The frustrating food and drink choices. The worry of forgetting the antacid. The burning pain that just seems to keep coming back.
Or maybe it’s medication inducing stomach acid in which the consistent sour taste in the mouth and sore throat just have to be lived with?
It could even be a reaction to trauma or simply the stress of everyday life idiosyncrasies that are causing queasiness.
Whatever it may be, heartburn and acid reflux can be painful, frustrating, and downright debilitating.
There are a plethora of over the counter medications and prescriptions that can help, but many don’t cure the issue and/or have to be taken consistently. We also find that many patients are searching for ways the body can heal itself rather than turning to synthetic drugs. So how you can you encourage your body to function properly on its own? Let’s talk!
Heartburn and acid reflux happen stomach acid and food travel back up the esophagus. It can be a result of when the lower esophageal valve isn’t working properly and if it continues chronically, it can turn into GERD (gastro esophageal reflux disease). If left untreated, inflammation can result in the body and it could even lead to future disease such as cancer. This alone makes it crucial to identify triggers or causes and work towards healing.
The typical symptom of heartburn and acid reflux is:
– burning sensations in the chest or throat (sometimes confused with heart attack symptoms and should be examined if so)
In addition, there can be silent reflux that doesn’t cause burning, but has symptoms such as:
– sour taste in the mouth
– sore throat
– excessive dry coughing
– feeling that something is stuck in the back of the throat
These symptoms can be brought on by such things as, but not limited to:
– certain food (such as chocolate, citrus foods, and spicy foods)
– certain beverages (such as caffeinated drinks, certain teas, juices, and alcohol)
– indigestion
– stress or anxiety
– certain exercise
– certain medications
– excess weight
– smoking
Are you experiencing any of these symptoms or causes? Is it time to make a commitment to heal your body and reduce usage of over-the-counter or prescribed medications?
Rather than just treating the symptoms of heartburn or acid reflux, it’s important to look at the entire body’s overall functioning and what the root cause of the symptoms are. From there, treatment may focus on both eliminating symptoms and healing the underlying cause.
Here are natural options that may help you achieve just that.
Acupuncture: Stimulation of different acupuncture energy points can help restore balance in the body’s overall functioning. Many times, acupuncture may focus on root causes such as digestion functionality, stress reduction, weight management, and nicotine or alcohol addictions.
By treating the root cause of the heartburn or acid reflux, acupuncture, over time, can return stasis in the body leading to reduced or dissolved symptoms and overall healing.
Natural Medicines: Just as in acupuncture, natural medicines can encourage optimal working of the systems in the body. In addition to helping to immediately relieve symptoms, some natural herbs and medicines focus on:
– reducing stress and anxiety
– restoring balancing pH Levels
– aiding in digestion
– weight loss
– addiction cravings
To curb heartburn symptoms, these herbs and nutrients can be beneficial for good gut health:
– DGL (Deglyzerized Licorice Root), an herb that can encourage mucus production and protect stomach lining
– Zinc Carnosine, a form of zinc that can heal the stomach
– Aloe, an anti-inflammatory that can soothe the lining of the stomach
– Marshmallow Root, used for reduction of stomach acidity
– L–Glutamine, which may reduce inflammation in the stomach and gut
Nutrition Counseling: Do you love spicy foods? How about a glass of wine with dinner? It can be quite hard to give up your favorites even though chances are it could do the trick. Nutrition counseling can help by coaching you through how to look at food and beverages differently and provide alternatives that can satisfy without the harsh effects.
Holistic Counseling: If you’ve been dealing with trauma, grief, relationship issues, depression, addiction, or overall life stress, your body may be producing excess acidity resulting in inflammation. Holistic counseling focuses on healing the emotional triggers of heartburn. Processing life and working through tough issues may sound overwhelming, but the results can allow your body to restore inner calm and balance.
Do any of these options interest you in healing your heartburn or acid reflux? If you live in Castle Rock, Highlands Ranch, Castle Pines, Centennial, Larkspur, Lone Tree, Parker, or Colorado Springs, please call our office at 303.688.6698 or schedule your free 15 minute consultation with Dr. Graves or one of our providers via our online scheduling service.
It could just be the moment you begin to relieve your anxiety and focus on your healing.
References:
http://www.healthline.com/health/gerd/alternative-treatment#overview1
http://www.webmd.com/heartburn-gerd/guide/diagnose#1
http://www.healthline.com/health/gerd/heartburn-vs-acid-reflux#acid-reflux3
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/314886.php
http://www.livestrong.com/article/434793-acupuncture-for-acid-reflux/
http://www.healthline.com/health/digestive-health/aloe-vera-juice-acid-reflux#overview1
http://www.healthline.com/health/digestive-health/dgl-for-acid-reflux#benefits2
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