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Acid Reflux and Indigestion

Dr. Karlo Mauro, N.D.

Today I want to talk to you about Domperidone. No, no, no… I don't mean the French champagne named after the 17th century Benedictine monk, Dom Pérignon.

I'm talking about Domperidone -- the 20th century drug prescribed to people suffering from acid reflux (GERD).

If you suffer from acid reflux then your doctor has most likely prescribed an acid blocking medication (AKA proton pump inhibitor -- PPI) to stop your stomach from producing acid. Although halting the problem of acid reflux (GERD) it creates many more serious problems in the process.

One big side effect of PPIs: Food ends up sitting in your stomach way too long. And because there's not much acid present (thanks to the PPIs) the food isn't breaking down properly. You see, the stomach is a hard worker and won't let go of your fettuccine until it's broken up into pieces.

Unfortunately, because of the low acid environment, the food starts fermenting in the stomach itself.

Not good.

This is why many medical doctors will just automatically prescribe Domperidone when they prescribe acid blockers.

Basically what this French-sounding pharmaceutical does is increase the contractions of the stomach while relaxing the passageway to the small intestine. Thus, food leaves quickly out of the stomach and into the intestine.

Hey, why not? If you're taking acid blockers there isn't much your stomach can do with the food anyways. Might as well move it along.

Unfortunately this just means partially digested food is going to hit your small intestine. Because it has not been fully digested, nutrients, proteins and calories are not going to be able to absorb into your bloodstream. (Especially minerals like calcium. No wonder so many people on the PPI-Domperidone train end up with shriveling bones.)

Of course, all this undigested food is great for the microbes in your intestines. If you're not going to digest the food – then the yeast and bacteria in your intestines will. In return they'll fill your colon with toxic byproducts and plenty of gas and maybe even give you a yeast infection if you're lucky.

In the end the patient has traded acid reflux for indigestion, malabsorption and possibly osteoporosis. Hey, but at least you don't have an acid reflux problem anymore.

While Domperidone has nothing to do with the sparkling French wine… it sure sounds like someone was on their third bottle of Dom Pérignon when they approved this treatment protocol. Gulp. Gulp.

Now, in all fairness, there are extreme situations where these drugs may be quite useful… for a limited time only. If you're suffering from severe, out-of-control gastritis, esophagitis or an ulcer, they might help stabilize you while you FIX the problem. But why wait for things to get that out of control? Why surrender yourself to a solution that only creates more long-term and life threatening consequences?

Often acid reflux is caused by too much tension in the esophagus (NOT necessarily too much acid in the stomach). This could be a result of mental stress, lack of proper nutrients (like magnesium) or lack of sleep. All simple issues to remedy. Stay tuned for my Natural Reflux Strategies booklet coming out soon.

Yours in Natural Health,

Dr. Karlo Mauro, N.D.

Dr. Karlo Mauro, BSc, BA, MSEd, ND
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine
Constipation Relief Strategies For Women

 

 

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