Understanding Acid Reflux

Here’s how it began …

A man by the name of Bob Barton was experiencing his own reflux nightmare. It came on the heels of stomach surgery for his bleeding ulcers. Following his surgery, in which the doctors mistakenly connected the bile duct to his stomach instead of his small intestine, he began to experience bile creeping up into his esophagus. The only way to relieve it was to vomit, often three or four times a day.

The acid was killing him.

So he went in search of a solution, and eventually he discovered that a single slice out of a particular brand of apple would dramatically ease his pain and bring him blessed relief. But it didn’t eliminate his reflux altogether. It continued to be a recurring problem.

So he continued his journey and eventually discovered several obscure and little-known natural remedies that did the job. He no longer suffered from heartburn, from reflux, from long painful nights. His misery was over.

But Bob didn’t stop there. He put the results of his journey in a report called …

The Reflux Remedy Report

I came upon the report when I was dealing with my own case of reflux. It wasn’t as serious as Bob’s, but it was becoming more persistent and I had already gone the route of taking antacids for longer than I should have. The pain and discomfort were growing. And I was encountering more and more nights where I simply couldn’t sleep because of the burning sensation in my chest.

So I went out looking, just as Bob had done before me, and I came across his report and purchased it.

Within a couple of days, my reflux problem was history.

I was so surprised and so excited, I built this website to help educate others about this dreadful condition and to let them know that there is a safe and natural solution.

Actually, as I discovered in the report, there are a number of solutions. Heartburn has two primary causes, and each is treated slightly differently. For me, it was a single food item that I found in my local grocery store. That’s all it took. But the report comes with several other remedies as well, because everyone is a little different.

Now, I can’t guarantee that it’ll work for you. It worked for me, and it works for most people. In fact, only once have I recommended it to a friend and had it fail to solve her reflux. For everyone else I personally know who has read the report and applied its contents, the condition is no longer an issue. But occasionally, someone will still continue to have problems. I wanted to make you aware of that possibility.

The Reflux Remedy Report

Okay, so let’s take a look at the positives:

1. The report suggests everyday food items
2. It offers solutions for both of the primary causes of reflux
3. It’s easy to follow
4. Within two days you’ll be feeling like a new person
5. There are a number of alternative natural remedies offered as well
6. And there’s a one year, 100% risk free guarantee. Yes, you read that right. One year.

And what about the negatives:

1. It doesn’t work for everyone. You might find it doesn’t work for you.

In all honesty, this is one of those situations where you have nothing to lose. I couldn’t stand going to bed at night, because I knew within minutes of my head hitting the pillow, I would be awake again due to the burning sensation in chest and the terrible taste at the back of my throat. I was desperate for an answer. If you’re in a similar situation, give this a try. If it doesn’t work for you, just ask for your money back. If it does work for you, just imagine how nice it’ll be to sleep through the night without the pain and discomfort.

The Reflux Remedy Report

By the way, one last note. These remedies are not only effective for heartburn, they work for bile reflux, esophageal reflux, and even a hiatal hernia.

Here’s the good news: there are a number of natural remedies for acid reflux. In this world of a pill for everything it’s easy to forget that you don’t always have to rely on prescription drugs to find solutions to your health issues. Fortunately, acid reflux can be controlled through the use of natural alternatives.

So let’s take a look at some of the steps you can take …

1. Sleep With Your Head Raised

Acid reflux is the result of stomach acid rising up through the LES (lower esophageal spincter) into the esophagus and even higher. It’s the irritation of your esophageal lining that causes the pain in your chest. By sleeping with your head above the rest of your body, the stomach acid is kept out of the esophagus.

2. Eat Your Last Meal Early

Allow at least three hours after your last meal before you go to bed. This gives time for your body to empty the stomach and properly digest the food. An empty stomach adds no pressure the spincter and leaves nothing to rise into the esophagus.

3. Eat Smaller Meals

Not only will your doctor suggest you eat six small meals throughout the day if you’re a diabetic or overweight, he’ll suggest you try the same thing as one of the natural remedies for acid reflux. The reason for this is easy to understand, the less food you have in your stomach the less pressure your stomach contents place on the LES. As a result, you’re less likely to have an acid reflux episode.

4. Try Drinking Tea

Herbal teas can be a natural acid reflux herbal aid, if you drink the right ones. The most common choices are chamomile tea and mashmallow tea. Some people recommend peppermint tea as well, but the available information is contradictory and it may actually aggravate your condition.

5. Burping With Acid Reflux

Burping can relieve acid reflux pain. Anyone who’s ever experienced indigestion, heartburn, or acid reflux has undoubtedly stumbled across this solution, either accidentally or from a suggestion by their mother. This does work, although it’s a temporary solution. If you need a little help to get started, try sipping a little ginger ale or other carbonated beverage. The accompanying belching and burping that follows will be pure gas.

