YOGIC AND

NATUROPATHIC
INTERVENTIONS IN
GERD
Made by
Naturopath Abhishek Kumar Dubey
BNYS
RGSC India
 WHAT IS GERD?
• In gastroesophageal reflux disease acid from
the stomach (gastric and/ duodenal contents)
flows back into the esophagus,
causing discomfort and, in some instances,
damage to the esophageal lining.
 PATHOGENESIS
* Transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation triggered by gastric distention,
by gas or food.
* Following swallow-induced LES relaxation
* Forceful opening LES by an abrupt increase in intraabdominal pressure,
such as that due to coughing, straining, or bending.
* Other conditions that decrease LES tone or increase abdominal pressure
and contribute to GERD include: alcohol and tobacco use; obesity; CNS
depressants; pregnancy; hiatal hernia; delayed gastric emptying and increased
gastric volume.
* History of nasogastric intubation lasting more than 4 days, or pyloric surgery.
 CLINICAL FEATURES
• Common in individuals older than age 40 but also occurs in infants and
children.
• Heartburn, dysphagia, regurgitation of sour-tasting gastric contents.
• Rarely, chronic GERD is punctuated by attacks of severe chest pain that may
be mistaken for heart disease.
 COMPLICATIONS
• ULCERATION
• HEMATEMESIS
• MELENA
• STRICTURE DEVELOPMENT
• BARRETT ESOPHAGUS
PATIENT CARE
 1> Dietery Modifications
• Changing the quantity and quantity of the food and maintaining a regular interval between
meals. Drinking water along with, during and immediately after food should be avoided.
• Waiting three hours after a meal to lie down.
• Refraining from ingesting food (except liquids) within 3 hours of bedtime.
• Avoiding bending or stooping positions or any activities that lead to exertion.
• Lose weight (if overweight). Obesity causes heartburn due to many factors, including an
increase in intra-abdominal pressure, a greater association of hiatus hernia, and hormonal
factors associated with obesity that can further reduce sphincter pressure and thereby
symptoms of GERD.
• Elevating the head of the bed by 8 inches has been shown to be effective to improve pH as
well as GERD symptoms, particularly for subjects with nocturnal GERD.
• Cold compress Very cold temperature is applied in the form of a thick wet cloth over the
2> Hydrotherapy
abdomen and retained for duration of 20 minutes. The first choice of treatment.
• Cold hip bath A specially designed tub is used such that only the abdomen and mid-thigh
are immersed in cold water for 08-10 minutes.
• Cold abdomen pack A cotton cloth having width such that the entire abdomen can be
covered, and the length such that it can be rolled over the abdomen to the entire back is
rinsed in cold water and wrapped over the abdomen. A woollen flanel of similar dimension
is wrapped over the wet pack and is left over for duration of 20 minutes.
• Revulsive compress An alternate hot and cold compress is applied on the abdomen region
where the hot compress is applied for a period of 03 minutes and immediately followed by
cold compress for one minute. This cycle should be repeated 03 times.
• Alternate hot and cold compress Kidney pack is a simple hydro-therapeutic measure
where an ice berg is placed over the abdomen and a hot fomentation bag is placed
just behind the abdomen. This is tied with a cotton cloth to keep the fomentation
bags in place and left over for 15-20 minutes. Pairing of cold and hot packs brings
about immediate relief.
• Note: All the hydro-therapeutic treatments must be done 30 minutes before meals or
03 hours after meals. To achieve best physiological response, these treatments must
be repeated for 07-10 days.
 3> Mud therapy
• Direct application of mud to the abdomen Local application of mud pack
over the abdomen is a time-tested orthodox practice of Naturopathy. This
has been effective in managing the complaints of hyperacidity, heartburn,
indigestion, etc. The property of mud to retain cold temperature for a
prolonged duartion makes it an ideal treatment.
• Mud pack to the abdomen Applying cold mud indirectly by using
an abdomen-sized pack for 20 minutes.
 4> Acupressure
Few commonly used acupressure points are
• CV-12
• CV-06
• ST-36
• PC-6
• SP-4
• LV-3
• UB-23
 5> Acupuncture
The most effective acupuncture points used for the treatment of hyperacidity,
gastritis, heartburn and GERD are:
• ST36
• ST37
• LI4
• LI11
• PC6
• SP4
• LV3
• CV12
 6>Yoga Therapy
• Yoga methods including yogasanas, pranayama, meditation, guided relaxation
techniques, and advanced yogic techniques are the best way to prevent many
diseases and their progression including heartburn, GERD etc.
• "Kapalbhati and Agnisar Kriya" may be particulary useful in addressing GERD as
they can increase diaphragmatic tone, thus decreasing reflux from the stomach to
esophagus. These practices increase the alkalinity of the blood through
hyperventilation.
• "Pranayama" relax the body and mind and thereby relieve stress and GERD
symptoms.
• Few effective pranayamas are:
• Anuloma-Viloma
Chandrabhedana
Sheetali
Sheetkari
Sadanta

• Asanas useful in cases of GERD are,

Uttanpada asana: This posture tones up the abdominal muscles and is considered as a helpful pose for
hyperacidity, indigestion and gas formation in the stomach.
Bhujangasana: This asana strengthen the spine, stretch the chest, shoulders and abdomen, firm the buttocks,
and relieve stress and fatigue.
Pawanmuktasana series
Vajrasana:
Shalabhasana
 7> Herbology
• Hippocrates: “Let food be
thy medicine and medicine
be thy food” (p 211).
Although many patients
are convinced of the
importance of food in
both causing and relieving
their problems, many
doctors' knowledge of
nutrition is rudimentary.
 Thank You
• We try numerous new experiments to find cures for serious diseases but we
don't take step towards preventing them, neither do we try to remove the
causes of their occurrence. If we pay more attention to preventing the
disease, rather than finding solutions for its treatment, then humanity as a
whole will be healthy and long-lived.