Consider the mass marketing tactics of "Prilosec", the original “Purple Pill” for heartburn that became the #1 selling prescription drug for seniors in the world.(1) "Prilosec" earns its manufacturer AstraZeneca $6 billion dollars/year.

When the patent on "Prilosec" expired, its maker, AstraZeneca, embarked on a $500 million marketing campaign to move consumers onto their next expensive “Purple Pill", "Nexium". It's hard to watch TV for 30 minutes without seeing a “Purple Pill" ad. AstraZeneca even hired 1,300 new sales representatives just to promote the new “Purple Pill".

Even though studies indicated, and many experts concurred, that "Nexium" was hardly more effective than the original drug, AstraZeneca managed to successfully transfer 42% of patients taking "Prilosec" over to "Nexium". It is important for you to be aware of when a drug is truly a necessity, and when it is simply a tool to increase a drug companie's profits.

Drugs are rarely the best solution for the common ulcer and other related stomach problems. It is clear that "Prilosec", and other drugs similar to it, are indeed effective at what they do. If they were not, it would be impossible for these drug companies to convince people to buy them. But drugs do NOT solve the acid reflux problem. In fact, they actually make it worse.

The so-called "proton pump inhibitors" such as "Prilosec" and "Prevacid", and the H2 blocker agents such as "Zantac", "Pepcid" and "Tagament", are some of the worst drugs you could possible take.

Here's why: these drugs dramatically reduce the amount of hydrochloric acid you have in your stomach, thereby diminishing drastically your ability to digest your food properly. This reduction in the amount of stomach acid also reduces a very important defense mechanism against food-borne infections and increases your likelihood of food poisoning. Not digesting your food properly also increases your risks for nearly every other chronic degenerative diseases. Two studies (2) with laboratory mice, conducted by Howard Hughes Medical Institute scientists at the University of Michigan Medical School, indicate that reducing the amount of hydrochloric acid you have in your stomach could be exactly the wrong thing to do.

Natural remedies for acid reflux

Drugs are not the answer in this case. Many of us may have forgotten that the drug "Propulsid" was often used for this acid reflux and subsequently pulled from the market a few years ago after causing many deaths.

What should one do to remedy acid reflux? Following a detoxification diet, drinking about 1 gallon of filtered water daily along with high doses of quality probiotics goes a long way toward restoring normal stomach function for most people. Normally, you should try to drink enough water each day to keep your urine a light yellow shade. However, when you suffer from acid reflux, more water may be necessary to dilute the acid and normalize the pH in your stomach.

Also, many people find relief in the wormwood herb Artemisia asiatica. Another effective option, is GARLIC. Garlic is one food that you should be eating every day. It has a wonderful ability to optimize bowel flora and kill pathogenic organisms such as H. pylori. H. pylori is the only bacterial organism in the stomach that cannot be killed by hydrochloric acid. 75% of people with gastritis test positive for Helicobacter pylori, although many other species of bacteria can trigger inflammatory changes too, and often co-exist along with Helicobacter.

It's important to remember that the garlic must be fresh. You need to CHEW the garlic or crush it using a spoon before swallowing it, if you are not going to put it in your juice. If you swallow the cloves intact you will not convert the allicin in the garlic to its active ingredient.

(1) Business Week, January 8 2001 issue

(2) Gastroenterology and The American Journal of Physiology January 2002

disclaimer: Throughout this website, statements are made pertaining to the properties and/or functions of food and/or nutritional products. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and these materials and products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

© 2003 by Marc Leduc