What is Acid Reflux? Symptoms, Causes and Treatments | Alternative Medicine

By JeffMartin
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Acid reflux, also known as GERD (gastro esophageal reflux disease) is the phenomenon where stomach juices including acid travel back (reflux) to the esophagus from the stomach. Research done recently shows that some one in five people in the developed world must put up once a week with symptoms related to acid reflux, while a further one in five suffer from the distress and sometimes pain of these symptoms at least every month. However, most patients do not really know what GERD is.

What are the local causes of acid reflux?

When the esophagus lining comes into contact with these juices, a burning sensation in the chest and/or the throat is produced. This is called acid reflux. Gastro esophageal reflux disease happens when the lower esophageal sphincter (the name for the valve or circle of muscle between the stomach and the esophagus) does not close correctly, failing to prevent stomach juices from traveling back up, or refluxing, into the esophagus.

The level of stomach acid has to be high enough for effective digestion, and avoid the stomach from having to work much harder for the food to be digested. Over time, the extra effort of the stomach can result in gastroesophageal reflux disease occurring. So although it seems strange, GERD may also be a symptom of too little gastric acid.

As well as the immediate factors leading to gastro esophageal reflux disease, there are also genetic factors (beyond our control) and several other internal factors and cofactors, that make for a context encouraging GERD. A long-term solution can only come from treating the internal factors primarily responsible for causing GERD.

What do symptoms of acid reflux look like?

Healthy people also get occasional heartburn, and this alone does not mean that you have a gastro esophageal reflux disease. Diagnosis of GERD is typically based on a recurring (twice weekly or more) manifestation of heartburn. Symptoms may be different for some GERD patients, such as chest pains, morning hoarseness or problems swallowing. Other patients experience a sensation of food getting stuck in their throat or choking or stricture. Recurring dry coughs are also symptoms for this last group of patients.

What are the dangers associated with acid reflux?

Some patients develop a condition where cells in the esophageal lining adopt abnormal shapes and colors, a condition known as Barrett's esophagus. Protracted Barrett's esophagus may result in cancer, in particular for adults over 60. Neglecting gastroesophageal reflux disease cannot only have disagreeable, perhaps painful symptoms, but can also generate other grave complications. Gastric acid can lead to inflammation of the esophagus over time, and ulcers or bleeding. Finally, tissue damage scars can result in narrowing of the esophagus and problems in swallowing.

Solutions for Acid Reflux

Treating acid reflux can be handled in one of three ways: a surgical operation; medicaments available by prescription or over-the-counter; and holistic therapy, using dietary and lifestyle alterations, detox, and specific herbal supplements. In most instances, GERD can be tackled and stopped using natural solutions, without the risks or secondary effects of surgical treatment or prescribed medicaments. This holistic approach is also backed up by a review of recent research that demonstrates that the medical condition of gastroesophageal reflux disease is provoked mostly by factors of diet, lifestyle and behavior.

So what is acid reflux? Seen in the context of conventional medicine that compares it to other similar recurring conditions, acid reflux is to be treated by constantly ingesting drugs, antacids and over the counter medicament that only bring temporary relief.

Seen from the holistic viewpoint, gastro esophageal reflux disease is the danger signal for a major internal imbalance that must be corrected. Alternative treatments for GERD therefore (homeopathic cures, herbal treatment, diet and lifestyle alterations and detoxification), by solving the internal cause of acid reflux, are inherently better compared to conventional cures that only bring superficial relief.

About the Author

Jeff Martin is a certified nutritionist and author of the #1 best-selling e-book, Heartburn No More . To Learn More About Jeff Martins Unique Holistic Acid Reflux Cure System Visit: What is Acid Reflux

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