Note: this is the sixth and final article in a series about heartburn and GERD. If you haven’t done so already, you’ll want to read Part I, Part II, Part III, and Part IVa, and Part IVb before reading this article.
In this final article of the series, we’re going to discuss three steps to treating heartburn and GERD without drugs. These same three steps will also prevent these conditions from developing in the first place, and keep them from returning once they’re gone.
To review, heartburn and GERD are not caused by too much stomach acid. They are caused by too little stomach acid and bacterial overgrowth in the stomach and intestines. Therefore successful treatment is based on restoring adequate stomach acid production and eliminating bacterial overgrowth.
This can be accomplished by following the “three Rs” of treating heartburn and GERD naturally:
- Reduce factors that promote bacterial overgrowth and low stomach acid.
- Replace stomach acid, enzymes and nutrients that aid digestion and are necessary for health.
- Restore beneficial bacteria and a healthy mucosal lining in the gut.
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Reduce Factors That Promote Bacterial Overgrowth and Low Stomach Acid
Carbohydrates
As we saw in Part II and Part III, a high-carbohydrate diet promotes bacterial overgrowth. Bacterial overgrowth—in particular H. pylori—can suppress stomach acid. This creates a vicious cycle where bacterial overgrowth and low stomach acid reinforce each other in a continuous decline of digestive function.
It follows, then, that a low-carb diet would reduce bacterial overgrowth. In studies done to test this hypothesis, the results have been overwhelmingly positive. Carbohydrate intake (especially simple sugars) is correlated with GERD symptoms, and reducing that intake can lead to a reduction in those symptoms. (1)
In a study performed by Professor Yancy and colleagues at Duke University, researchers worked with five patients with severe GERD that also had a variety of other medical problems, such as diabetes. (2) Each of these patients had failed several conventional GERD treatments before being enrolled in the study. In spite of the fact that some of these patients continued to drink, smoke and engage in other GERD-unfriendly habits, in every case the symptoms of GERD were completely eliminated within one week of adopting a very-low-carbohydrate diet.
Another study was performed by Yancy and colleagues a few years later. (3) This time they examined the effects of a very-low-carb diet on eight obese subjects with severe GERD. They measured the esophageal pH of the subjects at baseline before the study began using something called the Johnson-DeMeester score. This is a measurement of how much acid is getting back up into the esophagus, and thus an objective marker of how much reflux is occurring. They also used a self-administered questionnaire called the GSAS-ds to evaluate the frequency and severity of 15 GERD-related symptoms within the previous week.
At the beginning of the diet, five of eight subjects had abnormal Johnson-DeMeester scores. All five of these patients showed a substantial decrease in their Johnson-DeMeester score (meaning less acid in the esophagus). Most remarkably, the magnitude of the decrease in Johnson-DeMeester scores is similar to what is reported with PPI treatment. In other words, in these five subjects a very-low-carbohydrate diet was just as effective as powerful acid suppressing drugs in keeping acid out of the esophagus.
All eight individuals had evident improvement in their GSAS-ds scores. The GSAS-ds scores decreased from 1.28 prior to the diet to 0.72 after initiation of the diet. What these numbers mean is that the patients all reported significant improvement in their GERD related symptoms. Therefore, there was both objective (Johnson-DeMeester) and subjective (GSAS-ds) improvement in this study.
It’s important to note that obesity is an independent risk factor for GERD, because it increases intra-abdominal pressure and causes dysfunction of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). The advantage to a low-carb diet as a treatment for GERD for those who are overweight is that low-carb diets are also very effective for promoting weight loss.
An alternative to a very-low-carb is something called a “specific carbohydrate diet” (SCD), or the GAPS diet. In these two approaches it is not the amount of carbohydrates that is important, but the type of carbohydrates. The theory is that the longer chain carbohydrates (disaccharides and polysacharides) are the ones that feed bad bacteria in our guts, while short chain carbohydrates (monosacharides) don’t pose a problem. In practice what this means is that all grains, legumes and starchy vegetables should be eliminated, but fruits and certain non-starchy root vegetables (winter squash, rutabaga, turnips, celery root) can be eaten. These are not “low-carb” diets, per se, but there is reason to believe that they may be just as effective in treating heartburn and GERD. See the resources section below for books and websites about these diets, which have been used with dramatic success to treat everything from autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to Crohn’s disease.
Another alternative to very-low-carb that I increasingly use in my clinic is the low-FODMAP diet. FODMAPs are certain types of carbohydrates that are poorly absorbed by some people, particularly those with an overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine (which, as you now know, tends to go hand-in-hand with heartburn). See this article and my book for more information.
