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Acid Reflux; Hiatus Hernia

Acid Reflux
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The solution to a problem is not always found at the level of the problem. Chasing symptoms with antacids and other medication can be a dead-end street, unless you are dedicated to personally enriching the stockholders of pharmaceutical companies.

If you suffer from reflux or a hiatus hernia, you might want to give these ideas a try.

1. Make your midday meal your largest meal, and do not eat after 5 PM. It is amazing how many indigestion symptoms go away when you do so.

2. Eat easy to digest food. This includes fruits; rice; steamed vegetables; sprouted seeds and grains; well-cooked beans; aged cheeses, yogurt, and cottage cheese; and especially vegetable juices. Make a point to avoid fried food. Stop eating meat. (And if you can't manage that 100%, at least avoid the worst of them: cold cuts, ham, pastrami, pepperoni, and deli meats.)

3. Multiple digestive enzyme tablets may help, particularly if you did not follow the advice in step 2, above. Betaine hydrochloric acid tablets may also work. Dr. Jonathan Wright's book "Why Stomach Acid is Good for You" says that many people 50 and older need more stomach acid, not less. If your stomach acid is lacking, it can lead to heartburn, indigestion, acid reflux, bloating and gas. Insufficient stomach acid means that pepsin cannot properly digest our protein foods.

4. Eat more dried figs, fresh pineapple, and dried or fresh papaya. These foods are loaded with digestive enzymes. Good quality yogurt contains beneficial digestive bacteria. http://www.doctoryourself.com/digestion.html

5. Raise your head at night. Sleep on a thicker pillow, or stack up two thin ones. Some people prefer a foam rubber, wedge-shaped bolster pillow.

6. Chiropractic adjustments can help. Try three visits and see.

7. The homeopathic remedy (and Schuessler Cell Salt) Natrum Phos, 6X, may help.

8. Reduce stress. Yeah, right! Easier said than done, isn't it. Meditation, relaxation, music, reading, or just some plain old time alone can really make a difference.

9. If your symptoms are really troublesome, see your doctor. While you are waiting for the appointment, you could go on a juice-only diet for a three to seven days. http://www.doctoryourself.com/juicefast.html

10. I have met some people who have had acid reflux for so long that there was damage to and scarring of the esophagus. I acquainted them with the four-glasses-of-cabbage-juice-a-day hospital-tested protocol of Garnett Cheney, M.D. While originally used primarily on stomach and lower gastrointestinal conditions, cabbage juice proved has proven effective above the tummy as well. http://www.doctoryourself.com/colitis.html

Dr. Cheney found that the entire gastrointestinal tract, from throat to colon, benefits from fresh raw cabbage juice, taken regularly and in quantity. His articles are far from new, but what has changed about cabbage?

Cheney, Garnett: "Antipeptic Ulcer Dietary Factor," American Dietetics Association 26:9 September, 1950

Cheney, Garnett: "The Nature of the Antipeptic Ulcer Dietary Factor," Stanford Medical Bulletin, 8:144, 1950

Cheney, Garnett: "Prevention of Histamine-induced Peptic Ulcers by Diet," Stanford Medical Bulletin, 6:334, 1948

Cheney, Garnett: "Rapid Healing of Peptic Ulcers in Patients Receiving Fresh Cabbage Juice," California Medicine, 70:10, 1949

Cheney, Garnett: "Vitamin U Therapy of Peptic Ulcer," California Medicine, vol. 77, Number 4, October, 1952)

READERS’ EXPERIENCES:

"When I eat very slowly and chew everything VERY thoroughly on a regular basis, I have much less heartburn. (This is in addition to eating a healthy diet.) This was about the last thing I tried, so maybe it was a combination of doing all the other things and this last thing just put me over the top." M. L.

"I've found that the digestive enzymes help me most., especially when I follow your other suggestions." B. T.

"I wanted to tell you what everyone in my family uses for heartburn: almonds. It doesn't matter if they are roasted or raw; they work! Next time you have heartburn, chew 5-6 almonds. My sister used antacids for years, including Prilosec, and now has not used them for over a year since she discovered the almonds. I tried it myself, and was amazed at how well they worked. Just as well as anything on the market, cost effective, and very good for you also. I guess my grandmother was right all these years when she always told me nature provides for all our ailments." Lisa

“For me, stress and anxiety has contributed to the problem. I tried taking a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in a half glass of water, and it works! Aloe Vera juice also helps.” T.N.

“I used to have tremendous hiatal episodes. I'd get progressively more intense throbbing pains that after about an hour and then would slowly diminish for another hour. About 20 months ago, I cut out soda, beer, and high fructose corn syrups and all trans-fats from my diet. After about two months, the symptoms, along with reflux, disappeared completely.” B.P.

Andrew Saul is the author of the books FIRE YOUR DOCTOR! How to be Independently Healthy (reader reviews at http://www.doctoryourself.com/review.html ) and DOCTOR YOURSELF: Natural Healing that Works. (reviewed at http://www.doctoryourself.com/saulbooks.html )

For ordering information, Click Here .

Andrew W. Saul

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