How I cured my acid reflux, naturally.

Diet change is one approach, but can be difficult for most people.  I would add organic only to vegetarian, because pesticides can add up and cause other issues.  However, vegetables can also cause additional gas, which pushes liquids up while sleeping.  Any reflux can be death dealing as it can be inhaled while sleeping.  Thus the carbonated water treatment cures the actual problem not just treats the symptoms, like acid blockers do.  John

Hi:

It sounds like you are doing the treatment correctly but different people have different issues.  If you have some scar tissue at the esophageal sphincter area, air could leak by the valve.  Any abnormality could cause the same leakage. If this is the case, you could take a tablespoon of olive oil before the treatment to improve the seal.  As the sphincter becomes stronger and the seal improves, the area could then begin to heal.

An alternate treatment is to drink 8 to 10 oz of regular water and then invert yourself.  You can invert on an inversion table or an inclined board.  Keep me posted, John

Hey..thanks for the reply! I had been carrying out your treatment and can feel immense difference in my condition. I used to have severe heartburn and had sleepless nights. Now I can sleep through the night easily. There is only occasional burning I feel though. And I still have acid in mouth when I wake up. I guess the amount of acid flowing up is lesser so lesser the burning but leaves the mouth acidic. I am only able to do it twice a day or sometimes just once ( as opposed to 4-5 times recommended by you) so may be it is taking me longer to see its effects. 

I have also been taking DGL tablets recently but haven't felt much difference.   

Also, I do feel burning in my stomach. I think I read something about this in your initial posts. Did you find any solution for it? Were you able to find relief?   

Extra virgin olive oil can help alot during the day.  Keep some nearby at all times and take a sip as often as needed.  You can't take too much and it also helps balance out cholesterol.  You have to be cautious as to any pills or medication you take.  They can quietly do damage to the stomach lining.  I got no relief from DGL. Natural vitamin E can also help heal the stomach.  No more than one per day. Open the capsule and slowly swallow the liquid.

You need to incline your bed at least 8 inches, 12 if possible.  That allows gravity to help at night.  Liquid malox can help prevent stomach burning.  It coats and protects and neutralizes acid.  But, you won't get acid revenge from using it.  Eventually your stomach will heal and the burning will subside. Do this first thing in the morning.

1. Drink a large glass of warmed water.

2. Make a yogurt smoothie in a blender with only vegetables or a banana.

3. 30 minutes later, Cottage cheese and some strawberries or mild low acid fruit.

Go vegetarian as much as possible and only eat shrimp, chicken or cottage cheese for protein.  They don't trigger much acid production.  No red meat or pork until you are fully healed. 

    Are you currently taking any PPi drugs?  If so,  You need to wean off slowly.  I did this by opening the capsules and over 2 months took fewer and fewer of the tiny time pills each week until I was completely off.

Keep me posted.  You can conquer this.  John

Sorry for the delay.  I thought I had sent you a reply.  Sometimes this website malfunctions and I lose my comment.

Anyway,you are taking a huge dose of PPI.  I'm not sue why.  The PPI drug can not really heal a hiatal hernia.  It basically stops acid production so the sensitive hernia area does not have acid in contact with it.  The old days treatment for a hiatal hernia was to drink 10 oz of water and then bounce up and down on a small trampoline to re position the stomach down where it belongs, below the diaphragm.  Also, 38cm can not be correct as that translates to 15 inches. 

I am not a doctor so it's up to you to decide to try my carbonated water treatment.  I have never heard of anyone being injured by drinking a soda, have you?

You can start with a small amount of carbonated water, like 4 oz, hold the burp down for 5 minutes and see if it causes too much discomfort. Then burp it out.  If you feel okay, then you could add 1 oz each week up to 8 oz and add 5 minutes each week to each session.  This should be done 4 or 5 times a day to get results,-work up slowly to 20 minute sessions.

Let me know how it goes. John

You must take ACV only if you have low stomach acid. Omeprazole is a PPI which lowers stomach acid. Domperidome is a Prokinetic drug which empties gastric contents faster and temporarily tightens the spincter muscle.

Hi Donna:

There are many things that can cause digestive pain and make a person miserable.  Some of us are just programmed to have bad bacteria in the intestinal tract.  That can cause bloating and gas to form.  That gas can cause pressure while we sleep forcing acid up the esophagus and causing a chemical burn in the esophagus.  When you drink carbonated water, does the gas just come out?  Do you burp involuntarily? The esophageal sphincter is designed to stay shut all the time unless food or water passes by.  It is both a voluntary and involuntary muscle. Perhaps you know someone who can force air into their stomach and then make a very long burp.  In order to strengthen this muscle a person needs to exercise it.  When you take an acid blocker it just stops the stomach from making acid, then the stomach contents just slosh up the esophagus but it does not burn.  But, it is dangerous to have liquid coming up the esophagus when we sleep.  One night long ago I woke up not breathing.  I did not know what was happening.  I could not inhale or exhale.  Finally, after struggling I was able to clear my airway.  But, that close call make me realize that acid reflux is life threatening.  After doing a lot of research I came up with my carbonated water treatment.  It involves drinking 6 oz of carbonated water and then just sitting for the pressure to form in the stomach.  You need to focus on this, not doing anything else. If no pressure forms, then it could indicate a defect in the sphincter area,  If you swallow a teaspoon of olive oil first, it can help to form a better seal.  Just start off slowly and hold the burp down in the stomach for 5 minutes.  Let me know what happens.

Hi Jonathan,

do you realize that the esophagus is a smooth muscle and cannot be trained or strengthen like your regular skeletal muscles? It doesn't work the same way and smooth muscles movements are involountary. Don't really know how's that supposed to work, you might as well try to stop or change your heartbeat. Have you done any tests, like endoscopy, since you got better? Do you have any proof, except for the fact that you just FEEL better, that it works? Maybe your retirement  have helped you more than your treatment (it seems that now you have less stress in your life).

Best regards,

Mac

Hi Mac:

I understand what you're implying.  However, I believe that the LES is both voluntary and involuntary.  Otherwise, a person could not burp on command like many kids do.  I know I can do it.  As far as the question: Can the LES be strengthened?  I also believe it is, Yes.  If a person has a weak heart, his doctor may suggest walking or jogging or aerobics to force the heart to beat faster so that it becomes stronger.  You know that.  By drinking carbonated water the LES involuntarily closes when it senses the pressure.  The esophagus is, in fact, lined with sensors, otherwise, we would constantly choke every time we drink or eat.   The real training of the LES occurs when a person deliberately holds back the burp that wants to come out.  In fact, it may cause some discomfort at first, because the sphincter is weak.  But, the more a person does this exercise the easier it becomes and the longer they can hold down the burp.  Likely, you have some soda pop or carbonated water at your home.  Give it a try.  Drink 8oz of it, but don't burp.  You will find that indeed, you can control it. 

And even though retirement did reduce my stress level.  I continued to suffer for 12 to 18 months until I did the carbonated water treatment.  I can now hold down the burp for 20 minutes or more.. And, I can sleep on a flat bed.  Whereas previously, I had to sleep on a wedge.    John