GIRD, GERD, diet and traditional Chinese medicine

The following is an excerpt from Hot and Cold Health by R. G. Heft (Acupuncture Physician FL 1992- 2002) based on traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicines and the questioning and counseling of 10,000+ Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is based on the theory, observation that everything is an ongoing balance of opposites, many of which we control through diet, exercise, sex, thought, etc.

Know the whole before attempting to diagnose and or treat the part, as you cannot cure the part ithout curing the whole. The whole is equal to and greater than the sum of its parts.  If you cannot afford or do not want to risk your money ($20 or less), then I will send, email you the E Book (Adobe file, 1,005 KB) for free.  Your health is  more important than my bank account. Email me (rgheft@netzero.com) your request or questions.  Peace.

Gastrointestinal Reflux Disorder (GIRD) and Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) are two common digestive disorders that share similar symptoms: abdominal bloating, gas, nausea, shortness of breath and or acidic or sour taste in the mouth, throat, heartburn, burning sensation and or pain in the stomach, chest or behind the breastbone. Poor diet: too building or too cleansing tends to cause poor digestion, GIRD, GERD.

Digestion is a simple and orderly process. The stomach is the first digestive organ to receive and process food. It produces and mixes food with hydrochloric acid and enzymes designed specifically to digest animal protein and fat. This mixture sits and ferments (souring process), breaks down, before being sent down into the small intestine, for further digestion and eventual nutrient absorption into the bloodstream. Whatever food, fluids not digested, absorbed, become waste that is sent to the large intestine, for temporary storage, and eventual elimination from the body.

The major symptom of GIRD and GERD is heartburn caused by the backflow of hydrochloric acid (HCl) into the esophagus HCl, produced by the stomach, irritates and burns sensitive tissues. Esophageal sphincter muscles that control the opening and closing of the valve that connects the esophagus to the stomach generally prevent its back flow. Poor diet, overeating and or tight clothing tend to cause back flow of HCl, heartburn.

The throat, stomach and small intestine are more or less one long tube (thirty plus feet) that connects to another tube, large intestine (five feet), and ending in the anus. Overeating, especially protein, fat and starch (bread, cookies, pretzels, etc.) tend to clog the stomach and or small intestine, preventing the downward movement of food, which instead collects, clogs, festers (heat up, excess fermentation) and backs up, rebels like a clogged pipe that overflows causing burping, sour breath, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, etc.

Weak digestion via long-term low protein, low fat and high carbohydrate (pasta, bread, salads, tropical fruits, juices, etc.) also causes reflux. Protein and fat build and fuel. Too little tends to weaken, slow digestion, movement of food, causing it to collect and clog. Too many fruits, vegetables, juices, cold drinks, etc. especially  at the beginning of the meal, tend to dilute and weaken digestive acid and enzymes, reducing nutrient absorption, blood, while also slowing the movement of food producing abdominal bloating, gas, burping, reflux and or heartburn, depending on the rest of the diet.

Pregnancy, excess weight and or tight clothing, belts can also obstruct, block and clog the stomach and small intestine causing a backflow of energy, food, fluids, GIRD, GERD. Never ignore the obvious. Always ask questions, analyze.

The middle diet, meal plan, adjusted accordingly is recommended. Spices, Kim Chi (Korean spicy cabbage) help relieve heartburn. Reduce salads, tropical fruits, cold drinks, milk, yogurt and cottage cheese.

Case history: A female customer of mine was having digestive problems. Every time she ate, she would experience abdominal bloating, gas, burping, pain and heartburn. Her diet was anemic: low protein, low fat and high carbohydrate (pasta, bread, salads, fruit, juices, etc.). I suggested fennel seeds (one-quarter teaspoon after each meal).in addition to the hotter, middle diet. I told her to eat more protein, cooked foods, spices, etc. Three weeks later, she came back and hugged me. Her digestive problems and hot flashes (which she had not told me about) had disappeared. I told her (43 years old) that her hot flashes were not caused by menopause but instead intestinal heat via indigestion, stagnation of food, waste. Her doctor had diagnosed her as menopausal; which I thought was a little premature.

Hot and Cold Health

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION I PHILOSOPHY AND DIET

Chapter 1 The Way of Thinking Chapter 2 The Way of Food Chapter 3 Digestion, Spices and Chinese Herbs Chapter 4 Cooking Class

SECTION II BIOLOGY, EAST AND WEST

Chapter 5 Three Treasures Chapter 6 Blood and Body Fluids Chapter 7 Spleen Chapter 8 Stomach Small Intestine Chapter 9 Large Intestine and Urinary Bladder Chapter 10 Heart Chapter 11 Liver & Gall Bladder Chapter 12 Lungs Chapter 13 Kidneys Chapter 14 Disease and Diagnosis

SECTION III DISEASES A- Z

Chap 15 A Diseases AIDS 141 Alzheimer s 143 Anal fissure 143 Anemia 144 Anger 145 Aging 146 Anxiety 147 Arthritis 148 Asthma 152 ADD 154 Auto-immune 154 Chap 16 B Diseases Blood 157 Blood Pressure 158 Body Odor 159 Bones 161 Breast lumps 162 Bronchitis 164 Chap 17  C Diseases Candidiasis 167 Canker Sores 169 Cellulite 171 Cholesterol 173 Chronic Fatigue 175 Circulation 176 Cirrhosis 178 Cold hands, feet 178 Cold (lungs) Constipation 180 Coughing 182 Crohn s 182 Chap 18 D Diseases Depression 185 Detoxification 188 Diabetes 191 Diarrhea 193 Diuretics 195 Dizziness 195 Dysmenorrhea 196 Chap 19 E-F Diseases Ear Infections 197 Eczema 197 Edema 200 Endometriosis 202 Eyes 202 Fear 204 Fever 204 Fibrocystic Breasts 204 Fibroids 205 Fibromyalgia 205 Forgetfulness 207 Frigidity 208 Chap 20 G-H Diseases Gall Stones 209 GERD, GIRD 210 Gout 212 Hair Loss 213 Hearing Loss 215 Hepatitis 218 Herpes 220 Hot Flashes 220 Hysteria 221 Chap 21 I-J Diseases Infertility 223 Inflammation 223 Insomnia 224 Irritable Bowel 226 Itching 227 Jaundice 227 Chap 22 K-O Diseases Kidney Stones 229 Miscarriage 230 Mucous 231 M. Sclerosis 231 Nails 233 Nausea 235 Numbness 236 Obesity 237 Osteoporosis 238 Chap 23 P-R Diseases Pediatric 241 Perspiration 244 Plantar F. 244 Pregnancy 248 PMS 250 Prostate 251 Psoriasis 252 Rashes 252 Restless Leg 252 Chap 24 S-Z Diseases Sex 255 Shaking, tremors 257 Sinusitis 258 Skin Diseases 259 Sleep Apnea 261 Snoring 262 Sweaty hands 263 Teeth 264 Tumors 266 Urinary T. I. 267 Varicose Veins 269 Weight loss 270 Yeast infection 274 Chap 25 Case Histories 275

SECTION IV DAILY PRACTICES

 Chapter 26 The Way of Breathing, Chap 27 Exercise, Chap 28 Meditation 303, Chap 29 Spiritual Practices (belief in God)  307 Appendix 313 Bibliography 315 About the Author 317