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How to Lead a GERD-free, Drug-free Life:
An Alternative Solution to GastroEsophageal Reflux Disease
Dr. Mona Morstein, N.D.
Alka-Seltzer commercials that aired in the 1960s established indigestion and heartburn as common digestive disorders in the consciousness of Americans. Over-the-counter medicines became the customary solution. Today, we see commercials for “the purple pill.”
One of the most prevalent digestive disorders is Gastroesophageal Reflux (without the D for disease) which is heartburn. The condition becomes GERD (with the D for disease) when it occurs frequently during the week, requires the patient to use over-the-counter or prescription medications and even consider surgery.
Many patients suffer from Gastroesophageal Reflux now and then due to over-eating or eating particularly spicy foods. If it happens occasionally, simply not over-doing things will easily eradicate the problem. When the condition becomes GERD, it's a much more serious situation for the patient.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease can possibly affect up to one-third of all Americans — nearly 100 million people — and cause devastating daily problems.
A Closer Look at GER and GERD
Both GER and GERD are due to a poorly functioning Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES), which is a valve that separates the esophagus from the stomach. It is supposed to tighten when we are digesting food in our stomach so the stomach acid produced during that time does not regurgitate upwards and irritate the esophagus. When this does not happen, and the LES fails, GER or GERD occurs.
The classic symptom of GERD is heartburn: burning pain in the esophagus, chest, or throat. Heartburn can sometimes occur minus the pain, but cause hoarseness, the feeling of a “lump” in the throat, bad taste in the mouth, asthma, sleep apnea and a dry cough.
GERD can be caused or aggravated by pregnancy and obesity due to the following:
- upward abdominal pressure;
- things that loosen the LES valve such as smoking, peppermint and chocolate;
- stomach irritants such as citrus, spicy foods, garlic, onions, caffeine, alcohol, and tomato
based foods;
- and items causing foods to be in the stomach longer such as fried and fatty foods.
Medical Doctors Use Drug Remedies
Medical Doctors treat GERD by recommending over-the-counter antacids such as Maalox, Rolaids or the stronger H2 Blockers Zantac, Pepsid or Tagamet. They may also recommend prescription proton pump inhibitors (PPI) such as Nexium, Aciphex, Prevacid and Prilosec (which also come in an OTC strength). Doctors frequently put patients on PPIs which are very problematic drugs as they are designed to stop the majority of HCL acid production from stomach cells. PPI use is associated with increased risks of fractures due to lack of calcium absorption; gastroenteritis due to bacteria getting through the stomach; dysbiosis from poor protein digestion; pneumonia; and B12 deficiency.
If GERD persists, over time it can cause pre-cancerous cell changes in the esophageal lining which has a low but existing risk of turning into esophageal cancer.
Alternative Drug-free Treatments
Aside from living on drugs, what other options do patients who suffer from GERD have? What can doctors who use alternative medicine do to cure this condition? They can treat with Food Allergy Testing.
Food Allergy Testing can simply and effectively uncover the main food causing the malfunctioning of the LES. When that food is removed, the LES works again, and the GERD stops. Patients can then be weaned slowly off their PPI. Simple supplements such as HCL acid, slippery elm gruel or deglycyrrhizinated licorice can regenerate the stomach mucous lining. This will enable patients to re-introduce all the food they had to avoid — as long as they do not eat the food that was determined to cause the allergy. This is a very simple process and definitely cures the vast majority of GERD sufferers. Dairy is typically the number one food that causes GERD, but wheat and eggs can also contribute to the problem.
If you have heartburn, a lump in your throat, asthma, sleep apnea, hoarseness or a dry cough (particularly after eating), definitely search for a physician who includes IgG food allergy testing in their diagnostic work-up.
Food Allergy Testing Prevents Stomach Surgery
Here is a physician case history on a 48-year old man who suffered from terrible GERD nearly his whole adult life. This patient was on two PPIs and a third drug for GERD. He was scheduled for stomach fundiplication surgery in two months because those three drugs didn't alleviate his chronic pain and discomfort. Stomach fundiplication surgery is very disfiguring to the stomach as it wraps it around the esophagus to try to prevent acid regurgitation. He really did not want that surgery but was desperate for relief.
I performed an IgG food allergy test and found that he was sensitive to dairy and eggs. We removed those foods from his diet. Within two months, he was off all three drugs, and the surgery was cancelled. For the first time in about twenty-five years, he was symptom-free and felt great. He avoided his allergen foods, (although he cheated on the eggs which didn't really affect him), and was able to eat everything he had to avoid for all those years — wine, fried foods, tomato sauce, spicy Mexican, etc. Without food allergy testing, this patient would have gone through painful surgery. Now he is cured.
If you suffer from GERD, find an alternative physician who does food allergy testing. It could indeed help you begin a whole new GERD-free and drug-free life.
About the Author:
Dr. Mona Morstein has been a naturopathic physician for 21 years. She is currently Chair of Nutrition at Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine (SCNM) where she teaches three nutrition courses, is the professor for gastroenterology, and clinical supervisor in their out-patient clinic. Dr. Morstein is considered an expert on obesity, prediabetes/insulin resistance, and all types of diabetes. She also treats a great deal of gastrointestinal illnesses, female conditions, and acute and chronic diseases. She has spoken internationally on diabetes, and has been interviewed on CNBC nationally on using alternative medicine to treat Type 2 diabetes. Visit http://www.drmonamorstein.com/ for more information.
About Immuno Laboratories
Immuno Laboratories is widely recognized as one of the leading food and environmental allergy testing facilities in the world. Since 1978, the company has conducted over 29 million tests with 97% of its physicians testing for ten years or more. The Immuno Bloodprint™ test identifies inflammatory reactions to various foods and chemicals which are often the underlying cause of chronic health disorders. Programs are then developed to eliminate the reactive substances for re-introduction at a later date. For more information or to find a qualified local healthcare practitioner for testing, visit immunolabs.com, call (800) 231.9197 or complete the online physician referral form.
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