Only people afflicted with acid reflux know how troublesome the disease is. A chronic condition, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or simply acid reflux causes a string of discomforting symptoms. As of date, there is no cure for acid reflux disease. After correct diagnosis, the treatment plan is focused on effective disease management with medication and lifestyle modifications. Besides the prescription drugs, using manuka honey is purported as a natural treatment for acid reflux. Some patients use it as a complementary medicine for good results.

Why Use Manuka Honey for Acid Reflux Treatment
In a healthy person, food passed on to the stomach is prevented from leaking back to the esophagus by a ring of muscles called the lower esophageal sphincter (or LES). Whereas in a patient diagnosed with acid reflux, this sphincter doesn’t function properly as it should, thereby allowing food and acidic juices to move backward. It is the acid that damages the mucosal lining of the esophagus and causes heartburn symptoms. GERD is a chronic problem and prompt intervention is necessary to avoid disease progression and probable complications.

Conventional medication prescribed for treating acid reflux works by reducing or stopping stomach acid production, thereby neglecting the root cause. Thus, temporary management of symptoms is achieved only when the treatment drugs are administered. Moreover, long-term use of acid reflux medicine is associated with various side effects. Considering all these aspects, afflicted people prefer relying on natural remedies that are free of health effects. As stated earlier, one such effectual approach is using manuka honey. Read the rest of this entry »