How I cured my acid reflux, naturally.
Posted , 202 users are following.
Hi: It seems like there are many more people suffering from acid reflux than ever before. Professionals offer only medications and surgery. I have suffered from acid reflux on and off for some 20 years. After much research and meditation on how the esophageal sphincter functions, I discovered a low cost solution. Two or three times a day I drink orange flavored carbonated mineral water. After drinking it, I hold back the burp for 3 to 5 minutes, sometimes longer. Then burp the air out. Make sure to always do this right before bed. This forces the esophageal sphincter to work hard to hold down the increasing air pressure. It is the only way to strengthen this muscle. After nearly 2 years of nexium, I am now completely off acid blockers and only take a sip of water with sodium bicarbonate before bed, just for protrection. Please try this and let me know if you also find relief from acid reflux. I hope you do. Regards, John
34 likes, 866 replies
hello05027 john03683
Posted
Hi,
I've recently discovered that the extreme pain I experience in my throat is due to acid reflux. I haven't started voice therapy yet and the only medicine I'm taking is 5ml of Gaviscon before bed. Does anyone know if this method works and where to buy this type of water in Southern England?
Thanks
karen54446 hello05027
Posted
Hi, I've found that the only thing that works for the vocals is resting and pacing-- not talking when I don't really have to. The advice the speech pathologist gave was not to raise my voice, the best conversations are almost like a whisper--close to an individual so as not to further agitate the inflammation until it heals. I do use a wireless microphone for work as a teaching artist which is fine. I am in the US so I don't know where you can pick up fizzy water, it's readily available here.
Jonathan57679 hello05027
Posted
I have heard some people in various countries say they can't find the carbonated water. If there is none available, then a diet soda pop could be used. They do have machines that make carbonated drinks, but that may also be unavailable. The important thing is that you start right away. Each day adds to the damage and will then take longer to reverse the damage. Reflux is also a dire health hazard as a person could inhale the reflux while sleeping and suffocate. You also need tyo elevate the head of your be 8 inches to allow gravity to help keep things in the stomach down.
dudeonline john03683
Posted
Hi John,
I read with interest this discussion. Are you posting under two John users? I have had reflux for about 15 years. It had got the point of being every meal and througout the day. I did not want to be on PPIs but as soon as I was off them, it was back again.
So I've soldiered on. Some things worked for a while, extra Betaine HCL for instance to improve digestion and also some digestive enzymes. But digestive enzymes end up shutting down the pancreas production and in fact did. So I'm off them.
My reflux problem had got so bad I no longer felt pain, just a pressure feeling. I get this feeling just moving in bed all the time. My esophagus started to feel food passing at the point near the stomach, that was very worrying. I had an endoscopy about 8 or so years ago, and everything was fine then. I do not want another. I already have 2 major health concerns so I don't want any more bad news. It might be barretts I don't know, and don't care at this stage.
Moving on, I had been sleeping with the bed raised 6 inches. Even that was not working. I have (and still am) trying the pillow thing, but my back is now so sore from this, every vertebrae is sore, presumably from the sleep in a bad posture.
I started doing your carbonated drink thing and I was concerned that it wouldn't work because of what you described about damage. However I was able to hold a burp down, which made me very happy.
It did improve things quite quickly for me.
So, what I have found..
I have had to try and get more calories in me by eating more (only fruit) this has meant two pints of smoothie AM. When it first goes in, I am fine (I also have gastritis but have to be on fruit which is a pain, literally!). Only after about 2 hours or more do I get the feeling that something is pushing against my LES and it feels horribly uncomfortable. I even get this feeling somethings when there is no food there. Not good. I know you posted about the LES being inherently weak in some. I think if I even miss one session (I've been doing it a month) of the carbonated water it gets weaker again. I missed two yesterday and things have gone backwards. Up to that point I had been pretty religous with it.
I want to keep doing it, against my constultants (not general medical doctor) advice as they have concerns about the carbonisation process and that fact that these sorts of drinks cause calcium to be leached from the body.
My feeling is I won't need to do this forever at this level, and so once I have it strong I can reduce the amount of times down.
One thing, I have found that if I hold down the burp a really long time, it can go away. I'm pretty sure its going the other way! down into my intestines and causing gas, have you found that? Its not always the case and sometimes I still get a burp albeit not as big as perhaps I was expecting. Help or advice appreciated. Thanks John.
Jonathan57679 dudeonline
Posted
Hi dudeonline: First of all, thank you for trying my treatment. And thank you for the feedback.
Yes, I am posting under both John and Jonathan. My first account was ended after I repeatedly recommended a certain brand of magnesium.
Anyway, sorry to hear that your having such a long stuggle with GERD symptoms. When I was at my worst, I had many bottles lined up at my bedside. I would go to bed nauseated or bloated and try to pick a pill that would help, it was basically russian roulette. Sometimes I would be awakened by being super bloated or nauseated and on the verge of vomitting. And I still had to get up and go to work every day. That lasted about 4 years. Then I got so sick I absolutely could not go to work. Fortunately, I was able to retire. For the next year I still struggled with constant nausea, bloating, vomiting, and constant burning. I could not make or keep any appointments, so I kind of avoided friends.
