Treating GERD/LES with Ginger and/or Melatonin

Muse-Inc · Post by **Muse-Inc** » Sun Mar 31, 2019 2:24 am

For those who have heartburn/GERD, the following might help. I rarely have heartburn but the few times I have had it, it's horrid. My go to is ginger candy, one made with actual ginger not just the flavor; for me, within 5-10 minutes, heartburn is gone. Interestingly, another forum member, who was a member of our Atlanta-based apnea support group (while we had it), swore by ginger.

Ginger has long been used to treat indigestion. Here's why According to a Nutrition in Clinical Practice review, ginger is one of the many herbal remedies you can eat to avoid aggravating your esophagus and calm acid reflux. For starters, ginger is notorious for its anti-inflammatory properties and is often used to treat gastrointestinal conditions. Woohoo! Interestingly enough, the component in ginger that helps relieve symptoms of acid reflux is melatonin. You probably know melatonin as the sleepytime chemical our bodies produce. But when levels of melatonin are too low, stomach acid becomes more prevalent. Not only does melatonin reduce gastric acid, it also prevents the loosening or weakening of the LES. Dice, slice, or shave this fresh root into a smoothie or tea! from https://www.eatthis.com/foods-and-acid-reflux/ Not so sure of the other foods listed except chocolate and coffee re their methylxanthines. These are naturally occurring substances that act on the central nervous system and cause the smooth muscle tissue in the LES to relax. Similarly to fatty and fried foods, cacao is just as capable of weakening the LES. The two types of methylxanthines in chocolate are caffeine and theobromine, i.e. stimulants that enable us to enjoy the “feel good” vibes you get when you nibble on a square or two.

Here's a fascinating article on treating GERD with melatonin https://www.sepalika.com/gerd/melatonin ... id-reflux/

tyrone747 · Post by **tyrone747** » Sun Mar 31, 2019 10:50 am

Ginger seems to make my GERD worse as does anything with similar spicy flavor, like garlic etc. If the active component in ginger that works for GERD is melatonin then perhaps it's better just to take melatonin. Though my GERD developed while taking melatonin semi-regularly. After reading that I'm wondering if taking melatonin supplements caused my body to produce less of it's own and over time I became deficient and caused GERD. My LES is definitely weak now as I am very sensitive to CPAP causing aerophagia at higher pressures. I really don't know how to fix that.

Muse-Inc · Post by **Muse-Inc** » Mon Apr 01, 2019 1:31 am

tyrone747 wrote: ↑
Sun Mar 31, 2019 10:50 am
...My LES is definitely weak now...

If I were you, I'd make sure I was not eating the foods that weaken the LES later in the day or just give them up as a trial. There are foods that apparently strengthen the LES. Worth investigating. Here's an article https://www.sepalika.com/gerd/melatonin ... id-reflux/

LoneStar · Post by **LoneStar** » Mon Apr 01, 2019 10:49 am

Muse-Inc., could you please share the brand/type of ginger candy you use?

Thanks

Janknitz · Post by **Janknitz** » Mon Apr 01, 2019 12:38 pm

I personally don't think it's necessarily a "weak" LES that causes GERD in most people. I think there are things that are responsible for the LES not doing its job. Perhaps low melatonin levels belongs in the list too, but you can increase melatonin by regulating the type and amount of light you expose yourself to at night (something I have a very hard time doing as a night owl from birth and addicted to electronic media!). Most of us with CPAP have interrupted sleep and that's something to consider. Plus, some people have aerophagia on CPAP which causes its own issues that need addressing.

Two very helpful books that look at the causes:

Fast Track Digestion: Heartburn by Norman Robillard theorizes that small intestinal bacterial overgrowth is the primary cause--fermentation of certain foods in the small intestine causes a buildup of gas pressure which pushes stomach contents up past the LES. He recommends a diet with low "fermentation potential" ( high fermentation potential foods are mostly carbohydrates) that has been very helpful for me.

The other very helpful book is Why Stomach Acid is Good for You by Jonathan V. Wright, M.D. This is a very comprehensive book that talks about multiple causes of GERD, but one of them is that the pH in your stomach signals the LES to close. When there's not enough stomach acid to trigger the sphincter, it doesn't close. And low stomach acid also allows the bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine, adding to the problem that Fast Track Digestion addresses. Taking acid suppressing drugs is one reason we may have low stomach acid, but there are others. A major one is diabetes which causes gastroparesis and lack of digestive enzymes--very important to address this underlying cause in any case!

