GERD and holistic/natural approaches?

Hello,

I'm wondering if anyone has had success using holistic/natural/alternative approaches to healing GERD. I've had it on and off since 2015, but it worsened about 8 months ago. Had an upper endoscopy 2 years ago, which only showed esophagitis and irritation - it has gotten worse since then. I have tried several PPIs - pantoprazole in the past, then Nexium, Dexilant (what a rip-off for me), and now Lansoprazole/Prevacid 30 mg twice a day. I am still having symptoms - I have a consistent pain and feeling of irritation in my chest, to the left of what I imagine is my esophagus (heart problems have been ruled out) and also, what I can only describe as aspiration. The PPIs have helped the burning in my chest, but not completely eliminated the aspiration symptoms. Also, I get a burning sensation in my stomach with only one sip of beer or a couple slices of tomato. I don't get it. Aren't the PPIs supposed to help heal your esophagus and stomach??

I also suffer from anxiety and depression. Last year, I started having panic attacks, but those have since subsided. I try to control my anxiety/depression with exercise and meditation, as well as therapy. I have a lot of difficulty sustaining a consistent exercise and meditation routine. Overall, the anxiety is better, but not 100% eliminated. The GI doc has told me what I have is "neuro-GERD" or something to that effect. I would greatly appreciate any help or suggestions. I saw one holistic practitioner who told me GERD is associated with a sulfur-processing problem. (???) I am so sick of getting the run-around and shoulder-shrug from my doctors, and keep thinking if only I can sustain x y or z, I can avoid more drastic medical interventions.
PS - I'm only 34.

Thank you in advance for any input!

Hi Susie

Thanks for your reply. The holistic person I saw is a nutritionist and she's the one who told me about the sulfur issue. She put me on an extremely restrictive food elimination plan for 3 months based on my health history (which included several other issues beyond gerd) and also added supplements. I'm 50-50 on nutrition/holistic-based approaches versus western medicine. I've had awful experiences with doctors, but also fear that I was ripped off by the nutritionist. I am just so frustrated and don't know what to think or do anymore. No doubt these issues are worsening my depression and anxiety, too.

Susie understands. Fad diets, fake medical advice and procedures are not going to cure GERD. The wrong PPIs for you aren't going to help either.

Over many years I saw all the practitioners, real and not. I tried 4 PPIs before finding one that helped me reduce acid. I tried a bunch of diets. Finally I had an idea that I might have a food trigger, after getting bad reactions from my homemade wine that I had sulfited for the first time. I went to an ALLERGIST (after trying 2 others who said I had no intolerances) who got me started keeping the food journal, and that was the beginning of being able to live comfortably even with a leaking LES. I still needed to keep my stomach non-acid because of the bad valve, but had no more reflux "events."

Some natural practitioners and very few nutritionists have heard of sulfite intolerance. But that is not the only thing that can trigger refluxing after eating. I have no trouble with tomatoes. They belong to a different group than my intolerance, solanaceae, which includes potatoes, which are not necessarily your chemical problem. But the problem might be salicylates or another chemical or more than one chemical.

An interesting article: www.foodsmatter.com/allergy_intolerance/salicylate/articles/salintol.html

You have to figure out your own food intolerances. Look up "food journal" in the search box at the top of the page! It's free and easy!!

Hi Honeybee: I have a hiatal hernia and GERD. Been dealing with this for 16 yrs. I would LOVE to get to the root of the problem and so, I've done a bit of research. I really haven't tried this myself but, ZINC is supposed to get to the root of the issue with GERD and heal it. Medications do help in the short term but not in the long term. I truly believe that we get GERD because we are lacking in certain enzymes and/or vitamins and minerals. Food allergies and metabolism also contribute to this.

I'm not certain about the hiatal hernia. I'm also not certain how much ZINC to take or how often to take it. There's supposed to be some sort of methodology to lower your meds while taking the ZINC and eventually going off of them. Supposedly, people get GERD because of a lack of ZINC. Once I recover from my latest bout of GERD, I may try this because I'm tired of revisiting my issues and being on meds. The anxiety and panic attacks are getting old as well.

I don't remember the website I found this on but, go out on the internet and just punch in The Use of Zinc for Natural Treatment of GERD. There are several Naturopathic websites that should come up. I am also planning to go onto a Diet for GERD. Giving up Dairy, Caffeine, Sugar, Alcohol and Fats will help considerably. There is a really good book called: The Easy Acid Reflux Cookbook by Karen Frazier. I would recommend it. Hope all goes well!!!