After trying a number of suggested methods and diets, I came up with the carbonated water treatment. I knew after the first few days that I was on the right track. Whatever was causing the weak sphincter issue was not important. What was important was that there was something I could do to re-train a normally involuntary muscle.
Enzymes and HCi are only masking the problem.
And when I mentioned this treatment to my doctor she was not interested in hearing it. Obviously, a doctor would go broke suggesting such a natural this to his/ her patients. Doctors make a living on prescriptions and surgery, that is the truth about that.
Any doctor saying that there could be a danger in drinking carbonated water is just rediculous. Many people drink some soda every day, and their doctor never scolds them.
I did mention in a previous comment that I believe that there may be a connection between a vertabrae being out of place and pinching the nerve that serves the esophageal sphincter. I have sore vertabrae directly in line with my stomach. And, they won't stay in place even if I get adjusted by my chiropractor.
But, regarless of the cause, I have strengthened my sphincter to the point that I am sleeping flat on my bed, no more wedge. Although my bed is still inclined 8 inches because of nasal congestion issues.
I also have noticed that I can hold down the burp for longer than 30 minutes and that sometimes I have to remind myself to burp. But, it is better if the upper sphincter is stronger than the lower one below the stomach. We are talking about healing the esophagus and related issues after all. This issue can get so bad that a person can become depressed or even get suicidal thoughts,
One more thing, I would recommend yogurt every morning 30 minutes before you eat anything else. It's important to keep the intrestinal bacteria balanced to reduce the bloating often caused by bad bacteria. One crazy thin I did when I was getting bloated by carbs is I took a parasitol medication because it was suggested that I may have had liver flukes. And, I must say, it immediately made the bloating go away. Most of us are here in these forums because we have many problems that are contributing to our situation.
Keep me updated as to your progress. John
jared2121 Jonathan57679
Posted
When u do the exercise where do u guys feel ur burp being held at? I feel like the air goes all the way up to my adams apple (upper eso sphinter) and then i can hold it..... however I have no feeling of trying to hold down the carbination near the stomach, it's like it passes right thru then is held up top... That means my Les is eroded huh, I'm only 21 too so this sucks
jared2121 john03683
Posted
I've read through all these comments and i just wana say i appreciate ur effort in helping these ppl man. I wanted to ask ur opinion on aloe vera? do u think I should try the marshmellow tea? I worry many of these "natural herbs" do more harm then good... Also I can't do yogurt because of lactos intolerant, what probiotic pill do you take?
gwen45436 jared2121
Posted
I just wanted to say about aloe vera - I have taken it for a few years, but when I got this problem - it really hurt me. On looking into it, it is because it contains citric acid! So with GERD you need one without.
I cannot find any here in UK (health shops) that does not contain it.
Seems a bit stupid to me.
Jonathan57679 jared2121
Posted
Hi Jared: There seems to be a lot of companies producing the aloe vera drinks. I did try it but it did not seem to give me any relief. If you want to try it, I would recommend that you find the actual live plant pedal. I see it at some natural grocery stores. That would be the most natural way to try it and to give it a real chance at working. Let me know if you do get good results.
I tried a number of natural stomach healing teas, but the marshmallow tea is the only one that actually worked for me. It takes about a 1/4 cup of leaf to make 10oz of tea, I add the tea to the hot water, stir and let it sit for about 3 minutes, stir again then filter out. I did not have very good results with probiotic pills. If you can't find a yogurt that is lactose free then maybe you could research how to make your own. Buy lactose free milk then add a starter and incubate. I have a yogurt smoothie first thing every morning on an empty stomach so it makes it through to the intestinal area where it helps to keep bloating under control and helps to digest carbs. Let me know what you think.
sarah18411 john03683
Posted
Hi John,
I was really excited to read this post because I'm looking for natural ways to cure the lump in my throat. I read below and I saw that you mentioned you did not have the lump symptom, but I do see some other do and your solution may have worked for them as well. As an aside, I just joined this forum yesterday and made a post introducing myself. Here it is below, italicized.
Hi everyone. I'm brand new here. I have recently self-diagnosed myself with LPR and below is why.
My full-time job went out of business is September and therefore I lost my health insurance coverage. I have secured a new job (along with new insurance coverage) however I do not start until November 14. Hence why my condition is self-diagnosed.
Over the past few years I have dealt with bouts of heartburn/acid reflux but it was always fleeting. I'd feel a slight twinge or burning and then it would go away. On the worst days, I'd pop a few Tums and head to bed and then in the morning my symptoms were gone. Once in 2014 I had a particularly bad occurrence where I had a lump in my throat for just a couple days. The first day was awful and my manager actually had to bring me home from work. I wasn't sure what was wrong, but I knew I was having trouble breathing and couldn't swallow. I don't recall how long that symptom lasted but I don't think it was very long.