Be careful to avoid the processed low-carb foods sold in supermarkets. Instead, I suggest a Paleo or ancestral approach to nutrition.
Fructose and Artificial Sweeteners
As I pointed out in Part II, fructose and artificial sweeteners have been shown to increase bacterial overgrowth. Artificial sweeteners should be completely eliminated, and fructose (in processed form especially) should be reduced.
Fiber
High fiber diets and bacterial overgrowth are a particularly dangerous mix. Remember, Almost all of the fiber and approximately 15 to 20 percent of the starch we consume escape absorption. (4) Carbohydrates that escape digestion become food for intestinal bacteria.
Prebiotics, which can be helpful in re-establishing a healthy bacterial balance in some patients, should probably be avoided in patients with heartburn and GERD. Several studies show that fructo-oligosaccharides (prebiotics) increase the amount of gas produced in the gut. (5)
H. pylori
In Part III we looked at the possible relationship between H. pylori and GERD. While I think it’s a contributing factor in some cases, the question of whether and how to treat it is less clear. There is some evidence that H. pylori is a normal resident on the human digestive tract, and even plays some protective and health-promoting roles. If this is true, complete eradication of H. pylori may not be desirable. Instead, a low-carb or specific carbohydrate diet is probably a better choice as it will simply reduce the bacterial load and bring the gut flora back into a state of relative balance.
The exception to this may be in serious or long-standing cases of GERD that aren’t responding to a very-low-carb or low-carb diet. In this situation, it may be worthwhile to get tested for H. pylori and treat it more aggressively.
Dr. Wright, author of Why Stomach Acid is Good For You, suggests using mastic (a resin from a Mediterranean and Middle Eastern variety of pistachio tree) to treat H. pylori. A 1998 in vitro study in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that mastic killed several strains of H. pylori, including some that were resistant to conventional antibiotics. (6) Studies since then, including in vivo experiments, have shown mixed results. Mastic may be a good first-line therapy for H. pylori, with antibiotics as a second choice if the mastic treatment isn’t successful.
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Replace Stomach Acid, Enzymes and Nutrients That Aid Digestion and Are Necessary for Health
HCL with Pepsin
If you have an open-minded doctor, or one that is aware of the connection between low stomach acid and GERD, ask her to test your stomach acid levels. The test is quite simple. A device called a Heidelberg capsule, which consists of a tiny pH sensor and radio transmitter compressed into something resembling a vitamin capsule, is lowered into the stomach. When swallowed, the sensors in the capsule measure the pH of the stomach contents and relay the findings via radio signal to a receiver located outside the body.
In cases of mild to moderate heartburn, actual testing for stomach acid production at Dr. Wright’s Tahoma clinic shows that hypochlorydria occurs in over 90 percent of thousands tested since 1976. In these cases, replacing stomach acid with HCL supplements is almost always successful.
To do this test, pick up some HCL capsules that contain pepsin or acid-stable protease. HCL should always be taken with pepsin or acid-stable protease because it is likely that if the stomach is not producing enough HCL, it is also not producing enough protein digesting enzymes.
Note: HCL should never be taken (and this test should not be performed) by anyone who is also using any kind of anti-inflammatory medication such as corticosteroids (e.g. predisone), aspirin, Indocin, ibuprofen (e.g. Motrin, Advil, etc.) or other NSAIDS. These drugs can damage the GI lining that supplementary HCL might aggravate, increasing the risk of gastric bleeding or ulcer.
To minimize side effects, start with one 650 mg capsule of HCL w/pepsin in the early part of each meal. If there are no problems after two or three days, increase the dose to two capsules at the beginning of meals. Then after another two days increase to three capsules. Increase the dose gradually in this stepwise fashion until you feel a mild burning sensation. At that point, reduce the dosage to the previous number of capsules you were taking before you experienced burning and stay at that dosage. Over time you may find that you can continue to reduce the dosage, or you may also find that you may need to increase the dosage.
In Dr. Wright’s clinic, most patients end up at a dose of five to seven 650 mg capsules. In my experience, this dose is too high for many people. In fact, some have trouble with even a single 650 mg capsule. I’ve also found that the addition of cholagogues (agents which promote bile flow from the gall bladder into the small intestine) and pancreatic enzymes can help tremendously, especially in the initial stages.
While I previously recommended a combination of HCL and enzymes called the AdaptaGest Duo, those supplements are no longer available. I now recommend Betaine HCL/Pepsin by Thorne Research and Super Enzymes by Now.
