What is heart burn?
Heart burn or pyrosis or reflux oesophagitis is defined as burning feeling in the lower chest along with sour or bitter taste in the throat and mouth. It usually occurs after eating a big meal or while lying down. The feeling can last for a few minutes or a few hours. Actually heart burn is a symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) which mainly occurs due to relaxation of the muscle around the entrance to the stomach, which allows a back flow of food, stomach acid and digestive enzymes. The chest pain can be confused with angina but the heart has nothing to do with it. Heart burn can also be caused due to medication, diabetes, hiatal hernia and some autoimmune disorders. Heartburn symptoms produce a lot of discomfort and can affect feeling of well being when appear regularly. Heartburn may lead to other complications such as inflammation of the esophagus or gastro esophageal reflux disease. The symptoms of heart burn can be frequent and may last several weeks, months or longer if left untreated.
Also Read: Top 5 Homeopathic Medicine for Acid Reflux
Triggers of heart burn
- Hiatal hernia
- Pregnancy
- Certain medications
- Heavy meals
- Alcohol
- Chocolate
- Spicy or fatty food
- Carbonated drinks
- Peppermint
- Smoking
- Exercise just after meal
- Stress
- Obesity
- Lying just after meal
Heart burn symptoms
- Chest pain
- Throat pain
- Burning in lower chest
- Stomach discomfort
- Reflux
- Sour or acid taste in the throat and mouth
- Some additional symptoms include
- Sore throat
- Laryngitis
- Wheezing
- Pneumonia
- Gingivitis
- Bed breath
- Earache
Diagnosis
Diagnosis mainly includes-
Esophagioscopy and gastroscopy – to diagnose intrinsic lesion
Esophageal manomatric studies – to diagnose esophageal reflux
Acid barium swallows – to diagnose oesophagitis
Ambulatory ph monitoring
Treatment of heart burn symptoms
Allopathic treatment for heart burn symptoms – mainly done by antacids, h2 blockers, proton pump inhibitors etc
Homeopathic treatment of heart burn symptoms
Homeopathy is one of the most popular holistic systems of medicine. The selection of remedy is based upon the theory of individualization and symptoms similarity by using holistic approach. This is the only way through which a state of complete health can be regained by removing all the sign and symptoms from which the patient is suffering. The aim of homeopathy is not only to treat heart burn symptoms but to address its underlying cause and individual susceptibility. As far as therapeutic medication is concerned, several well-proved remedies are available for the treatment of heart burn symptoms that can be selected on the basis of cause, condition, sensation and modalities of the complaints. For individualized remedy selection and treatment, the patient should consult a qualified homeopathic doctor in person. Some important remedies are given below to treat heartburn symptoms:
Ambra Grisea, Asafoetida, Bryonia Alba, Calcarea Carbonica Hahnemanii, Capsicum Annum, Carbo Vegetabilis, Cinchona Officinalis, Lobelia Inflata, Lycopodium Clavatum, Magnesia Carbonica, Natrum Muriaticum, Nux-vomica
Phosphorus, Populus Tremuloides, Pulsatilla Nigricans, Rheum Palmatum, Sepia Officinalis, Sulphuricum Acidum, Anacardiun Orientale, Apis Mellifica, Argentum Metallicum, Argentum Nitricum, Arsenicum Album, Bismuthum Subnitricum, Cantharis Vesicatoria, Carbolicum Acidum, Chelidonium Majus, Dioscorea Villosa, Ignatia Amara, Iris Versicolor, Kali Carbonicum, Morgan Pure By Paterson (Bowel Nososde), Natrum Carbonicum, Natrum Phosphoricum, Natrum Sulphuricum, Nitricum Acidum, Robinia Pseudacacia, Staphysagria, Tabacum, Tamarindus Indica, Teucrium Marum Verum, Valeriana Officinalis etc.
Ambra grisea
It is women-centric medicine, adapted to hypersensitive and hysterical women, who are weakened by age or overwork. Patients are very bashful, intensely shy. After eating there is a feeling as if food did not go down into the stomach. Eructations with violent convulsive cough are a peculiar symptom of this drug. Distension of abdomen after midnight. Heartburn from drinking milk.
Ipecac
Heart burn with nausea or vomiting and excessive flatulence. It is suitable in pregnancy also. Clean tongue with thirstlessness.
Nux vomica
Heart burn with flatulence and much acidity but without nausea and vomiting, tongue is coated with creamy fur, stomach is generally out of order. Acidity after rich and spicy food and after alcohol. Patient is irritable in temperament.
