Dr. Craig Reese, DC, PC
DR. CRAIG REESE, D.C., P.C.
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DR. CRAIG REESE
DC, PC
Newsletter June 2009
Happy summer vacation to all the kids and their parents! Both my girls graduated last month; one from high school and one from 8th grade. This is the best time of year to get your vitamin D directly from the sun by having your skin exposed for at least 10-30 minutes without sunscreen. You also need to have your sunglasses off (glasses and contacts, too) for up to an hour a day so the pineal and pituitary can get their dose of ultraviolet light as well. You will feel much better if you do those simple things.
Acid Reflux
About 50% of the US population suffers from some sort of acid reflux or heart-burn type problem like GERD or ulcer. Though you have been told that it is an excess acid problem it really is due to a lack of acid. When you don’t produce enough hydrochloric acid you can’t digest your food and then the food putrefies in your stomach and cause the heartburn sensation. Without enough acid in your stomach you don’t absorb minerals and you become susceptible to GI infections. Parasites, yeast and bacteria pass through your stomach untouched when you are low in stomach acid. Dr. Mercola had a newsletter about this problem recently: http://articles.mercola.com
Ulcers
It has been known for years that ulcers are caused by a bacterial infection of helicobacter pylori and sometimes other bacteria. Having enough stomach acid and taking supplements to kill the infection is the first step to fixing an ulcer. Next, once we have put out the fire (the ulcer), now we have to rebuild the house (your stomach lining) with healing herbs like Rhizinate or Gastrex.
Hiatal Hernia
This is where your stomach pushes up through your diaphragm and causes acid reflux. Sitting slumped over, too many crunches or sit-ups and being dehydrated are a few of the causes of hiatal hernia. It can be a transient problem that comes and goes. My hiatal hernia flares up about 1-2 times a year and usually relates to eating something my body doesn’t like. Chewing up 1-2 Rhizinate usually makes it go away immediately.
Acid-Stopping Meds
Prilosec, Nexium, Prevacid, Tums, etc do seem to reduce the symptoms. A recent online survey of over 4200 patients taking Priolosec or Prevacid found:
- 35% to 41% of the respondents continue to experience daily heartburn symptoms.
- As many as 60% of the respondents reported experiencing symptoms three or more times per week.
- 75% of PPI patients also take nonprescription medications, such as Pepcid, Maalox and Tums.
- Up to 25% of the
respondents said they take over-the-counter medications in place of
their prescription medication.
http://articles.mercola.com
So even on the medications, most people still aren’t symptom free. It is because it is only covering up the problem and not fixing it. Furthermore, studies have shown that ulcers can actually get worse when people are on acid-stopping medication because it allows more bacteria to develop in the stomach. If you look up your favorite acid-stopping medication on-line or in the Physicians Desk Reference, it will tell you that it is for short-term use only. Eight weeks is the length of time stated in the PDR but most people have taken these drugs for years. Also, you have to wean yourself off these medications instead of stopping abruptly. Otherwise, your digestive symptoms will get worse.
Natural Solutions
First stop ingesting foods that are making your stomach feel bad. Coffee, alcohol, and spicy foods can aggravate an irritated stomach. Food allergies also make the condition worse. If you don’t know what foods you may be allergic to, I can test you and help determine that. Eating slower and chewing your food better also helps. Smaller meals, more often is easier on a sick digestive system. Rhizinate (deglycyrrhizinated licorice) is much better than tums or other antiacids and can put out the fire almost immediately. Treating all systemic yeast, parasitic and localized bacterial infections is a must. If you don’t put this fire out, you will never be able to get rid of the indigestion. These are problems we deal with everyday and can help you get better. Don’t keep covering up the problem and hope it goes away. It will only get worse over time.
Have a fun June!
