Digestive Wellness: Strengthen the Immune System and Prevent Disease Through Healthy Digestion, Fourth Edition (16 page)

Pernicious anemia

Psoriasis

Rheumatoid arthritis

Rosacea

Sjögren’s syndrome

Thyrotoxicosis

Vitiligo

Used with permission from Michael Murray, N.D., “Indigestion, Antacids, Achlorhydria and H. pylori,”
American Journal of Natural Medicine
(January–February 1997): 11–16.

The symptoms of too little stomach acid and too much are similar. Typically I hear about belching, burping, and food that feels as if it sits in the stomach undigested for hours. Some of the clues that might alert you that you have low stomach acid appear on page 33.

What causes too little stomach acid? Food sensitivities and stress play a role. Additionally, chlorine and fluoride in drinking water can block its production, and a stressful lifestyle can deplete acid output.

You can do a home test to determine whether your HCl levels are optimal. For definitive results, find a physician who can measure your HCl levels with a Heidelberg capsule test or the SmartPill test. (See
Chapter 11
, “Functional Medicine/Functional Testing.”)

If you have determined through testing that your HCl levels are low, you can try the following.

Take betaine HCl with pepsin with meals that contain protein. Dosage: 300 to 750 mg per capsule.

Consider stress management to naturally allow your stomach to come into balance again.

Chiropractic adjustments can improve blood flow to the stomach and help normalize HCl production.

You can also stimulate HCl production by using bitters. Bitters have long been used to promote better digestion. They typically have gentian plus other herbs. They probably work by increasing saliva, HCl, pepsin, bile, and digestive enzymes. Sweetish (Swedish) bitters can be found in health-food stores and some drugstores. Compari bitters are also effective and are found where alcoholic beverages are sold.

Some people find relief by using diluted vinegar. Apple cider vinegar seems to work best. Begin with 1 teaspoon in 8 teaspoons of water. Gradually increase the amount of vinegar until you get the desired effect.

Umeboshi plums are found in the Asian section of grocery and health-food stores. Umeboshi plums are salted, pickled plums that can relieve most indigestion and alkalize the body. They can be eaten whole or used as the base for tea, to replace salt and vinegar in salad dressings, or as umeboshi vinegar.