Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Heartburn: Putting Out the Fire with Marshmallow


Anyone who has experienced bad heartburn knows that the word “heartburn” sounds just like it feels: like a hot coal burning through your chest cavity. But heartburn is just a sign of indigestion somewhere along your digestive tract. Heartburn can indicate other more serious troubles and should be checked by your physician if it persists. About 50 percent of the population who suffer with heartburn can track the condition to a hiatal hernia, a condition where the stomach is pushed up toward the esophagus, causing a “kink” that allows stomach acid into the esophagus causing heartburn. If you have think you have a hiatal hernia, soothing herbs such as marshmallow will serve as an excellent remedy, but you will also need to consider herbs that relax the nervous system, too (see “S-T-R-E-S-S:
That’s the Way We Spell Success,”, “R and S: Remarkable Recoveries and Super Solutions”), wear loose pants, and sip on warm herbal teas to help bring the stomach back to place. Sometimes your chiropractor will be able to mechanically “adjust” the area to bring temporary relief until the problem is healed.
Sometimes heartburn can indicate gallbladder trouble or gallstones. If you eat lots of fatty foods, tend to be constipated or don’t eat enough fiber, or have a family history of gallbladder or liver trouble, you may be a good candidate for a gallbladder flush. This technique is designed to break down gallstones so your body can pass them out of the bowel. This is a three-day cleanse, but you can condense it to a single day by taking oil and lemon juice on the evening of the first day. This cleanse is for those who are not in a weakened or debilitated condition, where a cleanse would not be appropriate.

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