6. Eat Apples

I learned this from the Heartburn & Reflux Remedy Report, so I can’t in good conscience report what specific type of apple does the trick. But test a variety of apples and see which one does the job for you. As with all the natural remedies for acid reflux offered here, an apple isn’t going to permanently solve your reflux problem, but it will provide temporary relief and put a temporary end to that horrible burning sensation in your chest.

When you boil water and allow the steam to return to its original state of water in a separate chamber, all the heavy metals and impurities are left behind. This is referred to as distilled water. It’s the same water that’s often used for ironing clothes, because using tap water runs the risk of damaging the iron.

There are some alternative health practitioners who recommend drinking distilled water to prevent acid reflux. However, and this is a huge however, you may be creating more problems than you solve. For instance, the distilling process not only removes the impurities, it also removes those minerals, such as calcium, sodium and magnesium, that are important for the body.

So, here are a few precautions:

1. Never drink distilled water for more than a day or two. The general consensus is that it’s okay in small doses, but its long term use should be avoided. As you drink more distilled water, the acidity in your body will actually rise.

2. Don’t cook your food in distilled water, since it will pull the nutrients out of the foods and deprive your body of the benefits of those foods.

3. Never drink distilled water as part of a fast. You risk quickly losing electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride) which can lead to high blood pressure and potential heart irregularities.

4. Before using distilled water either for drinking or for cooking, let your doctor know what you have in mind. He may be able to offer some alternatives or may recommend against the practice altogether, depending on your personal health profile.

How To Safely Use Distilled Water For Acid Reflux

With our precautions in place, distilled water can be helpful in reducing the damage of your acid reflux, primarily by mixing it with foods (not cooking, but mixing). For instance, a soft mixture of distilled water, honey, and romaine lettuce (a highly alkaline food) can soothe the esophagus and help settle the stomach. Fruits such as melon and papaya also work well. Try blending your mixture to aid in the digestion.

Distilled water is not a cure all, by any means, but it can still be helpful in some instances.

Finding a solution out of all the acid reflux cures can be nearly impossible for some and incredibly daunting for others. However, with a little research and by arming yourself with solid information, you should be able to uncover an acid reflux treatment for your specific situation.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease is the medical term for what is more commonly known as acid reflux. Acid reflux occurs when the stomach releases liquid back up into the esophagus, causing inflammation and damage to the esophageal lining. The liquid that’s regurgitated most often consists of acid, bile, and pepsin. Stomach acid, of course, is used in the digestion of food and can be a major irritant to the esophagus since it can damage the tissue. Bile is created in the liver and may back up into the stomach, which can then be released when there is no acid reflux cure. Pepsin, the last common compound, is actually an enzyme which helps to kick-start the stomach into breaking down proteins.

Acid reflux can be incredibly painful for the sufferer and can create a variety of harmful conditions within the digestive system if left untreated. You may be surprised to know that research has shown everyone experiences this regurgitation. However, those afflicted with acid reflux are known to have a higher acid content in the liquid brought into the esophagus than the liquids of a person who doesn’t have the disease. The liquid also often stays in the esophagus for longer periods of time.

Acid Reflux Cures – Medications

There is a variety of acid reflux medicines available. Here, we’ve included some examples …

Antacids - such as Alka-Seltzer, Maalox, Mylanta, Pepto-Bismol, Rolaids, and Riopan, are used to neutralize the acids in your stomach. Most antacids come with three different salts – aluminum, calcium, and magnesium. Combined with bicarbonate ions, these salts serve to render harmless the acids in your stomach. Antacids can cause constipation, especially when taken excessively.

Foaming Agents - such as Gaviscon, prevent acid reflux by covering your stomach with foam. Usually, these drugs are only prescribed to those who have suffered little or no damage to their esophagus because of acid reflux.

H2 blockers - such as cimetidine (Tagamet HB), famotidine (Pepcid AC), nizatidine (Axid AR), and ranitidine (Zantac 75), slow the production of acids. H2 blockers have been proven to be very effective when it comes to providing short-term relief.

Proton Pump Inhibitors - include omeprazole (Prilosec), lansoprazole (Prevacid), pantoprazole (Protonix), rabeprazole (Aciphex), and esomeprazole (Nexium). These drugs are available with a prescription. Proton pump inhibitors are more effective than H2 blockers and can help just about everyone suffering from acid reflux.

Acid Reflux Cures – A Surgical Option

There is a new surgical procedure that is finding its way into clinics across the nation which may help cure acid reflux for those who undergo the surgery. Known as the Plicator procedure, this treatment option requires a mere twenty minutes and is an outpatient procedure. A small electronic device is placed on the end of an endoscopy tube and travels through the digestive tract until it reaches the stomach. The Plicator crimps the tissue located between the stomach and the esophagus and a single suture is placed to secure the fold.

