Pickle brine and gerd symptoms...

I know this sounds counter-intuitive, but has anyone ever tried pickle brine for GERD symptoms? A couple of nights a month, I get GERD symptoms as chest pain. I drink just less than two ounces of pickle brine, and the symptoms seem to resolve for the rest of the night. It's supposed to have something to do with the vinegar re-establishing proper pH in the belly. It sounds weird, but it seems to work. Has anyone else tried this, or am I just a victim of the placebo effect?

Nope, but I'll post anyway

Kefir is supposed to be great to help balance that gut bacteria: http://culturedfoodlife.com/Kefir.html
It's fermented so it too is counter-intuitive...

Same with Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV), anecdotally it's supposed to help the reflux, even though it's so highly acidic.
http://www.natural-cure-remedy.com/acid-reflux.html

I suspect (with my totally non-medical background) that reflux is due to TOO LOW stomach acid which then triggers some crazy as yet undocumented overcompensation mechanism causing the acid to flare up, or too much production of BILE. I'm hoping my sister's recent 48-hour endo capsule test will prove this, as everytime she had the reflux systems and heartburn, the pH reading was > 7 (therefore too alkaline). Also would explain why after YEARS of taking prilosec my dad STILL developed esophageal cancer. I think the acid reducing pills make it WORSE, so I'm trying other methods to reduce the reflux (mainly by avoiding sugar and carbs, especially when eaten in combination with fats).

Thoughts? Comments? Flames?

echo wrote:...I think the acid reducing pills make it WORSE, so I'm trying other methods to reduce the reflux (mainly by avoiding sugar and carbs, especially when eaten in combination with fats).

This is what I've been thinking too.
Acid-reducing pills do nothing but cause your belly to need more acid-reducing pills.
I begin to think GERD pills are only prolonging the continuation and possible worsening of GERD.

Thanks for the links.
I'll try the apple cider vinegar, but it's probably higher strength, so you might end up using less. I think it's the vinegar in the pickle brine responsible for the reduction in symptoms.

DreamDiver wrote:I know this sounds counter-intuitive, but has anyone ever tried pickle brine for GERD symptoms? A couple of nights a month, I get GERD symptoms as chest pain. I drink just less than two ounces of pickle brine, and the symptoms seem to resolve for the rest of the night. It's supposed to have something to do with the vinegar re-establishing proper pH in the belly. It sounds weird, but it seems to work. Has anyone else tried this, or am I just a victim of the placebo effect?

Wow .. hope you don't have high blood pressure!! Or at least that you check daily!

from when I had an ulcer :

Taking things like milk causes an increase in acid to be produced as the fats have to be broken down. However acidic foods (like bananas) don't help either.

If I drink fruit juice without eating at the same time it is like getting kicked in the gut so I am not about to try this trick.

kennethryan wrote:Wow .. hope you don't have high blood pressure!! Or at least that you check daily!

Generally low blood pressure.

BlackSpinner wrote:from when I had an ulcer :

Taking things like milk causes an increase in acid to be produced as the fats have to be broken down. However acidic foods (like bananas) don't help either.

If I drink fruit juice without eating at the same time it is like getting kicked in the gut so I am not about to try this trick.

Oddly, I can't drink fruit juice either. Unsweetened pickle brine and vinegar don't bother me though.

I have had gerd for years, and many times I would eat a pickle, sauerkraut, olives, or anything else that has a brine. The salt content is rather high, and I suspect that plus other natural spices, including the pickle itself, are what helped. This is why kennethryan probably mentioned high blood pressure. I never tried vinegar, but because of your experience with it, I will. I was on Prilosec and Nexium for years and they worked. I am now taking Plavix because of a mild heart attack and can no longer take these meds. A natural solution that will not cause problems with my prescriptions would be great, so thanks for this thread. Anyone that has information, pro or con, please add to this thread.

wlenz wrote:I have had gerd for years, and many times I would eat a pickle, sauerkraut, olives, or anything else that has a brine. The salt content is rather high, and I suspect that plus other natural spices, including the pickle itself, are what helped. This is why kennethryan probably mentioned high blood pressure. I never tried vinegar, but because of your experience with it, I will. I was on Prilosec and Nexium for years and they worked. I am now taking Plavix because of a mild heart attack and can no longer take these meds. A natural solution that will not cause problems with my prescriptions would be great, so thanks for this thread. Anyone that has information, pro or con, please add to this thread.

