Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

What is GERD?

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) occurs when stomach acid frequently flows back into the tube connecting your mouth and stomach (esophagus). This acid reflux can irritate the lining of your esophagus. 

Acid reflux happens to nearly everyone at some point in life. Having acid reflux and heartburn now and then is totally normal. But, if you have acid reflux/heartburn more than twice a week over a period of several weeks, constantly take heartburn medications and antacids yet your symptoms keep returning, you may have developed GERD. 

Causes

The term “gastroesophageal” refers to the stomach and esophagus. Reflux means to flow back or return. Gastroesophageal reflux is when what’s in your stomach backs up into your esophagus. 

In normal digestion, your LES opens to allow food into your stomach. Then it closes to stop food and acidic stomach juices from flowing back into your esophagus. Gastroesophageal reflux happens when the LES is weak or relaxes when it shouldn’t. This lets the stomach's contents flow up into the esophagus.

Risk factors

Symptoms

• Heartburn.

• Regurgitation (food comes back into your mouth from the esophagus).

• The feeling of food caught in your throat.

• Coughing.

• Chest pain.

• Problem swallowing.

• Vomiting.

• Sore throat and hoarseness.

Infants and children can experience similar symptoms of GERD, as well as:

• Frequent small vomiting episodes.

• Excessive crying, not wanting to eat (in babies and infants).

• Other respiratory (breathing) difficulties.

• Frequent sour taste of acid, especially when lying down.

• Hoarse throat.

• Feeling of choking that may wake the child up.

• Bad breath.

• Difficulty sleeping after eating, especially in infants.

Homoeopathic Treatment for GERD

Homoeopathy works gently to minimize the symptoms of GERD and treats the root cause of the problem. 

The Homoeopathic drugs used to treat acute cases of heartburn are often prescribed depending on the causal factors. Along with that, homoeopathy emphasizes a few other conditions such as vomiting, belching, and headache also.

Homoeopathy can be of great help to those who do not show much improvement even after lifestyle modifications. 

The top medicines that are used to treat GERD are: 

• Nux Vomica: For Acid Reflux with Cough

Nux Vomica is a highly effective medicine for GERD accompanied with a cough. Nux Vomica is one of the best indicated medicines for a gastric cough that gets worse at night time and prevents sleep. Vomiting usually appears from coughing. The throat is sore and raw, and swallowing may be painful. Burning in the throat, especially at night time is present. There is a regurgitation of food with heartburn and sour belching.

• Pulsatilla: Pulsatilla is a popular Homeopathic drug that provides the perfect heartburn solution caused by oily or fried foods. Along with heartburn, you may often suffer from severe nausea and vomiting. Vomiting will contain acidic, bitter, and even greenish-coloured components.

• Natrum Phos: Natrum Phos is beneficial in all forms of heartburn that include sour taste or vomiting, as well as a burning sensation in the chest or mid-upper abdomen. Natrum Phos is the safest immediate reliever in such situations. We can also prescribe it to relieve acidic symptoms caused by consuming a high amount of sugar. 

• Iris Versicolor: When the main symptom is burning in the gastrointestinal tract, from the mouth to the anus, with sour vomiting, homoeopathic medicine Iris Versicolor is the most effective cure.

Liver sore. Colicky pain before each spell of vomiting and purging. STOOLS; BILIOUS, ACRID, WATERY, BURN LIKE FIRE. Painless cholera morbus. Urging to stools with headache, facial neuralgia, and pain in teeth. Stools fatty. Anus feels sore as if sharp points sticking in it.

Herpes zoster; with gastric derangements; right side

• Carbo Veg: For Bloating and Heartburn

Carbo Veg is an excellent medicine for GERD treatment. It is useful when there is bloating along with heartburn. Sour, offensive belching that gets worse after drinking or eating, a burning sensation in the throat and difficulty in swallowing are other symptoms. Even the simplest of food tend to trigger the condition

• Robinia: It is a homoeopathic remedy that is made from natural ingredients. If you sufferer from heartburn and the problem worsens during sleep, it can benefit significantly. 

• Arsenic Album: Arsenic Album is a very effective natural homoeopathic remedy for heartburn. If warm drinks ease your heartburn, Arsenic Album is the perfect treatment for you. 

• Phosphorus: Homoeopathy can also treat when ice liquids or cold water seem to offer immediate relief from burns in the chest and belly. Phosphorus is the perfect cure in this situation.

None of these medicines should be taken without professional advice. 

For individualized remedy selection and treatment, contact BRAHMA MADHURYA HOMOEOPATHY CLINIC - +91-7057579595 or www.brahmamadhurya.com