PHARMACY FRIDAY - Indigestion.. Too much or not enough acid?

Recently I went through a bout of the flu and let me tell you, it was no fun. The actual flu part has been over for at least two weeks now, but the lasting side effects still linger. For the most part, I am on the mend and just a little tired still, but one problem just keeps persisting. . . . . INDIGESTION.

I have not had indigestion this badly in a long time. Some days it gets so bad it makes my heart flutter and flip flop in odd ways (it aggravates another issue that has long been under control). So of course, I have been desperate to remedy it.

In the past I just reached for an antacid tablet. There was a time in life when I and one of my kids lived on those things, usually bringing relief for only a few minutes, but over the years I have learned that there are ingredients in those antacid tablets that I really don't want in my body. I also read one day awhile back that it is a misconception that indigestion is always caused by too much acid in the stomach when often times indigestion may actually be from not enough acid in your stomach, Antacid tablets would then make the problem worse. Well, I CERTAINLY don't want my indigestion to get worse! Without enough of the proper acid in your stomach, food doesn't digest properly, what isn't digested will just sit there, resulting in unwanted (and sometimes dangerous) bacteria growth.

I did a little research and, sure enough, MOST (not all) indigestion is caused by NOT ENOUGH acid in the stomach. It does result in acid being pushed up into the esophagus, but that is because not having enough acid in your stomach makes all of that area work improperly. So my search was on to find something NATURAL to relieve my indigestion. I had noticed that when I drank my hot cup of Apple Cider Vinegar and Honey (which I was using to remedy something else), I would often begin to belch, so I decided to begin there with my searching. Sure enough, it is a wonderful remedy for indigestion!  It makes sense as the vinegar adds acid to the stomach and both the vinegar and the honey kill many unwanted bacteria that may be further causing the indigestion/reflux problem.

I simply mix a teaspoon or two of Apple Cider Vinegar (make sure it is Raw, with the Mother in it, preferably Organic) and a large spoonful of Raw Honey in a cup of quality hot water (not chemically laden tap water), stir and sip until all consumed. In just a matter of minutes I get great relief! In fact, I get far better relief than from any commercial tablets or liquid I have ever taken. From now on I will make sure I ALWAYS have these two ingredients on hand and I will never buy commercial antacids again.

The following articles give great detail as to how LACK OF stomach acid can cause acid reflux and/or indigestion:

Great Video Explanation by Dr. Patti Kim

From Livestrong

From NaturopathConnect

All of these articles are excellent and you won't want to miss any of them! 

PHARMACY FRIDAY - Apple Cider Vinegar for healing

 Now, when I talk about using Apple Cider Vinegar for healing purposes, I am talking about the All Natural Apple Cider Vinegar WITH Mother. This vinegar is in its most natural state and has not had extra processing that kills any (usually most) of its natural healing properties. There are actually several different brands you can choose from. Although most of them work equally well, there is usually a very wide range of prices. We have found that Heinz works very well, for a very reasonable price.

Some people think that Apple Cider Vinegar KILLS bacteria, but others say that it mostly just retards the growth of bacteria. There are several types of bacteria that it can stop the growth of, and one of the most important ones is Staphylococcus aureus. This could be very good to know when you have an antibiotic resistant staff infection!
But Apple Cider Vinegar, some say, does not stop the growth of all bacteria (see more HERE), so if you are counting on it for the purpose of killing/retarding many bacteria, you may want to consider something with more antibacterial properties, or digging a little deeper with your research.

Apple Cider Vinegar contains inulin, which is a prebiotic. So what does this mean? This component won't kill bacteria, but it WILL help your body's ability to fight against them by increasing your number of T cells and white blood cells.

Apple Cider Vinegar can also help to stop the growth of bacteria in another way. When applied, it decreases the pH of surfaces (such as your skin), which will help to prevent bacteria from growing.  A word of caution, though, Apple Cider Vinegar IS an acid and can cause some tissue irritation.

Contrary to all of this, research done by the Heinz corporation has shown that apple cider vinegar actually kills 99% of bacteria, 82% of mold and 80% of viruses.  You will have to be the judge on how much you trust it to kill bacteria and viruses, but this time of year, during cold and flu season, it might not be a bad idea to incorporate some into your daily cleaning routines and to disinfect minor cuts and scrapes. I like to drink a little of it mixed in a glass of water with some honey. It tastes much better than you would think, and since I have elected NOT to get a flu shot (I don't trust them, but that is another subject), I hope that a glass now and then will help to prevent the growth of any flu viruses in my system. As an added bonus, that beverage concoction also seems to help my arthritis pain! But that is getting off of topic, so we will save that for another Friday
HERE is yet a little more great information about the great, antibacterial and antiviral benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar. I hope you find this all helpful (and not confusing) and I look forward to hearing about your opinions, findings and results.

This post is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease or illness. Always remember to check with your health care provider before beginning any treatment on your own.