Homeopathic treatment
Before delving into homeopathic treatment let us first discuss the conventional or allopathic treatment available.
Allopathic or conventional treatment
There are 4 common treatment options for GERD or gastroesophageal reflux disease
or acidity or acid reflux:
- Antacids neutralize stomach acid, generally taken one hour after meals.
- Mucosal protective agents protect the lining of the esophagus.
- Pro motility agents cause the stomach to empty faster.
- Acid suppressive agents like histamine 2 receptor blockers and proton pump inhibitors
(PPIs) to reduce the amount of acid the stomach makes.
GERD or gastroesophageal reflux disease or acidity or acid reflux is a chronic condition.
Once it begins, it usually is life long. If there is injury to the lining of the
esophagus, this also is a chronic condition. Moreover, after the esophagus has healed
with treatment and the medicines are stopped, the injury will return in most patients
within a few months.
Once treatment has begun, therefore, it usually will need to be continued indefinitely
as considered by the allopaths, although it is argued that in some patients with
intermittent symptoms and no esophagitis, allopathic treatment can be intermittent
and done only during symptomatic periods.
Homeopathy
But homeopathy offers you a promising treatment and you do not have to continue
medicines for your whole life. With certain life style changes and medications this
condition can be controlled within a span of time.
Homeopathy is a natural form of medicine. In a typical case of healing, a person's
complete symptoms will be treated all at once. Also, once gone, these symptoms usually
never rise again.
Once treatment is started it reduces reflux, relieve symptoms and prevents further
damage to the esophagus. Also, homeopathic medicines do not cause any side effects or addiction
and are much more subtle than drugs of conventional or allopathy medicine.
Top 10 reasons to use homeopathy
- All symptoms are treated holistically and few remedies are prescribed.
- Remedies work together with the body's immune system.
- The results are quick and fast.
- This form of medicine is completely safe and risk free.
- Medicines are not addictive.
- Remedies are natural as they are created from plants, minerals and animals.
- Medicines do not suppress the immune system like allopathic medicines such as sterioids
and so on.
- The treatment can be taken with other medications.
- Homeopathy is safe on anyone, even infants, pregnant women and the elderly.
- There are no side effects with homeopathy treatment.
There are 124 homeopathic remedies which give great relief in GERD or gastroesophageal
reflux disease or acidity of acid reflux. However, the correct choice and the resulting
relief is a matter of experience and right judgment on the part of the physician.
The treatment is decided after thorough case taking of the patient. Thus remedies
are tailor made unlike allopathy in which all patients receive the same antacids,
mucosal protective agents, pro motility agents, acid suppressive agents and so on
although trade name may be different.
For online treatment, you may follow the following steps at Consult now.
*DISCLAIMER: There is no guarantee of specific results and the results can vary. None of the remedies mentioned including services, mentioned at HomeopathicTreatment4U.com, should be used without clearance from your physician or healthcare provider. We do not claim to cure any disease which is considered 'incurable' on the basis of scientific facts by modern medicine. We assure you of the best possible efforts for those who apply for online treatment. However, please note that we do not claim to cure each and every case, nor do we guarantee any magical cure. The website’s content is not a substitute for direct, personal, professional medical care and diagnosis.
What is GERD or gastroesophageal reflux disease or acidity or acid reflux
Your stomach is filled with acid. Its purpose is to help digest the food you eat.
Believe it or not, this acid is the same acid as battery acid. Your stomach is built
to handle the acid it produces. However, your esophagus is not. So when acid backs
up into your esophagus, it can cause the burning sensation known as heart burn.
Almost everyone has occasional heartburn. But if these symptoms occur two or more
days a week for at least 3 months, you may have GERD or gastroesophageal reflux
disease or acidity or acid reflux disease. Acid reflux occurs when the lower esophageal
sphincter does not close properly, allowing acid to back up into the esophagus.
It is a chronic condition and it is extremely common. It may lead to more serious
medical conditions, but is treatable. Studies estimate that approximately 19 million
people in the United States may have GERD i.e. gastroesophageal reflux disease or
acidity or acid reflux. In fact, approximately 4.6 million doctor visitis each year
are made to discuss GERD symptoms.
