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Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) refers to a condition in which there is a back flow of the stomach acid into the esophagus (food pipe) resulting in heartburn (burning sensation felt behind the sternum also called retrosternal burning).
Homeopathy is a renowned system of healing that offers a very magnificent and gentle treatment for cases of GERD and acid reflux. Homeopathic medicines are natural remedies that aid safe and quick relief in GERD symptoms. These helps in GERD by correcting the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) dysfunction and restoring acid balance in the stomach thereby bringing substantial relief in the symptoms like heartburn, burping, nausea, and difficult swallowing. The reliance on antacids and PPI (Proton pump inhibitors) that can cause side effects if used for an extended duration can be brought down to minimum with the use of these natural remedies without any adverse effects.
Homeopathy can treat GERD from its root
Homeopathy acts deeply, and not superficially, to treat health issues. It is much more than simply offering symptomatic relief. It goes to the root cause of a problem and treats it from its origin. Likewise, homeopathic treatment can treat GERD from its core. Its recurrences can also be prevented if certain dietary and lifestyle precautions are taken simultaneously.
Effective for both acute and chronic cases
Homeopathy brings great results in both acute and chronic cases of GERD. Though the time to show improvement varies as per chronicity, in acute cases, it assures to bring prompt symptom relief and resolve the condition quickly. In chronic cases, it works to reduce the intensity and frequency of GERD symptoms gradually along with targeting the root cause for a permanent cure.
Homeopathy can prevent GERD complications
Long-term GERD may also lead to several complications. But, with the help of a timely course of natural homeopathic remedies for the prescribed duration, one can also avoid its complications like esophagitis, and ulcers in the esophagus.
Zero side effects
Homeopathy treats GERD without any risk of any side effects. Even with long term use of homeopathic remedies no harmful effects follow. This is due to the fact that homeopathic remedies are natural and do not contain any toxins or chemicals.
Top 7 Homeopathic Medicines for Acid Reflux, Heartburn, and GERD
The top medicines that are used to treat GERD are Iris Versicolor, Robinia, Natrum Phos, Carbo Veg, Nux Vomica, Arsenic Album, and Pulsatilla.
1. Iris Versicolor – For Sour, Bitter Belching and Heartburn
Iris Versicolor is a natural medicine for treating GERD. It is prepared from a plant commonly named ‘blue flag.’ The natural order of this plant is Iridaceae. Sour, bitter belching is the key feature to use this medicine. Vomiting of sour bitter fluid that burns the throat, vomiting with weakness, a smarting, burning sensation in the throat, and heartburn are the key symptoms. There may be burning distress and pains in the epigastric region (the part above the stomach) at frequent intervals. Constant nausea may be present with these symptoms.
There is excessive indigestion, and the food is vomited after an hour or so of eating a meal. Iris Versicolor is also a well-indicated medicine for a headache arising with acidity.
When to use Iris Versicolor?
This medicine is recommended for GERD with sour, bitter belchings (burps), heartburn and sour vomiting.
How to use Iris Versicolor?
This medicine can be taken in 30C power once or twice a day.
2. Robinia – When Acidity Symptoms Worsen At Night
Robinia is a top listed medicine for treating GERD. Robinia is prepared from a plant named ‘yellow locust.’ The natural order of this plant is Leguminosae. The key indication to use this medicine in GERD is the worsening of acidity symptoms at night time. There is intense heartburn, constant sour belching, and sour vomiting due to the regurgitation of acid from the stomach. As the symptoms tend to get worse at night time these can cause sleeplessness.
When to use Robinia?
This medicine is well indicated when acidity symptoms like heartburn, sour burps get worse at night time.
How to use Robinia?
It is advised to use Robinia 30 C twice or thrice a day
3. Natrum Phos – For Heartburn and Difficult Swallowing
Natrum Phos is another prominently indicated medicine for GERD treatment. It is useful when heartburn is attended with difficulty swallowing. Other symptoms include sour belching, waterbrash, and vomiting of sour fluid or cheesy, curdled masses. A lump sensation in the throat may also be present, along with a loss of appetite.
When to use Natrum Phos?
Natrum Phos can be opted for managing GERD with heartburn along with difficulty in swallowing.
How to use Natrum Phos?
Natrum Phos can be administered in 6X potency three to four times a day.
4. 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 foods tend to trigger the condition.
When to use Carbo Veg?
This medicine is suitable when abdominal bloating attends complaint of heartburn even from eating the simplest kind of food.
How to use Carbo Veg?
Carbo Veg 30C can be taken twice or thrice a day as per symptom intensity.
5. Nux Vomica – For Acidity from spicy food, coffee, alcohol
Nux Vomica is a highly effective medicine in general for managing several gastric issues including acidity from spicy food, coffee, and alcohol. In cases needing it burning in the throat, heartburn and sour belching occurs. It may be accompanied by 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.
When to use Nux Vomica?
Nux Vomica can be considered when acidity is worse from the intake of spicy food, coffee, or alcohol.
How to use Nux Vomica?
It is recommended to take Nux Vomica at 30 C power once or twice a day
6. Arsenic Album – For Burning Pain in Throat
Arsenic Album is a medicine for GERD that is accompanied by a burning pain in the throat. The burning gets worse upon swallowing. Swallowing is difficult and painful. Other symptoms include regurgitation of acrid matter, water brash, heartburn, intense nausea, and weakness. Arsenic Album is also a well indicated medicine for inflammation of the esophagus (esophagitis).
When to use Arsenic Album?
This medicine can be selected to manage burning pain in the throat along with painful and difficult swallowing.
How to use Arsenic Album?
Though it can be used in both low to high potencies, in the beginning, it is advised to take it in 30C potency once or twice a day.