Bitters
More recently, studies have confirmed the ability of bitters to increase the flow of digestive juices, including HCL, bile, pepsin, gastrin and pancreatic enzymes. (7)
Unsurprisingly, there aren’t many clinical studies evaluating the therapeutic potential of unpatentable and therefore unprofitable bitters. However, in one uncontrolled study in Germany, where a high percentage of doctors prescribe herbal medicine, gentian root capsules provided dramatic relief of GI symptoms in 205 patients.
The following is a list of bitter herbs commonly used in Western and Chinese herbology:
- Barberry bark
- Caraway
- Dandelion
- Fennel
- Gentian root
- Ginger
- Globe artichoke
- Goldenseal root
- Hops
- Milk thistle
- Peppermint
- Wormwood
- Yellow dock
Bitters are normally taken in very small doses—just enough to evoke a strong taste of bitterness. Kerry Bone, a respected Western herbalist, suggests five to 10 drops of a 1:5 tincture of the above herbs taken in 20 mL of water.
An even better option is to see a licensed herbalist who can prescribe a formula containing several of the herbs above as appropriate for your particular condition.
Apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, raw (unpasteurized) sauerkraut and pickles are other time-tested, traditional remedies that often relieve the symptoms of heartburn and GERD. However, although these remedies may resolve symptoms, they do not increase nutrient absorption and assimilation to the extent that HCL supplements do. This may be important for those who have been taking acid suppressing drugs for a long period.
It is also important to avoid consuming liquid during meals. Water is especially problematic, because it literally dilutes the concentration of stomach acid. A few sips of wine is probably fine, and may even be helpful.
Finally, for those who have been taking acid stopping drugs for several years, it may be necessary to replace the nutrients that are not absorbed without sufficient stomach acid. These include B12, folic acid, calcium, iron and zinc. It’s best to get your levels tested by a qualified medical practitioner, who can then help you replace them through nutritional changes and/or supplementation.
Restore Beneficial Bacteria and a Healthy Mucosal Lining in the Gut
Probiotics
Along with performing several other functions essential to digestive health, beneficial bacteria (probiotics) protect against potential pathogens through “competitive inhibition” (i.e. competing for resources).
Researchers in Australia have shown that probiotics are effective in reducing bacterial overgrowth and altering fermentation patterns in the small bowel in patients with IBS. (8) Probiotics have also been shown to be effective in treating Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and other digestive conditions. (9)
Probiotics have also been shown to significantly increase cure rates of treatment for H. pylori. (10) In my practice I always include a probiotic along with the anti-microbial treatment I do for H. pylori.
I am often asked what type of probiotics I recommend. First, whenever possible I think we should always attempt to get the nutrients we need from food. This is also true for probiotics. Fermented foods have been consumed for their probiotic effects for thousands of years. What’s more, contrary to popular belief and the marketing of commercial probiotic manufacturers, foods like yogurt and kefir generally have a much higher concentration of beneficial microorganisms than probiotic supplements do.
For example, even the most potent commercial probiotics claim to contain somewhere between one and five billion microorganisms per serving. (I say “claim” to contain because independent verification studies have shown that most commercial probiotics do not contain the amount of microorganisms they claim to.) Contrast that with a glass of homemade kefir, a fermented milk product, contains trillions of beneficial microorganisms!
What’s more, fermented milk products like kefir and yogurt offer more benefits than beneficial bacteria alone, including minerals, vitamins, protein, amino acids, L-carnitine, fats, CLA, and antimicrobial agents. Studies have even shown that fermented milk products can improve the eradication rates of H. pylori by 5 to 15 percent. (11)
The problem with fermented milk products in the treatment of heartburn and GERD, however, is that milk is relatively high in carbohydrates. This may present a problem for people with severe bacterial overgrowth. However, relatively small amounts of kefir and yogurt are therapeutic and may be well tolerated. It’s best to make kefir and yogurt at home, because the microorganism count will be much higher. Lucy’s Kitchen Shop sells a good home yogurt maker, and Dom’s Kefir site has exhaustive information on all things kefir. If you do buy the home yogurt maker, I suggest you also buy the glass jar that Lucy’s sells to make it in (rather than using the plastic jar it comes with).
If dairy doesn’t work for you, but you’d like to get the benefits of kefir, you can try making water kefir. Originating in Mexico, water kefir grains (also known as sugar kefir grains) allow for the fermentation of sugar water or juice to create a carbonated lacto-fermented beverage. You can buy water kefir grains from Cultures for Health.
Another option is to eat non-dairy (and thus lower-carb) unpasteurized (raw) sauerkraut and pickles and/or drink a beverage called kombucha. Raw sauerkraut can easily be made at home, or sometimes found at farmer’s markets. Bubbies brand raw pickles are sold at health food stores, as is kombucha, but both of these can also be made quite easily at home.