As a result, the area between the stomach and the esophagus now has a much tighter opening. This can aid the lower esophageal sphincter in opening and closing the passageway between the stomach and the esophagus.

At its core, finding an acid reflux cure is about the comfort of the sufferer. Whether your doctor prescribes medication or you try the new surgical option or you try a natural home remedy, there is an acid reflux solution for your situation.

Acid Reflux Cures – A Natural Approach

Lifestyle changes should be your first step. Start by eating smaller, more frequent meals. When you eat large meals, you expand your stomach and increase the pressure on the esophageal sphincter. This makes it hard for the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) to stay closed. Eating smaller, more frequent meals lowers your risk of acid reflux disease.

Limit your intake of acid stimulating foods and beverages. Avoid those foods that tend to cause your heartburn. Some of the major heartburn triggers include coffee, tea, caffeinated and carbonated beverages, alcoholic beverages, spices, pepper, onions, tomatoes and tomato based products, citrus fruits, fried and fatty foods, chocolate and peppermint.

Try not to lie down until at least three hours after you eat. If you lie down sooner than this the acid that is working to break down your food may flow upwards causing heartburn. Plan for an early dinner and try not to eat any late night snacks.

Elevate your head a few inches while you sleep.

Maintain a reasonable weight. Obesity is known to create abdominal pressure, which pushes stomach contents into the esophagus. As little as a ten percent decrease in weight will improve many people’s heartburn symptoms.

Quit smoking. Cigarette smoke causes the production of saliva and lowers the amounts of bicarbonates in the saliva, which help to neutralize stomach acid.

Avoid belts or clothes that are tight fitting around the waist. These will squeeze the stomach and force food up against the LES, causing food to reflux into the esophagus.

The Heartburn & Acid Reflux Remedy Report

If you’re looking for natural acid reflux cures, there’s one that appears to have done the trick for many, many acid reflux sufferers. It uses a safe, effective home remedy to almost instantly end the condition once and for all. And not just acid reflux and heartburn, but also esophageal reflux, and even hiatal hernia.

It’s not perfect, but it effective for 70% of those who try it, and if you happen to be one of the 30% that it doesn’t help, there’s a 60 day, 100% satisfaction guarantee. You can’t wrong.

Learn more here: Heartburn & Reflux Remedy Report

Sooner or later, most adults experience the symptoms of heartburn. This is a condition that is often considered a precursor to acid reflux, which is chronic in nature. Because of the connection between heartburn and acid reflux, it’s well worth noting the early signs of heartburn, so the condition can be addressed before it becomes more serious.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the symptoms of heartburn you should be on the watch for:

1. Burping - it’s not uncommon to burp three or four times after a meal. Generally, this is the body’s way of releasing gas and it’s often the result of swallowing air and nothing more serious. However, when the esophageal sphincter (LES) isn’t functioning properly and stomach acid creeps into the esophagus, one of the first ways your body reacts is to burp. This releases the build up of gas and often results in almost instant relief. In severe cases, you may find yourself burping for several hours. If you find yourself experiencing long bouts of burping after every full meal, then it’s time to take notice.

2. Swallowing - you may experience trouble swallowing, which is sometimes described as the feeling of food getting stuck in your throat. This appears to be the result of stomach acids playing havoc with the lining of your esophagus, causing discomfort.

3. Sore Throat - as with many of these symptoms, it’s easy to mistake a sore throat for a cold or a flu when in actuality it’s the result of stomach acids that have escaped the sphincter muscle above your stomach and moved up your esophagus into the back of your throat. Much in the same way as what happens when you experience trouble swallowing, these acids damage the lining of your esophagus and throat, causing the soreness and hoarseness.

4. Nausea - this can be a particularly troubling symptom and you should definitely visit with your doctor if it occurs regularly, whether you believe it’s associated with heartburn or not. It’s always worthy of close attention. Often a symptom associated with women who are experiencing heartburn, it’s uncertain if the nausea is the result of the heartburn or the result of the pregnancy. It can also be a sign of gastritis, which is the inflammation of the lining of your stomach, or gastroparesis, a condition in which the muscles in your stomach don’t function normally and food remains in the stomach too long. Once again, if you’re experiencing a combination of nausea and heartburn, see your doctor.

5. A Burning Sensation - this is the granddaddy of heartburn symptoms, the one most people experience above all the others. You’ll hear it described as a painful, burning sensation just below the breastbone. It results from gastric acids rising into the esophagus. In most instances, it’s uncomfortable and unpleasant, though on some occasions it can be so painful that it’s mistaken for a heart attack.