Gastric reflux, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, occurs when the acids and other fluids in your stomach or small intestine back up into your esophagus. Gastric reflux symptoms are similar to common heartburn but are more frequent and severe. Gastric reflux treatments include losing weight, changing your diet and taking over-the-counter and prescription medicines. One traditional remedy for gastric reflux that has caught the attention of the Western medical community is apple cider vinegar.
Gastric Reflux Facts
The muscles in your esophagus work together to push the food you swallow into your stomach. A ring of muscle at the bottom of your esophagus, called the lower esophageal sphincter, closes to keep the food in your stomach so it can be digested. If your lower esophageal sphincter, or LES, is too weak to close properly, food and stomach acids can escape back up into your esophagus. This is not only uncomfortable, but the acid, bile and pepsin in your digestive juices can damage your esophagus and even lead to a kind of cancer called Barrett's esophagus.
Apple Cider Vinegar Facts
Apple cider vinegar is made from pressed apples that are allowed to ferment. Raw apple cider vinegar has clearly visible sediment at the bottom, referred to as the "mother." This contains several nutrients, including acetic acid, ash, calcium, malic acid, pectin and potassium. The clear apple cider vinegar you find in most supermarkets has been processed thoroughly enough to have removed most of these nutrients. If you have your doctor's permission to try apple cider vinegar for gastric reflux, purchase the raw, unfiltered kind.
Theory/Speculation
Researchers at the University of Michigan Department of Medicine speculate that GERD may be caused by a lack of sufficient stomach acids. Apple cider contains acid levels that are very similar to the normal acid levels in your stomach, so it may help to balance out this lack. Though apple cider vinegar is a traditional folk remedy for improper digestion, its effectiveness has not been conclusively proven in clinical trials.
Procedure
Raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar is the only kind that contains the nutrient-rich sediment, or mother. Shake the bottle well, and take 1 to 2 tsp. before a meal. Dr. Edward Group at GlobalHealing.com suggests mixing 2 tbsp. of raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar with 1 gallon of purified water. Sweeten it with local honey or agave juice, and sip it throughout the day. The health effects of this have not been proven, though apple cider vinegar at this dilution should not cause any ill effects.
Warnings
Never drink unpasteurized apple cider in place of apple cider vinegar, because it may contain bacteria that will make your gastric reflux worse. Don't drink more than 1 or 2 tsp. of undiluted apple cider vinegar at a time, because it is acidic enough to hurt your mouth and throat. Don't attempt to treat yourself with any alternative medicines or home remedies without consulting your doctor.
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