Acid Reflux Is Not An Excess Acid Problem! Reflux Directory 2012

Reflux is Caused by an Abnormal Esophagus
The flow of ingested food and fluid between your esophagus and stomach is regulated by a valve called the lower esophageal sphincter. In healthy people, this valve helps prevent stomach acid or digested food from flowing back up into the esophagus. In patients with acid reflux disease, this valve does not close properly due to weak muscle contraction. This abnormal valve function allows acid from the stomach to escape and rise into the esophagus, causing the symptoms associated with acid reflux.

Acid Reflux Disease is Not Just Heartburn
Heartburn is a common condition that causes sensations of burning or pain to occur in the esophagus. Patients with acid reflux disease are often misdiagnosed with mild or occasional heartburn. Acid reflux differs from heartburn in that conditions persist for two or more days each week, even after a patient has altered his lifestyle and diet. Though heartburn is one symptom of acid reflux disease, it is not the only symptom. Additional symptoms include:

• persistent cough
  
• abdominal pain
  
• chest pain
  
• difficulty swallowing
  
• hoarseness
  
• sour taste in the mouth
  
• regurgitation
  

Certain Foods Can Trigger Acid Reflux Disease Symptoms
Acid reflux can be triggered by certain types of food--especially spicy or acidic foods. If you experience frequent acid reflux characteristics, consider abstaining from foods such as tomatoes, citrus fruits, onions, chocolate, peppermint or fried, fatty foods. Carbonated drinks, coffee, tea and alcoholic beverages can also be troublesome.

Smoking Cigarettes Increases Symptoms of Acid Reflux Disease
If you smoke cigarettes, you may experience an increase in acid reflux. The smoke that you inhale from a cigarette relaxes the esophageal valve that separates your esophagus and stomach. If you have the acid reflux condition, this valve functions abnormally--a condition that is worseneded by cigarette smoke.

Obesity and Pregnancy Increase the Risk of Acid Reflux Disease
Excess weight around the abdomen due to obesity or pregnancy causes increased pressure on your stomach, which can elevate your risk of developing acid reflux syndrome. About 25% of all pregnant women suffer from acid reflux, daily. This increases 50% during the last trimester as the baby grows.

Acid Reflux Disease Doesn't Just Affect Adults
Infants and children can also develop this condition--though most typically outgrow the disease during early childhood. Symptoms of acid reflux in children and infants include recurrent vomiting, coughing or respiratory problems.

One-Third of Acid Reflux Disease Patients Develop Erosive Esophagitis
If left untreated, acid reflux can cause erosive esophagitis--a medical condition characterized by severe damage to the tissue lining the esophagus. Approximately one-third of patients with acid reflux disease may go on to develop erosive esophagitis, report health professionals. When the condition proceeds to this stage, your doctor needs to be contacted, immediately.

Alternative Therapies May Alleviate Acid Reflux Disease Symptoms
Alternative medicine therapies for acid reflux syndrome have demonstrated serious results, in the hands of an experienced Chinese medicine, naturopathic, homeopathic practitioner, etc.can, remarkably, impact the underlying condition for Acid Reflux Syndrome.

• Chronic Acid Reflux occurs, at least, 3 times per week. Sufferers have a 50% chance of doing permanent damage to their esophagus.
  
  
• Reflux Disease Affects 1/3 of People in the USA [International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD)] 2010.
  
  
• Most expensive digestive disorder in the U.S., costing about $10 billion annually.
  
  
• Reflux Disease occurred in 3-7% of the population in US (1985)
  (Digestive diseases in the US: Epidemiology & Impact - NIH Publication No. 94-1447, NIDDK, 1994)
  
  
• 60+ million Americans are effected by "heartburn" due to acid reflux at least once a month (20% of the entire population).
  
  
• About 25 million (1/12) of the total population experience reflux daily.
  
