Heartburn, Hiatal Hernia and Bowenwork™            Heartburn or GERD (gastro-esophageal reflux disease) is a big problem in this country with 61 million Americans having attacks at least once a month. 19 million have symptoms weekly and over 9 million have daily symptoms.  It can be an occasional minor irritation after a meal or a serious pain that can result in damage to the esophagus. This is a potentially minor problem that has been played into a major moneymaker for pharmaceutical manufacturers. The cost of GERD medications are over 12 billion dollars a year. The effect these medications are designed for is to reduce the level of acidity in the stomach. We get the digestive enzymes to process our carbohydrates from the saliva in our mouths. It is the bile that is produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder that handles the fats. It is the hydrochloric acid that targets the proteins. Yes, acid is powerful stuff; the epithelial cells that line the stomach are replaced every three days as the acid erodes them. It is considered the only good acid in the body though, because without sufficient hydrochloric acid to digest our food the result is putrefaction, poor nutrient assimilation, and lower digestive tract problems to name just a few.  When contained and in balance chemically it is a very efficient system. So, how do those fluids in your stomach get back up into your esophagus in the first place?      The mechanism of heartburn or reflux is a mechanically simple one. The ring of muscle called the lower esophageal sphincter constricts to prevent the contents of our stomach, which are under pressure from pushing back up into the esophagus. The normal pressure in the stomach is caused by the muscular action in digestion and the chemical reaction of the enzymes and hydrochloric acid that are expressed by the stomach for that purpose. The muscular tension of the sphincter provides the key to a proper seal between the burning contents under pressure and the sensitive tissue of the esophagus. If there is a poor seal between the stomach and the sphincter, acid-laden material washes onto the esophagus, causing burning and pain.            What determines the amount of contraction and seal of the sphincter? Strangely enough, the level of acidity in the stomach is the governing factor. The greater the level of acidity - the tighter the sphincter.   This is very logical, the more potentially dangerous the contents of the stomach are, the tighter they should be locked away. So when there is leakage from the stomach to the esophagus, it is actually because there is not enough acidity in the stomach to trigger the tightening of this muscle, or there is too much pressure for the muscle to handle. In the former case, where there is too little acid, it may simply be because there has been too much food consumed too quickly for the stomach to produce sufficient acid, or too much fluid intake has served to dilute the acid level. These are simple lifestyle issues solved by eating more slowly, chewing well and drinking less during a meal. Eating while under stress adversely effects the body both chemically and mechanically. To simple say that low acid level is present is an oversimplification of a complex series of timing sensitive events that includes pancreatic and vagus nerve coordination but for practical purposes it is the end result of the process. An example of mistiming is when food leaves the stomach in a state of insufficient digestion and triggers a release of hydrochloric acid in its wake back into the empty vessel. This creates ulcerations of the stomach but also can find its way up into the esophagus at a time when the sphincter action is weakened from its initial response. If the stomach is not producing sufficient acid at the right time to tighten the sphincter, then all the GERD medications are simply treating the symptom, the burning of the esophagus while increasing the cause, lowered stomach acidity. It is a great formula for the pharmaceutical companies to have a client for life instead of taking care of the problem. It’s the same short sighted thinking that manufacturers use when dumping waste into a river. The solution to pollution is dilution. Long term antacid use also diminishes the body’s need to deal with the core causes of reflux symptoms.  So what is the functional hydrochloric acid level in your system? There is a simple test that will give you a clue. Get a small to medium raw beet, peel away the outer layer and eat about a ¼ inch slice. (This will probably work with cooked beets but I prefer raw because the enzymes are great for the kidneys, liver, pancreas and bladders. Check with me before starting an extended plan with raw beets because there are some parameters to consider). If you eliminate the red beet color in your urine or feces it is an indication that your acid level was not high enough to process it out. So why in the world would you reach for something that reduces it even further? One common, safe and easy naturopathic answer to enhance stomach acidity with a plant-based hydrochloric supplement is betaine hydrochloride. This raises stomach acidity to increase esophageal sphincter tension and promotes natural stomach acidity, so it only needs to be used short-term to promote long-term stomach health. It is available over the counter at most vitamin or health food stores. In the case of too much pressure, this can revolve around quantity of food consumed or from the influence of the stomach being impinged upon by the diaphragm which is a hiatal hernia. The esophagus passes through the diaphragm on its way to the stomach. This is the environment in which the stomach has been pushed up into the diaphragm and is being strangled by it.  This compounds any acid reflux issues as well as impairs the food heading to the stomach. It can lead to many problems, including the nervous systems involvement in digestion, respiration and circulation. The primary structural need is that the stomach relaxes back down into its correct position and gives the hiatus (hole in the diaphragm) time to heal and strengthen. How does Bowen fit into this heartburn and hiatal hernia picture?  Elegantly. With a series of gentle, painless movements the diaphragm releases its grip. It’s this same procedure that allows the lungs to function more efficiently. Bowen procedures prompt the body to reset itself to its optimal functioning capacity and as your system sorts things out it addresses the gall bladder, pancreas, liver and all digestive issues from heartburn to constipation and diarrhea. Your body is a warehouse of all the drugs that are needed for function, repair and maintenance, and Bowen activation pushes the body to utilize them.  The specifics of what happens are unique to your individual body and are not just a short term resolution of symptoms but the relearning of a forgotten way of dealing with those problems. Bowen’s emotional balancing effect also deals successfully with stress resolution to diminish future attacks.  Your body knows exactly what every cell and energetic impulse is up to and we now know that it can be activated and accelerated to create a dialog with itself that prompts a complete reorganization of those elements under its control. It’s unlike any therapeutic approach being used today. Eat in way that nourishes without insulting and retune your system with Bowen.   Return to Articles