alternative herbal

Dose Anyone Know About Herbal And Alternative Medicine Treatment Of Reflux(gerd)?

GERD stands for gastroesophageal reflux disease. Gastroesophageal reflux (not disease)is a normal physiologic phenomena that most people have experienced on rare occasions usually after meals.
Gastroesophageal reflux DISEASE occurs when the amount of gastric juice (acidic) in your stomach exceeds a certain volume and refluxes (is pushed into) your esophagus causing injury.
Who is at risk? Anyone with increased intra-abdominal pressure, ie. the obese, and pregnant women. The increased pressure can sort of “push” the part of your esophagus (LES-lower esophageal sphincter) connecting to your stomach open enough for gastric juice to get to your esophagus. This may also occur in people with an incompetent LES for other reasons.
Certain foods like coffee, alcohol, and medications can decrease the pressure of the lower esophageal sphinter (see above) causing gastric juice to flow into the esophagus causing symptoms.
Modify your lifestyle:
1. Lose weight (if you are overweight)
2. Avoid alcohol, SMOKING, chocolate, citrus juice, and tomato-based products
3. Avoid large meals
4. Wait 3 hours after a meal before lying down
5. Elevate the head of the bed 8 inches (allows gravity to help keep the gastric juices out of your esophagus)
Pharmacologic Therapy (I don’t list medications, see your doctor). The idea is to decrease the amount of excess acid in your stomach.
Surgical Therapy- for severe cases.
Serious cases of GERD have been known to lead to MORE serious complications, including injury to lungs, and cancer of the lower esophagus. See your doctor, and get proven therapy.