Heartburn

Heartburn is an uncomfortable but common feeling of burning or warmth in the chest. Heartburn has nothing to do with your heart. Instead, heartburn is caused by stomach acid. Continual bouts of heartburn can be a symptom of a more serious condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD.

The food that is swallowed travels from the mouth to the stomach through a hollow tube called the oesophagus (or food pipe). Before entering the stomach, food must pass through a tight muscle at the lower part of the oesophagus called the lower oesophageal sphincter (LES). The lower oesophageal sphincter prevents food from travelling backward into the oesophagus. Once in the stomach, stomach acid digests the food. This acid is very strong and can damage most parts of the body.

Fortunately, the stomach is protected from its own acid by a special mucous layer. The oesophagus, however, does not have any such special protection. If the lower oesophageal sphincter does not close completely, the lower part of the oesophagus can be damaged by stomach acid. When this happens, heartburn may be experienced.

Certain foods and drinks are known to loosen the lower oesophageal sphincter. These include chocolate, peppermint, caffeine-containing beverages (such as coffee, tea, and soft drinks), fatty foods, and alcohol. Heartburn often depends on the body's position. It is easier for stomach acid to flow back into the oesophagus if you are lying down or bending over. Anything that increases the pressure on the stomach and forces stomach acid backward into the oesophagus can also cause heartburn. This is why lifting, straining, coughing, tight clothing, obesity, and pregnancy can worsen heartburn.

Many prescription medications can loosen the lower oesophageal sphincter, including certain blood pressure and heart medications, and the asthma drug theophylline. Many substances directly irritate the lining of the oesophagus and can contribute to heartburn. These include spicy foods, citrus fruits and juices, tomatoes and tomato sauces, cigarette smoke, aspirin, ibuprofen (with brand names such as Motrin and Advil), and medicines for osteoporosis.

When to Seek Medical Care: Call your health care provider if your heartburn continues to bother you despite lifestyle modifications and use of antacids or low doses of acid blockers. Call if you have heartburn more than 3 times a week for over 2 weeks. NOTE: The pain of heartburn can often be confused with pain that is actually due to more serious heart problems, such as a heart attack. If you or a family member has a history of heart disease, you need to be particularly aware of this possibility. If your pain is accompanied by sweating, nausea, vomiting, difficulty breathing, or is worse with activity, you may need to have your heart evaluated immediately.

Self-Care at Home: For mild or occasional symptoms, simple lifestyle modifications can be helpful. Avoid large meals. Avoid caffeine (coffee, teas, and some soft drinks). Avoid foods or drinks that reduce pressure on the lower oesophageal sphincter such as chocolate, peppermint, caffeine-containing beverages, and fatty or fried foods. Avoid foods that damage the oesophagus such as spicy foods, citrus fruits and juices, tomatoes and tomato sauces. After eating, beware of activities that force acid back into your oesophagus. Such activities include lifting, straining, coughing, and wearing tight clothing. Use gravity to your advantage. Avoid lying down within 3 hours of meals. If you suffer from night-time heartburn, elevate the head of your bed when sleeping. Place 6-inch blocks underneath the head of the bed, or place a wedge under the mattress. Simply using more pillows under your head will not help. In fact, it may worsen the heartburn by increasing the pressure on your stomach. Lose weight if you are overweight. Stop smoking. Limit alcohol intake. Antacids such as Maalox, Mylanta, Tums, or Rolaids can also be helpful. Antacids work by neutralizing acid. They should be taken 1 hour after meals or when heartburn symptoms occur.

Aromatherapy Treatments:

Essential oils of Basil , Bergamot , Black Pepper , Carrot Seed , Chamomile Roman , Chamomile German , Coriander Seed, Dill, Fennel , Ginger , Juniper , Lavender , Lemon , Marjoram , Peppermint , Rose , Rosemary , Sage and Spearmint can help.

A gentle massage over the stomach with a soothing and comforting essential oil such as Chamomile Roman , Lavender  or Marjoram  is recommended. Alternatively make a hot compress using these essential oils can be put over the stomach.

Drinking Chamomile, Fennel and peppermint herbal infusions can sometimes bring relief Make a hot compress of 2  drops Chamomile Roman essential oil 2 drops Fennel essential oil 2 drops Lemon   essential oil  and apply to the stomach till the compress cools.  

Make a hot compress of 2 drops Carrot Seed essential oil 2 drops Ginger   essential oil 2 drops Spearmint essential oil  and apply to the stomach till the compress cools.

Try any of the following blends and massage into the abdominal area, the ribcage and the throat area when you have discomfort and pain:

Make a blend of 1 drop Carrot Seed essential oil, 1 drop Ginger essential oil, 2 drops Dill essential oil and 10ml Sweet Almond Oil .

Make a blend of 2 drops Fennel essential oil, 2 drops Spearmint   essential oil, 10ml Sweet Almond Oil.

Make a blend of 1 drop Chamomile Roman essential oil, 1 drop Marjoram essential oi,l 2 drops Lavender essential oil, 10ml Sweet Almond Oil.

This recipe is especially good if the problem is made worse by anxiety and worry: Make a blend of 2 drop Bergamot essential oil, 1 drop Rose essential oil, 10ml Sweet Almond Oil and massage into the abdominal area, the ribcage and the throat area when you have discomfort and pain.

