When Digestion Hurts!

This web site is replete with information about the mind body connection and our health, or the lack of it. In my opinion, based on seven years of research and experience, more dis-ease can be associated with stress based issues than any other of the traditional causes, i.e. virus, bacteria, environment, heredity, etc. This is particularly true of functional diseases like GERD, hypertension, migraines, etc. No pathological "bug" in these cases can be placed under the scrutiny of a microscope, but the dis-ease exists.

Consider the centuries old mind body sayings: "That really sticks in my craw!" "That's hard to stomach." "That's pretty difficult to swallow." "He had to vent his spleen." "It scares the crap out of me." "He's holding on, he can't let go (constipation)" There are more, and they all have to do with our feelings and digestion. Our fear and anxiety with life, our conflicts while in this body, can all have a blocking affect on our digestive process.

I talk with fellow cancer patients all of the time. As I've reported many other times in these essays we all have two problems. First, we have the disease with no defined cause and no known foolproof cure, and we also have the problem of what to do about it. These are two separate things, neither come with a manual.

Issues of the unknown, fear, doubt, anger, confusion and more become new friends. It is the point of this essay to suggest that all of this often becomes a new medical condition to deal with in addition to the original PCa diagnosis. In my case these new issues actually became more urgent.

When your body begins to poison itself

Acid reflux or GERD is a problem that many people face on a daily basis. Although everyone has some natural reflux, a person with acid reflux actually experiences a burning, painful sensation as the stomach liquids back up into the esophagus. This can be an uncomfortable and even serious medical problem. In most cases, the symptoms of acid reflux are painful and uncomfortable but not seriously damaging to a person’s health. These types of symptoms are referred to as “uncomplicated” acid reflux. The three most common symptoms are nausea, regurgitation, and heartburn. People with acid reflux also report suffering from nausea. In fact, nausea, as a result of acid reflux, is so common that when a person experiences nausea with no apparent cause, a doctor usually suspects acid reflux as the culprit.

Equally as common as nausea occurring from acid reflux is regurgitation. Regurgitation occurs when refluxed liquid actually backs up into the mouth. Sometimes, this liquid can contain food. When a patient regurgitates, they often experience a burning sensation as refluxed liquid and food bypass the UES (upper esophageal sphincter) and make their way into the mouth. This burning is often accompanied by an awful, acidic taste. If a patient continues to experience regurgitation, it can actually cause damage to their teeth as the acidic substance erodes the enamel that encases each tooth. This is a serious side affect that is non-reversable.

Probably the most common reported complaint of acid reflux patients is the presence
of heartburn. This is usually characterized as a searing pain in the chest. It can either begin in your upper abdomen or actually travel up to your neck. For some people, this can be a cause for alarm. In fact, many people have mistaken painful acid reflux for a heart attack. Heartburn is especially prevalent after eating large meals. Although heartburn usually goes away, the bad news is that it is usually a lifelong problem that will eventually return. Once it starts you generally have it to deal with the rest of your life. So take it seriously if it starts.

Although most forms of acid reflux do not pose serious health risks, there are
complications that can occur from acid reflux. One of the most common complications comes in the form of ulcers. If the liquid from the stomach that refluxes, damages the lining of the esophagus, inflammation can occur. If the damage is deep enough, an ulcer can actually form. Scar tissue can form a “stricture” which can cause food to get lodged or stuck in the esophagus.

Another complication that can arise from acid reflux is Barrett’s Esophagus. If a person has severe acid reflux, this causes changes to the cells that surround and line the esophagus. These can turn pre-cancerous and even evolve into cancer cells. There are many other complications that sometimes occur as a result of acid reflux. Asthma and coughs can be intensified or sparked by acid reflux. The same is true of inflammation of the throat, larynx, or lungs. A person can also experience fluid in his sinuses or middle ears. I have suffered all of these.

Fortunately, there are a variety of effective home remedies for acid reflux. If properly handled, it is a highly treatable condition. If left unattended, you risk the possibility of causing irreparable damage to your body. Prescription drugs generally do not provide a cure nor long term relief. But they make a fortune for the manufacturer as this is such a huge health disorder in modern society.

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Some Solutions Within Reach

One of the best ways to deal with acid reflux disorder is by making lifestyle changes. The foods that you consume can have a real affect on your acid reflux symptoms. The good news is there are many foods that you can incorporate into your diet to relieve acid reflux pain.

One of the better remedies is a tea made from anise (licorice), peppermint and lavender - this combination is soothing and reduces the acidic content of your stomach. The mixture can be made with a bit of honey to make it a bit tastier. Anise helps your digestion while peppermint calms heartburn and gas. Lavender is a soothing body aid that also reduces stomach acid.

Certain fruits can help with acid reflux disease because of enzymes that aid digestion. Try eating a papaya or a pineapple. Papaya helps aid in digestion and pineapple reduces inflammation (contains Bromelain), and this high enzyme content in pineapple can help stop acid reflux. For people that don’t care for pineapple or papayas, chicory root is a great alternative. Boil it in water, allow it to cool, and drink it as a soothing tea. Another way to ward off acid reflux symptoms is to eat more salads (raw foods). Incorporating a salad into your daily meal plan is a great way to reduce the painful symptoms of acid reflux. Best of all, salads are healthy, containing nutrients your body needs to flourish. However, there are some people who can’t tolerate excess amounts of salad dressings so there maybe an element of trial and error here.

We are all individual chemistry sets. Because of this I do not subscribe to set lists of good foods and bad foods to eat. In fact, in my case, I find that if my emotion state is unsettled for whatever reason, during that episode there are no good foods for me to eat. My system turns it all into poison. Abstinence is my best solution in those moments. I also find the reverse to be true. When I am at peace there are no bad foods to eat, I seem to be able to process anything then. It is the task of each of us to find these living formulae that work.

Having said all of that however, there are some guidelines, chemically speaking, regarding acidic and alkaline foods. These food lists are everywhere and easy to find.

Coffee, for example, seems to be an irritant, but not because of the caffeine. There is evidence now that some element of the coffee bean itself irritates the esophagus. In the condition known as IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) it also seems to upset the bowel lining, like an allergy. In my case I've found that I can enjoy coffee in the morning, when I want it most, but after lunch I need to abstain. I switch over to Yerba Mate tea or green tea. Drinking any liquid with a meal is something to watch. There is advice to avoid this as it dilutes the stomach acid that is trying to digest your food. It is also suggested by the experienced with this problem that five or six small meals per days is better for you that the traditional three large meals. Once afflicted you simply have to find your way through these solutions.

If you are a smoker, breaking the habit could cut down on acid reflux symptoms.

Make sure to sleep with your upper body elevated. Sleeping at an angle that works in conjunction with gravity allows your stomach acids to properly travel to your stomach right where they belong. At night most of our GERD problems flair up. We often sleep with our mouth open. If the reflux is leaking we breath the fumes into our throat, lungs, ears and mouth. This really underscores the value of this solution.

Try elevating the head of your bed with a foam wedge as a natural means of controlling your acid reflux. It raises your thorax sleeping position giving you healthier, safer and more natural night-time relief from the symptoms of GERD and acid reflux. This is based on the simple principle of gravity. If you can keep the stomach acid IN the stomach it does far less damage. In my case this simple solution alleviated the majority of symptoms in my throat and ears.

I've illustrated herein some simple remedies for this potentially serious side affect to modern living. We may be "what we eat," but we can certainly suffer from what we don't digest well. The affect of our lives can be totally consuming if we don't pay attention.