Jo's Health Corner: digestive

Emergency Preparedness – Heartburn

This is my seventh post in my Emergency Preparedness series where I address an important issue such as lack of access to medicine and medical care in case of emergencies.

What if access to medication and medical care is denied?
In my first post, Emergency Preparedness I was wondering how people on prescribed medications would handle an emergency situation if access to medication and medical care is denied. I encourage you to go back to my previous posts and read them. My other posts cover high blood pressure, a nxiety & depression, pain , diabetes and allergy.

I urge you to take charge of your own health so you're better prepared for any situation where you might not be able to fill your prescription or use any medical facilities.

Natural solutions
Below are some natural solutions to the most prescribed drugs in America today.

Why essential oils?

You can stockpile essential oils, and they have no expiration date if they are stored correctly. Herbs also lose their potency over time.
They are small enough so they can be put in a pocket if needed.
They are more potent so less amount is needed for healing. You have to drink 26 cups of peppermint tea in order to get the same healing effect as one drop of therapeutic peppermint essential oil.

Treat the body holistically
It is important to remember to take a holistic approach to healing and not only rely on natural remedies. Dietary changes, living a toxin free life, exercise, sufficient rest and sleep, and incorporating other healing therapies into your life should also be considered.

Okay, here we go:

#4 Heartburn medications are some of the most prescribed drugs in our country

The most commonly prescribed drugs for heartburn and acid reflux block the stomach's ability to produce acid. It is not always the best approach for the problems since typically the stomach is producing too little acid. According to Mitchell Katz, the director of San Francisco Department of Public Health, Nexium, Prevacid, and Prilosec are misused and overprescribed and hurt more than they help. These medications are designed to treat bleeding ulcers, infection with the ulcer-causing bacteria Helicobacter pylori, and severe acid reflux when it is confirmed that the esophagus is damaged. According to Katz these drugs were never intended for people with heartburn. 60-70% of people on these drugs only have mild heartburn and should not be on them. These drugs can also cause side effects such as pneumonia, bone loss, and hip fractures.

According to Mercola, 95% of the heartburn cases are caused by too little stomach acid and not too much. By reducing the stomach acid you eliminate the primary defense mechanism for food-born infections so the risk of food poisoning will increase.

Consult with your physician before you quit any of these medications since you gradually need to wean yourself off them.

Dr. Mercola's tips:

Eliminate food triggers since food allergies can be a problem. Eliminate things such as nicotine, alcohol, and caffeine.
Consume enough raw material to encourage the body to make enough hydrochloric acid. (Remember, the problem is typically too little acid)
Use high quality sea salt such as Himalayan salt since it will provide chloride needed to make hydrochloric acid. It also contains over 80 trace minerals so your body can perform optimally.
Take a betaine hydrochloric supplements, this will help you digest your food better, help kill the helicobacter and help normalize the symptoms.
Large amount of sugars and processed foods will upset the bacterial balance in the stomach and intestine so opt for a lot of veggies and locally grown foods.
Vitamin D is essential for this condition due to the fact that a infectious component is likely causing the problem. Optimized vitamin D levels will also optimize the production of 200 antimicrobial peptides, these will help eradicate any infections in the body that shouldn't be there.

Other tips from experts:

Mix 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with 1/2 cup of water and drink after each meal. It is said to bring digestive relief and calm stomach troubles.
Eat fresh or dried bananas.
Basil leaves are said to relieve heartburn.
It is said tea made of crushed cinnamon or cardamon can cool the heat of the heartburn.
A tea made from fennel, anise or caraway seed can ease the burn of heartburn according to herbalists.
One of the oldest remedies for heartburn is ginger. Mix 1 tablespoon ginger and lemon juice with raw honey in a cup of warm water. Drink when you start feeling the heartburn.

Time for the oils
Or should I say oil? Peppermint is one of the most effective essential oils for the digestive system. According to Essential Oils Integrative Medical Guide, peppermint can be used for heartburn. I've also had great success using peppermint for heartburn. Other oils suggested by the Essential Oils Integrative Medical Guide are lemon, spearmint, ginger.

Remember

Never quit any prescribed medication on your own since it may be dangerous. Some medications needs to be weaned of slowly. Consult with your doctor first.

Before you leave:

I recommend that you always perform a skin patch test when you try a new oil.

