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A critical look at those ‘miracle” heartburn drugs

A critical look at those ‘miracle” heartburn drugs JonathanEvansSquare.jpg

By Jonathan Evans
Herbal Information Specialist/Business Representative for the Herbarium

You may have seen the recent news story about a study indicating reflux drugs have a possible correlation to dementia.   Some very scary information came out of this study.  Proton pump inhibitors – products such as Prilosec, Prevacid and Nexium – seem to have a connection with increased dementia in patients 75 years of age and older.

It is already known that long term or overuse of these products have been linked to kidney disease, fractures, low magnesium levels and pneumonia.  Now, according to a study from the German Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, Bonn, Germany “ some of the drugs may cross the blood-brain barrier and interact with brain enzymes or deplete B12 which may promote neurological damage” according to senior author Britta Haenisch. That information amazed me. Very few things can cross the blood brain barrier, and something like a heartburn medicine surely did not cross anyone’s mind.
Another study found these drugs were not for long-term use, but ended up being used for longer than planned, sometimes years. The study also found that 70 percent of the prescriptions were inappropriate for the patient.

This issue is something we at the Herbarium have talked about for many years. Many people do not have too much stomach acid, indeed, they have too little, or too much at the wrong time. So with a little heartburn they take an antacid or they get the OTC products (think Larry the cable guy) and they get some relief. The problem arises when continued use leads to a weakening of the stomach lining, so that they are more sensitive to the acid in their stomach, so they take more and more. It is a vicious cycle. Some of the literature that we have handed out for years explains the importance of stomach acid, or digestive enzymes. The enzymes help in the breakdown of the foods we eat, making digestion and absorption easier. In the case of really weakened stomach mucosa, a product called DGL is used.
It can help restore the stomach lining and is used to help repair peptic ulcers, while keeping the h. pylori bacteria in check (that is the one associated with ulcers). 
As we age, we produce less stomach acid. So to see people in their 70s and 80s using PPI’s and other products never made any sense to me.
You may have heard about using apple cider vinegar for heartburn.
In some cases it works very well, because it is helping restore acid levels in the stomach and can help stimulate your own production. Digestive bitters also work in a similar fashion, though if you have had your gallbladder out, it makes things a bit more difficult, but not impossible. In those cases it seems the digestive enzymes work for most people.

    Please send your questions on botanical remedies to Natures Rx: Jonathan Evans via email at herbarium258@gmail.com, or by regular mail to: The Herbarium, 264 Exchange St., Chicopee, Mass. 01013. If requesting additional information from Evans, please include a self-addressed stamped envelope.