Personally, ginger gives me bad heartburn. But if it helps, go for it. Just don't forget that there are many factors to consider and address.

Muse-Inc · Post by **Muse-Inc** » Mon Apr 01, 2019 1:56 pm

LoneStar wrote: ↑
Mon Apr 01, 2019 10:49 am
Muse-Inc., could you please share the brand/type of ginger candy you use?
Thanks

Ting Ting Jahe Ginger Candy https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00 ... UTF8&psc=1. I rinse well to get rid of the outer coating of powdered sugar (corn starch?). Very thick sticky gummy-like texture so need to brush teeth afterwards. They are individually wrapped and good for years.

ChicagoGranny · Post by **ChicagoGranny** » Mon Apr 01, 2019 3:02 pm

Don't forget that obstructive apneas are one cause of reflux. When the body struggles to breathe, stomach contents tend to be thrown upward.

Lifestyle and home remedies
Lifestyle changes may help reduce the frequency of acid reflux. Try to:

Maintain a healthy weight. Excess pounds put pressure on your abdomen, pushing up your stomach and causing acid to reflux into your esophagus.
Stop smoking. Smoking decreases the lower esophageal sphincter's ability to function properly.
Elevate the head of your bed. If you regularly experience heartburn while trying to sleep, place wood or cement blocks under the feet of your bed so that the head end is raised by 6 to 9 inches. If you can't elevate your bed, you can insert a wedge between your mattress and box spring to elevate your body from the waist up. Raising your head with additional pillows isn't effective.
Don't lie down after a meal. Wait at least three hours after eating before lying down or going to bed.
Eat food slowly and chew thoroughly. Put down your fork after every bite and pick it up again once you have chewed and swallowed that bite.
Avoid foods and drinks that trigger reflux. Common triggers include fatty or fried foods, tomato sauce, alcohol, chocolate, mint, garlic, onion, and caffeine.
Avoid tight-fitting clothing. Clothes that fit tightly around your waist put pressure on your abdomen and the lower esophageal sphincter.
Alternative medicine
No alternative medicine therapies have been proved to treat GERD or reverse damage to the esophagus. Some complementary and alternative therapies may provide some relief, when combined with your doctor's care.

Talk to your doctor about what alternative GERD treatments may be safe for you. The options might include:

Herbal remedies. Licorice and chamomile are sometimes used to ease GERD. Herbal remedies can have serious side effects and might interfere with medications. Ask your doctor about a safe dosage before beginning any herbal remedy.
Relaxation therapies. Techniques to calm stress and anxiety may reduce signs and symptoms of GERD. Ask your doctor about relaxation techniques, such as progressive muscle relaxation or guided imagery.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-con ... c-20361959

tyrone747 · Post by **tyrone747** » Mon Apr 01, 2019 3:43 pm

Janknitz wrote: ↑
Mon Apr 01, 2019 12:38 pm
I personally don't think it's necessarily a "weak" LES that causes GERD in most people. I think there are things that are responsible for the LES not doing its job. Perhaps low melatonin levels belongs in the list too, but you can increase melatonin by regulating the type and amount of light you expose yourself to at night (something I have a very hard time doing as a night owl from birth and addicted to electronic media!). Most of us with CPAP have interrupted sleep and that's something to consider. Plus, some people have aerophagia on CPAP which causes its own issues that need addressing.

Two very helpful books that look at the causes:

Fast Track Digestion: Heartburn by Norman Robillard theorizes that small intestinal bacterial overgrowth is the primary cause--fermentation of certain foods in the small intestine causes a buildup of gas pressure which pushes stomach contents up past the LES. He recommends a diet with low "fermentation potential" ( high fermentation potential foods are mostly carbohydrates) that has been very helpful for me.

The other very helpful book is Why Stomach Acid is Good for You by Jonathan V. Wright, M.D. This is a very comprehensive book that talks about multiple causes of GERD, but one of them is that the pH in your stomach signals the LES to close. When there's not enough stomach acid to trigger the sphincter, it doesn't close. And low stomach acid also allows the bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine, adding to the problem that Fast Track Digestion addresses. Taking acid suppressing drugs is one reason we may have low stomach acid, but there are others. A major one is diabetes which causes gastroparesis and lack of digestive enzymes--very important to address this underlying cause in any case!

