Natural remedies for your acid reflux

We've all been there: you're enjoying some of summer's fresh tomatoes, indulging at a friend's barbecue, or enjoying some tacos and a margarita on a patio deck. Then, an hour or two later, symptoms strike. Abdominal fullness, burning sensations, sour stomach. Acid reflux can definitely ruin the fun.

Acid reflux is a common chronic disease that affects more than three million Americans each year. It occurs when stomach acid flows up into the esophagus, irritating the sensitive lining of your upper digestive tract. Over time, this acid can begin to erode these tissues, leading to more complicated problems and more severe pain. It's usually exacerbated by spicy foods, hot drinks, and stimulants like caffeine.

Some of the causes of reflux can include: esophageal tissues that aren't getting enough water and nutrients, the mucosal layer can become impaired, and the GI tract is unable to down regulate inflammation. The stomach has a natural descending function, and when dysfunctional, this can lead to hydrochloric acid (HCl) flowing up through the esophageal sphincter.

Fortunately, many of our patients have found relief with acupuncture, herbal medicine and supplements, and some changes to their usual diet.

Aloe juice can help soothe and help heal irritated throat, esophagus, and GI tissues while helping gently move food stagnation. It's indicated in Traditional Chinese Medicine for constipation that has an inflammatory and/or dehydration component. It's a bit bitter, so hold your nose and take an ounce or two as a shot - it's not so bad, and you can feel cooling relief almost immediately. You can find it at Whole Foods, Natural Grocers, or most other health food stores.

Chronic reflux or GERD is commonly treated with antacid medications, but many patients report limited relief. Long-term use can actually worsen symptoms by disrupting the delicate pH balance of your digestive tract.

Sometimes long-term GERD can be actually caused by low stomach acid rather than high acid. This happens because there's not enough HCl to break down food properly, which can cause irritation like gas, bloating, and food stagnation that can irritate the esophageal sphincter and cause reflux symptoms. Your Medical Doctor can recommend a test to analyze stomach pH for you, but it involves a tube through the nose or mouth to get a measurement directly from your upper GI tract. A less invasive option is to try the apple cider vinegar test: drink a small amount of liquid apple cider vinegar when you have acid reflux (1 tsp with water) and monitor if your symptoms get better or worse. Because apple cider vinegar is acidic, the risk is to temporarily exacerbate symptoms if your HCl is already high. But if your stomach acid is low, you'll feel better and you've learned something new! In this case, you can supplement with ACV gummies. If you're not up for that challenge, the gentlest way to get a sense of your general pH is to try a more neutral/alkaline diet and monitor your symptoms.

Changing your diet can feel like an enormous task, but it's often the best place to start - especially if digestion is a concern. Trying an alkaline (non-acidic) diet often improves symptoms. I generally recommend giving it two weeks, and if you notice you're starting to feel better, try to keep it up.

The Cleveland Clinic describes an alkaline diet as focusing on low acidic fruits like apples, grains like wild rice, oats and quinoa, legumes, non-starchy vegetables, like leafy greens, broccoli, cabbage and carrots, nuts, and seeds. You'll also want to avoid spicy and acidic foods like vinegar, citrus fruits, tomatoes, alcohol, and sugar (sorry!)

Consider a probiotic if you're not already taking one or haven't tried it already. I generally recommend low and slow doses at the beginning, because introducing too much at once can give people stomach aches at first. Every other day, and even half the recommended bottle dose for the first week or so, is a good way to gently influence your microbiome in a way that won't cause bloating. Try one that's acidophilus-based and on the lower end of the dose spectrum. It doesn't matter if you choose a refrigerated vs shelf-stable brand, as long as it's stored properly and not used past its expiration date. I also don't think it's necessary to spend like $40 on one bottle.

Another common cause of acid reflux is, unfortunately, pregnancy. The growing baby will inevitably put pressure on mom's digestive system and can lead to uncomfortable heartburn. If this happens, managing symptoms as best you can with the above methods is your best bet.

Medical acupuncture promotes digestion, helps your body regulate inflammation, and has been proven to reduce pain. We also consider if someone has been in fight or flight mode, or highly stressed, that that could cause an inhibition in the production of stomach acid causing acid reflux. For these cases, we utilize needling around the spine to promote the vagal response, helping with the positive feedback to increase/refill the HCL in the stomach. In general, acupuncture works tremendously well for all types of digestive issues, including acid reflux.