Acid reflux is commonly called "heartburn" and medically diagnosed as "gastro-esophageal reflux disease" (GERD). Although acid reflux is a common problem, it is not considered healthy and there may be a more serious underlying condition.

How Serious is Your Acid Reflux?

Take this Quiz

Answer Yes or No

1) Do you feeling burning or discomfort after meals?
2) Do you experience regurgitation or "repeat" of food after eating?
3) Do you have bloating and gas after meals?
4) Do you often have nausea or vomiting?
5) Do you feel pain, tightness or difficulty when swallowing?
6) Are your symptoms affected by eating food or by certain foods?
7) Do you take antacids, such as Tums and Rolaids?
8) Do you experience chest pain during times when you are not eating?
9) Do your symptoms occur at night or wake you from sleep?
10) Have you been diagnosed with an ulcer?

If you answered Yes to 4 or more questions, your acid reflux may be more serious than you think. A naturopathic doctor will perform a simple gastric acid test, asses your risk factors and your current health status.

Naturopathic Medicine Gets to the Cause of the Problem

Acid reflux is only a symptom. It can be caused by many things such as habitually eating too much too fast, a neurological or functional disorder, or even a cardiovascular problem. A naturopathic doctor can determine if your stomach is producing the proper amount of acid. She will also determine why the acid reflux is occurring, and will design a treatment plan to regulate your digestive system and return it back to health. This involves assessing your current and past health history, any medications, your eating habits, stress and lifestyle.

The naturopathic approach will treat you and your condition on multiple levels:

1) Treat the immediate discomfort
2) Replenish and regulate digestive function
3) Heal cellular damage

The Importance of Acid and a Healthy Digestive System

The stomach produces acid that has a pH or about 1 or 2. That's strong enough to corrode metal! However, such a low pH is necessary to break down food and to kill harmful food-borne pathogens. A healthy stomach has a mucus-like lining that protects it from its own acid and has a functioning muscular opening, called a sphincter. The sphincter opens to allow food in from the esophagus, and closes to keep the stomach contents, and corrosive acid, within.

Heartburn occurs when the stomach acid refluxes, or backwashes, up into the unprotected esophagus. Chronic acid reflux can lead to permanent damage to the esophagus and can lead to lower esophageal cancer. Therefore it is very important to treat acid reflux. Many commercially available antacids and prescription medications attempt to neutralize the acid (such as Tums or Rolaids) or reduce/ stop the production of acid altogether (such as prescription medications or Zantac). These measures may temporarily relieve the discomfort, but it does not solve the underlying problem. In fact, long term use of antacids and medications create a chronic low acid environment that can lead to further health complications.

Too Little Stomach Acid is a Problem

Hypochlorhydria is deficient acid production in the stomach. A lack of acid can produce symptoms that are similar to indigestion or acid reflux. As many as 40% of apparently normal adults may not be producing adequate stomach acid.

Signs and Symptoms of Hypochlorhydria

• Bloating, belching, burning and flatulence, sense of fullness after meals
• Indigestion, constipation or diarrhea
• Food allergies or iron deficiency
• Nausea after taking supplements
• Itching around the rectum
• Weak or peeling fingernails
• Visible blood vessels in cheeks and nose
• Acne
• Undigested food in stool
• Chronic infections, especially yeast or Candida albicans infection

Are You On Acid Lowering Medication?

Many people are prescribed acid lowering drugs or drugs that stop acid production altogether. If you are on such drugs, you are probably experiencing the same symptoms as described above as hypochlorhydria. Although these drugs may seem to reduce the pain and discomfort of your acid reflux, they are also disrupting proper digestive functions. Stomach acid is an important signal that activates the long chain of events that occur during digestion. Without adequate stomach acid, your ability to completely break down food, absorb nutrients and kill food-borne pathogens is greatly reduced.

While it is not recommended that you stop your medication without consulting your doctor, it is advised that you seek additional support for the health of your digestive system. A naturopathic doctor can help reduce the side effects of your medication and improve your digestion. In appropriate cases, you may even be able to reduce your need for medication.