READER THEORIES

11/18/2006: Rosemary from Trenton, NJ writes: "I had acid reflux (see my posted message from March, 2006). I am finally getting back to you with what did finally cure me. The apple cider vinegar I tried did not work. What did work was eating a good quality yogurt several times a day along with two acidophilus/bifodophilus capsules with a high bacterial count. I took the capsules 3 times a day with each meal. I did this for 3 weeks straight. That is how long it took for the symptoms of acid reflux to totally subside. The yogurt was very cooling and it contains a lot of good bacteria. I ate a cup in the morning, then I had a half a cup after lunch and after dinner. During the day, I would take a tablespoon full periodically to help cool the throat. I had good results after one week, but it did not totally subside until the end of the 3 weeks.

I came to the conclusion by putting together these two known facts.

(1) Stomach ulcers are caused by a bacteria and many people with stomach ulcers are aspirin users.
(2) Antibiotics cause diarrhea because it destroys the good bacteria in the intestines. All one needs to do is to take acidophilus during and after taking taking antibiotics to avoid diarrhea and loose bowel problems.

10/05/2006: Anonymous writes: "GERD can be a symptom of hyperparathyroidism. See parathyroid.com for more info."

08/20/2006: Lisa from Santa Clarita, CA writes: "I've been getting heartburn since I was 11 or 12. Many misdiagnoses and 30 years later, I found out that I had ACHALASIA. This is a condition where the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES) does not properly relax and open to allow food/liquid to pass into the stomach. The pain is unbelievable and sipping ice water slowly was the best solution most of the time. I was probably born this way; don't know if it's true for everyone. I've had several medical/surgical procedures. The best was one that "tore" open the LES muscle so food can pass through to my stomach. It doesn't last forever, but with experimentation and avoiding foods that get "stuck," I get along just fine. I'm so grateful to the doctor that finally gave me the barium swallow and diagnosed my condition!"

08/09/2006: Holly from Madison, WI writes: "I wanted to comment on the causes of such a rise in cases of Acid Reflex & GERD in the US. I'm a Massage Therapist and in my training this was discussed. We have become such a fast paced and stressed society it is no wonder we suffer from disorders like these. Here are a few of the possible reasons:

1) Diet & the way we eat: Fast food fits into our fast paced culture. This means we eat lots of fat & sugar. We eat this quite often on the go, in the car, in front of the tv & usually quickly. This affects our digestion & when we eat leaning forward the stomach is pushed up into the top of the diaphragm

2) Drugs: Americans take more medication then ever and this takes a toll. Many medications cause additional stomach acid to be produced.

3) Stress Combine the first two with stress and you have a troubled digestive system and lots of acid. There are always those who suffer from these disorders for other reasons but I believe this is one more symptom of an over-stressed lifestyle."

04/02/2006: Mike from Levittown, PA writes: "My comment is a theory for why GERD is so prevalent. GERD is related to IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) the symptoms are similar. There has been a lot research showing that fluoride is a major contributing factor to IBS and GERD. If you look at about when people started having problems with GERD and IBS in this country you will find it about 30 years ago when fluoride was introduced into the water supply in many states. It's ubiquitous because we not only get in our water but it is in the air and in the food we eat. Also, it's in the toothpaste that most people use. We are inundated with it and it is VERY toxic! There is a website that has a lot of information about it: http://www.fluoridealert.org/

Good reading! Thanks for listening, Mike."

03/30/2006: Rosemary from Trenton, NJ writes: "I just started getting acid reflux and have been awakened in my sleep from it (twice so far) and I've never had a digestive problem before. So it was quite baffling. I just started taking ibuprofen regularly to combat the pain in an arthritic knee. Funny that this is the only change in my diet and all of a sudden I have acid reflux. Well, it turns out that ibuprofen will do havoc on your digestive system. So, I will try the apple cider vinegar cure. But, wanted to make sure everyone with this problem is warned that there is a likelihood that their acid reflux problem may be related to taking medications such as ibuprofen. I am hopeful that stopping the pain medication and drinking the ACV will fix the problem."

11/18/2005: Jeffrey from Leeds, Yorkshire, England writes: "re acv the pharmaceutical companies do not want the public to know what is the main cause of acid reflux ie the low level of acid in the stomach. The annual profits on prescribed/over the counter antacids must run into many millions of pounds for the drug companies. I just hope many more people like me find your fantastic website."

Norm Robillard from Thousand Oaks CA writes: "Hi, until now, tums, and PPI / H2 blocker meds were the main way to treat heartburn. With all the side effects and health risks (double the chance of pneumonia, for instance) many people are looking for alternatives. The meds reduce acid but don't stop the reflux that contains other stomach and intestinal enzymes that can damage the esophagus. I recently completed a book called "Heartburn Cured The Low Carb Miracle" on the root cause of GERD. My theory (I am a microbiologist) is that reflux is caused by gas pressure in the intestines caused by microbes that produce gas from carbs. The gas creates pressure pushing the LES open thus causing reflux. Consuming excess carbs provides the fuel for your own gut microbes. These same microbes (mostly bacteria) produce little or now gas from fats and proteins. Controlling carbs stops reflux so you are treating the root cause of GERD thus completely stopping reflux and heartburn symptoms. I have found much evidence supporting this theory and talked to many people who found complete relief after trying my approach. Give this approach a try."