Fast forward to last week. On or about Wednesday the lump returned. I figured it would be as usual...go to bed, wake up, problem solved. But not this time. Here I am a week and a day later and the lump has not gone away.
I will shamefully admit that I am quite overweight. Obese, even. This is not news to me and I understand this will probably be the #1 cure to my problems. But I need something more immediate. A quicker fix that will allow for me to feel up to working out. A resolution for my "lump" so I feel capable of eating the right foods (as it is I haven't eaten anything in more than 24 hours because I'm afraid I'll feel like I'm choking).
In addition to the lump in my throat I have been having the feeling of post-nasal drip. It came on at about the same time as the lump and I initially thought I was getting sick so I started taking Tussin. I haven't been taking that regularly though because I don't think that's my issue. I have been having dry throat on and off, but after some research I started chewing cinnamon flavored gum and that seems to help with the dryness. Lastly, I have been burping a lot more than normal and haven't drank anything other than water in over a week.
I've tried multiple medicines over the last week. Of course Tums, but also Gaviscon extra strength, generic Mylanta, Ranitidine (generic Zantac) tablets, and Lansoprazole (generic Prevacid) 14-day course of treatment -- I'm currently on day 7.
I spoke to a few people about my situation, one in particular who has experienced it before. In addition to acknowledging that I need to lose weight, the general consensus is that the sudden onset of severe symptoms may be stress-induced. In addition to having lost my job last month, I also suffered the loss of my cat who I had since I was 9 years old. She lived to be 18 and prior to her death she was very ill. She died on September 30.
One thing that is very strange is that my symptoms seems to subside when I'm not actively thinking about them. For example, if I'm engaged in conversation about something else I completely forget about the lump in my throat. For that reason, I wonder how much if it is psychological. I do tend to be obsessive when it comes to these types of things so I'm sure my anxiety is not helping.
Please...any relief or advice you can provide. Please bear in my mind I'm currently in between jobs therefore no insurance to see a doctor about this. Let me know your thoughts. Thanks in advance!
I'd like to know if anyone else here has similar symptoms to mine and has tried to carbonated water/burping trick successfully. Immediately after reading this post I ran out to the store to buy some. I gave it a go first thing this morning and I did notice some relief after burping which was nice.
Any advice you guys have is welcome.
Jonathan57679 sarah18411
Posted
Hi Sarah: First of all I'm sorry to hear about the loss of your cat. We lost our favorite dog about 6 years ago and we still have a hard time looking at any of his photos or videos. We can really get attached to our pets.
Concerning your lump in the throat. There is a saying when a person is about to go on stage before a lot of people " They get a lump in their throat". So, some of this feeling can definitely be caused by anxiety. When I was at my worst, just a thought could cause my stomach to gush out acid.
Now for the mechanical part of it. You need to raise the head of your bed 8 inches right away. That allows gravity to work for you. I don't like a wedge because it can cause back aches.
Remember, the carbonated water is to help strengthen your esophageal sphincter. You need to hold down the burp for five minutes to start and work up to 20 minutes. 4 or 5 sessions per day to start. You will be surprised as to how quickly the sphincter strengthens.
It really sounds like you have silent reflux. This is when the stomach liquid goes up the esophagus and can enter the lungs, nasal pasages, even the ear canals.
A number of years ago I had an episode of reflux asperation. I woke up not breathing and could not exhale or inhale. Fortunately, I managed to cleared my airway. The incline of the bed can help prevent this.
Keep me updated as to your progress. John
jared2121 john03683
Posted
Where do you guys feel your burp being held? I feel like the air/gas goes all the way up to my adams apple (upper eso sphinter) and then i can hold it..... however I have no feeling of trying to hold down the carbination near the stomach, it's like it passes right thru the LES then is held up top... Do you guys literally feel the burp being held deep down near your chest? or is it being held up near the adams apple? I feel like this is proving my LES is fully eroded away...
Jonathan57679 jared2121
Posted
The air should be felt lower, in the stomach, at the bottom of the breastbone. There is a condition where the stomach acid does damage to the esophageal sphincter, called Barretts.
There are some doctors that are using laser to remove the damaged tissue so the sphincter can achieve a good seal. This condition usually does not get better on its own. You really need to see a specialist and get the information you need.
The carbonated water treatment will likely not help this condition. Keep me updated. John
nancy85328 john03683
Posted
What if u do this and you don't burp at all ? What does that mean?
stephan43946 nancy85328
Posted
at all? usually that means very low stomach acid. theres a test for it if you google around by using baking soda. im assuming the carb water has similar effect so if you dont burp from it i'd assume its the same result as not burping from baking soda but you should try it anyway to be sure. or maybe you got the wrong kind of carb water.