But not all probiotics are created alike, and in the case of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (or SIBO, which is commonly present with GERD), certain probiotics may make things worse. SIBO often involves an overgrowth of microorganisms that produce a substance called D-lactic acid. Unfortunately, many commercial probiotics contain strains (like Lactobacillus acidophilus) that also produce D-lactic acid. That makes most commercial probiotics a poor choice for people with SIBO.
Soil-based organisms do not produce significant amounts of D-lactic acid, and are a better choice for this reason. I recommend the Daily Synbiotic from Seed.
Bone Broth and DGL
Restoring a healthy gut lining is another important part of recovering from heartburn and GERD. Chronic stress, bacterial overgrowth, and certain medications such as steroids, NSAIDs and aspirin can damage the lining of the stomach. Since it is the mucosal lining of the stomach that protects it from its own acid, a damaged stomach lining can cause irritation, pain and ultimately, ulcers.
Homemade bone broth soups are effective in restoring a healthy mucosal lining in the stomach. Bone broth is rich in collagen and gelatin, which have been shown to benefit people with ulcers. (12) It’s also high in proline, a non-essential amino acid that is an important precursor for the formation of collagen. Bone broth also contains glutamine, an important metabolic fuel for intestinal cells that has been shown to benefit the gut lining in animal studies. (13) For more on the healing power of bone broth, see my article “The Bountiful Benefits of Bone Broth: A Comprehensive Guide.”
Although I prefer obtaining nutrients from food whenever possible, as I explained above, supplements are sometimes necessary—especially for short periods. Deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) has been shown to be effective in treating gastric and duodenal ulcers, and works as well in this regard as Tagamet or Zantac, with far fewer side effects and no undesirable acid suppression. (14) In animal studies, DGL has even been shown to protect the stomach lining against damage caused by aspirin and other NSAIDs. (15)
DGL works by raising the concentration of compounds called prostaglandins, which promote mucous secretion, stabilize cell membranes, and stimulate new cell growth—all of which contributes to a healthy gut lining. Both chronic stress and use of NSAIDs suppress prostaglandin production, so it is vital for anyone dealing with any type of digestive problem (including GERD) to find ways to manage their stress and avoid the use of NSAIDs as much as possible.
When Natural Treatments May Not Be Enough
There may be some cases when an entirely natural approach is not enough. When there is tissue damage in the esophagus, for example, a surgical procedure called “gastroplication” which repairs the LES valve may be necessary. These procedures don’t have the potential to create nutrient deficiencies and disease the way acid blockers do. It is advisable for anyone suffering from a severe case of GERD to consult with a knowledgeable physician.
Conclusion
This is a serious problem because acid stopping drugs promote bacterial overgrowth, weaken our resistance to infection, reduce absorption of essential nutrients, and increase the likelihood of developing IBS, other digestive disorders, and cancer. The manufacturers of these drugs have always been aware of these problems. When acid-stopping drugs were first introduced, it was recommended that they not be taken for more than six weeks. Clearly this prudent advice has been discarded, as it is not uncommon today to encounter people who have been on these drugs for decades—not weeks.
What is especially disturbing about this is that heartburn and GERD are easily prevented and cured by making simple dietary and lifestyle changes, as I have outlined in this final article.
Unfortunately, the corruption of our “disease-care” system by the financial interests of the pharmaceutical companies virtually guarantees that this crucial information will remain obscure. Drug companies make more than $7 billion a year selling acid suppressing medications. The last thing they want is for doctors and their patients to learn how to treat heartburn and GERD without these drugs. And since 2/3 of all medical research is sponsored by drug companies, it’s virtually guaranteed that we won’t see any large studies on the effects of a low-carb diet on acid reflux and GERD.
So once again it’s up to us to discover the truth and be our own advocates. I hope this series of articles has served you in that goal.
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Hi Chris
I’m looking for a ketogenic low-carb for treating a SIBO. The supplement of b12 contains fructose, sorbitol..are day bad for a SIBO? or in a minimum quantities tolerable?
Your articles constantly amaze me. I feel your gift is really getting America healthy again. I have been battling with Gerd for years, depressed and upset and beating myself up because nothing works. I just finished your Gerd series and I finally feel like there is hope in getting over this. There are alot of amazing health doctors out there, but few have the gift of communication you have to help people to take their power back to heal themselves. Man, please don’t stop blogging!
Hi Chris,
Have you heard of product called Zypan? My yoga instructor recommened it. It was recommned to her by her chiropractor. Seems it’s popular. It’s a proprietary blend of betaine hydrochloride, pancreas cytosol extract, pancreatin (3X), fatty acid, pepsin, ammonium chloride, bovine spleen and ovine spleen. This chiropractor also recommened Gastrex to be taken 15 minutes before meals to reduce gas. Both of these products are available through Standard Process. Your thoughts?