  
• Mental Health: 80% of sufferers experience the symptoms at night, causing 75% to wake (2 hrs.). This results in many problems during the day, including:
  • increased irritability
    
  • lack of proper concentration
    
  • an increased risk of being in an accident involving an automobile.
    
  • Anxiety surrounding the concern for impending attack


• Alcohol relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter muscle. When this muscle is not operating properly, it's one of the leading causes of acid reflux.


• Youth: Approximately 15% of all infants and young children suffer from reflux.
  
  
• Target Population: 65% of all reflux sufferers are in their 40's or older.
  
  
• Approximately 20% of those individuals that suffer from acid reflux will develop GERD where more serious health concerns may develop such as:
  
  • immune system deficiency
    
  • higher risk of esophageal cancer
    
  • untreated reflux can spread to other body parts
• Conventional medicine considers heartburn to be incurable.

Here are the next steps essential to your recovery:

• Understand that acid reflux is common
  and that it is a very serious problem.
  
  Grasp that too many people assume that because others suffer from it that it isn't a serious ailment. The longer you allow reflux to continue, the more likely you are to suffer serious damage. Acid reflux pain is the way your body is announcing, loud and clear, "You have a physical problem requiring your immediate attention".


• You are ready to take responsibility for your condition.
  You choose to confront yourself relative to your choices that have contributed to your condition. You have proactively chosen to take action after listening to various therapeutic opinions. You know you are ready for change to a permanent state of well-being.


• You have decided to correct the problem at the root.
  You have sorted out the regimens that only put a "bandaid" on the problem. While over-the-counter medications or prescription medications suppress the process of acid production (symptom) you have chosen to resolve the underlying cause so the condition doesn't surface again. You will find, on these pages, there are plenty of ways in which you can resolve your acid reflux problems, once and for all.

"A sense of humor is good for you.
Have you ever heard of a laughing
hyena with heartburn?"
Bob Hope

Your body's reaction to what you are subjecting it to, is the best your body can do, until some changes are made. The Reflux condition, sometimes called, "heart burn", is simply a weakened energy state due to a variety of underlying causes. Get at the source of this weakened state and the burning sensation will leave forever. Most people assume that there is an over production of stomach acid while many professional practitioners think the condition is due to under-production of acid. However, I am proposing that the condition is due to:

• a lack of energy essential for the esophageal sphincter to close. Thus, naturally, maintaining the acid in the stomach.
• Additionally, there is a disruption of peristalsis or the rhythmic energetic downward motion of the esophagus. Instead of the normal gradual motion of the esophagus going down to assist food & liquids down, now you can observe that the esophageal function is rising or the motion is going up.
  
• When both digestive areas are deficient (esophagus, sphincter) then its understandable why people are harassed by the stomach acid
  

Top 6 Primary contributors:

1. An excess in specific food consumption can overwhelm digestive processes coupled with energy deficiency result in the shutdown of esophageal sphincter function. This valve or flap is responsible for sealing food and stomach acid in the stomach. When this valve is weakened or lacking the energy to do its function then acid regurgitates upward, burning the esophagus, throat, mouth and nostrils. This causes further allergic reaction - mucus production, salivary drenching and the drive to drink water, etc. This creates a whole new set of complications due to repeated.acid burn.
   
2. Lack of sleep: sleep deprivation will result in the body's foundation to break down. The kidneys and adrenals will not have enough energy, due to their depletion, to assist the rest of the body to function normally. One of the most sensitive areas due to this condition will be your digestion, especially the esophagus. Essentially, your run-down condition has crept into the upper digestive system where the energy polarity has reversed peristalsis, pent up energy in its circuits and stifled the normal flow and elimination of phlegm.
   
3. Work Stress: prolonged stress can drain your adrenal/kidney reserves. The same pattern, as mentioned above, can strike and now you are awake at night. The energy cycle now is compounded by the lack of sleep.
   
