by Michael Gerber, MD, HMD |
The holiday season can challenge our body’s digestive system from overeating, over drinking, spicy foods and extra stresses. Heartburn, also known as gastritis, GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) with symptoms of stomach pain, bloating, belching and gas can cause a myriad of primary and secondary problems. In some cases severe pain, which can radiate up the esophagus under the sternum, can cause inflammation and hoarseness of the vocal chords and if chronic, can cause Barrett’s Esophagus, which then could develop into cancer.
Although most people think gastritis is due to too much stomach acid, many times it is just the opposite with too little stomach acid, especially as we age. The body works hard to make stomach acid, which requires lots of energy. The stomach runs at a pH of 1 to 2 while the blood runs at a pH of 7.35, slightly alkaline. Hypochlorhydria (low stomach acid) is believed to occur in as many as 75 percent of people over age 60. Although baking soda and antacids have been a customary treatment for heartburn, many people fare better by taking stomach acid support with betaine HCL, pepsin and glutamic acid during meals or right after meals. Burping signifies fermentation in the stomach, allowing yeasts to invade (which should have been killed by adequate stomach acid), causing bubbles like brewing beer or champagne in the stomach. Likewise, bloating and gas means one is not digesting efficiently and undigested nutrients such as carbohydrates are being fermented in the intestines, proteins are putrefied and fats go rancid. All of this maldigestion can lead to inflammation of the body as a whole, allergies and a suppressed immune system, as well as B12 deficiency, poor absorption of minerals and proteins necessary for brain chemical manufacturing and DNA production of replacement proteins in the body.
If you do choose antacids, it is better to use a more physiologic (like the body makes) alkalinizing agent rather than plain baking soda or sodium bicarbonate; such as sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium bicarbonate, Nema Base, BioTerrain, Alkala or Alka-Seltzer Gold, sodium and potassium bicarbonate. Another favorite in the herbal realm for heartburn is slippery elm powder. Take 4 to 6 caps for acute heartburn or 4 caps routinely before meals and bed for more chronic problems. For faster action, open 6 or 8 caps in a cup of warm water and stir out the lumps and drink for relief in 30 seconds to one minute. It coats and soothes the whole esophagus and stomach.
For long-term gastritis, low-dose adrenal support and nutritional supplementation helps to promote pancreatic bicarbonate production (pH 8), which is pumped into the small intestine right after food leaves the stomach. Neural therapy using local anesthetics with German injectable homeopathics stops most chronic heartburn immediately as it does with acute or chronic gallbladder pain. There are also several great German tinctures that stop heartburn quickly and aid digestion. Guar gum and deglycerated licorice can kill H. Pylori, a bacteria that can overgrow in GERD. If you have had a history of acid reflux, determining the cause will bring much needed relief.
References:
- Rafsky HA, Weingarten M. A study of the gastric secretory response in the aged. Gastroenterology 1947; May: 348-352
- Graham DY, SmithJL, Patterson DJ. Why do apparently healthy people use antacid tablets? AM ;J Gastroenterol 1983; 78:257-260
For more info, contact Michael Gerber, MD, HMD of the Gerber Medical Clinic at (775) 826-1900.
