Acid Reflux Article

Alternaive Treatment for Acid Reflux in Pregnancy.

In pregnancy, you must know what is safe and what is not when treating your acid reflux or GERD. Before your pregnancy you could try any one of the various alternative treatment available but extreme care during pregnancy is very important.

Homeopathy uses the concept of like heals like. The use of the drugs in homeopathy to treat acid reflux in pregnancy is questionable. Personally I think you should stay clear of these drugs. They have not undergone stringent testing expected in conventional drugs prescribed by your doctor. Even in most prescribed drugs the safety in pregnancy is not clear. This is because of the ethical issues using pregnant mums in trials.

Acupressure and acupuncture today uses sterile disposable needles to stimulate acupoints in the meridians of the body. Acupuncture is safe during pregnancy and does not injure the foetus. Acupuncture is used in many areas of treatment but I am not convinced there is any significant benefit in acid relux or GERD.

Aromatherapy uses essential oils and reduces stress. This helps acid reflux because it is assumed that GERD sufferers have a high level of stress. It is not a proven therapy and some of the oils can be absorbed through the skin and reach the blood stream. In pregnancy do not use aromatherapy unless guided by your doctor.

Ayurvedic medicine uses a combination of herbs as part of a holistic approach to the treatment of acid reflux and GERD. These herbs have not been tested for safety in pregnancy. If you are considering using Ayurvedic treatment during pregnancy get professional help first. You can, however, use the other aspect of this treatment and avoid the herbs.

Yoga is a combination of exercises that relaxes the body and help digestion. The breathing exercises and various techniques employed relax muscles and reduce stress. Yoga experts suggest that during meals you eat slowly and chew properly to promote good digestion. In between bites you should take a deep breath.

Do not practice yoga soon after meals. It will make your gerd worse. Wait for about three hours. Select the exercises that will not put added pressure on your abdomen. This will aggravate acid reflux. Choose the exercises that keep you upright and avoid unnecessary bending. Yoga is a good discipline to use during pregnancy.

Reflexology involves working on particular part of the foot to promote balance or normality in various organs of the body. The esophagus and the stomach are included in the map of the foot, The stomach is in the middle of the sole of the foot and the esophagus is on the sole right behind the big toe. The diaphragm is just in front of the stomach area. Proponents of the therapy will work in these areas of the foot to treat acid reflux.

Juice therapy is used as a treatment of acid reflux. It is safe in pregnancy. The juice is a mixture of fruits added into a juicer and the extracted juice is drunk. One recipe includes one quarter pineapple, one kiwi fruit, one quarter of an inch of fresh ginger crushed. Some suggest adding fresh mint leaves but mint can relax the Lower Esophageal Sphincter.

The ingredient that produces the real benefit is ginger. In pregnancy you should not exceed the recommended daily intake, so you are restricted to 8 ounces of the juice.