Herbal Alternative Medicine

by Lorna Bresko

If you suffer with the contents of your stomach trying to come back up
then you probably have acid reflux disorder sometimes referred to as
heartburn. This is a disorder of the gastrointestinal tract (digestive
system) and even though this condition is often known by different names,
they have similar symptoms. In order to assimilate the food we eat,
our stomach dissolves it with a strong acid. However, when the acid wants
to escape the confines of the stomach via the digestive tract, it
causes a burning pain in the chest.

When food enters your stomach, a valve called the lower esophageal
sphincter opens to allow food into the stomach which normally remains
closed so that stomach food and acid do not flow back up into your esophagus
area. The esophageal sphincter should close and trap the acid but when
this doesn’t happen and the acid escapes back up the digestive tract
the condition of acid reflux or heartburn is the result. The conditions
proper medical name is called gastro esophageal reflux disorder - or
GERD for short. Unfortunately the exact cause of acid reflux condition
remains a mystery, but it is believed an individual’s diet is primarily
to blame; overeating could also add to the problem and cause unnecessary
stress on the stomach and its ability to process food.

When anyone eats a large amount of food it creates an additional burden
on the stomach muscles. Something has to give; this being the acid
which returns or refluxes back up the esophagus bringing with it the very
unpleasant heartburn. Since this valve protects your esophagus from
your stomach acid, you need to take care this valve does not allow
digested acidic food to pass back into the esophagus. This can be achieved by
consuming smaller meals, the incidences of heartburn should reduce.
This situation can be a problem for the health of the body as the stomach,
esophagus and mouth all need to be in good working order. The stomach
carries out not only the breaking down of food but processing it into
nutrients that can be absorbed by the body.

A short term solution may appear to be the drugs that are easily
purchased over the counter but guidance is needed. However, these can
interrupt natural body processes and cause other health problems. The long
term approach to reduce the stomach problems and acid reflux is to adjust
how you consume food and drink. This will then allow your stomach to
settle down and regain its strength. It may take a while but if the
number of times you experience heartburn reduces, you may be able to enjoy
some of the foods you stopped eating; all the while remaining conscious
of the need to take things slowly and not place stress on your stomach
again.

Of course acid reflux can also be aggravated by a number of other
situations; for instance:

Smoking

Food allergies

Prescription medication

Too much alcohol

Having a sleep after eating a meal

Surely a few changes in the way you live your life aren’t too much to
ask. If you need an incentive to stop the occasions where you suffer
with heartburn then this should be it! All that is required is a little
dedication on your part to be careful about what you eat and drink to
possibly clear up your acid reflux problem. No-one can convince you that
you need to change, but these life enhancing improvements are within
your control.

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