Heartburn

Naturopathic Doctors in Toronto, ON

Heartburn or acid reflux is also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). It happens when stomach acid flows back into the esophagus and irritates the esophageal lining. The associated symptoms are quite varied and can include some or all of the following:

  • A burning sensation in your chest, after eating and worse at night
  • Chest pain
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Food regurgitation and sour taste in the mouth
  • Sensation of a lump in your throat
  • Coughing
  • Burping
  • Worsening of asthma
  • Laryngitis
  • The Naturopathic Medicine Approach to Treating Heartburn & GERD

Conventional medical treatment options for heartburn or GERD are directed toward symptom relief and include a variety of acid reducing medications that are often taken on a regular basis. These medications can have adverse long-term effects including an increased risk of fractures, pneumonia, kidney disease, vitamin deficiencies and dementia. Over time medications like proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) radically affect food and nutrient absorption and can cause additional digestion problems. 

In Naturopathic medicine, we strive to treat the root cause of heartburn or GERD without also causing nutrient absorption issues and other drug reactions. Rather than giving regular antacid medicine to take every day indefinitely, a Naturopath will look to address the root cause and fix the problem.

Following a comprehensive assessment, Naturopathic treatment for addressing chronic heartburn includes a mix of dietary changes, nutritional medicine and herbal medicine therapies designed to heal the esophageal lining.

Gut Repair is What We do.

Book your appointment with Dr. Andresen and discover how naturopathic medicine can effectively treat your digestive concerns like heartburn.

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