Falcon from Mariposa, CA writes: "Re the Acid reflux problem: I took an Iridologist class with Dr. Bernard Jenson and we learned that the problem is not too much acid but low acid. Which we could verify by reading the fibers of the eyes. So the pharmaceutical co.s making a killing selling the purple pill as a cure are totally misleading the public. The purple pill turns off acid pumps and if anything make it worse. That the purple pill cures the damage done to the esophagus may be partially true in that one does not have any acid in the stomach to break down the proteins. But one wonders what the long term effect of sending partially broken down proteins through ones digestive system. Another cure we recommended after determining the persons problem was truly not high acid but low acid, was to recommend they take plant HCL (hydrocloric acid) and they can test it themselves. With a high protein meal at first take one see how it works for them then 2, and keep upping the amount until they learn what their system needs.

Another easy cure it to avoid eating heavy meals especially high protein meals at end of day when you are tired. It is the tiredness that causes the sphincter muscles to relax conserving energy that is the cause of acid reflux. So when one is tired and lays down to sleep the acid then can slosh out of the stomach into the esophagus, so they end up with what we call heart burn. Not of course tis the burning by ones acid in the stomach of the esophagus.

Sincerely Yours,
Falcon"

RED WINE VINEGAR

RED WNE

[YEA]  11/04/2008: Max from Tuxedo Park, NY writes: "a good red wine for acid reflux cure

REDUCE STRESS

[YEA]  05/19/2008: Gislain from Phoenix, AZ writes: "Stress was cause of my Acid Reflux:

REMEDIES NEEDED

[QUESTION]  08/04/2009: Do Dah from Des Moines, Iowa writes: "2 years ago I had a medical emergency that required me to have a breathing tube down my throat. I have had what I thought was heart burn for several years and have taken antacids to calm it. When the breathing tube was removed, I felt my esophogas was irritated. Even natural breathing would make my throat burn. After that incident, my heartburn was more severe and I seem to have more reflux. I also have more issues with phlegm. My doctor has dismissed it as gerd and prescribed a prescription antacid. I feel like there needs to be some healing that needs to happen and this prescription doesn't do it. I have added cabbage to my diet and am going to try and juice some. I get very frightened when I wake up at night with that breathtaking gerd in my throat. Help?"

SALT AND VINEGAR POTATO CHIPS

SAUERKRAUT

[YEA]  09/01/2008: Anne from Detroit, MI, USA writes: "I was reading over natural cures for Acid Reflux, or GERD, and noticed no one mentioned sauerkraut. I have been using this and it does work wonders. I used to get pains like aliens eating through my body from the GERD, and the sauerkraut has helped immensely. I don't like the taste of it, so I'm going to try a few things mentioned on this site. 2 tblsp sauerkraut 2x daily helps clear the nausea and pain for me."

SEA SALT

SLEEP ON YOUR LEFT SIDE

SLIPPERY ELM

[YEA]  04/09/2008: Cris from Sydney, Australia writes: "Hi! I have tried different remedies to help me with my acid reflux due to my hiatus hernia and 1 tsp. of slippery elm powder mixed with water works for me. It coats the esophagus and helps with the burning behind the throat and acid tongue feeling. I can pretty much eat anything but when I take slippery elm but of course, I try to eat healthier foods most of the time."

[YEA]  09/04/2007: Kathleen from New York, NY writes: "Acid Reflux - Slippery Elm -- Cured my acid reflux after trying everything for a year. A herbalist in my neighborhood said get a bottle of water and put 2 Tablespoons of powered slippery elm in it and sip it all day long. Also, the Thayer's Slippery-Elm lozenges -- you can let one after the other dissolve and always at night when I go to bed (and during the night). Put more slippery elm powder in a little water and drink it straight, after meals -- it will be a little thick, but it absolutely works."

[YEA]  02/06/2007: Diane from Minster nr Ramsgate, UK writes: "I would like to recommend pure slippery elm powder (not slippery elm food which has flour in it) to help with acid reflux. Slippery elm when made up into a milkshake type drink (see tip at end of this for making it up without lumps!) has soothing properties, lines as it goes down, and is also nutritional. My children used to have slippery elm mixed with fruit such as stewed apple or apricots or banana as a cereal when they were bubbies. They loved it. Anyway, re: acid reflux - it will not instantly make it go away but will help soothe some of the symptoms and calm the volcanic eruptions a bit if drunk fairly frequently, especially when one has the symptoms of heartburn or sore throat etc. I think used in conjunction with yoghurt (or even better pre and pro biotic capsules) and the apple cider remedy, as well as of course changes to ways of living, it would be very good. I cannot say it will be as I have not tried the ACV remedy yet - but I intend to! My husband has ulcerative colitis and drinking slippery elm has really helped him as well as natural anti-inflammatories such as turmeric, taking pre and pro biotics, and taking flaxseed oil. Has anyone tried ACV for ulcerative colitis btw? Oh before I forget...I said I would give a tip for making up slippery elm without the lumps. This is how my hubby and I do it: Put two heaped teaspoonfuls of slippery elm in a mug. Bring kettle to boil but before pouring into mug, put a covering of cold water over the powder in the mug. DO NOT STIR yet though but stir as you are pouring in the hot water. Leave some room at the top for adding milk (we use soya milk btw as this suits my husband's UC more, but other types of milk are ok if you can drink them). Diane :-)"

SOY MILK

SPROUTED MOONG LENTILS