May/June 2002
Feature Articles
Holistic Health Q & A
by Dr. Carol Anne Bates
The causes of heartburn and indigestion
- a holistic approach including acupuncture, Oriental Medicine, kinesiology,
homeopathy, and lifestyle changes.
What is... Fair Trade?
by Robert Roman
What Fair Trade is and how it creates
a win-win situation for the producer, the environment and the consumer.
UnCommon Sense! - The Middle East Conflict
by David Findlay
A military or a political solution?
Should we negotiate with terrorist-sponsoring states?
Articles on the theme "Prosperity"
Prosperity Practices
by Jim Malloy
Eight principles and practices to help
manifest great prosperity.
Enough for Everyone
by Patricia Crane
Tapping into the consciousness that
determines distribution.
Journey to Prosperity
by Lorri Ritter
Practical steps to increase prosperity.
True Prosperity
by Maria Moraca
Achieving happiness and contentment
regardless of what is going on in one's life.
My Cosmic Bank Account
by Dr. Audrey Craft Davis
The rewards of opening and "investing"
in a Cosmic Bank Account.
Prosperity Consciousness
by Rev. Linda Lou Kearns
How to get what you want and enjoy
what you've got. Some basic prosperity principles.
What is Prosperity?
by Charles Bleistein
How prosperity is linked to flow in
all aspects of life - including consciousness.
Holistic Health Q & A
by Dr. Carol Anne Bates
Question
My doctor prescribed a pharmaceutical to take once daily to treat my indigestion and heartburn but, when I don't take it, all my symptoms return. Is there anything I can do to treat the cause of this condition?
Answer
You're referring to what is called on television commercials as Gastric Reflux Disease, which is actually just a condition of digestive imbalance wherein there is too much acid produced by the liver and gall bladder. Typically there is a malfunction of the sphincter at the bottom of the esophagus leading into the top of the stomach (the hiatus). In this situation, your digestion is literally going up instead of down, as it should. While the symptom of heartburn can be quite painful, simple and even advanced cases can be reversed. Complicated, chronic cases may create an actual herniation of the tissues of the hiatus (called a hiatal hernia) which can be minor to severe. Over time, the sphincter can become significantly injured from all the excess acid.
Symptoms similar to these are actually the reason why I first sought treatment by an acupuncturist nearly 15 years ago. Acupuncture has a regulating effect on the body and can literally re-direct the digestion back into its natural pattern. Oriental Medicine would say that your Wood element is overacting on a weakened Earth element or, in other words, your liver and gall bladder are in excess and your spleen and stomach are deficient. An evaluation of your lower digestive capabilities would also be advised by your acupuncturist.
I would use kinesiology to do preliminary testing on food and beverage intolerances, especially the known acid- forming culprits, and a restriction of the diet would be necessary in the early stages of treatment. Commonly, entire food groups are found to be indigestible and pancreatic enzymes may be added until the healthy functioning of the digestive organs can be repaired. You can begin by avoiding such things as coffee, carbonated beverages, alcohol, fatty or spicy foods, sugar, and even some acidic fruits and vegetables such as citrus and tomatoes. Choose an alkalizing, primarily vegetarian diet consisting of whole foods and no saturated fats.
Certain causative lifestyle habits would be identified such as eating too fast, too much, too late in the day, or reclining after eating. Being overweight in the mid-section can obstruct digestion. A straight posture, deep breathing, and gentle activities enhance digestion.
Most people would agree that stress plays a big role in this condition. We need to remind ourselves that stress in itself is not the problem, it's how we respond to stress that can be problematic. If our minds are excessively busy, over-thinking, worrying and preoccupied, then we are actually dispersing our vital energy and the Qi needed for optimum digestion is unrooted in the solar plexus. If chronic, background ruminations filled with anger or resentment are part of our mental tendencies, then that emotional stress even if it's unconscious can disrupt the even flow of the digestive Qi. I like to ask my patients who have heartburn, "What is it in your life that your heart can't stomach?" Most people can quickly name something that has happened that they just can't "swallow."
Some people have muscle spasms throughout their abdomen, diaphragm, chest and spine which contribute to the non-rhythmic functioning of the digestive tract. Oriental massage (called Tui na) and acupressure can release these patterns. There are special acupuncture points called shu points along the spine that correlate with each digestive organ and can be treated to regulate the function of the organ as well as to release muscle spasms. As the back relaxes and the spine opens up, the nerve energy leading to all the organs can resume its natural circulation.
Your indigestion and heartburn may also be caused by congestion or toxicity in the liver, gall bladder or intestines. Certain herbal formulas or cleansing techniques may be recommended upon evaluation.
While I would not typically recommend drinking fluids while eating food (because it dilutes your stomach acids), you may want to try getting immediate relief from heartburn by drinking an 8-ounce glass of water once the symptoms arise. In general your water consumption between meals (in ounces) ought to be at least half your weight in pounds. In other words, if you weigh 140 pounds, you should drink 70 ounces of good, pure water. By doing this you can dilute excess acids which may build throughout the day while you are addressing the various causes.
As a Classical Homeopath, I would also seek to understand who the patient is who is having the symptoms. What are your tendencies? How are you driven? What was your portrait of traits before you created this imbalance? It is only in embracing the understanding that we are treating a person, not a disease, that we can ever hope to not only assist in rebalancing but help to prevent future recurrences.
So, as you can see, there may be a simple answer to treat the symptom you are having, but getting to the cause requires a combination of viewpoints that are as complex as life itself. I greatly acknowledge your spirit of looking into your life, your body and mind to find the answer to the riddle your body, in its infinite wisdom, is trying to teach you.
Dr. Carol Bates. DAc, AP, DOM, DNBHE, has been in practice
since 1991. She has served as an officer in the Florida State Oriental Medical
Association since 1993 most recently as president. Countryside Wellness
Center, FL (727) 724-0488.
Copyright (c) 2002 Altnewtimes,
Inc. All rights reserved.
No part of this web site my be reproduced without written permission of Altnewtimes, Inc.
E-mail info@altnewtimes.com