They call it heartburn for a good reason . . .one of the most corrosive acid substances in the world, called your stomach acid, is breaching the stomachs natural perimeter and causing a searing, burning effect in the throat, voice box, mouth, lungs and sinus areas.

The fact is you have a special valve that is designed to keep your stomach acid down below, where it belongs. Problem is, due to extraordinary circumstances this so-called valve becomes compromised, or by-passed for one reason or another.

This valve is technically referred to as the Lower Esophageal? Sphincter or better known as your LES. This valve, or sphincter is located just above your diaphragm, right next to the top of your heart.

Hence the term heartburn refers to the sensation of caustic gastric fluids breaking through this vital biological seal.

Once the stomach acid gets passed your LES, it’s up to you how far it goes.

Your simple acid reflux, heartburn or acid indigestion could do harm to even more sensitive areas as I mentioned above from not knowing what to do to control acid reflux and what the cause is from

The worst thing you can do is lay down after eating, or especially after having a heartburn “event.”

Picture this hydrochloric stomach acid burping up pass your LES and then dripping back down to rest on the “wrong ” side of the seal, right next to your heart.

Now imagine that same heartburn sensation moving slowly further and further upward along your throat because you decided to lie down.

In fact, this is the worst thing you can do after a heart burn attack, it’s likely that by lying down on a full stomach, more gastric acid will by-pass your LES valve and create even more damage and heartburn pain.

This bad habit is largely responsible for causing further corrosive damage to your LES and your throat. The gastric acid from heartburn is so nasty that it will ultimately mutate the cells lining your throat and make them more like your stomach acid.

Giving you a permanent heartburn sensation called GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease).

Isn’t it amazing how the built in Intelligent design of your mind automatically knows what’s best to do to keep your body alive.

All you have to do is pay attention and learn better ways to work with your body/mind, rather than against it.

Heartburn feels like your heart is burning because one of the largest and most sensitive nerves in your anatomy , called the vagus nerve, runs through your throat and to all your organs. So it’s easy to picture how once stomach acid erupts up into your throat and inflames your upper chest, respiratory and the wrong side of your LES valve, that your heart is going to feel as if its burning alive.

Like mother said,? “Sit up straight when you eat” and maybe try going for a walk after eating.

For best results avoid eating too much at one time, chew your food extremely well and don’t eat iceberg lettuce before a greasy meal. In fact, I chose to eat my mixed green salads the European way, which is “after” the greasy meal.

Soon you’ll forget where your heartburn used to hurt.

You were born to heal,

Todd M. Faass?

Health Ecologist

Heartburn is a common complaint in today’s fast-paced, fast food world.? The feeling of burning in your upper stomach, perhaps in your throat…the tightness in your chest or even trouble swallowing…all can be symptoms of heartburn. When the acid pumps in your stomach are overactive, it starts to erode the esophagus, which is responsible for keeping acid down in the stomach. Esophagitis can occur, where there are tiny fissures (or tears) in the lining of the esophagus, and other more serious ailments can be caused if this condition is left untreated for a long period of time. Treatments for heartburn vary widely, from homeopathic remedies to prescription medication and even surgery, so first of all, see your doctor if your heartburn persists for more than a few weeks.

If your doctor okays, it you can try lifestyle changes first, including switching your diet away from fatty meals and acid-producers, such as alcohol and coffee. Maintaining a healthy weight is another way to combat heartburn naturally, so limiting fatty foods might have two benefits in your lifestyle. Other tricks include eating smaller, more frequent meals, and even elevating your head a couple of inches when you sleep can help keep acid down in your stomach where it belongs. Other specific food culprits that you might want to avoid include chocolate, tomato and tomato-based products, citrus fruits, fried foods, and pepper. Also, try staying hydrated. Eight glasses of water a day is not only good for your whole body, but it can help your body naturally dilute strong stomach acid and give your esophagus a break.

Other treatments for heartburn include over-the-counter medications, including Pepcid and Zantac. These work by decreasing the amount of stomach acid produced and are effective remedies against gastroesophageal reflux disease (or GERD), where acid from the stomach actually makes it past the esophagus into the throat. Other OTC remedies include antacids, which neutralize stomach acid. Brands include Tagamet and TUMS.? However, these medications are not meant as a permanent solution and should not be taken for more than two weeks, unless otherwise advised by your physician.

Prescription treatments for heartburn can include proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), which stop the release of acid in the stomach; this class is frequently prescribed as well for GERD sufferers. Another class of prescription medication is a promotilty agent, which helps patients who have slowed emptying of their stomach.? These medicineshelp hasten digestion, and are often effective against sufferers of GERD.? Prescription medications can often be pricey, and sometimes taking a pill every day for the rest of your life is not the most appealing option.

In that case, there are a number of natural methods for combating this problem on your own. Homeopathic treatments for heartburn include lifestyle changes, as mentioned above, and supplements like calcium carbonate to quell acid, and deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL), which can be found in a natural foods or supplements store. This latter product has inflammatory properties, and lines the stomach, intestines and esophagus, forming a barrier between tissue and acid. Fresh ginger can help some sufferers, which you grind up and add to foods or drinks like herbal tea. Chamomile tea is another good one to try, along with licorice root.

