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Suggest Treatment For Swelling And Inflammation Of The Esophagus

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Posted on Tue, 8 Nov 2016
Question: is there anything over the counter to heal a swollen and inflamed esopegus
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Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (3 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Information for natural remedies for esophagitis.

Detailed Answer:
Hello Mr. XXXXXXX

While there are some herbal medicines that may help, none have been proven to cure esophagitis.

Some of the herbal remedies that can be tried are slippery elm, marshmallow (the plant, not the puffy treats), and chamomile. Licorice can sometimes help too.

The other thing you can consider, if the esophagitis is from acid reflux, is acupuncture. There are some studies that show this to be helpful for gastroesophageal reflux.

For acupuncture, I recommend finding a practitioner who was trained in China. I think their training is more extensive compared with acupuncture schools in the US. And if possible, ask around for a recommendation for a good one.

With acupuncture, a general rule I have found is that if you are not noticing any improvement at all after 3 sessions, then it probably is not going to be helpful. Those initial 3 sessions should be fairly close together, such as over the course of 2 weeks. If it is helping, then sessions can be spaced out more.

Dietary and lifestyle modifications can help to:
Discontinue any alcohol, and peppermint. And no tobacco.
Avoid or reduce caffeine and chocolate, citrus, and tomatoes. Sometimes spicy things can be a problem for some people.
Eat small amounts at a time so your stomach doesn't get full as a distended stomach both produces more acid and has more pressure which can cause reflux of acid and food into the esophagus.
Don't eat within 2 hours of lying down.
Put blocks under the posts at the head of your bed to raise it up.
If you are overweight, try to reduce your weight.

I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information.



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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :1991

Answered : 3134 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Swelling And Inflammation Of The Esophagus

Brief Answer: Information for natural remedies for esophagitis. Detailed Answer: Hello Mr. XXXXXXX While there are some herbal medicines that may help, none have been proven to cure esophagitis. Some of the herbal remedies that can be tried are slippery elm, marshmallow (the plant, not the puffy treats), and chamomile. Licorice can sometimes help too. The other thing you can consider, if the esophagitis is from acid reflux, is acupuncture. There are some studies that show this to be helpful for gastroesophageal reflux. For acupuncture, I recommend finding a practitioner who was trained in China. I think their training is more extensive compared with acupuncture schools in the US. And if possible, ask around for a recommendation for a good one. With acupuncture, a general rule I have found is that if you are not noticing any improvement at all after 3 sessions, then it probably is not going to be helpful. Those initial 3 sessions should be fairly close together, such as over the course of 2 weeks. If it is helping, then sessions can be spaced out more. Dietary and lifestyle modifications can help to: Discontinue any alcohol, and peppermint. And no tobacco. Avoid or reduce caffeine and chocolate, citrus, and tomatoes. Sometimes spicy things can be a problem for some people. Eat small amounts at a time so your stomach doesn't get full as a distended stomach both produces more acid and has more pressure which can cause reflux of acid and food into the esophagus. Don't eat within 2 hours of lying down. Put blocks under the posts at the head of your bed to raise it up. If you are overweight, try to reduce your weight. I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information.