IC and Prelief: 8 Ways to Manage an Acid Stomach

As part of the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia) acid indigestion as manifested in hyperacidity syndrome(HAS) or gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD) would not be surprising  This is because from an energy science point of view the hot quality(Pitta energy pattern) is a major contributor to the imbalance that creates interstitial cystitis(IC)…the burning on urination, vaginal burning are related to this quality  The other IC imbalancing quality is the mobile quality of the Vata energy pattern

The Spectrum of Disease

All physiologic disease shows up as an array of symptoms from not so bad to terrible  Patients with occasional heartburn can then begin to have it all the time  This makes it eligible for the disease label of HAS  If it progresses to a sour taste in the mouth or a burning in the chest then it advances to GERD  And if GERD progresses then it can become the disease label of Barrett’s esophagitis

But notice that in all these advancing disease labels one thing remains constant  The hot quality  So in the end these disease labels are related to the increasing intensity of this quality  But wait there’s more from an energy science perspective  The Pitta energy pattern displays the hot quality when out of balance in its functional seat, the liver

So again from an energy science point of view the liver imbalances due to Pitta must be addressed if a patient is having problems with GERD

Reducing the heat

There are a number of ways to go beyond Prelief which like all its molecular relatives( such as over the counter Prevacid and various expensive pharmaceuticals) represent pharma bandaids  From an energy science treatment perspective the alternatives not only provide relief but done properly with other allied therapies become permanent solutions, not bandaids

Wouldn’t you rather have something that is sustainable long term instead of relying on a pharmacological bandaid?  Here are some basic energy science treatments that can bring about control of this Pitta energy pattern of transformation

Avipattikar  This herb combination is an excellent way to get control of raging hot Pitta in the stomach reducing the hot quality

Aloe vera gel  This herb is not only cooling to the small bowel therefore reduces the Pitta energy pattern but because it is effective for Pitta disorders in general it is a good liver protectant  This makes it a valuable herb overall in treating Pitta disorders  From an energy point of view aloe is special because it falls into a special group of herbs called rasayana  This means it is a tissue rejuvenative and restorative of bodily tissues  There are no Western pharma that can make that claim

Ghee  In the Ayurvedic classics ghee assumes a significant therapeutic role in the management of high Pitta conditions such as HAS and GERD

Psyllium husk  Using this herb may sound strange as it is used as a laxative but 1t at bedtime mixed with fresh yogurt or with warm water will absorb Pitta in the small intestine and stop the colonic wall irritation

Nutritional format and incompatible food combinations We can take all the herbs in the world but if we continue to take into our bodies the same imbalancing qualities then no gains will be made  It’s like 2steps forward and 3 steps back  If there is HAS or GERD then no doubt the person is a strong Pitta and these conditions would be the ways that they might go out of balance  One should follow a Pitta pacifying diet At the very least one should follow the PK or PV formats at foodsheal.com 

Kefir milk  When Pitta is out of control and the hot quality is raging, the microbiome or the gut flora becomes affected  Since the gut flora is an important aspect of agni it’s important to replenish and support this vital aspect to our health  Kefir does this by providing new healthy bacteria to our gut microbiome population  You can get it in the stores or make it yourself by finding some Kefir granules from someone willing to share

Shatavari is a wonderful herb to reduce Pitta and like aloe vera it has far reaching physiologic consequences due to its rasayana effect  Rasayanas are a special group of herbs that have strengthening physiologic effects over other herbs and are used particularly after cleansing therapies used in panchakarma

Kama dudha moti bhasma and abhrak bhasma are basically calcium salts that act as coenzymes in metabolic processes and can be effective when Pitta is high

Like all energy work it is subtle and the healing shifts occur slowly over months but the good thing is that they are sustainable long lasting effects