Question:

I have suffered from heartburn for some time, but have not been able to find relief with conventional remedies. Can you help?

Answer:

Heartburn is a common condition that causes great discomfort. What happens is that excess acid and some undigested food particles from the stomach regurgitate into the esophagus or esophagus, and some of that acid leaks into the lungs near the throat. This highly acidic mass causes tremendous burning that the lungs can feel like they are on fire. That is real heartburn. However, in some cases, the acid only reaches the esophagus and patients have a burning sensation there. It is a kind of incomplete heartburn.

The best treatment for heartburn is to make sure you eat food slowly and chew it carefully. If you don’t chew your food properly, the stomach has to do the work of the teeth, grinding and churning the food so that the nutrients can be absorbed. Also, your stomach has to produce more and more acid to break down food particles small enough to digest. When you eat fast, you also tend to burp. This happens because eating fast means that you often swallow air bubbles; when they meet acid, they blow it out like a burp. So don’t rush meals or eat on the run. Sit down and eat slowly, chewing your food into small pieces, and help your digestion by resting for a bit afterwards. You can also take a short, gentle walk after dinner.

You can prevent heartburn by avoiding chemical irritations such as spicy and citrus foods, white wine and champagne, coffee and tea, cigarettes, aspirin, pain relievers, and steroids if possible. You should also avoid mechanical irritations like dry toast, crispy fried foods, and seeds because they cause abrasions to the stomach lining. Also eliminate very hot beverages, which are another form of physical abrasion.

Because we tend to produce excess stomach acid when we are stressed, try not to be anxious or worried, and learn some form of relaxation such as yoga or meditation (see below).

If you can trace the cause of your heartburn, you can correct it. In the meantime, I suggest using cold milk as an immediate remedy – it calms the stomach by providing an excellent medium for acid to combine with protein molecules. You can also have baking soda or, if you are in a restaurant, tonic water because quinine has the same effect.

There is a good Ayurvedic remedy called Calciprite (tablets), which is a sea shell ash dissolved in a weak solution of vinegar. You can also try Gasex (tablets) or take Lamberts peppermint oil capsules as needed (capsules). Rubbing your stomach is also helpful in strengthening and toning your stomach muscles. With a little olive or sesame oil, massage your abdomen for a couple of minutes in a clockwise direction, using the navel as the center.

COLD COMFORT FOR THE FALL

Fall is a time of additional stress for your body. Frequent changes in temperature make the body’s air conditioning system go haywire; it has to cool the body one day and warm it the next. Also, for most of us, our workload increases after long summer vacations. This generalized stress tends to weaken the body’s overall energy and, with it, the immune system. Meanwhile, viruses and germs search for a nice, warm and comfortable host to escape the autumn chills. So you have the flu.

But it can boost your immune system to help prevent getting sick. Avoid yeast products, ice cream, sweets and cakes, coffee. cold drinks and excess alcohol. Get enough rest and don’t have to sleep too late. Take a good multivitamin and mineral supplement like One-A-Day Vitamins and Minerals (capsules) for two months. Massage your neck and shoulders for ten minutes twice a week; If you have a partner or friend, exchange massages. Take a walk outside on the weekends and do some pranayama meditation.

PRANAYAMA MEDITATION EXERCISE

This is an easy way to relax physically and mentally. Lie comfortably on your back, with your legs and arms uncrossed. Breathe in for a count of three, hold your breath gently and gently for a count of three, then breathe out for a count of six. When you inhale, let your abdomen swell like a balloon. As you exhale, pull your abdomen inward, imagining that you are pulling it toward your spine. Do this for ten minutes a day, concentrating your inner eye on your forehead, as if you are looking at the rising or setting sun.