4. High prolonged anxiety: When energy is being used up quicker than you can replenish, then the deprivation will surface and be compounded by the conditions above. This may even, if prolonged, develop into Chronic Adrenal Fatigue.
   
5. Chronic Adrenal Fatigue: When the body has used up all its energy reserves and more, it can be very difficult and take years to recover. There are certain personality types who are susceptible. In gist, the esophagus as well as other body parts are showing signs to let you know, "Its time to stop and take care of yourself". Go here for more ... before its too late.
   
6. Menopause/Andropause: there is a whole cluster of symptoms involved. However when it rears its head here, it can get very complicated. Upsurging heat, whether it is a "hot flash" or heat, in waves, can really drain your energy reserves housed in your kidneys and adrenals. The heat will disturb your sleep via excess mental activity, break you out in night sweat, etc. When you cannot sleep then gradually you will wear out like the described above cycles.

Digging deeper - A seasoned practitioner will improve:

• the energy of the esophageal sphincter (critical)
  
• will ask you to reduce the excess of acid producing foods such as chocolate, onions, peppermint, coffee, oranges, pizza, high-sugar foods, high-fat foods and excess animal products, etc.
  
• educate you regarding a healthy diet which reduces excess complications
  
• lead you to moderate exercise which increases the body's physical energy (Tai chi, Yoga, Qigong, dance, low impact aerobics, walk)
  
• Sleep is the most critical element and requires extra development to anchor final healing
  
• and provide the correct customized herb medicine with fast relief (1 hour) and with complete restoration of the esophageal function to follow (3 months)

"I would like to find a stew
that will give me heartburn immediately,
instead of at three o clock in the morning."
John Barrymore, Stage & Film Actor (18882-1942)

The primary focus is to increase overall body energy with the foundation being nourishment for the kidneys and the adrenals. This strategy targets the weakness or deficiency of these organs which, in turn supports all the energy requirements of the rest of the body. In particular the esophagus and its relevant energy channels benefit greatly from the general health of the kidneys' harmonious function.

The foods below, restore the essence or foundation of the life force within your body. Pure foods that are unprocessed are critical to improving the body's function. Below the preferred food are foods to avoid that rob the energy that sustains the body:

ENERGY & STAMINA FOODS
Whole grains (sprouted wheat - hard red winter wheat, Amaranth, Barley, pearled, Buckwheat (kasha), Bulgar, Oats, whole kernel, Rice, brown, Rice, wild, Rye, whole kernel, Quinoa, Wheat, whole kernel, All Bran with Extra Fiber, Bran Buds, Fiber One, Kashi, Go Lean, Shredded Wheat, Shredded Wheat and Bran, Buckwheat Groats, Oat Bran, Old Fashioned Oatmeal, Steel-Cut Oats), Acai berry, Bananas, Black sesame seeds, Black soybeans, Chestnuts, Citrus peel, Chia seed, chicken, herring, Mulberries, mussel, Raspberries, Strawberries, shrimp, lamb, sunflower seed, sweet potato, water cress, winter squash, almonds, Ghee, Nettle leaves, Micro algae, Goat milk, Placenta, Royal jelly, Salmon, Trout, Bee pollen, Doddler seeds, Walnuts, Wheat grass

STRENGTH FOODS
If you want to become strong, eat carbohydrates before your workout and eat plenty of protein afterwards. Normal amounts of insulin help muscles grow, and eating carbohydrates causes your blood sugar to rise, which, in turn, causes your pancreas to release insulin. Taking in large amounts of protein after a workout helps muscles to recover faster from hard exercise, so you can do more hard work and grow larger and stronger muscles (Journal of Physiology, Volume 573, 2006).

To increase muscle strength, the weights you lift must be heavy enough to cause muscle burning while you lift and your muscles to feel sore on the next day. The soreness is caused by damage to the muscle fibers themselves. Most athletes quickly learn to lift lighter weights on as many days as it takes for the soreness to go away, and then lift very heavy weights again. The faster muscles heal from hard workouts, the more quickly you can go back to lifting heavy weights and the stronger you will become.

