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The Myth of Heartburn

We’ve been told for so long by the media and some traditional medical practitioners that we have acid indigestion, acid reflux, or heartburn due to an EXCESS of stomach acid, that we all actually believe it. When in reality, it’s more likely a DEFICIENCY of acid. Indigestion is often caused by a lack of hydrochloric acid and/or a lack of pancreatic enzymes, which can also cause a burning sensation as well as bloating when acidic foods are digested.

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Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) are a group of drugs whose main action is a pronounced and long-lasting reduction of gastric acid production, up to 99% in most cases! This can irreversibly block the enzyme system of the gastric parietal cells. The most common proton pump inhibitors are Prilosec, Prevacid, and Nexium but there are more, Losec, Zegerid, ocid, Lomac, Omepral, Omez, Zoton, Monolitum, Inhibitol, Levant, Lupizole, Esotrex, esso, the list goes on. Let’s face it, pharmaceuticals is a big industry and their TV commercials tell us what the problem is and then tell us that “this or that” drug can fix it, right? Yet nearly 90% of those diagnosed with too much stomach acid, actually produce too little acid or a condition called hypochlorhydria.

It is not surprising that antacids and other medications like proton pump inhibitors don’t ever solve the problem and usually are the cause of further malnutrition issues later. The good news is that once this drug is cleared from the system the detrimental effect can be reversed and healthy gastric function can be restored. When you understand what is really happening in the body then you can make an informed decision for yourself when faced with acid reflux or heartburn symptoms.

Let’s examine the basics of digestion for a moment. I’ll try to keep it simple. When we eat a meal, our stomach is supposed to produce a strong acid response to begin the digestive process of food, especially proteins like cooked meat. It takes a lot of stomach acid to breakdown cooked meat, and the more cooked it is, the more acid is needed. When there is too little acid, food sits in the stomach too long undigested, and begins to ferment or rot. So, it’s actually the fermenting and rotting process that causes the feeling of acid indigestion, reflux and irritation to the entire gastrointestinal lining.

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Okay, so if and when there is enough acid in our stomach, it calls on the small intestine to open up a valve and receive the stomach contents to begin the next phase of digestion. When that signal is too weak, the contents may try to escape in the opposite direction, causing symptoms of acid reflux. Antacids diminish the symptoms AND make the problem worse, kind of like putting duct tape over the oil light in your car, thinking you fixed it. But we really know better and we can really do better for a healthy body.

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To recap, antacids and acid blockers like Zantac, Pepsid AC, Prilosec and Privased, and the others mentioned earlier, stop the digestion process, leaving the partially-digested, rotting food to be forced through the rest of the digestive tract. This does not do a body well. Minerals can’t be digested without a strong acid medium in the stomach. Antacids and acid blockers create an alkaline (opposite of acid) condition in the stomach and it becomes impossible to digest calcium and other minerals and vitamins, especially B12. As that continues, the digestive tract becomes weaker and increasingly toxic, not digesting and absorbing the good nutrients from food. This can really set you up for further health problems.

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Short term use of these drugs may cause headache, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, fatigue, and dizziness. Long-term use of proton pump inhibitors has been less studied. A 2006 study of 135,000 people 50 or older found that those taking high doses of PPIs for longer than one year were 2.6 times more likely to break a hip. Those taking smaller doses for 1 to 4 years were 1.2 to 1.6 times more likely to break a hip, and the risk of a fracture increased with the length of time taking PPIs. However, in 2010 data from the same source (the UK General Practice Research Database) was analyzed a second time, and reported a different trend: risk of fracture more than doubled immediately after initiation of medication, but dropped to slightly less than double baseline with prolonged use. The bottom line is clear, high dose or long-term use of PPIs carry a possible increased risk of bone fractures.

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Losing the ability to produce enough stomach acid can lead to a myriad of degenerative diseases caused by pathogen overgrowth, mal-absorption, leaky gut syndrome, food allergies, auto-immune disorders and organ dysfunction to name a few.

Conditions Linked to Poor Digestion

Inflammatory bowel disease, Loose stool/diarrhea after travel or camping, Chronic loose stool or constipation, Sudden changes in bowel habits, Insomnia, Hyperactivity, Fat, grain, and food intolerance, Bloating, mal-digestion, heartburn, School and pool acquired GI problems, Excess gas and flatulence, Chronic abdominal discomfort/pain, Chronic skin conditions, Chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia, Excessive eating or Anorexia.

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Let’s not forget the pesky freeloaders who make trouble in the gut…pathogens!

Percentage of U.S. Population Infected With:

Clostridium difficile 5% of Population Extrapolated = 13 million people

Giardia lamblia 7.2% Population Extrapolated = 19 million people

Entamoeba coli 4.2% Population Extrapolated = 11 million people

Endolimax nana 4.2% Population Extrapolated = 11 million people

Toxoplasma gondii 40-50% Population Extrapolated = 110 million people

Blastocystis hominis 2.6% Population Extrapolated = 7 million people

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Natural Immediate Temporary Relief

1.For immediate temporary relief try aloe vera and coconut water. Both natural acid neutralizers.

2.For immediate temporary relief try apple cider vinegar. The acid in apple cider vinegar is acetic acid, a weak acid. When it meets stomach acid (which is hydrochloric acid, a strong acid), the overall acidity of the stomach is reduced but not rendered too alkaline to digest most foods.

3.Relief from heartburn may also be found by pressing on the acupressure point CV 12, which is found in the front, center of your body, halfway between the breast bone and the navel. If this does not work, try a higher point right below the sternum and then move lower as the painsubsides. While this usually does provide immediate relief, the effects are temporary.

4.Reflexology uses massage techniques on the hands and feet at various acupressure points to relieve symptoms. The reflexology point on the left hand is under the thumb close to the wrist up to the middle of the palm. On the right hand, it is a much smaller point in between the thumb and the wrist.

5.Ginger tea can immediately relieve heartburn or acid indigestion. Put one teaspoon of shredded fresh ginger into one cup of boiling water. Let the ginger steep for ten minutes, strain, allow it to cool, and then drink.

6.Fenugreek seeds can relieve heartburn and acid indigestion by coating the lining of the stomach. One to two teaspoons in your food or eaten separately is enough to provide relief for many acid reflux sufferers.

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Real Solutions Can Be Simple and Natural

1. It helps to drink 8 oz of water about a half hour before a meal to help supply fluids that form gastric juices.

2. Wholefood supplements that restore functional integrity within the system should always be the first resort. There are natural and very effective nutritional supplements and herbs (not synthetic chemicals) available to aid digestion and help your body repair its innate digestive ability.

3. Ask your doctor, whether MD, DC, DO, Acupuncturist, Naturopath or Nutritionist, or other healthcare professional about the appropriate diagnostic testing including a functional GI panel. There are usually non- invasive tests that include stool and saliva specimens which are less expensive and risky than invasive GI procedures where there is always a chance of complications like infection, perforation of lining, bleeding and misdiagnosis, to name a few.

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So when your body sends a signal with heartburn or perhaps SCREAMS with HEARTBURN, listen and treat it naturally before it results in something more severe that may take years to resolve, if ever.

Wellness is a choice…Be Well

By Dr. Susan Duvé, DC, ND, FIAMA, ACN, Acup. Orthopedics, Detox Specialist


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