Heartburn is a symptom of many different conditions, including acid reflux and GERD. It typically feels like a burning in the center of your chest, behind the sternum (your breastbone). Heartburn can last anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours.

Heartburn occurs when stomach acid backs up into the tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach (esophagus). Typically, when food is swallowed, a band of muscle around the bottom of the esophagus (lower esophageal sphincter) relaxes to allow food and liquid to flow down into the stomach, but the weakness of the esophageal sphincter is allowing to stomach contains and hydrochloric acid (the acid stomach secrets for a proper digestion) to pass through it upwards and affect esophageal inner mucus membrane. Thus, you experience the burning sensation.

Heartburn Causes

According to TSM, rebellious stomach is one of the multiple causes of having heartburn. It’s called rebellious because instead of sending its contents downwards as naturally designed, it sends all the contents upwards. There many reasons why stomach acts this way like stress, wrong diet, overconsumption of alcohol or foods and beverages that irritating the stomach lining.

Another reason of having heartburn is a weakness of the esophageal sphincter. This is the consequences of liver and gall bladder function. According to TCM liver is the organ which nourishing the connective tissues: ligaments, fascia, tendons and sphincters.

Human has quite a few sphincters in their body and when the esophageal sphincter is in trouble, we obviously should consider checking the condition of the other sphincters and connective tissues. According to TCM the dysfunction of bodily connective tissues in general related directly to the health state and function of the liver.

Acupuncture for Heartburn

By applying Japanese medical health exam acupuncturist identify the organs and systems dysfunction during thorough palpation the reflex sones. Each reflex zone is related to each organ and system of your body. Based on the palpation exam findings acupuncturist cab tailor the treatment plan and apply specific acupuncture treatment protocols to address the heartburn, strengthen the organs supporting the sphincter health and eliminate its dysfunction.

The heartburn can become just a memory after about 5-7 acupuncture visits. The longer you have this health mishap the more treatments you will need to fix it. We always advise our patients to book an appointment as soon as they have any health problem. Then, sometimes only 1 or 2 treatments are necessary to eliminate the problem. It’s your health. You want to feel well. Book your acupuncture appointment as soon as possible.

Clinical Relevance

Because heartburn is not a result of organ dysfunction only but might be hereditary or psychosomatic, it’s essential for a person to understand how the mind and body correlate. When the mindset is confused or disturbed, it easily affects health of particular organs and set them on a path to develop a heartburn. You can learn how to create a positive mindset and control your mind and body balance by reading the pages 19-49 and 61-64.

I also recommend you to read about circadian clock on pages 79-82, about liver on the pages 83-94 and spleen on the pages 95-107 in my book, Your MindBody Alliance & The Truth About Acupuncture.

Our clinical experience shows that people who are not educated in anatomy and physiology are not aware of how to preserve their health. The lack of knowledge and understanding how mind and body correlate leads people to feel out of control over their own health. Reading this book everyone becomes knowledgeable enough to withstand any body health problem and preserve one’s health.

You can find the book in a paper cover or electronic version here:
https://www.amazon.ca/MindBody-Alliance-Truth-About-Acupuncture/dp/1483498034