Thanks,
Linda
There are various versions of the betaine HCL with pepsin, the ones I find as suspect are those that contain alkaline materials. Use of this digestive aid at several capsule per
meal stopped the dyspepsia and reflux. I didn’t have to take
it forever either. Granted I use melatonin at bedtime and
there is research that indicates it should help with the inflammation of the lining of the esophagus; do a PubMed search. I also eat a diet without grains most of the time.
I strongly disagree with those who suggest vinegar as a digestive aid as this in a person with esophageal inflammation will sweep away the protective mucus lining
the lumen and frankly burn. Better to swallow a capsule to get the acidic material past the esophagus. Talk to an alternative medicine provider that knows about the use of
betaine HCL. I wouldn’t suggest anything here, I am only speaking of what I’ve done.
“Hey friends, to get rid of heartburn, you should try to use a naturally treatment guide, it’s very safe and effect without pills. Many people successes to treat their heartburn in a few days by following it. Find out more here:
https://bit.ly/1hlrvfQ
Hope it helps.
This has been an amazing string of articles to find for my husband who has been having significant GERD symptoms that started after he recovered from an episode of botulism about 15 years ago.
I do have a question about the HCL supplements. My husband has had severe asthma since he was a child. He has been taking Advair for many years as this is the only thing that keeps him under control. I saw that the HCL supplements shouldn’t be taken with corticosteroids. Does that same warning apply to inhaled steroids or just pill form? He is really looking forward to stopping Nexium, but wants to make sure that he can address the whole process and treat the issues, not just the symptoms.
Chris,
One other thing. would your recomendations be the same for someone who has gerd AND has had their gallbladder removed?
Chris,
I carry my weight in my belly and I am quite overweight (70 lbs). Do you know of any research of people getting tummy tucks or lipo and then having their gerd healed? I try and try to lose weight on my own but the scale doesn’t budge. I am just wondering if gerd is ever caused simply by excess weight. My gerd got really bad during my last pregnancy 5 years ago and that is when I started the prilosec (which, btw, I think caused my son to have heart problems in utero. Miraculously, his life was saved and his heart is perfect now).
I’ve been taking omeprazole for about 2-3 weeks and it doesn’t help completely but it helps with my GERD.I started on probiotics about 5 days ago and I can already see it helps a little bit,I’m going to start in HCL with pepsin,when I do should I immediatly stop omeprazole?or I can take all three until I feel free of the symptoms and then I stop omeprazole? thank you!
im curious as to what the sensation i am suppose to feel from hcl is im very nervous about taking it i have been taking it the past few days but im scared to go over 3 capsules
Dr Chris:
My question is if PPI such as Dexilant works by stopping or reducing acid production, how come you believe that low stomach acid and high bacterial content are key reasons for GERD? I was diagnosed with GERD 6 weeks ago and been on Dexilant (60 mg) for the last 4 weeks. The upper GI scope found that I have Grade C ulcer close to where my esophagus enters my stomach. Dexilant has helped me a lot but I don’t want to be on meds for too long. Just to experiment, I quit taking Dexilant for 2 days and I already feel that my stomach burning and being too hungry feeling is back. I would appreciate if you can explain why Dexilant seemed to have worked for me if my acid levels were low and bacterial levels could been high?
Thank you very much!
Max
When I eat and drink it feels like I’m choosing or food gets stuck in my throat is that gerd my doc says it is
Brad, I have that problem also. It took me THREE gastroenterologists to get to the bottom of this. My first gastroenterologist had me misdiagnosed for 5 years. Finally the third doctor knew what he was doing. I have achalasia. You may have this. You’ll have to undergo a Barium Swalow test and an Esophageal Manometry study to confirm if you have this.
My 14 year old son has terrible throat problems. His GI doctor put him on omneprazole and after 8 weeks the feeling went away. A year later he is unable to wean off that prescription dose. Now he is still having a choking feeling. These articles are very helpful. I am wondering if he has a bacterial issue in his digestive system. When he was 12 he had to take an antibiotic for a year and a half during and after treatment for a brain tumor with oral chemotherapy. Could that long term dose of antibiotics be part of what is going on now? It’s so frustrating, but he is encouraged by this series of articles and wants to try changing his diet.
My question is i getting from the article you cannot do the hcl with pepsin if you have an ulcer? i have heartburn, ulcer and ibs oh and hashis. i’ve been following paleo feeling much better but now i realise i need to remove more foods that react with ulcers and heartburn. could i do a plain coconut yogurt instead of milk i only started omeprazole yesterday so it shouldn’t cause me problems if i just stop. what can you to for the pain though as it gave relief from that
Hi,
Thank you for posting this information online, as I would not have found it otherwise and it’s giving me some hope.
