**this article originally published in prime Magazine Nov 2008**
By Jonathan Evans
Herbal Information Specialist /Business Representative for the Herbarium
Special to PRIME
Dear Jonathan,
I've heard there are herbs that can help people get off Nexium. Is this true? Dave Williamsburg
Dear Dave,
Yes and no.
For minor heartburn and indigestion, people have traditionally used herbs and spices such as chamomile, peppermint and ginger. Some people will use pineapple or papaya, as both contain enzymes that help to break down protein. In addition, The Herbarium's Kathy Duffy has created tea formulas for upset stomach, gas and ulcers.
These are some items that may be good to have around the house for the playoffs and the holidays.
However, Nexium, Prilosec and the whole category of acid reducing medications from your doctor are a bit different. People tend to be on these prescriptions if they have a chronic problem such as GERD or reflux.
The problem with this course of treatment is that long-term use of these medications can cause a whole host of other digestion-related problems. Recently, Dr. Todd Lococo, MD appeared on our radio program and was discussing this very topic. Interestingly enough, many people think they produce too much stomach acid, when actually they produce too little.
When you are under stress, (and these days, who isn't?) you produce less acid, not more. Thus there is too little to digest food, you feel bloated, and gassy and take an antacid for quick relief.
However, the longer you do this self-treatment the weaker your stomach lining becomes, which makes it very sensitive to the acid that eventually returns.
Lack of stomach acid also contributes to a variety of other problems from allergies to Candida. Dr. Lococo has his patients try the HcL challenge. He gives them a sample of Betaine Hydrochloride to take with the meal. Usually, this does the trick. The added acid breaks down the food and everything works just fine. For people who have been on Nexium for long periods, it may be necessary to use DGL, or Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice, which helps to restore the stomach lining. When the stomach is just too sensitive for using Hcl, we use digestive enzyme formulas that contain a variety of enzymes to aid in the digestion of fats protein carbohydrates, vegetable matter and dairy products, but do not contain any Hcl.
Over time, some people have been able to reduce or stop their use of Nexium because their condition improved.
Of course, one never stops a prescription without discussing it with their physician. Some people do have too much acid and suffer from reflux and need to be on these medicines. Even then it is important to use an enzyme combination to aid in digestion and the absorption of nutrients. We have many articles explaining enzymes, GERD, Hcl and digestive health available at the HERBARIUM, free of charge.
Jonathan
Dear Jonathan,
I have been using glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate for two years, with very little results. I hear so many people say it helped them, but I am still using Aleve several times a day. What can I do? Mary- Southwick
Dear Mary,
The short answer is to change the product you are using. Chances are you are not using Glucosamine Sulfate, and the chondroitin is practically useless. Most products on the market today contain two other forms of glucosamine, with the sulfate form nonexistent or the least amount in the blend.
Chondroitin is a very large molecule and is poorly absorbed. You are probably getting about 13-15 percent of the chondroitin, and that is the sulfur. Read the back label, not the front. It should only contain Glucosamine Sulfate, not NAG or glucosamine Hcl. One very good combination is glucosamine and MSM, which is a sulfur compound that acts as an anti-inflammatory and is very good for the ligaments and tendons.
If you have not had improvements within three months, perhaps you are treating the wrong thing. Get a diagnosis.
Jonathan
The scoop on OPCs
Recently there was a doctor who appeared on television touting the benefits of OPCs (oligomeric proanthrocyanidins) or Pycnogenol.
Pycnogenol is a registered trademark for pine bark from the Pinus maritimus. Not all pine bark is equal, nor is it the best source for OPCs. It tends to be very expensive. A better source is grape seeds. Most of the research on OPC's was done using grape seed extract, not pine bark.
Herbal Information Specialist /Business Representative for the Herbarium
Special to PRIME
Dear Jonathan,
I've heard there are herbs that can help people get off Nexium. Is this true? Dave Williamsburg
Dear Dave,
Yes and no.
For minor heartburn and indigestion, people have traditionally used herbs and spices such as chamomile, peppermint and ginger. Some people will use pineapple or papaya, as both contain enzymes that help to break down protein. In addition, The Herbarium's Kathy Duffy has created tea formulas for upset stomach, gas and ulcers.
These are some items that may be good to have around the house for the playoffs and the holidays.
However, Nexium, Prilosec and the whole category of acid reducing medications from your doctor are a bit different. People tend to be on these prescriptions if they have a chronic problem such as GERD or reflux.
The problem with this course of treatment is that long-term use of these medications can cause a whole host of other digestion-related problems. Recently, Dr. Todd Lococo, MD appeared on our radio program and was discussing this very topic. Interestingly enough, many people think they produce too much stomach acid, when actually they produce too little.
When you are under stress, (and these days, who isn't?) you produce less acid, not more. Thus there is too little to digest food, you feel bloated, and gassy and take an antacid for quick relief.
However, the longer you do this self-treatment the weaker your stomach lining becomes, which makes it very sensitive to the acid that eventually returns.
Lack of stomach acid also contributes to a variety of other problems from allergies to Candida. Dr. Lococo has his patients try the HcL challenge. He gives them a sample of Betaine Hydrochloride to take with the meal. Usually, this does the trick. The added acid breaks down the food and everything works just fine. For people who have been on Nexium for long periods, it may be necessary to use DGL, or Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice, which helps to restore the stomach lining. When the stomach is just too sensitive for using Hcl, we use digestive enzyme formulas that contain a variety of enzymes to aid in the digestion of fats protein carbohydrates, vegetable matter and dairy products, but do not contain any Hcl.
Over time, some people have been able to reduce or stop their use of Nexium because their condition improved.
Of course, one never stops a prescription without discussing it with their physician. Some people do have too much acid and suffer from reflux and need to be on these medicines. Even then it is important to use an enzyme combination to aid in digestion and the absorption of nutrients. We have many articles explaining enzymes, GERD, Hcl and digestive health available at the HERBARIUM, free of charge.
Jonathan
Dear Jonathan,
I have been using glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate for two years, with very little results. I hear so many people say it helped them, but I am still using Aleve several times a day. What can I do? Mary- Southwick
Dear Mary,
The short answer is to change the product you are using. Chances are you are not using Glucosamine Sulfate, and the chondroitin is practically useless. Most products on the market today contain two other forms of glucosamine, with the sulfate form nonexistent or the least amount in the blend.
Chondroitin is a very large molecule and is poorly absorbed. You are probably getting about 13-15 percent of the chondroitin, and that is the sulfur. Read the back label, not the front. It should only contain Glucosamine Sulfate, not NAG or glucosamine Hcl. One very good combination is glucosamine and MSM, which is a sulfur compound that acts as an anti-inflammatory and is very good for the ligaments and tendons.
If you have not had improvements within three months, perhaps you are treating the wrong thing. Get a diagnosis.
Jonathan
The scoop on OPCs
Recently there was a doctor who appeared on television touting the benefits of OPCs (oligomeric proanthrocyanidins) or Pycnogenol.
Pycnogenol is a registered trademark for pine bark from the Pinus maritimus. Not all pine bark is equal, nor is it the best source for OPCs. It tends to be very expensive. A better source is grape seeds. Most of the research on OPC's was done using grape seed extract, not pine bark.
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