GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux disease)

GERD is the Western medicine term for symptoms or tissue damage that result when gastric contents flow back up into the esophagus. About 20 percent of adults say they have at least weekly episodes of heartburn; some have acute and more frequent symptoms. In most cases, relief from gastrointestinal attacks is sought from over-the-counter (OTC) medications. These products won't eliminate GERD completely because they do not address its root cause. This condition may worsen in the spring, the season traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) associates with the Liver.

TCM has understood GERD for centuries. In fact, the first known herbal formula for this condition, Ban Xia Xie Xin Wan, was recorded in classic texts around 210 C.E. Though often referred to as heartburn in classical Chinese medical literature, GERD has nothing to do with the Heart. TCM understands it as a Liver and Stomach function disorder. Often, Western medicine does not make this critical connection between the Liver and the Stomach and their need to function in harmony and will focus solely on the latter organ. Treating only the Stomach may help alleviate the symptoms, but not the root cause of GERD.

In TCM theory, the Liver and the Stomach organ networks are very closely related. The Liver "controls" or restrains the Stomach if the Stomach's energy (called "Qi" in Chinese) becomes unbalanced or too excessive. From the TCM perspective the Liver is the organ related to the intense emotions—anger, stress and frustration. Liver energy naturally rises and flows outward. If these emotions are excessively intense or held chronically over a long period of time, because of the Liver's close energy connection with the Stomach, its excess energy can be conveyed to the Stomach, causing a reverse in the flow of the Stomach's energy. Stomach Qi naturally flows downward, yet too much emotion can cause it to move upward, which can result in the uncomfortable symptoms of GERD.

TCM Tips for Healing

For centuries, doctors of TCM have been treating the symptoms we now call GERD with an array of natural treatment modalities.

• Acupuncture balances the function of the Liver and Stomach.
• Herbs: Two classical herbal formulas—Ban Xia Xie Xin Wan and Xiao Yao Wan—can help alleviate acid reflux while avoiding the side effects of drugs. 
• Diet: Very often, poor dietary habits are the source of Stomach dysfunction. It's important to know that the Stomach naturally desires warm foods such as soups, tea, steamed vegetables, and the like. It will become unbalanced if fed a steady diet of raw and cold foods (ice water, cold sodas, ice cream, cold salads) or foods with a cold essence (raw and cold vegetables, root vegetables that grow in the ground, yogurt). Too much fried food, spicy food, dairy products and alcohol in the diet can also cause or aggravate GERD. To strengthen Stomach Qi avoid eating too many of these types of foods. Foods with a warm essence like ginger, cinnamon, fennel are helpful in healing this condition.
• Rebalancing the emotions: From the perspective of TCM, managing the emotions plays an important role in achieving and maintaining good health. This does not mean suppressing the emotions—they are, after all, an ever-present part of daily life. The true goal is to let your emotions flow.  To alleviate a Liver dysfunction, it's important to find healthy ways to experience this organ's strong emotions and then let them go. It is much better to release anger, stress and frustration rather than internalize their injurious effects.

Following are two traditional exercises to help on this front:

1. Breaking something goes a long way toward releasing anger, frustration and stress.  Buy a dozen eggs (or two!) and smash them. If you do not want to make too much of a mess, throw them at the tiles in the bathroom or smash them in the tub.  The point is, Let your anger go!
2. Try screaming!  Ideal places to practice this exercise are in the shower or in the car.