Acupuncture for Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

Acupuncture for Gastroesophageal reflux diseaseGastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, is a very common, pervasive digestive issue, especially in countries eating a typical modern diet high in sugar, salt and fat. Acupuncture for Gastroesophageal reflux disease has been used in hospitals in Britain and has recently been proven effective. I do not think of Gastroesophageal reflux disease, as a disease, despite the name, because it is so easy to cure and heal with natural medicine. Perhaps we should rethink the way we apply the word disease. In the case of GERD, it can usually be stopped by simply not drinking liquids with meals. Also, GERD is commonly treated by stopping coffee, chocolate, alcohol and tomato based foods, like pasta sauce. If a disease simply disappears by stopping a few foods, maybe the foods are the problem, not your body. The body is an elegantly designed miracle and it needs the proper fuel. GERD is biofeedback that you are not treating the body well, not proof that your body has a disease and is malfunctioning.

Acupuncture for Gastroesophageal reflux disease

Acupuncture has been shown, in a major systematic review of the research, to be a safe and effective treatment for Gastroesophageal reflux disease. I like to use acupuncture, nutritional therapy and in some cases herbs to help a person stop acid reflux. In many cases a person with GERD will also have gastritis or inflammation of the stomach and esophageal lining, and this is why a comprehensive healing approach to the entire GI tract is necessary. It is important to stop the symptoms: burning and reflux, and treat the underlying inflammation. If you have have been diagnosed with GERD, and don’t want to simply take prilosec or other acid-inhibiting drugs, give us a call. And by the way, you need stomach acid to properly digest your foods….simply decreasing stomach acid, especially in the elderly, can decrease B12 production. Acupuncture will help heal the inflammation in the gut, reduce acid reflux, reduce stress and improve the functioning of your digestive system.

The research proving that acupuncture for Gastroesophageal reflux disease is effective was recently published in the British Journal of Medicine. What was the conclusion of the researchers?:

“This meta-analysis suggests that acupuncture is an effective and safe treatment for GERD.”

You can see the original study on the British Journal of Medicine website: http://aim.bmj.com/content/early/2017/07/07/acupmed-2016-011205

 

About The Author

James Whittle M.S., L.Ac. is an acupuncturist and a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). He has visited China more than 8 times to work in hospitals and conduct research. James has also consulted for the BBC on an acupuncture documentary and appeared on NBC news. In 2016, NBC called James “an expert in Chinese medicine.” He is the founder and owner of the Blue Ridge Clinic in Asheville, North Carolina, founded in 2003. A graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill with honors, he completed his masters in acupuncture at Bastyr University in 2001. He is licensed to practice acupuncture in North Carolina and holds license #238. You can reach James at (828) 254-4405.