Natural Treatment for Acid Reflux
Acid Reflux is a digestive disorder that affects food pipe (esophagus). In such condition, the acidic content of stomach returns into the esophagus. Indigestion and heartburn are the typical features of this condition. Clinically, acid reflux is known as gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD). Approximately 7% of US population daily experience heartburn, and among them 20 to 40 percent people are diagnosed with GERD. Generally, people neglect any mild acid reflux, but later it often results in frequent clinic visits to treat heart burns as a chronic condition.
Symptoms of Acid Reflux
Heartburn, dysphagia (difficulty in swallowing) and regurgitation (return of swallowed food into the mouth) are common symptoms of acid reflux. Apart from these, some patients also complain of laryngitis, cough, nocturnal choking, chronic hoarseness, breathing difficulty, asthma, dental erosions, otitis media etc. These symptoms develop due to aspiration of gastric acid. The regurgitation effect often triggers dental erosion, continuous coughing. Repeated pneumonitis or idiopathic fibrosis develops in pulmonary tissues.
Why Natural treatment is on demand to treat Acid Reflux?
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), Histamine H2-receptor antagonists, antacids are the commonly prescribed synthetic medicines to treat acid reflux. It has been estimated that Americans spends more than 10 billion dollars per year on PPIs. However, the incidence rate of esophageal adenocarcinoma is increasing due to the complication of acid reflux condition.
The primary treatment goal of acid reflux is long-term symptomatic management, healing of esophageal lesion and prevention of associated complications. There are different complementary and alternative natural remedies identified which successfully accomplished the primary treatment management of acid reflux. These natural treatments become on demand due to their cost-effectiveness and ease of availability. Different published research articles also demonstrated the safety and efficacy of these natural treatments for acid reflux and provide a scientific base for different natural treatments for acid reflux. People are gradually inclined towards natural treatments to manage their acid reflux problem.
Natural treatments for acid reflux
Natural treatments for acid reflux are thoroughly assessed through research studies to obtain the safety and efficacy data. All natural remedies may not be effective alone. Experts recommend a combination of natural treatment solely or as an adjuvant therapy for better treatment outcome. Proper techniques and dosing are very important factors to achieve the treatment goal. Therefore, it is always better to take expert opinions before starting any of the natural treatment for acid reflux.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a natural treatment method of traditional Chinese medicinal (TCM) system. In this treatment, the pressure is given to specific points depending upon the underlying disease condition. There are primarily five acupuncture points that are determined for acid reflux treatment. These points are:
• Neiguan (Pericardium-6) point, which is located on the inner arm near to the wrist.
• Zusanli (stomach meridian 36) point, which is located below the lower rim of the knee.
• Zhongwan (Conception Vessel 12) which is located four fingers and one thumb above the umbilicus.
• Shanzhong (Conception Vessel 17), which is present at the center of the chest.
• Tai Chong (Liver 3), which is present at the metatarsal joint.
Apart from these, some experts may also add Yinlingquan (Spleen 9) acupoint, which is present beneath the medial condyle of the tibia, in the posterior depression and lesser curvature to the medial condyle of the tibia.
Acupuncture resolve the acid reflux by stimulating esophageal and gastric peristaltic movement, increasing gastric emptying rate, lowering esophageal relaxation rate and reducing the esophageal pain perception.As par, the clinical researchers, acupuncture works better with a single dose of PPI drugs.
Melatonin
Melatonin is naturally synthesized in human gut cells, as well as stomach, distal colon and less amount in mouth and esophagus. Melatonin has a significant role in intestinal tract motility. Oral supplementation of melatonin has a beneficial effect on the esophagus. It reduces free radical formation, improves microcirculation, protective effect on esophageal mucus layer. There are multiple human trial results which showed that oral supplementation of melatonin is a better option to treat acid reflux and obtain symptomatic relief.