Signs & symptoms
Many people have different heart burn triggers, but most people have similar heartburn
symptoms:
- A burning sensation in the chest: This burning sensation usually
starts behind the breast bone, and may travel up to the throat. It usually occurs
shortly after eating, and can last from a few minutes to several hours.
- A burning feeling in the throat: This is a sensation of burning,
usually high up in the neck though it can occur lower. The pain may worsen with
swallowing. The burning sensation can result from irritation when stomach contents
that have refluxed up into the throat.
- Sour or bitter taste in the mouth: This sour or bitter taste can
occur when stomach contents reflux up into the esophagus and may reach the back
of the throat. When the contents enter the back of throat, a person will often have
a sour or bitter taste in their mouth.
- Difficulty swallowing: Trouble with swallowing (dysphagia) occurs
when food does not pass normally from the mouth through the esophagus to the stomach.
There may be a sensation of food sticking in the throat, chest pressure or 'burning'
after eating, or a feeling of choking. Difficulty swallowing would be a sign of
various conditions, including erosive esophagitis, esophageal cancer, and should
always be evaluated by a physician.
- Chronic coughing.
- Wheezing or other asthma like symptoms.
- Other symptoms can be:
- Pain in chest
- Hoarseness in the morning
- Dysphagia
- May feel like food is stuck in the throat
- Persistent dry cough
- Bad breath
GERD or gastroesophageal reflux disease or acidity or acid reflux may be difficult
to detect in infants and children. Symptoms may vary from typical adult symptoms.
GERD in children may cause repeated vomiting, effortless spitting up, coughing,
and other respiratory problems. Inconsolable crying, failure to gain weight, refusing
food, bad breath, and belching or burning are also common. Children may have one
symptoms or many; no single symptom is universal in all children with GERD.
Approximately 4 million babies born in the US, each year, upto 35% of them may have
difficulties with reflux in the first few months of their life. Most of these children
will outgrow reflux by their first birthday. However, a small by significant number
of them will not outgrow the condition and continue to have it into their teen years.
Children who have had heartburn that does not seem to go away, or any other GERD
symptoms for a while, should take it seriously.
What triggers it
Certain foods and lifestyle are considered to promote GERD or Gastroesophageal Reflux
Disease or Acidity or Acid Reflux:
- Coffee, alcohol, excessive amounts of Vitamin C supplements stimulate gastric acid
secretion.
- Antacids based on Calcium carbonate have been found to actually increase the acidity
of the stomach.
- Foods high in fats and smoking reduce lower esophageal sphincter competence; so
avoiding these tends to help.
- Large meals.
- Carbonated soft drinks with or without sugar.
- Chocolate and peppermint.
- Acidic foods, such as oranges and tomatoes.
- Vegetables like onions, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, spinach.
- Milk and mild based products.
Diagnosis
To diagnose if you have GERD or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, you will be asked
to describe the type of symptoms you have, their severity, their frequency, and
how long the symptoms last.
The most common symptoms include heartburn and acid regurgitation (reflux), in which
stomach acid backs up into the mouth. These symptoms are often made worse by bending
over, stooping or lying flat. If you have had partial or temporary relief with over
the counter medicines, let the doctor know.
Apart from your history, few diagnostic tests are also ordered. Investigations are
also done for patients who have what are called 'alarm symptoms'. Alarm symptoms
include weight loss, anemia, bleeding from your gastro intestinal tract (either
vomiting blood or having blood in your bowel movements), difficulty swallowing or
pain on swallowing.
Tests include:
- Endoscopy
- Barium esophagram
- Esophageal pH monitoring
Lifestyle changes
The following lifestyle changes have been shown to have a positive effect on symptoms
associated with GERD or gastroesophageal reflux disease or acidity or acid reflux
in some patients:
- Losing weight
- Quitting smoking
- Wearing loose-fitting clothing
- Eating smaller meals
- Raising the head of bed when sleeping
- Waiting at least 3 hours before lying down after eating
- Avoiding certain foods and drinks including :
- Chocolate
- Peppermint
- Alcoholic drinks
- Caffeinated beverages
- Citrus drinks
- Tomato based foods
- High fat and / or fried foods