I have chronic Heartburn
I have chronic heartburn and dyspepsia, I have been taking an antacid for years. What can I do to reduce this and also how long does it take for supplements like digestive enzymes to have an effect?
Heartburn and dyspepsia are digestive complaints which may cause symptoms such as discomfort, pain, a burning sensation felt behind the breastbone of the upper chest, feelings of fullness or bloating, wind, constipation, diarrhoea, undigested food in the stools, intestinal cramps and nausea. Heartburn typically commences 30 to 60 minutes after eating and is caused by impaired gastric function.
Pepcid and Mylanta are antacids which decrease the amount of digestive acid produced in the stomach. Inhibiting the production of digestive enzymes in the stomach may initially take away the symptoms of your condition but this can also cause a worsening of the situation in the long term. Eventually the continued inhibition of the enzymes and acids produced will cause further digestive sluggishness and reflux and heartburn can get worse.
In regards to your question asking how long will it take to heal the digestive tract and re-correct digestive imbalances, each individual responds to therapies differently and therefore it is a matter of how your body works. Generally with digestive complaints it is slow going. But by following some of the suggestions below, your path to digestive harmony may be eased along the way. Slippery elm has been used successfully for heartburn complaints because it settles the stomach and coats the digestive system to protect it from acids and degradation.
The following may cause heartburn and dyspepsia:
- Helicobacter pylori infection.
- Recreational drugs and alcohol (ethanol) by relaxing the lower esophageal sphincter and decreasing peristaltic force.
- Excessive consumption of dietary fats by putting a strain on the gall bladder in its bile production, gall stones may also complicate the issue.
- Processed, rich and fatty foods.
- Chocolate by relaxing the lower esophageal sphincter.
- Reflux esophagitis (inflammation of the esophagus).
- Hypochlorhydria (insufficient production of Hydrochloric Acid).
- Inflammatory conditions of the bowels and stomach such as gastritis, Ulcerative Colitis, Crohnes Disease, Pancreatitis, peptic ulcers or colon/ stomach cancer.
- Eating too fast or eating large meals which compromise the digestive acids and cause fermentation of undigested foods.
- Allergies (wheat, sugar or dairy foods).
- Gall bladder insufficiency due to insufficient flow of bile from the liver to the gallbladder due to obstruction of the bile duct) due to the lack of Bile available for the digestion of Dietary Fats).
- Nervous indigestion may occur as the result of Stress that inhibits the flow of Gastric Juice and slows down peristalsis.
Some natural medicines that can aid Heart burn and Reflux:
- Aloe vera juice taken before foods is a gentle healer for the digestion and provides symptomatic relief for heartburn.
- Some herbs and spices may be helpful such as Cinnamon, Dill Seeds (two teaspoons of crushed Dill Seeds steeped in hot Water), Fennel tea, Chamomile tea, Peppermint tea and Ginger as a tea or in your cooking.
- Begin the day with a small glass of warm water with 1/2 a lemon squeezed into it. Lemon turns alkaline in the stomach and promotes good digestion and liver function as well as stimulating bile and cleansing the bowels.
- Gentian, Marshmallow, Globe Artichoke, Dandelion Root, St Marys Thistle, Golden Seal, Meadowsweet may help to prevent heartburn and dyspepsia also.
- Slippery Elm (1 teaspoon in a small glass of water 15 minutes before meals) may alleviate heartburn (by coating and soothing the irritated upper gastrontestinal tract).
- Cabbage and potato juices are an old folklore remedy to reduce reflux symptoms.
- Beetroot juice contains Betaine, Paw Paw contains Papain and Pineapple contains Bromelain which are all digestive enzymes to break down food properly. Make a vegetable juice with beetroot, carrot, celery and ginger or a smoothie with paw paw and banana or a fruit juice with pineapple, green apple and mint each day to promote digestion.
- Supplementing with digestive enzymes may alleviate heartburn (by facilitating the digestion of undigested food). The principal Digestive Enzymes used to treat reflux/ indigestion include:
Amylase (which digest Polysaccharides found in grains)
Cellulase (which digests Cellulose found in fruits and vegetables)
Lipases (which digest dietary Fats)
- Supplemental Pancreatic Enzymes are a useful as many people produce insufficient quantities of these. > - Proteolytic Enzymes (which digest dietary Proteins).