A little over a month ago, I took an antibiotic pill (which I had been on before with no issues) and went to work out. At the end of the workout, I felt a very odd sensation over my body, like I was going to fall over or pass out. I then started feeling chest pains near my heart and tingling in my right hand. I kept alternating between feeling hot and cold. I waited a couple of hours (feeling like this) and had one bite of pasta, which I regurgitated. I went to the ER thinking I was having a heart attack. They found no problems with my heart and let me go the next day or so.
Once released from the hospital, I started having the chest pain after walking for 15 minutes. I also had some acid reflux but didn’t put two and two together so just took Maalox. I then started having abdominal pain, so a doctor put me on 2 weeks of Omeprazole, 40 mg. The abdominal pain continued and I had black and bloody stool during this time. I then had an endoscopy which diagnosed me with GERD and nothing more. Since, in my opinion, the GERD and GI issues came on all of a sudden that day I went to the ER, could my acid level and bacterial balance have been disrupted in such a short time frame? Do you think that’s the problem?
They just want me to take Pepcid now, which doesn’t seem to be helping me. I just doubled my dosage and that actually made me feel worse. Today is Day 2 of me not taking anything other than digestive enzymes and DGL licorice. So far I feel better than this weekend when I was on the double dose of Pepcid but I am stil burping all day. I just tried the Kombucha but it seems to have irritated my already inflamed esophagus.
I am 30 years old and prior to this had no digestive issues. Though this fall I had diarrhea for two weeks every single time I went to the bathroom and took Flagyl for it which seemed to clear it up after about a week or so. I also quit smoking in late July, and I know that changes your gut bacteria make-up. Could I have had a parasite?
I really don’t want to go back on/become addicted to Omeprazole if at all possible. Given my symptoms, I am a bit afraid to try the HCL in case it makes the burning worse. The at-home baking soda test seems to indicate my stomach acid level is normal, though I know that’s not a foolproof test. Any insight you can give me would be greatly appreciated. The doctor doesn’t seem to care about the cause, even though I’ve removed all trigger foods from my diet and am not overweight.
Rose, read my recommendations in the earlier post(jan 29th). Your case sound just like mine. I never allowed the doctor to prescribed me anything as the more I read online, the more I found out how worse these meds do to your stomach lining. After my post regimen (read my previous post), I stopped having heartburn, chest pains and all that(tingling sensation). However, I started having gases all the time specially at night during my sleep. I stopped my turmeric teas and started having fennel seed + yarrow root teas. You can find those in the natural health food store. In a matter of two days, gases gone! I feel I am back to where I was before all this stuff started taking over my life. I am already drinking coffee again without issues, this time however, moderately…So to recap ( and once again this worked for me):
– Cayenne pepper for heartburn ( I stopped this after heartburn was gone
– Tumeric powder + coriander and a bit of cumin for stomach for like 2 straight weeks. Only once a day (sounds grose but the coriander tastes like lemon and if you add unpasteurized honey is not that bad)
– Fennel seeds with boiling water (tea) for gases.
Keep up with yogurt or probiotics (at least 2 times a day) and try to have some portions of sauerkraut here and there (is high in Vit C and has good bacteria in it)
Honestly, it has to work. It worked with me. Get well!
Hi DanDan,
Thanks a lot for your reply. Can you tell me what your initial symptoms were? Was it in reaction to an antibiotic? Did you have burping?
My heartburn has largely gone away after going off Pepcid a couple of weeks ago. But I am still burping/regurgitating almost every 10 minutes, and it’s really affecting my quality of life. Oddly enough, it seems that my reflux is better at night when I’m sleeping. Anyone have any idea what that means? I wonder if the antibiotic caused autonomic nerve damage. I did the Heidelberg test recently and found that my stomach was not re-acidifying after three small doses of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda).
Right now, I am taking digestive enzymes, a powdered supplement called Acidgone (with Chinese herbs), and melatonin at night.
Does anyone know what Chris’s stance on melatonin is in terms of treating GERD? I’ve read that it’s had success due to its ability to inhibit nitric oxide synthesis in the esophagus and thereby tighten the LES. But it also decreases gastric acid secretion–is this counterintuitive to fixing the problem?
I really wish I could find someone to oversee all of the supplements, etc., I’m taking. Anyone know of any good naturopaths in the NY area?