Insulin brings protein building blocks, called amino acids, into muscles to increase the rate of healing. Eating carbohydrates raises blood insulin levels. Protein is the building blocks for all tissues, particularly muscle. So the faster and more protein you can bring into muscle fibers, the more quickly they heal and the faster you can go back to your heavy lifting program. Gabe Mirkin, M.D.

Bitter foods/herbs, Raw or lightly cooked Vegetables, sprouts, Vegetables (leafy greens, carrots, radishes, mushrooms), fruits, grains, legumes, fresh flax oil, stevia sweetener, Salmon, Spinach, Almonds, Cranberries, Wheat Germ, Beans, Extra Lean Ground Beef, Eggs, Tomatoes, Oatmeal, Bee Pollen, Codonopsis, Ginger, Hawthorne Berry, Schisandra Berry, Siberian Ginseng, Tribulus, Blue Green Algae and Wild Yam.

Natural steroid food: Asparagus, Avocado, Bananas, Celery, Raw Oysters, Pine Nuts (the edible seeds of pine trees), Figs, Almonds and nuts in general, Eggs, Basil (Sweet basil), Liver, Salmon & Other Fish, Damiana (or Turnera diffusa), Wild Yam.

CONCENTRATION & FOCUS
fish, fish oil, spirulina, whole grains (Brown rice, Maize, Oats, Buckwheat, Millet, Quinoa, Amaranth, Wheat, Sweet rice, Spelt), legumes and their sprouts (mung bean sprouts, soy bean sprouts, tofu, tempeh, peas, Adzuki Beans, Black Beans, Black-eyed peas, Broad Beans (Fava Beans), Butter Beans, Calico Beans, Cannellini Beans, Chickpeas (Garbanzo Beans), Edamame, Great Northern Beans, Italian Beans, Kidney Beans, Lentils, Lima Beans, Mung Beans, Navy Beans, Pinto Beans, Soy Beans, including black soy beans, Split Peas
White Beans), fresh nuts and seeds, dark green vegetables and microalgae. Flax seed, pumpkin seed, chia seed, borage seed, black currant seed and primrose seed oils

EMOTIONAL STABILITTY FOODS
Whole grains (whole wheat, brown rice, oats), Ganoderm, Poria, lettuce, cucumber, barley gruel, oat groat tea, Fruit (apples, mullberries, lemons), dill, basil, rose hips, Ghee (clarified butter), cabbage, fresh wheat germ, wild blue greem algae, apple cider vinegar,

FOODS TO AVOID

Sweets & Sweeteners: Sugar, or foods with added sugars, Ice cream, Jams and Jellies, Maple Syrup,
Drinks: (sweetened) Regular Soda removes rust from metal, excess carbon dioxide, imbalances digestive system) Cocktails (excess sugar/liver toxicity), Fruit Juice (loaded w/ sugar), Fruit Smoothie (loaded w/ syrup, make your own), Coffee (very cold for digestion and weakens digestion energy), Wine (beyond 1 oz. per day), and other sweetened beverages
Artificial Sweeteners: (alternate try stevia)
Processed grains: or foods containing them (except as listed on the Grains List e.g. packaged cereals, even whole grain cereals, are usually processed, verify), Refined grains (which don't say "whole" in front of each grain on the label) or foods containing them, "Wheat" or "wheat flour" without the word "whole" is usually a code word for "white" (includes white rice, "Flour" listed alone is always white flour),
Baked Goods: (contain excess trans fats, sugars) Cakes, doughnuts, cookies, muffins, Crackers, unless whole grain, pot pies (hi calory/fat), White & Wheat bread (no nutrition)
Breakfast Cereals: unless whole grain and at least 8 grams of fiber per serving (sugar, processed grain, low nutrition)
Pasta: Ramen Noodles (no nutrients, excess sodium), Saltines (excess carb & sodium), White Pasta (extremely hi carb & sodium),
White Potatoes: (solanine-calcium depletion & arthritic pain), Chips & French fries
Oils except for extra virgin olive oil, nut oils, and canola oil, Mayonnaise, Creamy salad dressings, Margarine (highly toxic), Refined Vegetable Oils (corn, cottonseed, soybeans, safflower seeds and canola),
Dairy products that are not fat-free, including cheese, cream cheese, milk, butter,etc., exception goat's milk (pure mucous),
Fatty meats such as bacon or sausage, Anything with hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated fats in it. Hotdogs (unknown ingredients, sodium nitrate), Luncheon Meats (too many additives, sodium nitrate), Sausages & cured meats (too many additives, sodium nitrate),
Canned foods: Baked Beans (sugar), Campbell's Condensed Soups (hi sodium), etc.
Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) foods,
Excessive Protein (loss of calcium, damages kidneys).

