Stop Heartburn Holistically

Many people who suffer from daily heartburn may not realize they can stop heartburn holistically. In fact, it's also possible to holistically treat acute cases (commonly referred to as acid reflux or gerd).

The condition is caused by a malfunction of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). This is the muscle at the bottom of the esophagus that relaxes to allow food to enter the stomach and contracts to keep stomach acid from rising back into the esophagus. When this muscle becomes too relaxed or when there is too much stomach acid pushing upward against it, the acidic fluids can rise, causing the burning sensation that most people associate with heartburn or acid reflux.

The traditional approach to treating this condition is to prescribe certain drugs such as H2 receptor antagonists, which include Tagamet and Zantac, or PPI drugs (proton pump inhibitors) like Nexium and Prilosec. These medicines slow down the production of stomach acid and are the two main types of pharmaceutical acid suppressors.

The alternative way is to stop heartburn holistically. By definition, holistic means considering the whole or in this case treating the whole person rather than just the symptoms of a disease. This form of approach is natural, has no side-effects and treats the condition instead of the symptoms.

Acid reflux is the result of an acidic system. What you eat and drink determines the PH of your body. Vegetable juices, such as raw potato, celery and cabbage are alkaline and helpful in correcting an acidic stomach.

Papaya juice contains the digestive enzyme papain, which has a soothing effect on the stomach and aids in the breaking down of protein.

Slippery Elm, bladderwrack and marshmallow belong to a category of herbs called demulcents. These herbs aid digestion by decreasing inflammation and by soothing the affected areas. They form a protective barrier against stomach acid and other digestive irritants.

There are many ways to stop heartburn holistically.

Meditation can help. Begin with deep breathing exercises for ten minutes. Keeping the eyes closed, visualize your stomach, LES, esophagus and throat as young, pink and perfect. Continue to breath and picture yourself in perfect glowing health. See yourself eating slowly in a relaxed atmosphere, enjoying your food. Picture the food being digested and assimilated in a perfect manner. Feel all the parts of your body working in perfect harmony together.

Yoga can also be very beneficial to the body. Losing weight and exercising regularly are also important. Drinking copious amounts of pure water not only flushes the system of toxins, but dilutes stomach acid during periods between meals.

These are all powerful approaches to help you stop heartburn holistically.