Ginger Herb Works Miracles For Acid Reflux
One of the hardest things about being diagnosed with GERD is to find a consistent treatment that works. You have probably tried all kinds of treatments. Yes, the treatments always work for a little bit, and then they stop working.
The majority of GERD sufferers take proton pump inhibitors. However, these medications do not work for everyone. Also, proton pump inhibitors have side effects.
Millions of people suffer debilitating symptoms from GERD. There are holistic and natural remedies that people use to help manage the symptoms of GERD. I will explain all about the different home remedies that are effective for GERD or acid reflux.
What is GERD?
Acid reflux or GERD is a burning pain! Gastroesophageal reflux disorder or GERD is a very common disorder affecting almost 10-20% of the population. GERD presents with typical and atypical symptoms.
GERD is defined as the abnormal reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus. These contents are acidic, and they cause damage to the mucosa or lining of the esophagus.
Some people are not familiar with the name ” GERD”. Heartburn and acid reflux have been
renamed as “GERD”.
There are serious complications that can occur if GERD is not treated.
Symptoms of GERD or Acid Reflux
There are typical and non-typical symptoms of GERD. Some of the symptoms can mimic heart attack symptoms. This is because the nerves that go to the stomach also go to the heart.
In fact, there are many emergency room visits because of GERD symptoms. The symptoms are:
- Epigastric fullness
- Epigastric pressure
- Nausea and bloating
- Belching
- A chronic cough
- Wheezing
- Hoarseness
- A sore throat
- Asthma
- Dental problems
- Chest pain
- Left shoulder pain
- Neck pain
- Ear fullness
- Palpitations
- Gastroparesis
Ginger Herb Works Miracles For Acid Reflux
Ginger has been used for hundreds of years throughout the world for the relief of GERD symptoms.
Ginger (Zingiber officinale) has been used to treat a number of medical conditions, including those affecting the digestive tract such as acid indigestion, gas, nausea, and abdominal pain. However, the reasons that ginger is effective is not well understood.
Research has shown that gastrointestinal motility is enhanced by ginger and its active constituents, but they did not measure gastric emptying. Ginger accelerates gastric emptying of a low-nutrient liquid in healthy volunteers.
My Experiences With Ginger and Acid Reflux
I am a registered nurse in a big “medical city”.You would think that I have the best GERD care available.
I have had GERD symptoms for over 23 years. I have taken every medication known to treat GERD. All of the medications would work for about 2 weeks. Some of them would not work at all.
The proton pump inhibitors was a game-changer. However, I took PPI’s for 6 months and they stopped working. In fact, the manufacturer states that proton pump inhibitors are only to be used for 2 weeks at a time maximum.
Research has now shown that long-term proton pump inhibitors cause low magnesium and low B12. Both of these nutrients are crucial for the proper health of the human body. Years ago I started to look for alternative treatment.
I came across ginger after reading about it in the Garden of Eden book. I was looking for natural remedies or holistic remedies for acid reflux. This guide stated several natural remedies to treat acid reflux. However, I chose to try the ginger.
I went to the store and bought a piece of real ginger. I have also found that high-quality Ginger tea works just as well. Here is the ginger tea recipe that I use:
- .Cut off about 2 inches of Ginger root Cut the ginger root into thin slices Add the ginger slices to about 12 ounces of water Bring the water to a boil for about 10 minutes Let the tea cool and throw away the ginger pieces Enjoy the tea and get ready for fast relief of stomach problems! I do not add any sugar to the tea
I have used ginger for over 20 years for acid reflux relief. The ginger for unknown reasons has the capacity to decrease stomach acid. Ginger has been my go-to relief for my chronic acid reflux. Below, I will discuss some of the risks of acid reflux.
What Is The Root Cause of Acid Reflux?
There are some known risks for acid reflux, and some cases have unknown reasons. I truly believe mine was due to antibiotic use and dietary deficiencies. I also had my gallbladder removed.
