top of page
.png){kind=small}
Reflux treatment
Reflux, also called "gastroesophageal reflux disease" or GERD, is most often manifested in heartburn. Heartburn is a phenomenon that almost every person will suffer from at least once in their life. Most of the time, heartburn passes and does not interfere with the quality of life, but sometimes heartburn occurs with great frequency and interferes with everyday life.
Heartburn occurs when the sphincter that separates the esophagus from the stomach does not work properly. The stomach contains acidic gastric juices that cause an acidic environment in the stomach when food is swallowed. After swallowing food, the sphincter is supposed to close back up to prevent gastric juices from rising towards the esophagus, but if the sphincter does not close properly, gastric juices rise up into the esophagus and cause the feeling of heartburn. The burning sensation occurs in the esophagus, not the stomach, because the stomach muscle is used to being exposed to gastric juices and is adapted to this, unlike the esophageal mucosa.
When the burning sensation occurs in a way that interferes with the quality of life, it is recommended to treat it. There is a drug treatment for heartburn, but heartburn can also be treated naturally.
Reflux Treatment
Chinese medicine offers a variety of ways to naturally treat reflux and heartburn, including: adjusting the menu and appropriate nutrition, natural treatment using acupuncture, and treatment with medicinal herbs. Chinese acupuncture can help relieve symptoms and reduce their frequency by using acupuncture points that affect the esophagus and stomach area, along with general points that affect the person's balance, depending on their diagnosis. Treatment with medicinal herbs will help strengthen the digestive system and reduce heartburn.
In addition to treatment, it is recommended to combine maintaining a healthy lifestyle, regular and correct physical activity, and maintaining a balanced and healthy diet. It is recommended to avoid fried and fatty foods, drinking coffee, alcohol, eating chocolate, garlic, onions, and eating close to bedtime. It is also recommended to raise the sleeping position.
What do the studies say about treating reflux and heartburn with Chinese medicine?
A study published in the medical journal Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics examined the effect of acupuncture on recurrent heartburn (1). The study recruited people who continued to suffer from heartburn despite treatment with PPI antacids (drugs such as Omeprazole, Lusak, etc.) at a dose of 20 mg. The subjects were divided into two groups - a group that received a double dose of drugs (40 mg instead of 20 mg) and a group that continued to receive the same drugs at the previous dose (20 mg) with the addition of acupuncture for 4 weeks.
After 4 weeks, the acupuncture group had a significant improvement compared to the start of the treatments in all the indicators tested: daytime heartburn, nighttime heartburn (heartburn that awakens from sleep), dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), chest pain, and a bitter or sour taste as a result of stomach contents rising into the esophagus. In contrast, in the group of patients who received a double dose of medication, there was no significant difference in these symptoms compared to the beginning of the treatments.
When the differences between the two groups were examined, it was demonstrated that the acupuncture group had a significant improvement in daytime heartburn, nighttime heartburn, and increased gastric and esophageal contents compared to the double medication group.
Functional Heartburn
It is important to note that there are people who suffer from heartburn even when there is no pathological exposure of the esophagus to the contents of the stomach, this condition is called functional heartburn. In 2020, the American Gastroenterological Association recommended acupuncture as an effective treatment for functional heartburn (2)
If you suffer from heartburn and reflux, I would be happy to advise and help. You are welcome to contact me via WhatsApp or the website.
bottom of page