Chinese Medicine for GERD
GERD aka acid reflux has become a popular topic due to our high anxiety, food-gulping and sedentary lifestyles. What is it? Put simply it happens when a small valve on top of the stomach relaxes and releases stomach acid back up into the throat. It may burn, feel like a lump in the throat, cause a bitter taste or acidic regurgitation in the mouth. Not happy for digestion, energy and immunity. When ignored it usually becomes worse and can even lead to shortness of breath, insomnia, pain and throat cancer. From a TCM perspective it is the result of the stomach energy and meridian flowing the wrong way— going up instead of down to the intestines.
How to Fix it?
Most Western medical doctors advise to avoid eating a heavy meal before bed, but given the variable results from such vague advice, they often prescribe drugs that may stop GERD temporarily but endanger the integrity of our bones. Or may even result in the body producing more burning stomach acid. It is neither a natural nor sure or safe choice.
TCM observes the flow of energy, (Qi) its volume, direction, character and capacity to do harm or heal. If stomach acid and energy flow upward, we have nausea and/or GERD. It is the wrong direction. As simple as that. To close the lid over the stomach tube, energy has to flow downward not upward. Most acupuncture treatments direct the quantity and direction of Qi flow. It makes so much sense that we ignore it, burp and swallow anti-acid pills or worse.
To Reduce acid burn, eat Less acid. That is the general dietary approach shared by western doctors. That works up to a point but is not enough to make a change.
Foods to Avoid
Acidic foods can aggravate GERD: orange, tomato, hot spice, coffee, alcohol. We need stomach acid to digest foods, but excess acid foods, especially late at night interferes with digestion and sleep. Some allergies such as a dairy allergy also provokes a strong reaction creating tension in the digestive area.. our abdomen and gut.
Foods to Add
Adding healthy green foods can improve overall acidity that affects digestion, joint comfort, breathing and stress reduction. Not all greens are the same. Excess uric acid eventually makes stones and provokes gout. Uric acid is increased by some healthy foods like spinach, beans and legumes. So cooking spinach reduces oxalates and soaking beans and legumes overnight, parboiling in water and adding baking soda can reduce gas and acidity.
Ginger is considered a hero in GERD treatment. Try it if you find yourself choking and burping after eating. Slice a piece of raw ginger and suck it or make a ginger tea. Avoid excess use if it feels too inflammatory. Ginger works by correcting nausea, morning sickness and car sickness, by getting the flow of food and acids down into the stomach, not up your throat.
Delightful, Healthy Ginger Teas
Wing hop fung specializes in teas. Warm Chinese tea can improve digestion and weight loss by increasing metabolism and reducing dietary fat absorption in the gut.
We also know that ginger improves digestion by supplying necessary enzymes, and it builds stomach Qi.
PuErh contains a safe natural statin, which may reduce fatty liver and improve heart health. Many people enjoy Pu’Erh as a coffee substitute for its rich flavor and slimming effects. It helps reduce bloating and gas. Sip warm Pu’Erh slowly one half hour after a meal or in the afternoon or anytime.
Oolong is exciting, brisk, energizing, slimming and heart healthy. It can be used alone or packed into dried citrus fruit. Delicious.
Green tea with lemon is recommended for heart and kidney health. The combination is cleansing and digestive. It can be used as a laxative tea to ensure the smooth flow of digestion and reduce GERD.
Relax, enjoy your delicious tea, the steam aroma, the color and the energy it gives you.
