Acupuncture for Acid Reflux – GERD

Chinese medicine and acupuncture for acid reflux has been helping people heal naturally for thousands of years.  One of the most frequently seen conditions in the clinic today is acid reflux, which is otherwise known as gastroesophogeal reflux disease (GERD).  The most common pharmaceutical drugs given for this condition diminish the production of stomach acid.  Stomach acid is seen as the problem.  However, this never solves the problem and almost always in the long run makes the problem MUCH worse.  You need all the stomach acid you can get these days in order to digest the food you consume so that your body gets the nutrients it needs in order to function correctly.  In fact, as people age, stomach acid decreases, which further complicates health because food rots more in the intestines.  This creates more digestive symptoms such as gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, pain, and nausea, which are more and more frequent in the world today.

Another concurrent problem that is often seen as the cause of acid reflux / GERD is a hiatal hernia.  In this case, the stomach pushes above through the diaphragm (a muscle), causing stomach acid to move unhindered into the esophagus, causing a burning or souring tasting sensation.  In this case, the answer is not first to have surgery to fix this.  From Chinese medicine perspective, the liver controls all the muscles in the body.  The diaphragm is weak and needs strengthened.  Those with acid reflux / GERD almost always have liver symptoms.  The liver needs to be cleansed, detoxified and strengthened.  In turn, the liver will contribute to the muscles working the way they need to so a hernia doesn’t occur or can heal properly on its own.  Taking medication and having surgery is not the solution to the root cause of the problem.  They certainly can work to help you feel better and may be necessary in certain cases, but don’t address the root causes directly.

We see the body in a holistic way.  You have physical, electrical and emotional aspects to every health problem.  When we work to correct these imbalances on every level, you will have the very best chance of healing.

Physical Healing of Acid Reflux

A weak diaphragm and hiatal hernia can be healed by dealing with the liver.   Also, because the problem for people is NOT having too much stomach acid, but is not having enough, when the stomach is strengthened as well, and the body starts to produce more hydrochloric acid, in most cases, acid reflux goes away in short periods of time.  Acid reflux / GERD is not a very difficult problem to remedy in most cases.  Herbs, changes in diet, and very specific supplements can be used to help both the stomach and liver to function much better.  Certain foods also contribute to weakening the liver and stomach and must be removed from the diet.

Energetic / Electrical Healing for Acid Reflux

Acupuncture for acid reflux has worked very well for millennia.  The acupuncture system is largely an electrical system.  If electrical flow to certain parts of the body is compromised, those body parts are not going to function as well.  Acupuncture works to restore the smooth flow of electricity, which will diminish pain and symptoms that correspond with the dysfunction of those body parts.   If you have a burning sensation, we might call stomach yin deficiency.  The principal is simply to cool the stomach down and tonify yin.  Many points in the body can do this and also heal and strengthen a weakened liver.  Many people have experienced the wonderful healing of acupuncture for this condition, especially when combined with dietary and supplementation changes.

Emotional Healing for Acid Reflux

Science has proven that negative emotions from past traumatic experiences we have gone through can directly contribute to or cause physical health problems (The Body Keeps The Score by Bessel Vander Kolk, MD).  In order to heal, emotional releasing must be used in order to free us from the negative emotions that we are still holding onto.  This is something that most people think isn’t a problem for them or they really don’t want to deal with, but can make all the different.  What are the emotional factors that commonly contribute to acid reflux / GERD?

“Difficulty digesting life. Feeling uncomfortable with what you are seeing, feeling, hearing, and experiencing. Feeling irritated and frustrated about your inability to control what is happening around you. Guilt about the past. Feeling helpless about past choices. Resisting life rather than learning from your experiences.”  (The Secret Language of Your Body by Inna Segal).

Do any of these resonate with you?  If so, together you can learn how to release these and experience freedom in your body. In most cases, when these three components are addressed, you can heal from acid reflux naturally and holistically.  If this article resonates with you, and you wish to schedule an appointment to start healing, please call Dr. Scott at 407-255-0314 to set up an appointment.  If you don’t live in the Orlando / Altamonte Springs, FL area, phone consultations are available.  We simply focus on the physical and emotional aspects of healing in these cases.

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About Dr. Scott

Dr. Scott Graves, AP is a Board Licensed Acupuncture Physician who specializes in Naturopathic Medicine, Chinese Medicine, Nutrition Response Testing, General Health and more.