Many people suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease, GERD. Although we’re told it’s a disease, this is a fallacy. GERD is not a disease as so many would want us to think, but a condition, brought about by trauma to the diaphragm, allowing the stomach to protrude up into the chest cavity. If we can be persuaded to believe it’s a disease, we can be convinced to think there’s a medicine which can correct it.
Surgically, there are procedures which can be undertaken to reduce it, but in many cases this treatment can only give relief for a few years at best if the cause is overlooked.
Since the parietal cells of the stomach are located in the upper region of the stomach, acid production up here can have easy access up the esophagus.
The cardiac or esophageal sphincter, which under normal circumstances is located below the diaphragm, is able to prevent acid from refluxing back up the esophagus. When the upper portion of the stomach is forced above the diaphragm, this sphincter can remain open, allowing acid to flow up the esophagus, especially on lying down or bending over.
The most common treatment people receive for GERD is the use of acid blocking drugs, to turn off the parietal cells. Instead of correcting the condition, it just short circuits digestion, reducing your ability to receive the benefits of the food you’ve eaten.
As with any hernia, there’s been a weakening of tissues, giving way for another tissue to protrude through the breach and remain there. When we think about an inguinal hernia where the bowel tissues have protruded into the groin, the usual reason this has happened is due to increased abdomen pressure from heavy lifting.
When we have to lift a heavy object, we tighten up the abdominal wall, hold our breath to stiffen the diaphragm and compress the abdominal contents while lifting. If there is a weakness anywhere, that’s where tissue will give way.
A ventral hernia is when the linea alba, the vertical connection of your rectus abdominis muscles, (muscles of your six pack), is torn, and upon trying to sit up causes a bulge from the contents of your abdominal contents. Usually a ventral hernia occurs when your six pack has turned into a keg, lost it’s integrity, and you strain the area. This can even occur when chronically constipated and you strain lots at stool.
In like fashion, increasing abdominal pressure can initiate a hiatal hernia. Reducing the hernia is something some alternative care physicians have been taught. I’ve known other naturopathic doctors and chiropractors who have been taught this treatment.
Besides increasing abdominal pressure setting up the problem, there are other causes. One of the greatest causes is that of eating late and going to bed with a full stomach. Complicate that with poor digestion and the production of gas in the stomach, and you have a wedge forcing itself into the chest cavity. Over-eating and stretching out the stomach can create a chronic weakening of the diaphragmatic notch through which the esophagus passes through.
When I find a patient with any kind of herniation, I usually will find a person with weak ligaments, who can sprain easily or can’t hold an adjustment. This tells me that a prerequisite of preventing as well as restoring any kind of hernia requires a change of diet to insure adequate manganese. Besides that, the availability of collagen to rebuild the tissues is essential.
If the person has been put on an acid blocker, the proteins required for production of strong collagen tissues will be lacking. Another component of collagen production is that of the whole vitamin C components. Nutritional deficiencies are a sure bet to predispose one to any kind of hernia.
Stress is the final consideration when it comes to hiatal hernia. When we are in a stressful situation, our system goes into the fight or flight mode and digestion is shut down. When the food in the stomach begins to ferment and putrefy, the resultant gas and bloating will push up against the diaphragm, weakening the diaphragmatic ligament, allowing the stomach to transition up and through it.
Surgically, there are procedures which can be undertaken to reduce it, but in many cases this treatment can only give relief for a few years at best if the cause is overlooked.
Since the parietal cells of the stomach are located in the upper region of the stomach, acid production up here can have easy access up the esophagus.
The cardiac or esophageal sphincter, which under normal circumstances is located below the diaphragm, is able to prevent acid from refluxing back up the esophagus. When the upper portion of the stomach is forced above the diaphragm, this sphincter can remain open, allowing acid to flow up the esophagus, especially on lying down or bending over.
The most common treatment people receive for GERD is the use of acid blocking drugs, to turn off the parietal cells. Instead of correcting the condition, it just short circuits digestion, reducing your ability to receive the benefits of the food you’ve eaten.
As with any hernia, there’s been a weakening of tissues, giving way for another tissue to protrude through the breach and remain there. When we think about an inguinal hernia where the bowel tissues have protruded into the groin, the usual reason this has happened is due to increased abdomen pressure from heavy lifting.
When we have to lift a heavy object, we tighten up the abdominal wall, hold our breath to stiffen the diaphragm and compress the abdominal contents while lifting. If there is a weakness anywhere, that’s where tissue will give way.
A ventral hernia is when the linea alba, the vertical connection of your rectus abdominis muscles, (muscles of your six pack), is torn, and upon trying to sit up causes a bulge from the contents of your abdominal contents. Usually a ventral hernia occurs when your six pack has turned into a keg, lost it’s integrity, and you strain the area. This can even occur when chronically constipated and you strain lots at stool.
In like fashion, increasing abdominal pressure can initiate a hiatal hernia. Reducing the hernia is something some alternative care physicians have been taught. I’ve known other naturopathic doctors and chiropractors who have been taught this treatment.
Besides increasing abdominal pressure setting up the problem, there are other causes. One of the greatest causes is that of eating late and going to bed with a full stomach. Complicate that with poor digestion and the production of gas in the stomach, and you have a wedge forcing itself into the chest cavity. Over-eating and stretching out the stomach can create a chronic weakening of the diaphragmatic notch through which the esophagus passes through.
When I find a patient with any kind of herniation, I usually will find a person with weak ligaments, who can sprain easily or can’t hold an adjustment. This tells me that a prerequisite of preventing as well as restoring any kind of hernia requires a change of diet to insure adequate manganese. Besides that, the availability of collagen to rebuild the tissues is essential.
If the person has been put on an acid blocker, the proteins required for production of strong collagen tissues will be lacking. Another component of collagen production is that of the whole vitamin C components. Nutritional deficiencies are a sure bet to predispose one to any kind of hernia.
Stress is the final consideration when it comes to hiatal hernia. When we are in a stressful situation, our system goes into the fight or flight mode and digestion is shut down. When the food in the stomach begins to ferment and putrefy, the resultant gas and bloating will push up against the diaphragm, weakening the diaphragmatic ligament, allowing the stomach to transition up and through it.
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