Many people experience heartburn and acid reflux from time to time. This happens when the acid from the stomach is washed back into the esophagus. When this tendency to have heartburn becomes chronic, and your doctor finds signs of erosion in the esophagus, this is an indicator of GERD or gastroesophageal reflux disease. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can be very helpful in treating GERD and chronic heartburn cases.
Chronic digestive disorders and heartburn are often the result of poor nutrition, stress and nervous tension. Acupuncture is very soothing and balances the nervous system. The specific systems of meridians that are being treated are the liver, the stomach, and the spleen-pancreas. The points associated with these organs and meridians are used to calm the production of acid and increase the efficiency of the digestive system. Glasses that relieve stress are also included for the treatment and treatment of the nervous system.
Commonly used acupuncture points for treating heartburn and dyspepsia with acid are Ren 12, Liver 3, Liver 14 and Pericardium 6. These points can alleviate the stress and feeling of stuffiness associated with GERD.
From the point of view of Chinese medicine, chronic heartburn is often the result of the Liver falling on the spleen and stomach, which can produce heat (acidity and inflammation). One of the most commonly used formulas for this disharmony is Free and Easy Wanderer Plus (Jia Wei Xiao Yao San). This remedy has the potential to alleviate digestive discomfort, as well as to eliminate anxiety, stress and nervous tension. This is a very common medicine, and it can address a number of complaints at once, if the formula is based on the person’s tongue and pulse.
Another good remedy for acid indigestion and heartburn is homeopathic nux vomica 200c. Homeopathy works well in combination with acupuncture and herbs for those who are open to it.
If you have chronic heartburn, it is also important to look at your diet and lifestyle. Really rich, fatty foods that are difficult to digest can aggravate the condition. In Chinese medicine, we also suggest reducing the consumption of milk and dairy products. While milk can temporarily relieve the symptoms of heartburn, in the long run, we believe that dairy products clog the digestive system and cause more problems than they solve. Drinking coffee or excessive amounts of alcohol can also aggravate GERD. Spicy foods can also be a problem for people who tend to have more heartburn.
Usually, with acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, people see a significant and satisfactory improvement in their tension in order to have heartburn and acid indigestion during four to six week sessions.
