Re: OT: Ohira probiotics (Dr 's article on Acid reflux) good read

[Guest guest]

Khaya,

Here is an article that I found on Dr 's website.

This is a fantastic article on acid reflux and the cure for it.

http://tahomaclinicblog.com/what-really-causes-heartburn/

What REALLY Causes Heartburn?

by DR. JONATHAN V. WRIGHT, MD

Every day on television and other media we are barraged with ads about heartburn

and acid reflux, which seem to tell us that stomach acid is the culprit causing

our pain. If we take the patent medicine recommended in the commercial, our

stomach problems will disappear. And how do those medicines propose to " fix " the

problem? They lower the level of stomach acidity by either neutralizing stomach

acid (these are antacids) or by shutting down the stomach's ability to produce

acid (proton pump inhibitors, or PPIs).

But it's not really the level of acid in the stomach that causes the discomfort

we call heartburn. Heartburn is caused when acid that is supposed to be in the

stomach aiding digestion backs up into the esophagus, whose lining is not

capable of withstanding the acidity and is chemically burned by it. If we take

the advertised patent medicine, it will reduce the level of acid in the stomach,

and so if comes up into the esophagus, its acidity will be less there as well,

reducing or eliminating the burning sensation. But is this really a heartburn

cure, or just temporary symptom relief? And do people really have too much acid

in their stomach? Most importantly, is it healthy to reduce stomach acid?

Are Antacids and PPIs Really a Heartburn Cure?

Antacids and PPIs do reduce stomach acid, so when acid comes back into the

throat, it does not burn as much. But antacids do not stop acid from going where

it doesn't belong in the first place. Why does acid come up into the throat?

There is a valve at the bottom of the esophagus, just before the stomach, called

the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). It allows food to pass into the stomach,

but is supposed to prohibit stomach contents from going in the other direction.

When there is food present in the stomach, that valve is supposed to be shut

tight, but sometimes it relaxes when it should not. In some cases, the LES

malfunctions because of food allergies and sensitivities, caffeine, alcohol, or

nicotine. But it also happens when none of these is present. Doctors are not

sure why, but some theorize that more acid, not less, is needed to keep the

valve firmly shut, and that the valve relaxes in the presence of low stomach

acid. If that is so, taking antacids could actually make the problem worse, not

better.

Do People Often Have Too Much Stomach Acid?

Many studies have revealed that the production of stomach acid often decreases

as we age, so that older people have much lower acidity level than younger ones.

Yet often people develop heartburn in later years, just as acid production is

declining. So it does not seem likely that heartburn is related to too much

stomach acid at all. Yet when one goes to a doctor for a heartburn cure,

antacids and PPIs are often prescribed without any testing on stomach acid

levels. Ironically, when that test is done, it often reveals a lack of stomach

acid rather than too much! This fact supports the theory that more acid keeps

the LES more tightly closed.

Is It Healthy to Reduce Stomach Acid?

Stomach acid is needed in digestion and absorption of protein, vitamins,

minerals, and other nutrients. Older people in particular, who have lower levels

of stomach acid, have difficulty absorbing sufficient nutrition. Moreover,

stomach acid is a barrier that can prevent bacteria and other unwanted

microorganisms from getting further into our digestive tract. Low stomach acid

is linked to a variety of medical conditions including osteoporosis, pneumonia,

and macular degeneration. Given that antacids only provide temporary relief from

heartburn symptoms, and can lead to serious diseases or infections, they are not

the best answer to the issue of heartburn.

What are better alternatives in curing heartburn?

Because many people suffering from heartburn have low stomach acid, some doctors

have found that acid supplements often cure the problem. The supplements also

help restore the digestive system, which enables better absorption of nutrients.

Of course, no one should take acid except with the advice and under the care of

a licensed doctor. If acid is normal in a person suffering from heartburn, his

or her physician will often recommend testing for food allergies that could be

causing the LES to malfunction. In addition, other natural supplements have been

proven to help strengthen LES function, in particular melatonin. So if you are

suffering from heartburn, especially with any frequency, look for an integrative

doctor (one who combines the use of supplements and natural remedies with more

conventional approaches as needed) who is familiar with stomach acid level

testing, and can get to the real cause of your heartburn.

For more information, see Your Stomach: What Is Really Making You Miserable and

What to Do About It.

> >>>>> > > > >

> >>>>> > > > > AngieIt sounds like you may need heavy doses of a good

> >>>>> probiotic.You maybe should get Swansons brand probiotics that have 66

> >>>>> billion units of probiotic per capsule and take 3 times a day.Also a

> >>>>> product called Kolorex which is horopito , and Kandidaplex which is a

> >>>>> herbal combinationBetaine HCL with meals is also helpful with

candida.jan

> >>>>> > > > >  One or both of them have ruined my life. I used the coil

heavily

> >>>>> over three months for Bartonella and Babesia some three years ago. I was

> >>>>> using it everyday for 10 mins over my liver area for Bartonella. I would

> >>>>> get heartburn after each session, but I thot it was herxing. Since then

I

> >>>>> have the worst abdominal symptoms you can think of. I have tried

> >>>>> everything and now I am in such despair over this condition. 

> >>>>>> > > > > > 

> >>>>>> > > > > > I had taken MMS for about 2 weeks after ending the coil

usage. 

> >>>>>> > > > > > 

> >>>>>> > > > > > Why am I the only one who ever experienced this with the

coil?

> >>>>>> Better yet how can I ever get out if this mess? Tests show I have low

> >>>>>> elastase level which indicates pancreatic insuffieciency, and level one

> >>>>>> yeast infection of the intestines. Did the coil hurt my intestines and

> >>>>>> pancrease? Just what is happening to me. I don't know where else to

rant

> >>>>>> at. I am mad, just not sure at who. I have suffered so much with these

> >>>>>> weird abdominal symptoms. Sob. 

> >>>>>> > > > > > 

> >>>>>> > > > > > Angie. 

> >>>>> > > > >

> >>>>> > > > > " Im not trying to counsel any of you to do anything

> >>>>> > > > >

> >>>>> > > > > really special,except to dare to think, and to dare to go with

the

> >>>>> truth ,and to dare to love completely. " -R. Buckminster Fuller

> >>>>> > > > >

> >>>> > > >

> >>> > >

> >> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks --I've never seen an explanation of the lower esophageal sphincter

(LES) before. Khaya

> >

> > Dr. Jonathon has an excellent reputation! I wonder if he has a

> > website or blog, like Dr. Brownstein does?

> >

> > I have not had the Heidelburg test, but HCl helps me greatly when I eat

> > animal protein! And I take digestive enzymes every time I eat. Slippery

> > Elm is also helpful with constipation.

> > Khaya