Nux vomica is great polycrest and frequently prescribed medicine for several conditions that originate from so called modern lifestyle. Nux vomica patient is very industrious, quick and irritable. Such patients who do a lot of mental work, lead a sedentary life and frequently indulge in stimulants, drugs or alcohol. All gastric problem starts from heart burn; gastralgia, pain goes into back and chest > from vomiting. Nausea; violent reteching and patient feels if he vomits, he will get relief.
Robinia
Excellent remedy for hyperchlorhydria when the eructation and vomiting is so sour that it sets the teeth on edge or dulls them. The acidity in Robinia is accompanied by frontal headache, which aggravates with motion. Acidity in children; infants with sour smell of the body.
Calcarea carb
Burning sensation in the stomach, acrid eructations; feeling of pressure over the stomach with vomiting of food and mucus. This polycrest homeopathic medicine is also found to be very effective in cases of heartburn, acidity or hyperchlorhydria. Heartburn with loud belching. Frequent sour eructations and sour vomiting. Swelling over pit of stomach like an inverted saucer. Patient has craving for indigestible things like chalk, coal, pencil; marked craving for eggs. Milk disagrees. By constitution Calcarea patient is very fair and flabby, perspire a lot and sensitive to cold.
Staphysagria
Heart burn caused by smoking. Patient often has lot of frustration and suppressed anger that precipitates sickness.
Arsenic album
Foul or sour taste, hot burning sensation in the esophagus and pharynx, eructation of sour, acrid fluid, nausea, retching and vomiting of slimy mucus tingled with blood. Trembling and coldness of extremities with pain in stomach and oppressive anxiety, Irregular and frequent pulse.
China
Abdominal discomfort which is only relieved by belching. Sour and bitter eructations or offensive flatus, worse at night and after meals, is an important key note of this remedy. Another key note of this remedy is food does not digest but lies a long time in the stomach causing eructations and finally is vomited undigested.
Natrum phos
Hyperacidity, sour smelling sweats, acid condition of stomach with nausea and vomiting of acrid fluid, Sour eructations, Vomiting of sour fluid like vinegar. Ulceration of stomach with sour risings.
Ailments from too much lactic acid in the system as a result of too much sugar. Sourness; sour eructation, vomiting, stomach, stools, expectoration even sweats. Suitable in cases of vomiting and diarrhea of infants who have been fed with excess sugar and milk- excess of acidity. Yellow creamy coating of the tongue and posterior portion of the roof of mouth is characteristic for this drug.
Pulsatilla
Dryness of the mouth, putrid taste in the morning on walking and a sensation as if food had lodged under the sternum are characteristic symptoms of this remedy. Tongue coated with thick rough white fur; acidity and heart burn is well marked in this remedy. Food taste bitter, sour or putrid; water-brash and eructation tasting of food, No thirst, only a desire to moisten the mouth, Bad taste is special indication of Pulsatilla. It is especially useful for dyspepsia arising from fatty foods, pork, from pastry or mixed diets. The patient is chilly, but is worse from heat, Worse in the evening.
Phosphorus
Phosphorus is wonderful remedy for Acid peptic disorders (A.P.D). Regurgitation of ingesta, waterbrash with spasm of esophagus. Patient has marked craving for cold drink and cold food, which gives temporary relief in the burning and heartburn. Hungry soon after eating. Belching after eating. Vomiting; water is thrown up as soon as it gets warm in the stomach. Gastritis with burning extending to throat. Craving for salt, acid and spicy things. Craving for cold food which is vomited as soon as it becomes hot in the stomach; Spitting of blood without nausea is also common in this remedy.
Aesculus hip
Excellent remedy for heart burn, great burning distress, pressure as from stone in the pit of stomach; empty eructations of wind
Ferrum met
Remarkable remedy for heart burn, vomiting only of food after eating and drinking.
Rheum
Rheum is a remedy for suckling and children where liver and bile duct is mainly affected. Sourness is so marked that even washing does not remove that sour smell from child. Desire for many things but cannot eat them.
Carbo veg
Slowness, sluggishness and lack of reaction are the key points to prescribe Carbo veg. Slowness in metabolism or weak digestion causes excessive flatulence and distension especially in the upper part of abdomen. Eructions rancid and loud, but do not give any relief to the patient. Asthmatic breathing with waterbrush. Constrictive pain extending to chest with acidity. Aversion to meat, fat and milk. Desire for salty things.
Sulphuric acid
This drug also has marked debility as all acids have. Here the debility or weakness affects especially the digestive tract; makes it relax, with a craving for stimulants. Heartburn and gastralgia. Water causes coldness of the stomach; must be mixed with liquors. Aversion to the smell of coffee. Desire for fresh food. Recurring apthae in mouth and throat.