Sorry Rose, just read this. You know, my sister is a physician and she thinks it could have been the anesthesia (had surgery 4 months ago) that irritated my stomach and all inside. But is just a theory. My initial symptoms were light and I mean light acid reflux. I just ignored them until it got really bad. Then I had the reflux with heartburns. Vomit sensation. Everything was going up my esophagus. For your burping I recommend Fennel seeds. SOunds ridiculous but it worked for me! Just buy some seeds, put them on a metal tea mesh or if you dont have a tea mesh, straight in the water. Have a few teas per day. Usually after each meal. Now what I do (since fennel seeds are not that strong), I grind them and use the powder to make the teas. They do work. If you get a fullness sensation you can also check activated charcoal pills. But Fennel seeds removed the gases for me.
Hello, how did you take cayenne pepper? In a pill form? My mom is suffering from terrible GERD since the smart doctor removed her gallbladder. I would like to put together a diet for her that hopefully will make her life easier . Thank you
I’ve been reading tons and tons of stuff about treating GERD naturally. But I am confused about what to do when coming off of PPI’s. I’ve taken PPI”s for about 3 years straight. I just stopped taking them cold turkey. I’ve been trying HCL with pepsin, probiotics, enzymes, kombucha, kefir, ACV, mineral salt…basically everything. My question is this: When you stop acid suppressing drugs like PPI’s do you then have an over abundance of stomach acid? Is it a good idea to increase stomach acid with hcl at this point? or should I be looking for ways to decrease acid for awhile? I am so confused. My gerd is constant, no matter what I eat or don’t eat I have it. It is accompanied by lots of burping. What would you suggest I try to do to get my stomach producing the correct amount of acid again? I would appreciate any ideas! Thank you!
Hi Emily,
I quit taking Prevacid back in November pretty much cold turkey. The first few weeks I did have rebound hyper acidity. I found that tweaking my diet (less eggs, smaller meals, avoiding acidy fruits and tomatoes) helped. The one thing that helped more than anything was intermittent fasting. For instance if my last meal gave me heartburn I would skip the next meal or two sometimes. Actually I was just doing what any normal person (who is not depending on a drug) would naturally do. Finally, give your stomach some more time to get over the PPI’s. I’ve been off it nearly 3 months, and I am now experiencing DAYS – not just hours – without any heartburn symptoms. That was just not possible before!
Now food doesn’t sit in my stomach for hours like before and that’s a good feeling.
Ginny
(Continued to Emily)
Had to make this two parts. It’s hard typing on an iPhone.
I never took HCL/pepsin because it has to be taken whole, and I have a tender place in my esophagus where food and pills get stuck. Even so, over time that place has improved some too. Not as much as I would have liked by now but any improvement is a good thing.
Ginny
When taking betaine HCL with pepsin it’s best to have some boluses of food to knock the capsules down into the stomach. DO NOT take them at the end of the meal.
While people disagree with me and as I recall I found evidence in the medical lit, that night time reflux is the most damaging form of reflux. For over a year in the past, I used a specially built bed that was inclined in one plane, the head of the bed being raised by 12 inches or more. The commonly suggested 4 to 6 inches at the head of the bed is pretty ineffective. Can yes it was an odd position and I had an attached foot board to keep me from sliding out the bed.
I built the bed about the time, I started betaine HCL capsules.
Eventually, I added in 6 milligrams of melatonin and started sleeping on the level.
And I’ve been good ever since even sleeping on the level.
When I used PPI meds meals just set in the stomach and churned. At times I was hunger and yet the meal hadn’t exit the stomach after hours
Ginny, Thank you. That does give me some hope. Things were not getting any better for me so I did start taking Zantac. I don’t want to take any meds, but I couldn’t function with constant acid burning my throat and mouth. I am trying to decide if I should go see a gastroenterologist now or if I should give it more time. I am thinking maybe i should go get an endoscopy done to make sure I don’t have any precancerous or cancerous stuff going on. It would be nice to know how much stomach acid I actually have, but I really do think I have low acid since I will burp up food from a meal many hours later. It is obviously not being digested quickly. The whole thing is so frustrating. I am on here tonight reading and reading looking for answers or ideas. I want to feel good again so I can parent my 5 sons the way I want to!!
Taking PPI meds results in elevated gastrin levels, a hormone related to promoting HCL production. As I recall there are different forms of gastrin some of which are longer acting such that my stomach felt warm for several days after I quit. I quit more than once back in the day.