Personally, ginger gives me bad heartburn. But if it helps, go for it. Just don't forget that there are many factors to consider and address.

Norman Robillard's diet definitely works for me but was unsustainable. Almost ever carb has fermentation potential and going low carb was very hard for me. It's a very healthy diet obviously but I really sucked emotionally to never have the foods I loved. I do feel it reduced my reflux though. One thing I never got an answer on was why things like coffee seemed to trigger my reflux since it has no fermentation potential. The second book you mention I imagine says to add acid to prevent reflux but again that didn't seem to jive with my experience. Things like coffee, citrus fruits, tomato sauce are acidic and seemed to make my reflux much worse. Right now I have it mostly under control with taking a supplement called D-Limonene. Though I believe this just shields me from the reflux and it doesn't stop it. Coffee and highly acidic foods are still a no go for me.

tarpatel · Post by **tarpatel** » Mon Apr 01, 2019 7:51 pm

Very good point, my acid reflux virtually went away gradually soon after I started using my machine.

ChicagoGranny wrote: ↑
Mon Apr 01, 2019 3:02 pm
Don't forget that obstructive apneas are one cause of reflux. When the body struggles to breathe, stomach contents tend to be thrown upward.

chunkyfrog · Post by **chunkyfrog** » Mon Apr 01, 2019 11:16 pm

I love candied ginger, from Trader Joe, as a preventative,
but only Gas-X works for gas right NOW.

ChicagoGranny · Post by **ChicagoGranny** » Tue Apr 02, 2019 8:58 am

chunkyfrog wrote: ↑
Mon Apr 01, 2019 11:16 pm
I love candied ginger, from Trader Joe, as a preventative,

I don't have reflux, but will pick some ginger up on my next trip to TJ. Thanks for the tip.

chunkyfrog · Post by **chunkyfrog** » Tue Apr 02, 2019 10:16 am

Granny: The SLICES--not the chunks.
You can brush a lot of sugar off the slices, but the chunks have it soaked in.
I like to cut the slices down to under an inch in size before storing in a mason jar.
Makes a nice bite--with a bite.

ChicagoGranny · Post by **ChicagoGranny** » Tue Apr 02, 2019 10:58 am

tyrone747 · Post by **tyrone747** » Tue Apr 02, 2019 11:20 am

tarpatel wrote: ↑
Mon Apr 01, 2019 7:51 pm
Very good point, my acid reflux virtually went away gradually soon after I started using my machine.

ChicagoGranny wrote: ↑
Mon Apr 01, 2019 3:02 pm
Don't forget that obstructive apneas are one cause of reflux. When the body struggles to breathe, stomach contents tend to be thrown upward.

The fact both melatonin and CPAP seem to cure reflux makes me wonder if those treatments aren't acting directly on the LES or digestive system but instead it is the increase of sleep quality that helps the LES work better and stops reflux.

ChicagoGranny · Post by **ChicagoGranny** » Tue Apr 02, 2019 12:14 pm

tyrone747 wrote: ↑
Tue Apr 02, 2019 11:20 am
but instead it is the increase of sleep quality that helps the LES work better and stops reflux.

No. Although, there are two different things.

1. Melatonin protects against GERD by increasing blood flow and anti-inflammatory molecules in the esophageal mucus, thus preventing significant esophageal injury. Melatonin has also been shown in one study (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2821302/) to produce a significant increase (less acidic) in the pH of stomach contents with a significant decrease in basal acid output.

For treatment of GERD, melatonin can be used either alone or in combination with omeprazole. The combination therapy of both melatonin and omeprazole is preferable as melatonin accelerates the healing effect of omeprazole and therefore shortens the duration of treatment and minimizes its side effects.

2. CPAP, on the other hand, prevents apneas. When apneas occur, the body struggles to breathe, and the muscular action tends to throw stomach contents upwards toward the esophagus and beyond. Reduce the number of apneas and this effect is reduced.

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One word of caution, we had a friend who had trouble sleeping when he started using CPAP. He was advised to start taking melatonin supplements. He then had horrible nightmares all night long for months. Finally, he mentioned this to Gramps. Gramps told him to discontinue the melatonin supplements. The nightmares stopped immediately. In the meantime, he had adjusted to CPAP and was able to sleep well. This doesn't happen to everyone, but there are cases in the literature.

Treating GERD/LES with Ginger and/or Melatonin

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