GERD is an acronym of gastro-esophageal reflux disease and is a dysfunction of the lower esophageal sphincter, which is the valve that separates the esophagus and the stomach. GERD arises when this valve does not shut well or opens when it shouldn’t which results in stomach acid and contents backing up to the esophagus.

When the lower esophageal sphincter functions normally, food travels downward into the esophagus through peristalsis, the sphincter relaxes enabling the food to travel to the stomach. After the food passes, the valve immediately shuts again. If the valve relaxes when no food passes into it or does not entirely close, reflux happens. Being acidic due to the stomach acid, when the abdominal contents flow backwards, it causes pain and if this backflow becomes frequent, it can destroy the esophageal lining. Practically each person on earth experiences heartburn from time to time; however, when it happens regularly, like a number of times a week, and results in long-term inflammation of the esophageal wall, this is most probably an indication of a far worse ailment – GERD. Heartburn is the most typical symptom of GERD and a rise in saliva production, dysphagia, a sour taste in the mouth, frequent burping, and regurgitation are other symptoms of GERD.

GERD can develop at any age although, it usually develops after a person reaches 40 years old and more. There are about 33% of people living in the United States who have GERD based on statistics provided by the American Gastroenterological Association.

A diagnosis of GERD is often based on the patient’s symptoms. X-ray with barium, pressure testing of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and endoscopy are diagnostic tests often performed for patients who are not getting well with medication, or a means to rule out digestive problems such as esophageal cancer or Barrett’s esophagus.

Reflux and heartburn can ensue from common food triggers such as acidic foods like citrus and tomatoes, fried or fatty foods, and spicy foods such as onions and garlic. Alcohol, soda and coffee can lead to more production of stomach acid and this does not really help improve your condition. Smoking cigarettes, alcohol, chocolate and peppermint may cause the relaxation of the LES which increases the risk of reflux. Hiatal hernia which is a disorder that forces the abdomen to project upward through the diaphragm, pregnancy and obesity are conditions that adds more pressure on the abdomen and lead to the occurrence of GERD.

In spite of the advancements of Western medical science, no cure for GERD has still been developed and so the focus of treatment is to alleviate the symptoms and to minimize damage to the lining of the esophagus. One other very invasive and radical treatment that is not deemed a first-line treatment is surgery to tighten the LES. Nexium and Prilosec and other PPIs or proton pump inhibitors are the most commonly prescribed drugs for GERD. These drugs help limit stomach acid production in a much better way compared to the older generation of drugs (Histamine-2 blockers). This allows for a much better degree of healing.

These PPIs typically are quite effective for relief from the symptoms caused by GERD. However, there are a number of things these drugs do that might cause problems for the person when using them for long periods of time. If you have GERD, the acidity of your stomach should be cut down for one to three months in order to help heal your ulcers in the esophagus. PPIs do help you achieve this but sadly, these ulcers can become chronic and thus may need frequent courses of treatment. Proof exists that the long term usage of PPIs is not really a good thing to do. Reduction of stomach acid in the long term can result in problems with digestion since the stomach contains inadequate acid leading to poor absorption of important nutrients like calcium and vitamin B12 and the digestion of proteins. Over the course of time, the person may suffer from bone fragility because of lack of vitamins and problems with bone re-absorption and bone creation cycle. This situation may be more problematic for women in menopause who already have problems with bone loss. The long term intake of PPIs is also blamed for the rise of gastric polyps as well as in dependency to the drugs and the likelihood of significant rebound symptoms when their intake is abruptly stopped.

TCM or Traditional Chinese Medicine considers GERD to be a sign of an imbalance in one or more of the body systems. The reflux and heartburn symptoms In TCM are usually seen as strife between the abdomen and the liver. The liver, in TCM, is responsible for everything in the body (digestion, emotions, energy, and blood) smoothly travelling in the proper directions. Too much work by the liver usually due to chronic stress prevents the liver from keeping things flowing smoothly which makes it “rebel” in the process. The direction usually is sideways into the stomach; if flow is normal the stomach flow of energy is downwards. When the liver’s rebellious energy affects the abdomen, it causes the stomach flow of energy to rebel or rise upwards, potentially causing chronic signs and symptoms such as reflux, heartburn, burping, and greasy thick tongue coating. A really clear sign of stagnation of liver qi is plum pit qi which a sensation of a lump in the throat, that usually is accompanied with a throat-clearing cough.

One huge difference of the way of treatment between TCM practitioners and Western Medicine is the belief of the impact of stress on the body and how it results in the occurrence of pathology which is a basic principle in TCM theory. TCM practitioners observe the impact of stress on the relationships between organ systems and the resulting rise of imbalances.

The plan of treatment for reflux and heartburn symptoms will depend on the symptoms manifested by the patient. The goal is to typically regulate and soothe the liver, remove stress that leads to the liver rebelling against the stomach, bring back the downward normal stomach qi flow, remove the heat and change the dampness that becomes collected when the qi of the abdomen is impacted. Both Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture provide very effective remedies for these problems.

Synoma Wellness Centre
2150 Alt. 19, Suite B,
Palm Harbor, FL 34683
Phone: (727) 785-5950
www.palmharboracupuncture.com