For further treatment ideas, the Reflux Remedy Report contains a host of natural ideas.? Visit their Web site at www.refluxremedy.com.

Acid reflux is a problem that plagues millions of people in the world today.? When it occurs frequently, like twice a week or more, it can be characterized as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, or GERD.

GERD happens when a muscle in the digestive system called the lower esophageal sphincter malfunctions for one reason or another.? When operating properly, the sphincter allows food to flow one direction ? into the stomach ? and keeps acid down where it belongs.? When it becomes too relaxed acid can get into the esophagus which causes pain and irritation for the sufferer.

Symptoms of GERD include heartburn ? characterized as a burning sensation in your throat or chest, difficulty swallowing, cough, regurgitation of food or sour liquid ? characterized as acid reflux, and the feeling of a lump in your chest or throat.? When these symptoms occur frequently, GERD is generally to blame.

Some people have been shown to be more susceptible to GERD than others.? Pregnant women often struggle with GERD as a result of extra pressure on the stomach.? Some people with Diabetes struggle with a disease that slows the digestion process, keeping food in their stomachs too long, which causes excess acid production and can lead to GERD.? Smokers also seem to have a higher occurrence of GERD, as do those who are overweight.

Symptoms of GERD can be resolved in a number of ways.? In extreme cases, surgical intervention is necessary.? It involves tightening the lower esophageal sphincter to prevent acid from escaping the stomach.? However, this is often a last resort, as there are many other options for alleviating GERD.

Medications are one option, though they may not be the best option either.? While they can help to target the specific cause of acid reflux by neutralizing acids or stopping acid production all together, they are an expensive and inconvenient solution that results in several trips to the doctor and pharmacy.? Additionally, over the counter medications are not meant to be taken for more than two weeks at a time.

For those searching for more natural solutions, there are many options out there.? Simple things like tracking what you eat, and avoiding foods that set you off is one way.? Certain foods such as caffeine, garlic, onions and citrus are common triggers among GERD sufferers.? Even changes in habits can help, like eating smaller meals more often.? This technique prevents an onslaught of food from entering your stomach, which then prevents pressure build up and overproduction of acid.? Also, GERD sufferers should avoid eating less than two hours before bed.? This helps gravity keep acid in your stomach where it belongs.

There are a host of natural foods that may help relieve symptoms of acid reflux for GERD sufferers as well.? Just eating an apple can help absorb extra acid.? Drinking a glass of water can help flush acid through the digestive system faster.? Ginger, a well known herbal cure for all kinds of stomach ailments, can also help neutralize stomach acid.

For more information on GERD and relieving its symptoms naturally, please check out The Reflux Remedy Report at www.refluxremedy.com today!

You have muscles that protect you from one of the most dangerous caustic acids in the world?your stomach acid.

Gastric acid, or stomach acid, is so dangerous it can actually burn glass, so imagine what gastric acid is doing to millions of people who suffer from gastric reflux.

Another word for gastric reflux is Laryngopharyngeal reflux.

People, who suffer from acid indigestion, heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) in fact, usually suffer from a mineral deficiency which leads to a gastric acid shortage. The ironic thing is that people who suffer from a gastric acid deficiency are hard to tell from people who suffer from an over production of gastric acid. The root causes are different; however the damaging effects remain pretty much the same.

Before gastric reflux can fully develop, a build-up of gastric acid eventually weakens the muscles that protect the throat and vocal cords from the gastric acid reflux.

The gastric reflux happens because as a result of a gastric acid deficiency the food in the stomach becomes stagnant and piles up to the roof of your rib cage where the muscles of the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES) are trying to protect you.

Because of the lack of stomach acid, food remains undigested and goes through a toxic form of fermentation. As these toxins build-up the starving body desperately strives to produce random spurts of corrosive gastric juices. These gastric juices are released at the top of your stomach lining and sit there bubbling and churning away at a massive amount of fatty foods and all the rest of it.

Unfortunately the gastric reflux builds-up in the LES muscles, weakens them and is forced upward. Gradually the same thing happens to your larynx, or voice box, this is the stage defined as gastric reflux.

Basically the flow of gastric acid and powerful digestive enzymes becomes reversed as gastric acids are allowed to reflux upward . . . chemically basting the once sensitive lining, tissue and muscles of your throat, voice box and mouth area.

This degenerative process is also called GERD, or gastro-esophageal reflux disease. It is from the build-up of gastric acid in your larynx which causes Laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPR).

When LPR is persistent enough it can cause a non-cancerous growth on the back of your vocal cords, called a granuloma.

Symptoms of LPR can include:

• A choking sensation
• Sore throat
• Voice changes
• A sensation of something caught in the throat
• Frequent coughing and throat clearing
• A sour or bitter taste in the mouth

Those symptoms of acid reflux, acid indigestion and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), such as heartburn, burping and chest pressure are not always experienced as symptoms of gastric reflux, or LPR.

To avoid build-up of gastric reflux on your vocal muscles don?t start treating just the symptoms, learn how to address the root cause.

You were born to heal,

Todd M. Faass?

Health Ecologist