Actuallly, I'm more inclined to think it's the vinegar than the salt brine or other spices. Yes salt causes me to gain weight temporarily, so I know it could probably affect my blood pressure if I ate a lot of it. Truth is, I rarely salt anything, and I (and my wife) prepare most of our own foods from scratch. Mine hovers around 110 over 70 most of the time when relaxed, except in the morning on waking up when it's closer to 120 over 80.

Apple Cider Vinegar has Multople Health Benefits>>Reflux, Blood Pressure, Arthitis, and Blood Flow to the Heart. I take apple cider vinegar Twice Daily as a Health Tonic. You can Google it for more Information of the Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar. I mix mine>>2 tsps with water and 1 tsp of Honey.

I don't have GERD but have family that does. Research shows that many have relief after eating an apple in the evening and all my family members that tried it says it works. They ate Fuji, Granny Smith, and other types.

I developed severe GERD symptoms a few months after starting CPAP (don't think it related to the CPAP though). My doctor had me on proton pump inhibitors and it just kept getting worse. I was taking several a day, and nights were just miserable, especially trying to get the mask off quickly.

I read about HCl (hydrochloric acid) supplements (Betine HCL), and tried them. I have not had a GERD incident in over 8 years. One tablet a day is enough, and the added benefit is I can eat whatever I want, even in the evening. I can lay on either side with no problem, and no more burning gut.

It did raise my HDL/LDL ratio too. My Doctor was incredulous the first time I told him, but would ask me about it every time, and then scribble on my chart after I told him I still had no GERD symptoms.

The logic is (and I am not a doctor) that GERD in some of us is due to insufficient stomach acid, not too much. So the food sits in the stomach and putrefies, generating all kinds of nasty organic acids. Our gut is made to withstand HCl, but not all those organic acids. They said the test was to take a spoonful of lemon juice the next time you had reflux. If it helped, you were a candidate. I did, It did, and I started using them. They are a lot cheaper than PPIs and don't leave you feeling bloated.

One other issue is that PPIs inhibit Magnesium uptake, which may have implications in muscle issues, and heart health.

MarkMarikos wrote: The logic is (and I am not a doctor) that GERD in some of us is due to insufficient stomach acid, not too much.

So true. From statins to PPIs to bad orthodontia (which is an unregulated industry), if you're not informed and don't care to investigate, the medical/dental community will mess you up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zf8YSfMEyqA

I took Prilosec & Nexium for years. I finally went to a DO recommended by a friend, and he said to drink 1/4 cup of celery juice every morning (on an empty stomach) and follow with 16 oz of water 10 minutes later. He explained that the acid reflux meds deplete the salt in the lining of the stomach and the celery juice replaces it, usually takes around 6 months. I would also drink a tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar, as needed. Works great!! And you're right, acid reflux is caused by lack of acid in the stomach, according to my DO.

MarkMarikos, why did you use a 3 years old thread instead of starting a new one, and then I could reply?

flyingwithoutwings wrote:I took Prilosec & Nexium for years. I finally went to a DO recommended by a friend, and he said to drink 1/4 cup of celery juice every morning (on an empty stomach) and follow with 16 oz of water 10 minutes later. He explained that the acid reflux meds deplete the salt in the lining of the stomach and the celery juice replaces it, usually takes around 6 months. I would also drink a tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar, as needed. Works great!! And you're right, acid reflux is caused by lack of acid in the stomach, according to my DO.

Reply,

What is a DO? Why don't you go to a Gastro Doc to do an upper endoscopy? If you screw up the cells in your esophagus and they become cancerous then it easily could become terminal b/c of metastasizes.

Why don't I see any of above theories here:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/gerd/D ... ION=causes