A hernia is a hole, or rupture, in a sheet of muscle. For instance, an inguinal hernia is a rupture in the muscles of the groin through which intestines spill out. In an anecdotal report, a 93 year old man receiving an autopsy was found to have an inguinal hernia which hung down to his knees. In order to understand how a hiatal hernia can lead to heartburn, it’s important to understand what is happening to your internal tissues as they weaken with age.

A hiatal hernia is a rupture of the diaphragm, through which stomach acid and partially digested food can be regurgitated into the esophagus, causing a terrible burning sensation and leading to potentially fatal complications. Of course, heartburn has nothing to do with the heart.

As people age, hiatal hernias become more common. Other symptoms include chest pain and difficulty swallowing. Contributing causes include being overweight, smoking, and overeating. Most of these conditions can be relieved through treatment, and there are traditional, nonauthoritarian remedies which have helped countless sufferers.

In extreme, life threatening situations, a hiatal hernia can be repaired surgically. Potential surgical complications include pulmonary aspiration and slow internal bleeding leading to iron deficiency anemia. This is why time-tested folk remedies are always worth experimenting with. And, with the remedy you will read about below, there is always a scientific basis, even when the treatment may seem counter-intuitive.

Here it is: eat apples. Also, dose yourself with apple cider vinegar. This approach may sound strange, because apples are acidic, but it does work for most people who try it. The scientific basis for this cure is as follows.

The aging body actually produces less stomach acid, but generates more gas. This excess gas pushes stomach acid the wrong way, up into your esophagus. If there is a hiatal rupture, the effect is even more extreme. By increasing the amount of acid in the stomach, it alters the ph balance and calms the gas. This is an essentially homeopathic remedy, in which the principle is “like alters like.” In other words, to attack acid, use acid, but in a weakened form.

A long term solution to acid reflux discomfort also requires a change in habit. Certain foods cause the stomach to react badly, including tomatoes, citrus, peppermint, and of course, caffeine. Caffeine stimulates acid secretions. Peppermint causes the esophageal sphincter to open, allowing acid to go the wrong way. Citrus products and tomatoes are highly acidic. The problem with all organic treatments is to find the right balance.

You may read about people who claim that treating themselves with apple cider vinegar made everything worse. They probably overdosed themselves, working on the principle that if a little of something is good, then a little more would always be better. Homeopathic wisdom holds the opposite; be delicate in your approach. Less is more.

The hydrochloric acid produced for digestion is powerful; movies have shown miniaturized people being burnt to a crisp in moments when dropped into stomach acid. This is a fine way to understand just why acid reflux in the esophagus is so uncomfortable. When experimenting, take small steps. A few drops of vinegar, diluted in water, is the way to begin. Find more ways to cure Hiatal hernia by visiting Reflux Remedy today!