The removal of the gallbladder causes of sorts of problems. You see, bile helps to absorb nutrients. When you don’t have a gallbladder, it is difficult to absorb the fat-soluble vitamins. These vitamins are crucial to gastric health.
Vitamins A, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, and Vitamin K levels have to be monitored with the removal of the gallbladder. Low B12 also tends to be low when people have their gallbladder removed.
Medications
There are actually some medications that can cause GERD. These medications are:
- Antibiotics, such as tetracycline
- Bisphosphonates are taken orally, such as alendronate (Fosamax), ibandronate (Boniva) and risedronate (Actonel)
- Iron supplements
- Quinidine
- Pain relievers, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and aspirin
- Potassium supplements
- Anticholinergics, such as oxybutynin (Ditropan XL), prescribed for overactive bladder and irritable bowel syndrome
- Tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline, doxepin, others)
- Calcium channel blockers and nitrates used for high blood pressure and heart disease
- Narcotics (opioids), such as codeine, and those containing hydrocodone and acetaminophen (Lortab, Norco, Vicodin)
- Progesterone
- Quinidine
- Sedatives or tranquilizers, including benzodiazepines such as diazepam (Valium) and temazepam (Restoril)
- Theophylline (Elixophyllin, Theochron)
Referenced from Mayo Clinic
Other Holistic and Natural Remedies for Acid Reflux
This ginger gum is also effective for nausea and morning sickness. This Sea-Band ginger gum utilizes ginger to provide a drug-free option for relief of nausea due to travel, morning sickness, and post-operative or chemotherapy-induced nausea.
Although ginger has always worked the best for me, I have used Braggs Apple Cider vinegar with good results. Certified Organic Bragg Organic Raw Apple Cider Vinegar is unfiltered, unheated, unpasteurized and 5% acidity, and contains the amazing Mother of Vinegar.
I would not buy the ginger candy because it has sugar and preservatives in it. Some preservatives aggravate acid reflux. x.
I have also used honey with good results for acid reflux.
Ways to Avoid Acid Reflux Symptoms
- Don’t eat and then lie down immediately after
2. Sleep with an elevated pillow such as this one.
3. Lose Weight- excess weight pushes up the stomach into the esophagus area
4. Don’t overeat because the excess stomach contents put pressure on the esophagus.
GERD in Children
Up to 7% of children and 8% of adolescents suffer from GERD or gastroesophageal reflux. Up to 70% of
children with acid reflux. A case study was done on an 11 yo girl to present to the emergency room with abdominal pain and chronic nausea for one month.
The child was given the usual medications that are used to treat acid reflux such as Protonix and Pepcid, but it did not help.
The child’s diet included cereal and toast pops for breakfast. Lunch consisted of pizza, spaghetti, chicken nuggets, or a sandwich. Dinner, according to her parents consisted of “organic, healthy food”.
In healthy volunteers, ginger root improved gastric emptying and motility in both the fasting and fed state.
Dose for Children
The recommended dose ranges from 1 g to 1.5 g of the dried herb per day, with administration typically 30 min to 1 h before a meal.
Side Effects
Side effects are reported when doses exceed 5 g/day and include heartburn, abdominal discomfort, and diarrhea.
Conclusion
We have discussed many ways to help prevent acid reflux and to treat acid reflux naturally. Acid reflux can be disruptive because of the symptoms. There is also evidence that ginger is effective in treating gastric disorders.
References:
Updated 3/17/2019
In order to be effective for acid reflux, ginger can be consumed raw. You can also use ginger tea or ginger capsules. Ginger tea is made by taking a quarter size of ginger and placing in in 8 ounces of water. Boil the tea for 10 minutes and let it cool down.
Phyllis Robinson MSN, RN is a Registered Nurse of 27 years. Phyllis is passionate about the prevention and healing of heart disease using traditional and alternative methods. She has experience in emergency room, telemetry, infusion, and critical care. Phyllis currently practices in an intensive care unit.
