Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), also known as acid reflux, is something that affects many people in different ways. There are several causes and symptoms that are related to GERD. If the symptoms of GERD are not addressed, this may lead to long term problems that can include ulcers, cancer of the esophagus, inflammation, scarring of the esophagus lining, abdominal pain and irritation.

Symptoms

There are a number of symptoms that can result from having acid reflux or GERD. Symptoms may include heartburn, nausea, regurgitation, dysphasia, sore throat and hoarseness. The severity of these symptoms ranges from person to person. Heartburn is the most prevalent symptom of GERD. This can be identified as a burning sensation in the esophagus. The location of the esophagus in the chest area is what causes this to be called heartburn. The burning sensation is as a result of bringing up gastric acid from the stomach to the esophagus.

Causes

GERD isn’t developed because of one cause necessarily. Most of the causes are related to the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). The LES is a muscle that is located just below the esophagus and above the stomach. It is a part of the diaphragm. The LES is the passageway for food that is chewed, swallowed and in the esophagus. Once the food reaches diaphragm, the LES should open to grant entry to the stomach for digestion. When the LES doesn’t close properly or right after the food goes to the stomach, gastric acid may be permitted to go through the LES and into the esophagus. If this happens, this can cause GERD. A weakened or dysfunctional LES may be caused by a number of things.

• Hiatal Hernia: This is when the stomach shifts to an abnormal area.
• Pregnancy: This may cause the internal organs to shift to accommodate the growing fetus.
• Smoking and Alcohol Consumption: This can cause heartburn and irritation to the LES.

Natural Treatment

Treating GERD doesn’t have to include medications and prescriptions. Here are some natural ways to avoid and treat this disease:

• Papaya: Eat papaya enzymes to aid the stomach and intestines with natural digestions. This prevents the stomach from having to produce too much gastric acid.
• Ginger: Drinking ginger tea or eating ginger root will help to absorb excess stomach acid and sooth the organs in the digestive system.
• Fennel seed: This is an herb that can control stomach spasms. Stomach spasms contribute to GERD.
• Aloe Juice: Drinking aloe juice can settle your stomach and relieve heartburn.
• Apple Cider Vinegar: Even though vinegar tastes acidic, this substance can balance the pH of your stomach and make digestion easy.
• Water: This is the most accessible of all the natural remedies. It has a neutralizing effect on the stomach.

Getting your GERD/acid reflux under control can be a challenge if you don’t understand the causes, recognize the symptoms or become aware of the treatments. For more information on natural treatments for GERD, review the Reflux Remedy Report or visit refluxremedy.com today.