Burning, acid reflux in the mouth, indigestion, nausea, stomach ulcer pain are symptoms that affect a third of the French population every day. Is it due to a bad diet, to the abuse of medication or to the annoyances of our stressful life that remain in our stomach?

The esophagus is a duct that connects the mouth to the stomach and allows the transport of food. The circular muscle (sphincter) that separates the stomach from the esophagus is supposed to open only to let food down and prevent stomach contents from flowing back up into the esophagus.

In order to digest food, the stomach secretes about three liters of acid per day.

Normally, this acid should remain in the stomach and enter the duodenum in small amounts along with the digested food.

As for the stomach, it resists its own acid secretion thanks to the production of a protective liquid, the mucus that lines the inner walls of the stomach.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease

If this sphincter between the stomach and esophagus malfunctions, stomach acid backs up into the inner lining of the esophagus, which can lead to symptoms of burping that often accompany an acidic taste in the mouth. The regular contact of the acid with the inner lining of the esophagus quickly causes more or less significant and extensive inflammation of the esophagus: this is esophagitis.

In the long term, untreated esophagitis will lead to esophageal stricture and more rarely to esophageal cancer.

In other cases, reflux is related to the existence of an anatomical feature, hiatal hernia. The diaphragm (the muscle that separates the thorax from the abdomen) has an opening for the esophagus to pass through. We speak of hiatal hernia, when a small part of the stomach goes up from the abdomen to the thorax through this orifice.
This is why the pregnant woman often has the burning during the last trimester of her pregnancy following the repression of the stomach upwards by the fetus.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a very common condition, affecting almost 30% of the French population.

The classic treatment of reflux is based on the use of antacid drugs (Gastrex, Gaviscon, Maalox, Phosphalugel,...) which neutralize the hyperacidity. Most of these medications contain aluminum, magnesium and sodium salts.

Aluminum is now implicated in many degenerative pathologies such as Alzheimer's disease, magnesium in excess causes diarrhea while sodium promotes high blood pressure.

Peptic ulcer

L’ulcer currently affects 10% of the French population. It is therefore not surprising to note that Mopral® (anti-ulcer drug) occupies the first place in terms of turnover achieved in France by a drug (316.7 million euros in 2003).80% of ulcers are located in the first portion of the intestine called the duodenum while only 20% of ulcers are located in the stomach. In the case of duodenal ulcers, it is an excess of acid secretions from the stomach that attacks the intestinal mucosa, while in gastric ulcers, it is an abnormality in the protective mucus of the stomach walls that is responsible for the ulceration.

The symptoms of peptic ulcer are quite classic: it is a burning or stabbing pain starting from the stomach but which can radiate into the belly. This pain usually subsides after eating and reappears between meals or during the night.

The cause of ulcers has long been attributed to stress. In recent years, another cause has been identified that a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori and found in most people with stomach ulcers. This bacteria can develop when our immune defenses are weakened and disrupt the protective mucus layer. This exposes the stomach lining to the acid, which can trigger the formation of an ulcer.

Other factors will also promote ulcer development such as:

• Eating too fast
• Too much fat or too much spice in the diet
• Heavy consumption of coffee, tea or alcohol
• Work or family stress
• Smoking which stimulates acid production

It is important to remember that many ulcers are also caused by the chronic use of certain medications such as painkillers (aspirin and anti-inflammatory drugs) or cortisone, which alter or decrease the production of protective mucus in the stomach.

The classic treatment of ulcers is based on the use of anti-ulcer drugs (Mopral, Lanzor, Ogast, Zoltum) which suppress almost all acid production by the stomach. As a result, the pain disappears within 48 hours and the ulcer heals within 3 to 4 weeks. Unfortunately, relapses are extremely frequent once the treatment is stopped, making it necessary to continue taking the drug over the long term. However, suppressing the acid secretion of the stomach for too long seems to promote the growth of certain bacteria that could produce carcinogenic substances. In addition, anti-ulcer drugs have side effects that are mainly...digestive disorders such as nausea, diarrhea or constipation and liver disorders

Natural treatment of stomach diseases

I use to treat different gastric pathologies a formula combining the properties of plants with those of essential oils whose extraction is done cold (a process that is still rare today but which preserves the delicate molecules of the aromatic world).

Caution: do not use during pregnancy! (Yarrow)

Revisiting the way you eat is essential

People who have difficulty digesting should eat slowly and chew for a long time, avoid drinking during meals but rather afterwards, eat relatively light healthy foods, especially during the evening meal.

Certain foods should be avoided such as fats, iced drinks, coffee, tea, soft drinks, spices and mustard as well as alcohol.

Do not eat 2 hours before bedtime.

People with hyperacidity problems should eat a diet rich in fruits (bananas, melons) and vegetables as well as potatoes (a glass of de-amidated potato juice on an empty stomach, available in good health food stores).

Beware of acidifying foods such as sorrel, rhubarb, oranges, raw onions, chocolate and pastries in general. Avoid acidifying beverages such as lemonade and Coca-Cola as well as alcohol.