These foods are usually found in the internal isles of your grocery store. Stay with foods on the perimeter walls of the stores. Even better, buy produce directly from sources where you know the quality of the farm production. This is hard to do but this is the only way to ensure your food is free from hormones, preservatives, pesticides and over 200+ versions of MSG.

"He that takes medicine and neglects diet,
wastes the skills of the physician."
(Ancient Chinese Proverb)

The chief benefit of this formula is to relieve the esophagus that is in spasm while providing missing energy from the throat down to the stomach.

This remedy is very effective for esophageal energy blocks which surfaces as a choking sensation (like a lump in the throat) commonly experienced in stressful situations. In Chinese medicine, this condition is known as "Plum Pit" Disease. The formula is also used for other conditions that have an obstructive feeling in the throat or dysphagia; these include: chronic laryngitis, gastrointestinal anxiety, and chronic gastritis. Commonly described as if there was a foreign body in the throat, which cannot be swallowed or coughed up yet no difficulty in swallowing food .Additionally, people will describe a stuffiness in the chest, listlessness, poor appetite, sallow complexion and weight loss may also occur.

Chest pain is another hallmark of esophageal spasms. It may mimic chest pain. The blockage may be intermittent and non-progressive in nature, typically not prolonging mealtime or causing weight loss. Sufferers also commonly report heartburn, regurgitation, or other esophageal complaints of reflux imbalance due to ineffective acid clearance from the esophagus. The chief reason for this problems stems from excess stress and/or overworking. With the depletion of energy, the esophagus and flaps that keep acid and food in the stomach lack energy to do their functions. Reflux Comfort re-establishes correct rhythmic energy movement of peristalsis and closure of flaps. Its not a new and improved formula. It hasn't been marketed much in the U.S. What matters, it works fairly quickly (1 hour). When the client changes their diet and lifestyle then resolution becomes permanent.

Ingredients:

1. The main herb (chief), Rhizoma Pinelliae Ternatae, is warming and has an acrid flavour. It transforms/eliminates phlegm, dries dampness, dispels clumps, directs rebellious energy downward, harmonizes the stomach and balances rising energy.
   
2. Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis, is bitter and also acrid and warming; it assists (deputy) the main herb in dispelling clumps, directing rebellious energy downward, and balancing rising energy.
   
3. Sclerotium Poriae Cocos is sweet and bland and helps to eliminate dampness such as through transforming phlegm. It is also a descending herb.
   
4. Rhizoma Zingiberis Officinalis Recens helps ban xia to harmonize the stomach; for example, it relieves vomiting, warms the stomach, eliminates phlegm and lowers rising energy.
   
5. Folium Perillae Frutescentis is light, warm, dispersing and is a descending herb. It focuses the formula on the lung channel and assists in relieving depression and coughing.

Overall, this herbal formula uses acrid herbs for dispersing stagnation and bitter herbs for lowering abnormal rising energy. As a result peristalsis descends rhythmically with all stations functioning.

