Know Everything About Your Sour Troubles With Gerd

GERD : A Sour Story 

If you find yourself constantly belching, you might be suffering from a condition called Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, commonly called GERD. 

However, if you only occasionally experience acidic burps, they may not necessarily indicate GERD. It can be some other health condition like supragastric belching. Do you want to know what it really is? Read about supragastric belching in this blog - Guide to Understanding Supragastric Belching: Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment.

So, how is GERD diagnosed? It is diagnosed clinically when you find that your stomach's contents backflow or reflux at least twice a week, severely impacting daily activities.

Why is There a Backflow of Stomach Contents?

The Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES) is a muscle in your body that acts like a one-way door from your food pipe to your stomach. When you swallow, food passes through this door into your stomach and stays there. The sphincter usually prevents the backflow of food from your stomach. 

If it doesn't work properly, stomach contents can flow back into the food pipe, causing symptoms like chest and heartburn.

What Are The Significant Symptoms of GERD or Acid Reflux

• Regurgitation or backlash of food.
• Heartburn on bending or lying down.
• Burning sensation or feeling of pressure.
• Nausea
• Chest pain
• Belching
• Pain while swallowing food
• Water brash
• Headache
• Repeated vomiting in severe cases.

An Ayurvedic View of GERD

Ayurveda, the ancient Indian medical system, provides a unique perspective on GERD. 

In Ayurveda, GERD is known as Amlapitta.

Pitta is one of the three primary bioenergies responsible for digestion. when it becomes excessively sour, it results in this condition.

According to Ayurveda, digestive fire is the underlying cause of Amlapitta. 

Several reasons can weaken your digestive fire, including:

• Incompatible food combinations
• Contaminated food, mainly fried or processed items
• Spicy foods
• Carbonated beverages
• Fermented foods

If GERD is left untreated, the aggravated pitta bioenergy can also imbalance vata and kapha bioenergies, worsening it further.

GERD Triggers: Know What Is Burning You

It's crucial to identify and avoid the triggers that can worsen your symptoms while managing GERD. Here are some common triggers:

1. Obesity

Excess weight puts pressure on your stomach, which can weaken the lower oesophagal sphincter (LES) and cause reflux.

2. Smoking 

Smoking harms your lungs and relaxes the LES, damages the protective lining of the stomach and oesophagus, and increases stomach acid production.

Research has proven that smoking relaxes the lower oesophagal sphincter (LES), damages the protective layer of the stomach and oesophagus, reduces salivation, and increases stomach acid secretion.

3. Diabetes

Poorly controlled diabetes can damage the LES's nerves, leading to reflux.

4. Large Meals and Fatty Food

Eating large portions, especially before bedtime, can stretch your stomach and increase pressure on the LES, causing reflux. High-fat foods also slow digestion, leading to more extended periods of acid exposure in the oesophagus.

Some Heartburn-Causing Diets Are:

• Alcohol
• Black pepper
• Garlic
• Raw onions
• Spicy fishes
• Chocolate
• Citrus fruits and products
• Coffee and caffeinated drinks
• Soda and carbonated drinks

To Prevent Heartburn After Meals:

• Don't overeat - It is healthier to have mini meals instead of full meals.
• Don't eat before bedtime - Lying down just after having food is a cause of heartburn from GERD.
• Heartburn and Exercise
• Exercise is good for almost all health conditions. 

But did you know that exercises and Yoga must be done under an expert's supervision, especially if you have conditions like GERD.

Some positions, such as having your upper body lower than your stomach, can start GERD symptoms.

Also, it is best not to exercise soon after having food.

Heartburn and Medications

Many medications can trigger heartburn or make heartburn worse. 

Some of them are:

• Painkillers like aspirin
• Antibiotics
• Blood pressure medication
• Heart disease medications
• Progesterone pills are the hormone found in birth control pills
• Antidepressants
• Certain supplements, such as iron and potassium
• Chemotherapy medicines

If you take any medications regularly and they give you heartburn, you should discuss this with your consulting doctor.

How to Manage Your GERD

The treatment of GERD aims at;

• Decreasing the amount of reflux.
• Managing the damaged lining of the oesophagus.
• Strengthening LES.

Usually, a conventional doctor may try to manage your GERD using any of the following.