Check out my safety page to make sure you are aware of any contrindications before you use essential oils. Some oils are not suitable when suffering from certain conditions. Also, Read this Before You Start Using Essential oils. Some oils should not be applied prior to sun exposure so make sure you check this list before spending time in the sun.

Not sure how to apply the oils? Visit these pages to learn how to apply the oils:

If you're new to essential oils you might want to check out my Getting Started Guide.

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Johanna is an aromatherapist and she is passionate about educating people about health, essential oils, real food, natural remedies, and nutrition so they make healthier choices in their lives.
Follow Johanna on twitter and facebook for more health tips and information.

Sources:

Connie and Alan Higley, (Twelfth Edition, revised 2010). Reference Guide for Essential Oils. Abundant Health
Gary Young, ND (2006). Essential Oils, Integrative Medical Guide. Essential Science Publishing

Salvatore Battaglia (1995). The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy. The Perfect Potion Pty Ltd

Julie Behling (2011). Medical Preparedness for Adults E-book

Photo credit

This post is linked to:
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10:56 AM | Read more...

Indigestion

Indigestion is "lack or failure of digestion; commonly used to denote vague abdominal discomfort after meals." (Dorland's) Heartburn, belching, a burning feeling after eating, vomiting, gas and abdominal pain are some of the symptoms of indigestion.

There may be several different causes to indigestion such as food allergies, leaky gut, yeast overgrowth, too much fatty food, and talking while eating or chewing with the mouth open. Hernia, cancer, coronary heart disease, acute pancreatitis and gall bladder disease can also cause indigestion, and they need to be ruled out before administering essential oils. Many have successfully improved their digestive issues just by changing the diet so I highly recommend to make dietary changes and not just rely on essential oils. Many have, myself included, improved their digestive issues by eating Paleo. Grains, legumes, sugar, and dairy are avoided on the Paleo diet.

Oil properties

I would choose essential oils with carminative and antispasmodic properties for alleviating the symptoms associated with indigestion. Carminative oils are beneficial in indigestion because they promote intestinal peristalsis, reduce the amount of gas, and relieve pain. They will assist the digestion and alleviate bloating, belching, and gas since accumulated undigested food materials will be removed easier.

Antispasmodic oils prevent spasms and contractions. They relieve the nervous tension causing spasms or colic. However, I believe it is equally important to add essential oils with relaxant nervine action to my blends. Even though the direct cause of indigestion is not stress related, the condition itself can put a lot of pressure and tension on the clients. Relaxant nervines relax the whole body by reducing tension or over activity of a certain body system. They are therefore especially useful in nervous indigestion.

Single oils

I would choose Roman chamomile, Anthemis nobilis, peppermint, Mentha piperita, ginger, Zingiber officinalis, and anise, Pimpinella anisum. They posess carminative and antispasmodic actions that are enhanced together. Anthemis nobilis and Pimpinella anisum are known remedies for digestive disorders, but they also possess nervine actions and therefore, I would choose them for their calming effect on the nervous system as well.

Administration

A stomach massage with the above oils is very useful in alleviating abdominal pain and bloating. Traditionally, Roman chamomile and anise essential oils have been diffused prior to meal times when stress and nervousness are the underlying cause. A hot compress placed over the stomach when the abdominal pain and gas are severe has traditionally been done in addition to abdominal massage. Historically, peppermint and chamomile have been mixed with honey and made into tea. I don't suggest ingesting oils unless it has been confirmed from the company selling the oils that they are suitable for ingestion.

Other oils

Neroli, cinnamon, mandarin, and rosemary have traditionally been used for indigestion as well.

Don't forget that the most important thing is to find out what is causing the indigestion in the first place. Dietary changes can make wonders.

eat slower and chew the food well
don't drink while eating
consider adding enzymes or drink apple cider vinegar
pay attention to your body and eliminate food that you suspect is the problem
increase food with good bacteria
some experts recommend to drink the juice of a lemon first thing in the morning
consider adding garlic to the diet. It may stimulate gastric juices, relieve flatulence, and it may also help detoxify the intestines.

Before you leave:

I recommend that you always perform a skin patch test when you try a new oil.

Not sure how to apply the oils? Visit these pages to learn how to apply the oils:

Topical Application

Inhaling Essential Oils

Are You Diffusing the Oils Correctly?

How to Dilute Essential Oils

Vita Flex Technique