Do sufferers from acid reflux have to put up endlessly with prescription medication and its side effects just for momentary relief or is there a natural cure for acid reflux? A qualified nutritionist and erstwhile chronic acid reflux sufferer reveals the truth about a natural solution to cure and prevent acid reflux, after 11 years of trying, testing and experimenting.

Heartburn, or in medical terms gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), occurs when the one-way valve situated in the esophagus (called the LES - lower esophageal sphincter) becomes weak and unstable, no longer blocking the passage of stomach acid and food back up into the esophagus. The backwards flow of acid (acid reflux) often results in a sensation of burning, called heartburn. Because of this, acid reflux patients often feel a distinct burning sensation under the breastbone, typically occurring at night.

A condition known as Barrett's esophagus can result and in about 0.5% of cases chronic reflux can then develop into esophageal cancer. In other cases, reflux to the upper esophagus and the trachea can trigger wheezing, hoarseness, a dry cough, and chronic sores.

Several factors including not only a weak LES but also insufficiency of stomach acid and various genetic tendencies should be addressed as components of a full cure for acid reflux, but remain immediate or local causes of heartburn.

There is indication that the conditions leading to acid reflux are the result of an additional set of internal elements. The condition of acid reflux is complex and results from elements and associated elements going further than the local factors already mentioned. For a natural cure for acid reflux that works, these elements must be dealt with as a priority.

Even if temporary relief is possible from prescribed medication, intake of these drugs over a period of time will cause numerous side effects, acting as they do only on the immediate causes of acid reflux.

Blockers like H2 and PPIs may give temporary relief, but can lead to osteoporosis. Antacids used long-term can worsen the situation because stomach acid is needed to ensure immunity and proper digestion.

Dietary habits, lifestyle and patterns of behavior all figure as suspects in recent researches and can worsen an acid reflux condition that already exists, suggesting a holistic, natural solution is to be preferred.

The right diagnosis of your condition and adherence to the holistic approach (taking supplements of specific herbs and vitamins) while observing a full set of dietary principles and Candida control protocols (also a major factor in heartburn) can bring a natural cure to heartburn and safely and effectively stop it from happening again.