• Antacids - medicines that neutralise the acid.
• H2 receptor blockers - medications that reduce acid production.
• Photo Pump Inhibitors (PPI) - drugs that block acid production and heal the oesophagus.
• The doctor may suggest surgery to strengthen the LES in severe cases, depending upon the causes.

Did You Know?

Long-term usage of medications for GERD or acidity may lead to vitamin B12 deficiency and bone fractures.

Ayurvedic Management of GERD 

The first step in correcting this condition is to address the digestive fire that is often weakened in GERD patients. 

This is achieved by making dietary changes to help heal the damaged gut lining.

In addition to correcting the digestive fire, Ayurvedic treatment also involves complete gut healing using natural medications that help balance the production of digestive juices and promote the protective system of the gut.

Diet Plan to Cure GERD Naturally

It is best to eat portioned meals, which can be designed in the following ways:

• 9 am or before - Breakfast
• 11 am - Fruits
• 1 pm - Lunch
• 4 pm - Snacks 
• 8 pm or before - Dinner

Do's of an Acid-Reflux Diet

Food to include in diet: 

• Oatmeal, green vegetables, celery, and asparagus are non-acid reflux-creating foods.
• Food with pH <7, like bananas, melon, blueberries, apples and corn.
• Prefer non-vegetarian food that is baked, grilled or sautéed instead of fried. 
• Dry fruits contain essential oils that the body requires.

Ayurvedic Herbs for Acid Reflux

1. Caraway Seeds - Taking caraway oil as part of a specific combination with peppermint oil seems to relieve heartburn, including symptoms of fullness and mild gastrointestinal (GI) spasms,

2. Liquorice Root: Licorice root may help reduce the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), such as acid reflux (also known as heartburn).

3. Turmeric: Turmeric and turmeric extracts have anti-inflammatory properties that may help heal the oesophagus.

4. Coriander: Coriander infusion kept overnight helps cool the gut and heal the acid-damaged oesophagus and stomach.

5. Basil Leaves: Adding basil leaves when you boil water for drinking will help you soothe your heartburn.

6. Chia Seeds: Adding chia seeds to your water helps heal your corroded gut. Chia seeds, flax seeds and almonds also help strengthen the LES.

Therapeutic Yoga to Cure  Acid Reflux

Did you know that daily Yoga can help you control acid reflux or GERD?

• Yoga can be very beneficial for GERD patients by stimulating the functioning of the digestive system and strengthening the muscles holding the gut. 
• Practising Yoga can help strengthen the diaphragm, preventing food from backflowing. It can also help increase blood circulation, promoting faster healing of damaged gut lining. 
• Stress is known to increase stomach acid secretion and is one of the major triggers of acid reflux. By keeping stress at bay through regular Yoga practice, you can reduce your risk of experiencing GERD symptoms.

Some of the helpful asanas to avoid GERD are;

• Supta Baddha Konasana (Reclining Bound Angle)
• Supported Supta Sukhasana (Reclining Easy Cross-Legged)
• Parsvottanasana (Side Stretch with Upright Modification)
• Virabhadrasana (Warrior pose)
• Trikonasana (Triangle pose)
• Parivrtta Trikonasana (Revolved Triangle)

Everyone responds to Yoga differently.

If a pose doesn't make you feel comfortable or if it makes your acid reflux worse, you may have to reconsider the particular asana. Adding Yoga to your treatment plan should be discussed with an expert, as some poses also increase the reflux of gastric contents.

Wrapping Up

The stomach is a fascinating organ that's closely linked to our emotions. 

It communicates with us constantly; if we pay attention to its signals, we can keep it in tip-top shape. 

But in today's fast-paced lifestyle, many things we do can damage our gut health, leading to conditions like GERD that can disrupt various aspects of our lives.

While medical management of GERD can help control symptoms, lifestyle changes are essential for long-term management. 

In some cases, surgical intervention may be necessary. However, even after surgery, lifestyle management remains critical, and maintaining a proper balance of Pitta in the gut is crucial.

A Nirva health client who suffered from GERD responded to the treatment from our experts very well, after which she said,

"My experience with GERD lasted for 20 years. Antacids gave me short relief until I started using an alternative medicine approach. Am happy that It worked!. Now I can eat tomatoes, chilli, everything I used to enjoy before. The probiotic tea changed my life."

A holistic approach to managing GERD can improve gut health and overall well-being. Listen to your stomach and respond with the care and attention it deserves.