62 WDDTY | ISSUE 01 | AUG/SEP 2019 FACEBOOK.COM/WDDTYAUNZ
FAMILY HEALTHNatural
remedies
for reflux
I’ve been diagnosed with
gastroesophageal reflux disease
and have been prescribed
omeprazole, a proton pump
inhibitor. I’ve read lots about all
the side-effects of these drugs, so
I’d like to find a natural solution
instead. Can you suggest any
remedies that work?
S.G., via emailMost of us have experienced
acid reflux from time to time,
when stomach acid travels up
toward the throat causing a
burning feeling in your chest
(heartburn) or a horrible
taste in your mouth.
But when it happens
repeatedly, it’s called
gastroesophageal reflux
disease, or GERD, and it
can damage the sensitive
lining of the esophagus,
leading to other symptoms
such as difficulty swallowing,
a ‘lump-in-the-throat’
sensation and ulcers.
Proton pump inhibitors
(PPIs) like omeprazole are the
usual treatment, but as you’ve
discovered, they can come with
nasty side-effects. Some of the
more serious ones linked to the
drugs include bone fractures,
potentially fatal infections and
even heart attacks.^1 Plus, around
one-third of GERD patients still
suffer from symptoms despite
taking PPIs.^2
There are plenty of natural
alternatives, though. Hopefully,
one or a combination of these
evidence-based remedies will
work for you. Ideally, consult
with an experienced naturopath
who can offer personalized
advice based on your symptoms
and lifestyle and monitor your
progress.FIND YOUR FOOD
TRIGGERS
Certain foods and drinks may
worsen GERD, such as chocolate,
fatty foods, alcohol, carbonated
drinks, caffeine, cow’s milk and
mint-flavored products,^3 so
avoiding these could help. It’s also
a good idea to keep a food and
symptom diary to see if you can
spot any connections between the
two. If some foods seem to bring on
symptoms, try eliminating them to
see if there’s an improvement.TRY A LOW-CARB DIET
A recent study found that a high-carb diet caused more reflux
symptoms in GERD patients, while a low-carb diet had the
opposite effect.^4 Consider consulting with a nutritionist who
can work out the right type of low-carb diet for you. Or see
WDDTY April 2016 for the diet that worked for one sufferer.
Whatever you do, avoid low-carb processed foods and opt
for real, nutrient-dense whole foods instead.LOSE WEIGHT
If you’re overweight,
losing weight might help
resolve your symptoms.
And if you smoke, quit—
smoking is another risk
factor for GERD.^6TAKE SUPPLEMENTS
A supplement containing melatonin,
vitamin B6, folic acid, vitamin B12
and the amino acids l-tryptophan,
methionine and betaine was more
effective than the PPI omeprazole
for treating GERD symptoms in one
trial. After 40 days, all patients taking
the supplement were free of symptoms
(and side-effects) compared with two-
thirds of those taking the PPI.^7
Suggested dosages: 2.5 mg melatonin,
200 mg vitamin B6, 10 mg l-methylfolate
(the more bioavailable form of folic acid),
50 mcg vitamin B12, 25 mg l-tryptophan, 100
mg methionine and 100 mg betaine (these are the
dosages used in the study above). Melatonin is only
available via a prescription or the internet in the UK, but
you can buy it over the counter in AustraliaDE-STRESS
Stress has been linked to GERD, although it’s not clear
whether it’s the stress that’s causing the symptoms or
the symptoms causing the stress.^5 Either way, stress-
reduction methods such as meditation, yoga or qigong
might be beneficial.