Sage Essential Oil - Salvia Officinalis (10ml)

Sage is considered to be good for respiratory infections and has a very warming effect on the muscles and works well as a massage oil to relieve aching muscles.

£4.00

Spearmint Essential Oil - Mentha Spicata (10ml)

Spearmint has similar properties to those of Peppermint but is more gentle and therfore suitable for helping younger people with ailments. It can be a good pep -me-up for the blues or fatigue and us iseful in certain digestive and skin related conditions.

£3.25

Basil Essential Oil - Ocimum Basillicum (10ml)

An uplifting oil which is good for muscular aches and pains, respiratory infections and for insect bites.

£4.50

Bergamot Essential Oil - Citrus Bergamia (10ml)

Bergamot is a valuable oil for tension and anxiety. It can help with conditions such as cystitis and urethritis as well as being great for skin conditions such as acne.

£6.80

Carrot Seed Essential Oil - Daucus Carota (10ml)

Use Carrot Seed oil is brilliant for skin care especially more mature skin where wrinkles occur or conditions such as eczema. It can help with digestive problems and accumulation of toxins, gout and arthritis.

£4.75

Chamomile German 10% Dilute Essential Oil - Matricaria Recutica

Fantastic oil for so many purposes including skin care, inflammed tendons and swollen joints, digestive prolems especially where related to stress.

£4.25

Chamomile Roman 10% Dilute Essential Oil - Chamaemelum Nobile

A wonderful oil which has so many valuable properties Chamomile would be a great one to always keep in and can be used in skin care, musuclar aches and pains and digestive problems.

£5.00

Chamomile Roman Pure Essential Oil - Chamaemelum Nobile (10ml)

Chamomile is a great oil to use for nervous disorders. It is soothing and calming and can help where a person is irritable or nervous. It can also help with insomnia.

£14.50

Coriander Seed Essential Oil - Coriandrum Sativum (10ml)

Try Coriander Seed for nervous exhaustion, arthritis, gout and stiffness of the joints. It is best known for stimulating the appetite and can be useful to help people suffering from anorexia.

£4.25

Dill Essential Oil - Anethum Graveolens (10ml)

Dill is best used for digestive problems such as indigestion, flatulence or colic in children. It can also be helpful for irregular periods.

£3.75

Fennel Essential Oil - Foeniculern Vulgare (10ml)

This is a herb of ancient medical repute which has been used for years. Try it for bruising, inflammation of the joints, arthritis, PMT and many digestive complaints.

£3.75

Ginger Essential Oil - Zingiber Officinale (10ml)

Ginger is great for muscular aches and pains. Dilute it in carrier oil and massage straight onto the area. Use Ginger for nausea and sickenss as well as colds, fevers and flu.

£5.60

Lavender Essential Oil - Lavandula Abrialis (10ml)

Lavender has been used continuously for thousands of years and its popularity has only ever increased. If you could have no other essential oil in your house, then Lavender would be the prime choice: It has a wide range of uses and is a natural antibiotic, anti-depressant, sedative and de-toxifier.

£3.30

Juniper Essential Oil (10ml)

Juniper has a special affinity with the urino-genital tract and can be used to treat many associated conditions. It is also good for respiratory problems and certain skin conditions.

£5.90

Lemon Essential Oil - Citrus Limon (10ml)

This antiseptic and anti-bacterial oil will perform many tasks especially when blended with other oils, including treating verrucas, insect bites and tension headaches. It has a tonic action on the lymphatic system and a stimulating action on the digestive system. It will aid slimming, help shift cellulite and smooth out those wrinkles

£3.30

Marjoram Essential Oil - Origanum Marjorana (10ml)

Marjoram as we might expect can help with the digestion. It is useful for bruises and chilblains. Marjoram can also have a warming effect on the mental and emotional level and can help people suffereing from grief.

£7.50

Rose Damascena 5% Dilute Essential Oil (10ml)

Rose is often referred to as the Queen of all essential oils not least because of its price. It can help with lack of confidence, depression or grief as it has uplifting qualities and is said to produce feelings of well-being and even happiness. It has strong connections with our sexuality and can aid menstual problems.

£8.70

Rose Otto (Centifolia) 5% Dilute Essential Oil (10ml)

Rose Otto is a wonderful oil which can help with skin care especially where the skin is more mature and is soothing for conditions such as asthma and hayfever.

£7.75

Rosemary Essential Oil - Rosemarinus Officinalis (10ml)

Rosemary is believed to have a refreshing, invigorating affect on the skin and can be used for a variety of skin and hair problems. It is good for stiff and overworked muscles, Steam inhalations with Rosemary can be good for catarrh and sinusitus. Rosemary also has a strong connection with the central nervous system and can help with memory and mental clarity.

£3.50

Black Pepper Essential Oil - Piper Nigrum (10ml)

Black Pepper is best used for circulation and sore muscles. It is good for chilblains and can help the digestive tract as well as being valuable for catarrh and chills.

£6.80

Peppermint Essential Oil - Mentha Piperita (10ml)

Peppermint has a lot of different uses including acne and itching skin, palpitations and neuralgiz, catarrh and colds and to aid clear thinking as well as having ties with the digestive system.

£3.50