SS-L floats options to address GERD heartburn.
by Steven Sandberg-Lewis, ND, DHANP
About 30% of North Americans report experiencing heartburn at least once each week (Richter JE, 2018; Delshad SD, 2020). How people describe heartburn varies – burning, sharp, pressing – and while it most often occurs in the chest near the breastbone, other forms may be in the throat or larynx. Some people report simply feeling uncomfortable, but others report significant pain with some cases so severe they need to be differentiated from angina or a heart attack.
Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) is one of the common causes of heartburn. GERD is a physiological process in which the contents (liquid, solid, or aerosolized liquid) move up from the stomach into the esophagus or higher, causing symptoms and possibly damaging the esophageal lining.
The symptom of heartburn can occur without reflux of stomach contents.
Most standard treatments for reflux work by neutralizing stomach acid or reducing its production. These medications can have side-effects and work for only about half of the people with heartburn.
A different treatment option is to produce a “raft” that floats on top of the stomach contents. The raft caps the stomach fluid, preventing its upward movement into the esophagus.
Sodium alginate, derived from seaweed, is a perfect natural agent for the purpose of creating a raft because, when mixed with fluid, it forms a protective gel layer. Many products on the market contain sodium alginate with some also containing mineral antacids such as magnesium carbonate, potassium bicarbonate or sodium bicarbonate to neutralize the acid in and around the gel.
Here are some available alginate products:
· Gaviscon Extra Strength https://www.gaviscon.com or Option+ Extra Strength Heartburn Relief https://www.northernvitality.us/ Both products contain artificial flavors, sorbitol (polyol) and sucrose.
· Reflux Gourmet https://refluxgourmet.com This product contains natural ingredients – no sorbitol or sucrose – and is instead sweetened with dextrose which is low FODMAP friendly.
· Reflux Raft https://refluxraft.com In addition to the alginate and mineral antacids, Reflux Raft includes the demulcent DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice) and ginger. Most of the ingredients are organically sourced and it is sweetened with stevia which is low FODMAP friendly.
If your heartburn is caused by GERD, perhaps trying a raft will help.
Steven Sandberg-Lewis, ND, has been in clinical practice for nearly 45 years. He has been a professor since 1985, teaching a variety of courses but primarily focusing on gastroenterology and GI physical medicine. In 2019, Dr. Sandberg-Lewis co-founded Hive Mind Medicine, continuing his specialization in gastroenterology with a focus on reflux, SIBO, inflammatory bowel disease and functional GI disorders.
His latest book, Let's Be Real About Reflux: Getting to the Heart of Heartburn, is soon to be released. He wrote it to help non-medical and medical professionals alike develop a better understanding of reflux and options for its natural treatment.
Hive Mind Medicine blog posts are for educational purposes only and are not intended as medical advice. Please consult with your health care practitioner for personalized guidance. Click on the contact button below if you would like to schedule with one of our Hive Mind practitioners.