Oesophagitis

What you need to know:

All the advice on treating heartburn is appropriate to this condition *(see below). But oesophagitis may also be caused by the constant vomiting associated with bulimia nervosa.

*There are several natural remedies, which can help cure this common but uncomfortable condition. But this is definitely a case of prevention being better than cure - where possible.

The most common cause of heartburn is gastric reflux - the back-flow of stomach acid into the oesophagus, termed Hiatus hernia. This condition needs to be treated, but the advice here will bring temporary relief. Smoking and being overweight both make this condition more likely.

The most useful Supplements:

Charcoal tablets or biscuits	As directed on the label
DGL Liquorice	1 to 2 tablets chewed before each meal
Digestive Enzymes	1 to 2 capsules with each meal

Other supplements which might be helpful:

Betaine hydrochloride (if stomach acid deficiency is the cause) - start with one capsule with each meal and increase over several days until a feeling of warmth in the stomach is felt. At this point drop the dose until this feeling stops.

The most useful Herbs:

If you get heartburn frequently and there’s no underlying reason, there are many herbs taken before meals that may ward off an attack.

Centaury	Antacid - use as directed on the label
Dandelion	Antacid - use as directed on the label
Marsh mallow	Antacid - use as directed on the label
Meadowsweet	Soothing - use as directed on the label
Slippery elm	Soothing - use as directed on the label

Other herbs that could help include:

Bogbean, Black Horehound

You can also make a calming tea by mixing one tspn of powdered slippery elm bark with a little water and topping it up with Chamomile tea. Using the following digestive herbs in your cooking will also help:

Caraway
Cardamon
Dill
Fennel
Ginger
Peppermint (or spearmint)

Homoeopathy

Homoeopathic remedies appropriate to this condition include:

Capsicum
Robina
Sulphur

Aromatherapy

You can also use the following essential oils in a lotion or diluted with a carrier oil and rubbed onto the stomach to soothe digestive tract:

Black pepper
Fennel
Ginger
Peppermint
Roman Chamomile

Dietary changes that may be beneficial:

Do not overeat, be kind to your digestive system.

If you know which foods are likely to give you heartburn - it makes sense to avoid them The main culprits are:

Alcohol
Caffeine - in tea, coffee and certain carbonated beverages
Fizzy drinks
Pickles
Raw onion
Sour fruit
Very spicy food - hot curries, chilli etc

If your problem is a Hiatus hernia or you are in the later stages of pregnancy, make sure you eat little and often - not more food in total, but spreading your daily intake over five meals instead of the usual three.

As well as using all the good digestive herbs in cooking, always end a meal with a cup of Peppermint tea.

Eat a pot of live yoghurt every day for its gut-friendly bacteria as well as lots of healthy starch foods: potatoes, rice, pasta, sweet potatoes, bananas and bread which are all easy to digest.

Always keep well hydrated by drinking at least 2 litres of water per day. This ensures your stomach has the fluids to produce enough gastric juices for proper digestion.

Heartburn for which there is no obvious reason sometimes responds well to a few weeks on the ‘Food Combining Diet’ or Hay diet.

Other useful advice:

Try to give up smoking if you are a frequent sufferer.
Obesity must be dealt with, because it is a major cause of heartburn. Simply losing a few pounds and avoiding tight, restrictive clothing will make an enormous difference.
Physical activity stimulates the function of the whole digestive system and any activity that tones and stengthens abdominal muscles is an added bonus. Please note that Hiatus hernia sufferers should avoid exercises that involve lots of bending, as this can allow stomach acids to flow through the hernia into the oesophagus.

The following therapies can both stimulate the digestion, which relieves heartburn:

Acupressure
Reflexology

The Helicobacter pylori bug, which, by the way, is now also believed to be the main cause of Stomach ulcers, can also be a reason for heartburn. Taking two tspns of Manuka honey from New Zealand before each meal and before bedtime has been found to kill the bacteria and stop the heartburn if this is the cause.

If you have Hiatus hernia or are very pregnant, raise the head of your bed by 2-3in/5-7cm.

Avoid aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which may make symptoms worse.

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The information provided by WIS is for guidance only. Whilst it is based upon the expert advice of leading professionals, and extensive research, it is not a substitute for diagnosis by a qualified professional. Always consult your doctor, pharmacist or qualified practitioner before making any changes or additions to prescribed medication.