High in popularity at the moment, one of these heartburn medications, Nexium, even got to the position of third-biggest selling drug in the world, racking up over $5.7 billion in 2005. Such classical treatments are often used for relief by millions of people afflicted by the painful symptoms of gastro esophageal disease, the most prevalent of which is no doubt heartburn.

1. Continual increase in the number of GERD (Acid Reflux) patients in the western world. Some 25 million acid reflux sufferers with recurring heartburn in 2006 alone in America.

2. Drugs for GERD are heavily marketed, by companies with publicity campaigns or by physicians prescribing them to patients.

3. Increasing ease of obtaining such drugs by consumers, where once prescription-only drugs are now readily available over the counter. Some ten years ago, the FDA gave its approval for over the counter purchases of Pepcid AC, Tagamet HB, Zantac 75 and a number of other medicaments previously on a prescription only basis.

With the popularity of such heartburn medicine still increasing, the question is whether such drugs have the desired results when it comes to resolving the basic cause of this medical problem and if the alleviation justifies the secondary effects. Before any final judgment on the matter, we'll rapidly review the nature of acid reflux disease and heartburn, its most frequent manifestation.

The process associated physiologically with GERD is the abnormal amount of exposure of the esophagus to digestive juices. A factor that contributes to this problem is a weak lower esophageal sphincter (LES). The LES is a circular muscle behaving as a valve where the esophagus meets the stomach. When acid reflux disease happens, the LES fails to shut as it should, allowing stomach matter to flow back into the esophagus to cause heartburn. Another factor that worsens GERD is poor evacuation of gastric juice by the esophagus.

As well as those local reasons for acid reflux, there are also inherited characteristics (not under our control) and other internal factors and co-factors that create the environment contributing to acid reflux. These internal factors must be treated otherwise there is no solution in the long term for this medical complaint.

Any GERD medicament will fall into one of four categories:

1. Antacids, such as Alka-Seltzer. They bring relief of a few hours by neutralizing acidity in the esophagus. Upon taking the antacid, the neutralization of the stomach acid begins immediately, to prevent corrosion of the esophagus.

2. Alginates act by creating an ark that envelopes the stomach contents to reduce reflux.

3. H2-receptor antagonists such as HB, Zantac 75 and Pepcid AC. By preventing the stomach cells from secreting acid, these drugs stop the gastric system and the stomach from producing acid. H2-receptor antagonists have to be taken prior to any heartburn if relief is to be produced.

4. Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPI) such as Nexium, which prevent the "proton pump" in the stomach cells from working to prevent the release of stomach acid.

Serious side effects may occur in treatments for heartburn that use such medicaments. In the first place, they may cause headaches, diarrhea and in some cases osteoporosis. Following that, their long-term impact is limited and the chance of physical long-term dependency correspondingly greater. Finally, turning to medication as the only way to treat heartburn is a poor approach, which works on the symptoms but ignores the root cause of GERD. Ignoring the causes like this can over time worsen your condition and even cause serious complications medically.

Were you aware that your discomforting and painful heartburn symptoms of GERD could be permanently and completely eradicated without having to use any heartburn medication? Via a holistic approach, with the use of particular herbal and vitamin adjuncts, at the same time as observing a complete set of dietary principles, detoxing and Candida control protocols), your medical condition can be cured naturally and permanently.