This, in my opinion, is the most informative info available on GERD. I wanted to share my experience. Out of the blues started suffering from serious heartburn, acid reflux. I am not overweight and consider myself to have a healthy lifestyle. Non smoker, not a drinker either. Went to the doctor and she soon wanted to prescribe me after getting some tests done. Took matters in my hands, read and tried different things. This is what did the trick for me. I decided to make this beef broth/soup (after reading that beef cartilage helps the stomach) containing veggies with a twist. I added Cumin, Tumeric, Coriander and Cayenne Pepper!! That was instant and I mean instant relief. From there on this was my diet:
– Morning probiotic before breakfast (Bio-K is what I used)
– Breakfast (didnt restrict myself to bland foods but no coffee)
– Papaya smoothie with seeds in it (good blender will make them small) and kefir
– Any lunch (didnt restrict myself to bland foods)
– Yogurt after lunch
– Dinner is the tricky one but whatever I made, I made sure I added cayenne pepper!! and it was as if the acids stopped going up during my sleeps!! and whenever I did not have cayenne pepper in my dinner and as soon as I had acid reflux starting, I would make a tea with cayenne pepper and honey. Its an instant relief after I have those. Little by little following this regime, I have been able to strengthen my system to the point of having a normal day and normal sleeping nights and thus reducing or not needing cayenne pepper anymore. I think cayenne was the main key for my recovery/healing process. Just my 2 cents. Hope this helps others.
Thank you very much for this helpful article. I had a question. I have been on Prilosec for over six years – am currently in the process of weaning myself off of it. Right now I am dumping out some of the capsule’s contents and dumping out more each week. At this point I am almost taking an empty capsule. I am having heartburn symptoms but not terrible as I taper. My question is does it make sense to start with HCL now or should I wait till I am entirely off the Prilosec? I also just started cutting out gluten to see if it might help.
Another thing to try is to go on a walk after you eat. It will help with your weight but it will also help you in digesting your food. Another thing to consider is losing some extra weight. This could help in alleviating some pressure which is likely to alleviate your heartburn. When you do lay down after you eat this will push the acids in your stomach into the esophagus which will cause your heartburn.You could also try using over the counter antacids which are recommended for heartburn.
https://heartburnnaturalremediesblog.com/how-to-relieve-heartburn/
Hello,
I have been reading these articles and they are very informative and fascinating. I don’t know if anything like this has come up before, but I have a question regarding GERD and children.
My daughter (4) was diagnosed with GERD practically right after she was born. She experienced severe projectile vomiting several times a day, every day (it began several hours after birth and she vomited amniotic fluid that shot more than a foot out of her – this prompted the hospital to x-ray her stomach and pump out excess amniotic fluid). We got an ultrasound to rule out pyloric stenosis, which she did not have. Her doctor experimented with various acid reducers. She was later sent to a pediatric GI doctor who placed her on Prevacid. She appeared to respond well to this for some time. She was on this medication until she was just over the age of 2.
Of course, I have been terribly concerned about the long-term effects of this kind of therapy, and have become leery about whether or not this approach was actually helping her. I would also like to add that my daughter has always been quite a picky eater (I breast-fed and supplemented with formula for the first 6 months, as she struggled to keep her milk down) and I can’t seem to get her to eat most foods that would be healthy for her growth and development. She only likes pork, some chicken, most berries, rice, carrots, cauliflower, yogurt, cheese, sometimes green beans, sometimes apples, sometimes bananas, and that’s about it. She loves water. What she is comfortable eating are foods that continue to add to digestive issues (she is often very constipated). Reading your articles got me thinking about whether or not she has low acid. I am convinced that her PPI therapy has contributed to continued digestive issues. She constantly complains of stomach aches. She is quite moody and extremely anxious, to the point where she cannot sleep alone at night. I believe that her gut bacteria is imbalanced. What you have presented seems to make sense to me, but I’m uncertain as to how to go about helping my daughter recover from this. Your recommendations are best suited for adults, I’m sure, but how would I go about helping my 4-year-old daughter? I have considered probiotics. She likes yogurt, but it’s hard to get her to eat it every day, and I’m concerned about the carbohydrate content of dairy anyway. She does not like kombucha (I have offered it to her as I drink it). I have considered making water kefir. I doubt HCL therapy is advisable for her at her age. What do you recommend?
Thanks.
I have been suffering for more than 25yrs with this pain. I never leave my house anymore. I dont have a gall bladder and I have a bad thyroid, I was wondering if I should do anything different than the article says. If not, then I shall do my best to get started on your great advice. Anything is worth a try!
Well..try it……after 5 years of suffering with throat reflux…such burning and pain I resolved that I would eventually die from it.
I have followed a strict low carb diet….I think of all the money and time I have spent with western medicine….and the pain I have suffered …in just one week my reflux was cut in half….it’s amazing…I look forward to the next week and week after. I am so committed to this I cannot imagine going back …I only look forward….as well as you should…..just do it for yourself….its going to be amazing…..I finally have hope.
Let me know how you are doing………I care.