Actions/Indications/Uses:
The formula is used to regulate energy in cases of blockage leading to dampness and phlegm buildup. The energy becomes stuck due to the stressful circumstances the patient cannot resolve and may not be aware of. The lungs and the stomach lose the ability to send energy downward which leads to problems of fluid transformation and transportation. This leads to phlegm formation, which clashes with the energy and becomes lodged in the throat. It is the main formula for relieving esophageal stagnation while resolving for phlegm.

Reflux Relief gets at the root cause by bringing nutritional and energetic balance to your intestinal tract.

Benefits:

1. Relieves acid reflux (regurgitation)
   
2. Aids stomach digestion
   
3. Relieves food stagnation
   
4. Improves poor appetite
   
5. Beneficial for children's digestion problems
   
6. Relieves sensation of fullness & distention
   
7. Relieves painful abdominal distention pain
   
8. Cessates foul smelling belching
   
9. Relieves nausea & vomiting
   
10. Balances constipation & diarrhea
    
11. Reverts aversion to food
    
12. Ceases indigestion

These ingredients are combined to maintain a natural yin-yang and PH balance.

This formula works and then you are done. That's it, no more!
Reflux Comfort Lg. (Month supply) $69. Reflux Comfort Med. (2 week supply) $39.

More on REFLUX COMFORT

"Things sweet to taste
prove in digestion sour"
William Shakespeare
Playwright, Poet & Dramatist (1564-1616)

"He that prefers the beautiful
to the useful in life will, undoubtedly,
like children who prefer sweetmeats to bread,
destroy his digestion and acquire a
very fretful outlook on the world."

Frederich Nietzsche, Philosopher & Critic (1844-1900)

"Take all that is given whether wealth,
love or language, nothing comes by mistake
and with good digestion all can be turned
to health."

George Herbert, poet (1593-1633)

Mark has been a long term student of herbal traditions from around the world. Any attempts to leave this passion has always resulted in his finding his way back to the health restoration field. Whether it be his own need to keep his balance or those around him, his eventual surrender to the healing way has always offered the most joy and most of all, smiles.

• SENIOR MASTER HERBALIST-CHINESE MEDICINE
  Mark provides Traditional Chinese Medicine assessment, herbal remedies and food therapy. His remedies usually provide relief in 2 hours unless a severe chronic case is presented.
  
• SIFU - TAI CHI (Yang Style)
  Sifu Mark teaches the Short Form (24 steps), Intermediate Form (42 steps), TaiChi Sword (32 steps), TaiChi Fan, Long Form (108 steps)
  
• SPIRITUAL LIFE COACH
  Mark focusses on the Body-Mind-Spirit connection related to physical imbalances.In addition, Mark has been meditating over 35 years which has resulted in his providing a comprehensive spirit coach program-assessment, spiritual grounding & protection, ascension, enlightenment, "Finding Your Life Purpose" and "Cleansing Your Soul Grid", etc.

Mark has over 35 years of health field experience. His primary emphasis is on chronic pain, heart, digestive, respiratory, allergy, hormonal, tumor, weight loss problems, women's needs and the MIND-BODY-SPIRITUAL CONNECTION.

Phone: 713-822-2655

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This reference is a list of dietary supplements and is not intended to diagnose, cure, prevent or treat any diseases. The information here is not provided by medical (allopathic) professionals and is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. Please consult your physician before beginning any course of treatment. However, billions of people have used these products without complication. These herbal formulas have been used in conjunction with allopathic medical regimen, successfully without interference in the restorative process. Complications in the use of herbal remedies has occurred when manufacturers unkowledgeable in the practice of herbalism but more focussed on the profit aspect have provided product too high in concentration. Hopefully, more master herbalists trained in Chinese, Ayurvedic, Tibetan, North and South American herbology can share the more subtle rather than gross practice of herbalism. Appreciatively, more allopathic physicians and institutions are embracing the wonders of natural herbal medicine in their practices.