7. Pulsatilla Nigricans – For Acid Reflux from Fatty Food
Pulsatilla Nigricans is a natural medicine prepared from a plant named ‘windflower.’ The natural order of this plant is Ranunculaceae. It is used in cases of GERD where consumption of fatty food worsens the complaint. Greasy, fatty foods like creams, pastries, and ice creams trigger acid reflux. The symptoms include heartburn and water brash. Belching of food, bitter taste in the mouth, nausea, and a sensation of lumping in the throat may be present.
When to use Pulsatilla Nigricans?
It is an ideal medicine for cases of acidity that worsens from eating fatty food like creams, pastries, ice creams.
How to use Pulsatilla Nigricans?
In the beginning, one may start with its 30C potency once a day. After close observation of symptoms, higher potencies can be considered if need arises, under a homeopathic physician’s supervision.
Main Cause of Heartburn
To understand GERD, one will have to first understand how our esophagus (food pipe) and stomach handle food and acid. As the food reaches the lower end of the food pipe, a circular muscle (the LES or lower esophageal sphincter) present around the food pipe opens up and allows the food to enter the stomach. Once it enters the stomach, this muscle closes the lower end of the food pipe. This behaves like a one-way valve stopping the food and the acid in the stomach from moving back into the esophagus. In Gerd, this valve relaxes abnormally or weakens, so the stomach acid flows back up into your esophagus very frequently, causing repeated attacks of heartburn.
GERD: Symptoms
– Heartburn, which is a burning sensation in the chest behind the breastbone. It gets worse after eating, lying down, and bending.
– Burning in the throat
– Chest pain
– Sour, bitter belching or water brash (sudden flow of saliva due to indigestion) from regurgitation of food or sour liquid
– Sour taste in the mouth
– Difficulty in swallowing
– Sensation of a lump in the throat
– Bad breath
– Feeling of Abdominal bloating
– Cough
– Laryngitis
– Worsening of asthmatic complaint
Risk Factors: GERD
The risk factors for GERD include obesity, hiatus hernia (bulging of the upper part of the stomach through the hiatus opening in the diaphragm), smoking, pregnancy, strenuous exercise right after eating a meal, heavy exercise with a focus on the core muscles of the abdomen, exercises that involve hanging upside down or bending, and weightlifting.
Factors that can Trigger or Worsen GERD Symptoms
It firstly includes certain food and drinks such as fatty foods, fried food, chocolates, spicy food, tomatoes, garlic, onions, and citrus fruits, carbonated drinks, caffeinated drinks, and alcohol which are known to worsen GERD symptoms. The other reason could be taking medications such as NSAIDs, antibiotics (such as tetracycline), pain relievers (such as ibuprofen and aspirin), birth control pills, and iron supplements. Other factors may include stress, late-night eating, eating food in large quantities, and immediately lying down after eating food.
Complications/ Long-term Effects of GERD
Long-standing uncontrolled or untreated GERD carries a risk of developing certain complications. These include inflammation of the esophagus (esophagitis), ulcers/erosions in the esophagus, and stricture of the esophagus from a scar that causes narrowing of the esophagus. A serious complication of GERD is Barrett’s esophagus in which the squamous type of cells present in the lining of the esophagus change from squamous type to columnar epithelial type which is considered a precancerous condition.
Managing Acid Reflux and GERD
Some tips that can help minimize acid reflux and manage GERD include:
1. Drinking More Water
2. Avoiding Smoking and Alcohol
3. Eating Small, Regular Meals
4. Regular Exercising
5. Minimizing use of certain medications like NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and hormone replacement drugs
6. Taking dinner early
7. Avoiding Overeating
8. Maintaining a Healthy Weight
9. Keeping head slightly elevated while sleeping
10. Stress Management
11. Foods to Avoid: These include animal products and dairy products, caffeinated drinks like coffee, tea, and carbonated drinks. allergy-causing foods like gluten, certain nuts, or synthetic ingredients, fatty foods, overly spicy foods, tomatoes, and chocolates.
Dear Dr. Sharma. I am a 70 year old caucasian woman who has a hiatal hernia since birth. Throughout my lifetime, I have had to go on medicine to reduce acid. Sometimes I can go years without medication, but stress will trigger and I’ve had a lot of it in the last 3-4 years. Presently I am on Famotidine, which is causing disturbances in my lower bowel so I would love to get off of it. I studied Homeopathy in 2008 in the College of Homeopathy in Toronto but never completed. I am also an acupuncturist but am no longer practicing on the public. There are theories that people like me do not have an excess of acid but a lack of it but with the hiatal hernia, I’m not quite sure that is true. Anyway, I am trying to find a homeopathic remedy that I can use instead of allopathic medicine. I have become slightly overweight which is not helping things. My diet is plain, including rice and bananas, which help plus Kefir. I take a probiotic and other health supplements – none of which would cause over producing acid. Exercise, especially anything with the abdomen, will cause burning. I never vomit but do have nausea and I also have IBS. I know you would have to do a thorough intake because I experienced the process in the Homeopathic College. Would you suggest a remedy for me? All thanks, Susan
To Dr,IamMILY BANERJEE who is a patient of GERD.Iam in homeopathi treatment iast three months.But do not reiife from my probiem. my father was a renowned homeopathy dr. now heis no more. he prescribed me Robinia mother with natrum phos.but today I dont know my dr give me which medicine. I feei bitter taste in my tongue in midnightor early morning and aiways feei waterbrashwith aikalin taste. MY PROBLEM is on goingbefore two years frequently.Now my weight is71 kg,hight is 5′ 8” .frequently bitter bleachingwas happend andoften front hedaque.