Take Appointment

Gastro-esophageal reflux disease

The Complete Guide on GERD (Gastro-esophageal reflux disease) | Sanjivani Homeopathy Diet and Yoga Clinic

DEFINITION

Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) occurs when stomach acid leaks from the stomach and moves up into the esophagus. This is also known as ‘reflux’. Almost everyone has heartburn caused by acid reflux from time to time. It is considered GeRD when it happens more than twice a week. It can eventually lead to more serious health problems and impact well-being and quality of life. GERD can affect everyone, even children, but mostly affects adults aged 40 and over.

SYMPTOMS 

The most common symptoms of GORD include:

Heartburn

  • Heartburn is the main symptom of GeRD. 
  • It is a burning pain or feeling of discomfort that develops just below the breastbone and can rise up. 
  • Heartburn is often worse after eating heavy meals, lying down or when bending over.

Regurgitation

  • Regurgitation refers to the reflux of stomach acid and other stomach contents up into your throat and mouth. 
  • It causes an unpleasant, sour taste in the mouth.

Difficulty swallowing

  • About one in 3 people with GeRD have difficulty swallowing, or dysphagia, especially solids such as meat, bread and pastry. 
  • It can also feel like they have a lump in their throat.

Other symptoms of GeRD

GeRD can also cause other problems such as:

  • a persistent cough, which may be worse at night
  • chest pain
  • wheezing
  • tooth decay and gum disease
  • laryngitis (inflammation of the larynx) which causes throat pain and hoarseness
  • bad breath
  • bloating and belching

CAUSES-

  • who are overweight or obese
  • who consume lots of fatty foods, because the stomach takes longer to dispose of stomach acids after digesting a fatty meal
  • who consume substances which may relax the LOS such as tobacco, alcohol, coffee or chocolate
  • who are pregnant due to changes in hormone levels which can relax the LOS, as well as the increased pressure on the stomach during pregnancy
  • who have connective tissue disorders
  • with a hiatus hernia, where part of the stomach pushes up through the diaphragm (the sheet of muscle which separates the abdomen from the chest)
  • with a condition called gastroparesis (fairly common in people with diabetes) where the stomach takes longer to dispose of stomach acid
  • who are feeling stressed
  • who smoke
  • who take certain medicines, such as aspirin

HOMOEOPATHIC MEDICINES FOR GORD-

  1. Arsenic Album –
    • 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).
  2. Calcarea Carb –
    • Calcarea Carb is a well indicated medicine for GERD where there is a sour taste in the mouth. 
    • There is a regurgitation of sour substances with the flow of sour, watery fluid from the mouth.
    • Foul odor from the mouth may be present with nausea. 
    • Sour, bitter belches, vomiting of sour, bitter slime (of food eaten), and heartburn are some other symptoms that may be present. 
    • The burning from the food pipe extends to the throat. 
  3.  Carbo Veg –
    • 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.
  4.  Nux Vomica –
    • Nux Vomica is a highly effective medicine for GERD accompanied with a  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.
  5. Phosphorus –
    • Phosphorus is a medicine for GERD where there is hoarseness of voice. 
    • A hard, dry, racking cough may appear. 
    • Gastric symptoms like heartburn, sour belching, sour taste in the mouth, vomiting of food or sour, acidic liquid may also be present.
  6. Pulsatilla Nigricans –
    • It is used in cases of GERD where consumption of fatty food worsens the complaint. Greasy, fatty food like creams, pastries, and ice creams trigger the acid reflux. 
    • The symptoms include heartburn and water brash. 
    • Belching of food, bitter taste in mouth, nausea and a sensation of having a lump in the throat may be present.
  7. Sulphuric Acid –
    • Sulphuric Acid is a medicine for GERD where intensely sour belching is present. 
    • Heartburn, sour vomiting and nausea are other symptoms. 
    • The sour vomiting mostly appears after eating.