Acid Reflux and Heartburn Articles

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This page contains medical journal articles and/or doctors' commentaries on the role of mineral deficiencies and other factors in illness, and the value of minerals, vitamins, and a proper diet for healthy living.

Acid Reflux & Heartburn Articles...
Updated: Tuesday, January 16, 2007

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Article 1:
Herbal Therapy Works On Acid Reflux

Treating or preventing reflux esophagitis may be as simple as supplementing traditional acid suppression treatment with an antioxidant extract of the wormwood herb Artemisia asiatica.

Reflux esophagitis is an inflammation of the esophagus caused by regurgitation of the stomach contents, or acid reflux. The condition is more commonly recognized by its symptom of heartburn which reportedly affects 10% of American adults every day. Currently the treatment of reflux esophagitis is mostly based on the suppression of acid. Therapy with readily available antioxidants such as vegetables and fruits may help prevent and treat the condition, researchers noted.

Investigators surgically induced reflux esophagitis in 60 rats and divided them into four different groups: one that received no treatment; two that were pretreated with 30 milligrams (mg) and 100 mg, respectively, of the oral antioxidant; and one that received the traditional Zantac treatment. A fifth group that was not subjected to reflux disease was used for comparison.

The antioxidant treatment, as opposed to the traditional drug therapy, decreased the severity of reflux disease and was more protective against ulceration and inflammation of the esophagus. The best results were seen in rats that received 100 mg of the antioxidant. For example, 80% of the rats that received no treatment developed large ulcers in the lower and middle parts of the esophagus, compared with 27% of the rats that received 30 mg of antioxidant treatment and 20% of the rats that received 100 mg of the antioxidant, the report indicates. In contrast, nearly two thirds of the rats that received the acid suppressant developed ulcers. Rats treated with the antioxidant also exhibited greater evidence of healing in the affected areas of the esophagus and less cell damage than did the rats treated with ranitidine. The rat model is unlike human reflux disease, particularly because "humans do extremely well on acid suppression," one of the authors noted

Gut September 2001
49:364-371

DR. MERCOLA'S COMMENT:
(©Copyright 1997-2002 Dr. Joseph Mercola. All Rights Reserved. Web site: http://www.mercola.com. Newsletters are based upon the opinions of Dr. Mercola. They are not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and they are not intended as medical advice. They are intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of Dr. Mercola and his community. Dr. Mercola encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional.)

It is important to recognize that drugs are not the answer here. Many may not remember that Propulsid was frequently used for this condition and pulled from the market last year after causing many deaths.

It is interesting to note that the anti-parasite herb, artemesia, seems to be useful for this condition. However, although it is safer, it is also still a bandaid. As I state below, garlic is a far less expensive, and considerably more effective option.

The January 8, 2001 issue of Business Week mentions that Priolsec is the top selling prescription drug in the world. It earns Astra Zeneca (the drug's maker) 6 billion dollars per year. The drug, and others like it, clearly are effective at what they do or there is no way in the world these companies could convince people to buy them. BUT they do NOT solve the problem. In fact, they actually worsen it. Then, when you are using the wrong solution for the problem, you are bound to have problems. Drugs are rarely, if ever, indictated for the common ulcer and associated stomach problems.

The proton pump inhibitors like Prevacid and Prilosec and the H2 blocker agents like Tagament, Pepcid, and Zantac are some of the worst drugs that you could possible take. Why? They significantly reduce the amount of acid you have and with that your ability to properly digest food. Reduction of acid in the stomach also diminishes your primary defense mechanism for food borne infections and will increase your risk of food poisoning.

What are the options? Drinking about one gallon of pure water per day along with high doses of a good quality probiotic (benefical bacteria) is enough to restore normal stomach function in the vast majority of patients. Occasionally, those with a hiatal hernia will require additional structural adjustments. Garlic is one food that you should be eating every day. Dr. Klinghardt and I are very impressed with its ability to optimize bowel flora and kill pathogenic organisms such as H. pylori (key cause of most ulcers).

We have found that by bolstering stomach acid production we can alleviate most heartburn and acid reflux without the use of drugs. The best way to do this is by getting the water-soluble sodium into the body. Over 90% of the sodium brought into the body is stored in the stomach lining and this is where the hydrochloric acid for digestion is produced.

The water-soluble sodium is not salt (sodium chloride) - think of it rather as celery juice and is a tremendous aid to digestion. Users have found that by taking 1 tablespoon 20-30 minutes before eating takes care of most if not all of their digestion problems very quickly. The herbalist's of time past would give their clients some cabbage juice for upset stomach. Why? Cabbage is loaded (or at least used to be loaded) with sulfur that is bioavailable. Take the sodium along with the water-soluble sulfur and you have an awesome stomach/gut fixer.

Links:
Dr. Mercola Acid Reflux Article
Essense-of-Life Acid Reflux Page
Essense-of-Life Heartburn Page

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ACID REFLUX & HEARTBURN ARTICLES