
Acid Reflux / Heartburn
A functional medicine approach to acid reflux / heartburn.
Seeking a natural treatment for acid reflux / heartburn? This page covers:
At BionwoRx, we’ll collaborate with you to uncover the root cause of your acid reflux / heartburn. Then, we can address the real issue naturally and effectively.
Understanding your condition
What is acid reflux / heartburn?
The terms “heartburn” and “acid reflux” refer to the same common condition. In this condition, the contents of the stomach rise up into the delicate lining of the esophagus, creating a burning sensation.
The lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is a muscle located above the stomach. Its role is to prevent the stomach contents from flowing back up into the esophagus. However, when the LES relaxes or doesn’t close properly, it can allow acid reflux to occur. Several factors can contribute to this, including certain foods, medications, obesity, and pregnancy.
Acid Reflux / Heartburn
A natural treatment for acid reflux / heartburn.
Our functional medicine specialist can help pinpoint the underlying cause of your acid reflux / heartburn and treat it effectively with natural remedies. This can get you feeling like your best self again.

Symptoms of acid reflux / heartburn.
The most common symptom of heartburn or acid reflux is a burning sensation in the chest area that may radiate upwards. Since this is the most common cause of non-cardiac chest pain, it’s crucial to rule out any serious cardiac-related issues first. If you’re unsure, seek urgent medical attention.
Other common heartburn symptoms include:
- Burning pain or discomfort below the sternum that may radiate to the neck, jaw, or sides of the chest – this is often worse when lying down, bending over, exercising, or feeling hungry
- Pain or discomfort that is relieved by eating, taking antacids, or standing upright
- Difficulty or pain when swallowing
- A sour taste in the back of the throat
- Feeling of fullness or a lump at the back of the throat
- Coughing, wheezing, or other breathing difficulties
- Feeling full after eating very little
- Regurgitation
- Laryngitis or a hoarse voice
- Indigestion (or dyspepsia) describes a general discomfort felt in the upper abdomen, which may be caused by acid reflux or other digestive issues like nausea, gas, or feeling too full.
What is the difference between acid reflux, heartburn and GERD?
Acid reflux and heartburn are just two names for the same thing. When frequent episodes of stomach acid backing up into the esophagus cause irritation, it’s called gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD for short.
If you don’t treat GERD, it can actually damage the lining of your esophagus and lead to more serious health problems down the line.
What causes acid reflux / heartburn?
There are many potential causes of acid reflux and heartburn, including:
- Acid-producing foods, highly processed fast foods, fried foods, spicy foods, and fatty foods
- Food intolerances or allergies, particularly to gluten and dairy – this is a common issue in children
- Suboptimal diet with low levels of key nutrients like zinc, magnesium, vitamin A, vitamin C, and B vitamins that support healthy digestion. Highly processed, refined carbs and sugar can also stimulate excess stomach acid without enough fats, fiber, or protein to buffer it.
- Alcohol consumption, which can disrupt the gut microbiome and pH
- Caffeine
- Delayed gastric emptying due to structural issues, poor peristalsis, or low stomach acid
- Smoking, which slows digestion and relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter
- Certain medications like NSAIDs, antibiotics, progesterone, calcium channel blockers, and long-term PPI use
- Weak lower esophageal sphincter function, which can be genetic, structural, or related to low acid production
- Eating right before bed
- Overeating
- Chronic stress, which affects the nervous system and digestive processes
- Magnesium or zinc deficiencies, which are common and important for proper digestion
- Gut dysbiosis and SIBO, which can alter gut pH
- Both low and high stomach acid levels
- H. pylori has long been associated with stomach ulcers and certain types of stomach cancer. However, its role in acid reflux remains an active area of debate, as the connection appears to be more complex than previously thought.
If left untreated, acid reflux can lead to complications like esophagitis, ulceration, bleeding, strictures, and even Barrett’s esophagus – a precursor to esophageal cancer. Gastric ulcers are also linked to H. pylori, reflux, and long-term PPI use. Severe, untreated reflux can also cause gastrointestinal bleeding, anemia, and vomiting of blood.
