Treating Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) Naturally

“Natural treatments offer an empowering path so you can take control of your digestive well-being and enhance your overall quality of life without side effects.”

In Canada 1 in 6 will have GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), a condition, in which the stomach contents, be they food or liquid, leak backwards from the stomach into the oesophagus. This action causes irritation in the oesophagus, resulting in heartburn and other symptoms.

The non-prescription and prescription medicines

Interestingly, medical science states there are no treatments for this particular condition or disease—strangely enough, the conditions with no treatment are the ones affecting the most people and having the highest sales for prescription drugs. According to the Mayo Clinic website, “none [of the alternative medicine therapies] have been proved to treat GERD or reverse damage to the esophagus,”[1] which is a rather odd statement given the existence of studies showing otherwise. The suggested treatment options (including non-prescription medicines to neutralize stomach acid, reduce or block acid production but also prescription-strength proton pump inhibitors or prescription-strength H-2 blockers) are not helping, yet most people suffering take Tums antacids or coat their stomach with Pepto-Bismol, which simply mask the issue until next time you take them, or choose to take drugs. That is where the money is, and the medical system gets behind.

According to the statistics of the Canadian Digestive Health Foundation, “[p]roton pump inhibitors are one of the most common drugs prescribed in Canada. In 2012, there were more than 11 million prescriptions dispensed nationwide. In 2017, spending on proton pump inhibitors by public drug programs totaled $198.2 million in Canada, ranking the drug seventh in terms of public drug program spending. A Canadian study estimated that patients with GERD lose 16% of their work time due to their symptoms.”[2]

Similarly, in the U.S., “pharmaceutical behemoths rake in nearly 14 billion dollars annually from the sale of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). However, long-term use of acid blocking drugs can impair nutrient absorption and may lead to deficiencies with dangerous consequences. For example, chronic, high-dose therapy with proton pump inhibitors and histamine-2 receptor blockers can significantly increase the risk of hip fracture.”[3]

Natural treatments

If GERD is left untreated, the consequences can be quite startling but what should one do if the medication does more harm than good? Of course, diet is critical, there are food groups that should be avoided e.g. acidic foods and beverages, fatty, fried and spicy foods but also caffeine and alcohol. When you delve a little deeper, you will also discover there are natural treatments for treating GERD—melatonin has been proven to be extremely effective in treating GERD because the gut provides approximately 95% of total body serotonin. The connection between melatonin, serotonin, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) involves the gut-brain axis[4], the enteric nervous system (ENS), and their roles in regulating gut motility, inflammation, and the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). The gut produces serotonin, which is a precursor to melatonin. While melatonin has protective effects on the digestive system, particularly the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and esophageal lining, serotonin imbalances in the gut can contribute to GERD symptoms by affecting gut motility, LES tone, and acid production. Melatonin supplementation can help treat GERD by improving LES function, reducing acid secretion, and protecting the esophagus from acid damage.

Research[5] has shown that at doses of about 6 mg of melatonin taken at bedtime, GERD symptoms could be managed with little to no side effects for most. The melatonin should preferably be USP grade Flamma Melapure Melatonin produced from the amino acid L-Tryptophan and not from unknown animal sources. In addition, probiotics such as the blend in Laktokhan should also be added. According to a study, “[t]aking probiotics reduces the incidence of gut microbial dysbiosis in children receiving PPI treatment. Additionally, probiotics can significantly reduce the frequency of reflux, promote gastric emptying, and improve reflux symptoms in infants.[6]

In a single-blind, randomized study of patients with GERD, a supplement containing 6 mg of melatonin was compared with 20 mg of omeprazole (prescription drug used to treat gastric and duodenal ulcers, erosive esophagitis, and GERD). “All patients reported a complete regression of symptoms (i.e., heartburn, regurgitation, belching, early satiety, bloating, nausea, and vomiting) following treatment with the supplement for 40 days, compared with 65.7% of patients receiving omeprazole 20 mg (P < 0.05). At the end of the treatment period, 100% of these melatonin patients reported a complete regression of symptoms. The finding of this study of GERD with heartburn as a symptom is comparable to the current study of functional heartburn in that both patient groups were concomitantly treated with omeprazole and melatonin 6 mg.”[7]

Life Choice GERD Protocol

The Life Choice GERD protocol would be one Laktokhan 30 minutes before breakfast and one mid afternoon, two hours after eating your last meal. One hour before bed take 6 mg (2×3 mg capsules) of Melapure Melatonin with water. It is important to have the right balance of nutrients on a daily bases. It is nearly impossible to cover your essential vitamin needs from the average diet, so it is highly recommended to take Next Generation Super Multi Vitamin. In fact, a 2006 study of 300 heartburn patients found that patients achieved better relief using six milligrams of melatonin plus vitamins (B6, folic acid, vitamin B12, methionine and betaine) at bedtime compared to those using 20 milligrams of a proton pump inhibitor. Of the 175 patients using the melatonin and vitamin mix, 100 percent achieved a complete eradication of symptoms within 40 days.”[8]

Treating GERD naturally involves a holistic approach that addresses both lifestyle and dietary habits to promote digestive health. By focusing on reducing triggers such as fatty foods, caffeine, and acidic beverages, while incorporating gut-friendly practices like mindful eating, stress management, and natural supplements such as melatonin, individuals can experience significant relief from GERD symptoms. Natural treatments offer an empowering path so you can take control of your digestive well-being and enhance your overall quality of life without side effects.

References:

[1] Mayo Clinic. 2024.

[2] Canadian Digestive Health Foundation. n.a.

[3] Williams, Maureen – Sandhause, Shayna. 2021.

[4] Appleton, Jeremy. 2018.

[5] Kandil, Tharwat S et al. 2010.

[6] Liu Wenjun et al. 2022.

[7] Basu, Patrick P et al. 2014.

[8] Barron, Jon. 2018.