Symptoms

Heartburn is an uncomfortable, burning *pain in the mid- to lower-chest area, close to the region of the heart. Although it can be mistaken for a heart problem, the condition is not related to *heart disease, but rather to digestive trouble. Heartburn typically occurs following a meal and becomes worse when lying down. It is often accompanied by *belching and a feeling of fullness in the stomach, though this is not always present. Heartburn can also be directly associated with *anxiety and *stress

Causes

Heartburn is a digestive disorder associated with high stomach acidity and a disturbed acid-alkali balance. Often, this is due to an overstimulation of the stomach glands, which produce hydrochloric acid as a result of poor eating habits and the consumption of acid-causing foods. Overfilling the stomach, especially with rich, fried foods high in fat content which lie in the stomach longer than other foods, can cause heartburn. Swallowing air while eating too quickly, or when upset, is another common problem. Stress and eating under stress are other major causes of stomach acidity. All these habits cause the stomach to expand upwards, carrying stomach acid which then irritates the esophagus. Heartburn can also be caused by reflux esophagitis, which occurs if the sphincter muscle, responsible for closing the stomach from the esophagus, is relaxed. Fats, alcohol, chocolate and coffee relax the sphincter muscle.

Heartburn is a very common problem during *pregnancy, probably due to hormonal changes combined with pressure that the child exerts on the stomach. Another cause of heartburn is *indigestion that stems from lack of bile or insufficient pancreatic enzymes, or as a result of *allergies to certain foods. Even too little stomach acid will hinder digestion and cause fullness and burning. The possibility of a *hiatal hernia should be investigated if the problem is definitely worse when bending over or lying down. Heartburn can also be a precursor to an *ulcer.

Nutrition

As a first aid for heartburn, eat a handful of blanched almonds or a piece of dry bread, chew on a handful of uncooked oat flakes or drink a little milk to soothe the mucous membrane of the stomach. The old remedy of taking a teaspoon of baking soda is harmful because it builds *gases and increases the acidity of the stomach.

To prevent heartburn, enjoy your food, eating slowly to avoid swallowing air. A very effective natural remedy is to drink freshly made cabbage or potato juice (do not store), which dilutes stomach acid and flushes it through the duodenum. Both reduce pain and lead to faster healing. Aloe vera juice with a high MPS (mucopolysaccharide) count can also help heal hyperacidity and peptic ulcers. A good count for an effective aloe vera juice is at least 15,000 MPS per liter.

Do not drink milk. Although milk neutralizes stomach acid, the calcium and protein in milk stimulates the production of more acid. Cow’s milk creates a rebound effect and makes acidity worse in the long run. Almond milk, raw goat’s milk, rice milk or soy milk are good substitutes provided you are not allergic to any of these foods.

Chocolate, alcohol and saturated fats relax the lower esophagal sphincter so that food is more likely to be regurgitated from the stomach into the esophagus.

To test whether heartburn is due to insufficient stomach acid, take a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar; relief indicates insufficient stomach acid. In the case of heartburn due to excess stomach acidity, avoid foods which trigger the production of acid like fried meat, salty meat, salted fish, smoked foods, meat broth, hot spices and coffee.

In some people, sugar and honey trigger heartburn and should be avoided.

Nutritional Supplements

Source: Encyclopedia of Natural Healing by Siegfried Gursche and Zoltan Rona