Herbal treatment
Lonicerae: Chinese Honeysuckle Flower
This herb is a part of traditional Chinese medicinal system. Animal research showed that the potent antioxidant property of this herb has tissue protective benefit. This herbal remedy improves esophageal healing rate and also thickens mucous membrane of the esophagus.
Spearmint/Peppermint
The essential oil extracted from parts of the mint plant can enhance the gastric emptying rate at an early phase. In addition, increasing pyloric valve relaxation timing enhancement and resting lower esophageal sphincter pressure reduction also favors treating acid reflux.
Iberogast
This is an herbal formulation consisting of a definite quantity of nine botanicals plant parts. Flower of German chamomile, a tuft of clown’s mustard, root, and rhizome of garden angelica, the fruit of caraway, leaf of lemon balm, aerial part of greater celandine, the root of licorice, the fruit of milk thistle and leaf of peppermint. These herbs follow different mechanisms to control acid reflux.Chamomile flowers, licorice root, and garden Angelica root inhibits the stomach functioning and decreases the release of acid, whereas greater celandine, lemon balm leaf, caraway fruit, and bitter candytuft increase the distal stomach motility. There are multiple human trial results reported that Iberogast formulation increases the gastric emptying rate and effective to relieve acid reflux. There are six randomized clinical trial reports that support the effectivity of Iberogast formulation to reduce symptoms of GERD. The recommended dose is 1mL thrice daily.
Raft-forming Agents
Three ingredients of raft-forming agents are pectin, alginate, and carbenoxolone (derived from glycyrrhizin).
• Pectin containing natural therapeutic formulations can reduce the esophageal pH and has a preventive effect against acid and food reflux effect.
• Alginate containing natural therapeutic formulations can act as an acid protective barrier on esophagus by generating a gel coating over the mucus layer. Combination of Alginate with bicarbonates works better, as bicarbonates convert to carbon-dioxide and trap within the gel as bubbles. Thus, this combination becomes lighter weight and can easily rise up to the surface of gastric contents and float. This effect is known as ‘Raft formation’. Raft-forming agents have a protective effect against relapse of acid reflux condition.
• Carbenoxolone containing formulations provide symptomatic relief.
Combination of raft-forming ingredients like Pyrogastrone acts as an antacid. This formulation contains alginate, carbenoxolone, sodium bicarbonate, and magnesium trisilicate and aluminum hydroxide. Raft-forming formulations have a less side effect than synthetic products and effective to treat mild to moderate acid reflux.
D-Limonene
D-limonene is an active constituent of citrus fruit. Citrus oils are a rich source of D-limonene. D-limonene has a protective effect against gastric acid and also helps to normalize the peristaltic movement and further acts against acid reflux. Unpublished research data also supported that 1,000 mg d-limonene daily or every alternate day can reduce acid reflux symptom and is safe to use.
Artemisia asiatica
This herb has potent antioxidant property and can reduce the level of reactive oxygen species in esophageal tissue of acid reflux affected individuals. Esophageal erosion preventive effect of this herb is more effective than histamine H2-receptor antagonists.
Curcumin, Quercetin, and Vitamin E
Curcumin is a bioactive phytochemical of turmeric. There are many evidence that support this phytochemical has significant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant property. Curcumin reduces the cytokines (inflammatory mediator) level in esophageal tissue and treats inflammation. Whereas both Quercetin and Vitamin E suppress the gastric acid and pepsin production in the stomach. They also reduce esophageal inflammatory condition. Moreover, both of these natural ingredients have antioxidant property and can reduce collagen synthesis. Hence, they provide the anti-fibrotic effect.
Dietary measures
Diet plays an important role to control or trigger acid reflux condition. Apart from the above mentioned natural remedies, some dietary measures are also important to control acid reflux conditions, such as:
• Low-carbohydrate diet intake may provide symptom improvement.
• Intake of caffeine or coffee restriction also reduces the frequency of acid reflux.
• Restricted intake of alcohol is recommended.
• Some food items like tomato sauce, and fruit juices restrictions may be beneficial to reduce symptoms of acid reflux.
References