The conventional treatment approach for acid reflux / heartburn.
In emergency settings, a combination of increased reflux symptoms and decreased symptom intensity can often lead to an acid reflux diagnosis after suspected cardiac pain. Ensuring the pain is not cardiac-related is crucial before making a diagnosis.
Once it’s clear the pain is not heart-related, the diagnosis may be made through one or more methods:
- Symptom presentation
- Endoscopy
- Ambulatory reflux monitoring
- Positive response to acid-reducing medication
Your doctor may recommend ways to reduce reflux symptoms, such as:
- Losing weight
- Avoiding large meals close to bedtime
- Cutting out spicy or trigger foods
- Reducing or quitting coffee, alcohol, and smoking
- Waiting for reflux to pass
- Taking over-the-counter antacid medications
Doctors often prescribe medications like H2 receptor blockers (e.g., Zantac) or proton pump inhibitors (e.g., Nexium, Somac, Suvacid) to reduce the stomach’s acid production. They may also treat H. pylori infections. These acid-reducing drugs have become extremely common, with a 1300% increase in use from 1995 to 2006 in the. United States. In fact, they’re now among the top 10 most prescribed medications in the country.
However, long-term use of these drugs is not recommended by the manufacturers due to significant potential side effects, including:
- Increased risk of pneumonia
- Disruption of the gut microbiome and dysbiosis, and nutritional deficiencies
- Clostridoides difficile infection
- Osteoporotic fractures
- Interstitial nephritis
- Deficiencies in B12, magnesium, iron, zinc, and calcium
- Fractures
- Increased risk of gastric cancer
Given these concerns, many people now seek more natural treatments for acid reflux to avoid these side effects. At BionwoRx, our functional medicine practitioner can provide personalized, effective long-term relief using natural remedies for heartburn.
The BionwoRx approach.
The functional medicine treatment approach to acid reflux / heartburn.
Functional medicine takes an evidence-based, holistic approach to uncover the root cause of your symptoms. Our functional medicine acid reflux specialist will thoroughly investigate which organs and systems may be contributing to your digestive issues.
We’ll start by gathering key information about your:
- Symptoms
- Family and medical history
- Medications and supplements
- Environmental exposures
- Diet and lifestyle
Functional testing can help identify underlying factors like low stomach acid or H. pylori infections that may be driving your acid reflux. Other tests may reveal food intolerances, nutrient deficiencies, or gut imbalances.
Treatments will vary based on the underlying causes, but may include:
- Dietary recommendations to eliminate food intolerances, avoid trigger foods, and improve nutrient status
- Mindful eating and optimized meal timing
- Supplements to promote healthy digestion, such as betaine hydrochloride, digestive enzymes, slippery elm powder, fiber supplements, and for mucosal repair – zinc, vitamin A, vitamin C, and magnesium
- Herbal medicines for mucosal repair and anti-inflammatory properties, like meadowsweet, calendula, licorice, turmeric, marshmallow, and aloe
- Herbal antacids such as meadowsweet, slippery elm powder, and alfalfa
- Digestive stimulants to improve gastric emptying, including gentian and ginger
- Anti-pathogenic herbs like pomegranate husk, garlic, turmeric, and berberine
- Other herbs or natural remedies for heartburn, as needed, such as those that support anti-anxiety, detoxification, bile production, lower esophageal sphincter tone/repair, and esophageal lining
- Probiotics to facilitate a diverse and healthy microbiome
- Fiber supplementation (prebiotics) to maintain a healthy microbiome and enhance digestive function
- Lifestyle medicine such as stress resilience techniques like meditation and mindfulness
- Strategies to decrease weight, improve sleep, quit smoking, and limit alcohol intake
Our cutting-edge, evidence-based approach has helped many people overcome acid reflux and other digestive health concerns. We’re here to give you all the tools and support you need to get to the root of your symptoms and reclaim your wellbeing.
FAQs.
What is GERD? Is GERD serious?
Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) is the result of long-term acid reflux, also known as heartburn. Chronic reflux episodes happen when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), located just above the stomach, becomes too relaxed or doesn’t close properly. This allows the stomach’s contents to rise back up into the esophagus. There are several reasons why the LES may not function as it should, such as obesity, certain foods, medications, stress, pregnancy, inherited LES weakness, or digestive issues like SIBO or dysbiosis.
If left untreated, GERD can become serious. It can cause inflammation and damage to the esophagus, and may even lead to Barrett’s esophagus – a condition strongly linked to a higher risk of esophageal cancer.
For safe, effective natural treatments for acid reflux, consider consulting our functional medicine practitioner who specializes in acid reflux therapies. See the details above for more information.
What is the best sleeping position for acid reflux / heartburn?
Sleeping on your left side can provide temporary relief by improving the closure of the lower esophageal sphincter and reducing reflux episodes. Elevating your head above your feet, either by propping up the bed with pillows or using 10-12 cm blocks under the head of the bed, may also help reduce acid reflux.
For a more comprehensive, long-term solution, consider seeking out our functional medicine practitioner who specializes in heartburn. They can create a personalized program to help relieve your acid reflux for good.
How do I stop acid reflux / heartburn?
The most effective way to stop heartburn or acid reflux is to address the underlying cause. Natural acid reflux treatments from functional medicine practitioners may include herbal remedies, lifestyle adjustments, dietary changes, and supplements. As holistic providers, they first identify the root issue, then develop a personalized plan to treat the whole person, not just the symptoms.
Once the cause and contributing factors are determined, functional medicine practitioners can prescribe natural heartburn remedies. This may include slippery elm powder for pain relief, herbs to improve digestion and gut health, and anti-inflammatory supplements – tailored to your specific needs.
Dietary modifications based on functional testing can address food intolerances, nutritional deficiencies, or gut imbalances.
The key is getting to the heart of the matter with a holistic, personalized approach – not just treating the heartburn symptoms. Functional medicine practitioners are skilled at uncovering and addressing the underlying causes for long-term relief.
Can parasites cause acid reflux / heartburn?
Some parasites can indeed cause acid reflux and other gastrointestinal issues. The most commonly associated culprit is Helicobacter pylori – a bacteria known to alter the stomach’s acid secretions, enabling it to thrive. H. pylori is also linked to gastric ulcers and certain cancers, though there’s ongoing debate about whether it’s actually one of our “commensal” species (i.e. a normal part of our gut flora) that can become problematic when overgrown.
Other parasites associated with acid reflux/heartburn include the strongyloides worm, B. coli, S. stercoralis, A. lumbricoides, N. americanus/A. duodenale, T. solium/saginata, and H. nana. However, many of these species are not commonly found in the United States.
What foods help treat acid reflux? Is ginger or green tea good for acid reflux?
Ginger may or may not help with reflux, depending on the underlying cause. The same can be said for green tea – it may provide relief or potentially make it worse. Whether you have too much or too little stomach acid will determine if these natural remedies are effective or make your reflux worse.
Identifying the root cause of your reflux is key to finding the most effective natural remedy. This will help you avoid trying remedies that could inadvertently make your reflux worse.
Slippery elm powder mixed in a large glass of water can often provide temporary relief from reflux. However, be sure to drink plenty of water when taking any fiber supplement to prevent constipation.
Consulting a functional medicine practitioner who specializes in heartburn can help determine the cause of your reflux and prescribe the appropriate treatments. Since every person is different, the treatment plan should be tailored to your individual needs.
What is a natural treatment for acid reflux, heartburn, or GERD?
3 teaspoons of slippery elm powder mixed in a glass of water and quickly consumed can provide symptom relief, but this won’t address the underlying cause. Be sure to drink plenty of water when taking any fiber supplement to avoid constipation.
Have you considered seeing a functional medicine practitioner who specializes in GERD/acid reflux? These functional medicine experts can effectively and safely treat the root cause of your acid reflux. They may recommend lifestyle changes, herbal remedies, and supplements to soothe the esophageal lining, reduce inflammation, and relieve your symptoms.
Herbs like turmeric, licorice, slippery elm, and boswellia can be particularly helpful for reducing inflammation and supporting the health of the gastric mucosa.