Chewing gum.

Lesley · Post by **Lesley** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 6:45 pm

well, I made my own. The stuff is difficult and sticky and sticks to my teeth, but since I have a piece in my mouth I feel the saliva flowing and the first relief from heartburn for DAYS!

It's not comfortable, and it doesn't taste good, and it's not fun, but it's WAY better than a slap in the face with a wet fish!

Post by **tex** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 9:42 pm

Progress, a step at a time, eventually gets us to our goals.

Tex

Lesley · Post by **Lesley** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 10:26 pm

Gave up on it. It's really too sticky, and tastes awful, no matter what I do. Their sweetener is corn syrup, which I can't have. I put a little agave syrup on them. I bet that changed the consistency.

Oh well, another trial, another error.

MBombardier · Post by **MBombardier** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 10:43 am

Lesley, I was thinking about you and your GERD (as a former fellow-sufferer, I feel for you), and I remembered that somewhere you posted something that made me think that you are trying to stay away from acidic foods. Am I thinking correctly? Because the reason for GERD, counter-intuitive as it seems, is that there is not enough acid. The PPIs like Zantec, Prilosec, etc., take down the acid production in the stomach. That's why heartburn gets worse after you quit them (I had this reaction, too) until the stomach recovers its ability to produce acid. It's the acid that slams the valve at the base of the esophagus so there is no reflux.

So I am wondering...have you tried apple cider vinegar? There is a website called Earth Clinic http://www.earthclinic.com/ that talks a lot about the use of apple cider vinegar as a remedy for many things. Apple cider vinegar is a folk remedy, so all the stories about its ability to cure things are anecdotal, of course, so YMMV. A personal anecdote about it is that it helped my daughter wonderfully with her heartburn. I never really got over the taste of it to the point I could take it enough to be helpful. Thankfully, the healing of damage in my gut has also delivered me from heartburn. Now it, along with the gurgling, is a sign that I have eaten something my gut doesn't like.

If you decide to try the apple cider vinegar, be sure to buy some with the mother in it. Whole Foods has an inexpensive brand, as does Trader Joe's. Hope this helps, at least a little...

Lesley · Post by **Lesley** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 10:51 am

Marliss, I know about apple cider vinegar. So far I haven't tried it, but my mother did. It didn't help her though she drank GALLONS.

I wonder if the GERD was better when I was juicing because of the acid I was adding? Right now, no matter what I do, any food makes it hurt.

Zizzle · Post by **Zizzle** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 10:54 am

I'm wondering is slippery elm lozenges might help with your GERD? They are sold for sore throats because of their soothing, coating action, but I've read of people using it for GI complaints.

Lesley · Post by **Lesley** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 11:13 am

Zizzle, you always manage to come from behind and surprise!
What on earth are slippery elm lozenges? Sounds so exotic. Like something out of Harry Potter.

Where would I find them? I will look on the internet. Bless the internet! That's how I found YOU!

Zizzle · Post by **Zizzle** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 11:20 am

From UMD medical center: http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/slip ... 000274.htm
Lots of other sources on the net.

I've often wondered about it for MC treatment, but haven't taken the plunge yet. I did suck on a lozenge last night after developing mild heartburn from a no-no huge salad. Not sure it helped, but I did feel better.

I don't know enough about it to comment on which form to take -- that's for you to research. I have Thayer's brand at home. You can find it at any health food store.

Slippery elm

Overview:
Slippery elm (Ulmus fulva) has been used as an herbal remedy in North America for centuries. Native Americans used slippery elm in healing salves for wounds, boils, ulcers, burns, and skin inflammation. It was also taken orally to relieve coughs, sore throats, diarrhea, and stomach problems.

Slippery elm contains mucilage, a substance that becomes a slick gel when mixed with water. It coats and soothes the mouth, throat, stomach, and intestines. It also contains antioxidants that help relieve inflammatory bowel conditions. Slippery elm also causes reflux stimulation of nerve endings in the gastrointestinal tract leading to increased mucus secretion. The increased mucus production may protect the gastrointestinal tract against ulcers and excess acidity.

There has been little scientific research on slippery elm, but it is often suggested for the following conditions:

•Sore throat
•Cough
•Gastroesophogeal reflux disease (GERD)
•Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and irritable bowel syndrom (IBS)
•Diarrhea
•Wounds, burns, boils, psoriasis, and other skin conditions (external)

sarkin · Post by **sarkin** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 12:46 pm

Interesting, Z - I had a tiny sore throat, remembering those old-fashioned lozenges, and wondering whether slippery elm would help MC, too.

MBombardier · Post by **MBombardier** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 1:03 pm

Cool... We use slippery elm tea for sore throats. I will have to keep that in mind for heartburn and other digestive ailments.

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 1:39 pm

Slippery Elm is an anti-inflammatory
most acupuncturists/naturopaths/dieticians will recommend Slippery Elm for IBS (it can help both C and D)

I tried it when i first started having the chronic D (before diagnosis) but it didn't help - now i know possibly why as it was in a 'gel cap'

if it is available in a lozenge with safe ingredients then go for it! it will help the GERD and help your gut to heal

Slippery elm (Ulmus fulva) has been used as an herbal remedy in North America for centuries. Native Americans used slippery elm in healing salves for wounds, boils, ulcers, burns, and skin inflammation. It was also taken orally to relieve coughs, sore throats, diarrhea, and stomach problems.

Slippery elm contains mucilage, a substance that becomes a slick gel when mixed with water. It coats and soothes the mouth, throat, stomach, and intestines. It also contains antioxidants that help relieve inflammatory bowel conditions. Slippery elm also causes reflux stimulation of nerve endings in the gastrointestinal tract leading to increased mucus secretion. The increased mucus production may protect the gastrointestinal tract against ulcers and excess acidity.

There has been little scientific research on slippery elm, but it is often suggested for the following conditions:

•Sore throat
•Cough
•Gastroesophogeal reflux disease (GERD)
•Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and irritable bowel syndrom (IBS)
•Diarrhea
•Wounds, burns, boils, psoriasis, and other skin conditions (external)

Post by **tex** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 4:03 pm

For do-it-yourselfers:

http://www.learningherbs.com/sore_throa ... emedy.html

Tex

Lesley · Post by **Lesley** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 4:32 pm

Liquorice is also good fer GERD, but after the disaster of making my own chewing gum I think I will buy them ready made.