Long Term Acid Reflux - A possible Answer?

Digestive health
1

:?: I started with a mild stomach discomfort and acid after being violently sick on holiday in India back in 2003. Since this time, the symptoms have progressivly got much worse, and a year ago, during another CT Scan I was bringing up small quantities of bright red blood from my gut. I've been prescribed Motillium for the sickness feeling and Lansopranol to control the acid, and had been taking these, together with Charcoal Capsules (Holland & Barretts) for some three years. After many many consultations and lots of pills, scans, gasoscopys, pokes and prods from various Doctors and Consultants, I accidently stumbled upon a local 'Earthshop' dealing in natural remedies. I ended up wandering in, and took a while to look round, when finally I reached the very back of the shop, where, on a door was a huge poster of the human body, with various arrows pointing to different areas and various reccomendations for these parts. Well, to cut the story short, I purchased a bottle of 'Centarium', which claims to be a stomach 'bitter', though I wasn't convinced, I gave it the benefit of the doubt and a took a very small quantity (about 10 drops) in a very small amount of water (about 50 drops). I was instructed at the shop to hold the mixture in the mouth for around 30 seconds to allow the soft tissue of the mouth to absord the mixuture, then swallow it.

Well, the taste isn't the best or the worst thing I've tasted, but I took some and went to bed.

The next morning when I woke, I had no reflux (for the first time in years) but I thought best to take my usual medicines. However, I did let the medicine doses slip during the rest of the day, and took another dose of Centarium again that night.

I didn't believe it myself, but I went three months without tablets or ANY reflux! :D If ever I get a slight burn now, I take a dose of Centarium and it abates every time. So far, I've been off the tablets for 6 months now, and taken around 8 doses of Centarium.

If anybody else has any experience of this stuff PLEASE let me know, or if anybody else wants to try some, please let me know your experiences!

2

Thank you so much for your advice. I had also seen this stuff in my local health food shop about 2 weeks ago but didn't think much more about it.

However a couple of days ago I read your post and thought I would give it a go.

It worked instantly! I now take 10-15 drops of the centaurium in a little water before I eat - and it makes a real difference. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks I can do what you do and just take some whenever I feel a burn coming on.

My reflux started Spring 2006. I was waking up in the night and morning with a horrendous sore throat and my chest and back really hurt. I then got really anxious about my symptoms (friends had recently died of cancer of the gullet and cancer of the stomach) which made my symptoms far worse. I stopped all exercise (as it made things worse) and concentrated on my diet. I found that the basics of not eating late, bed propped up, no caffeine etc.. really helped, but manuka honey and aloe vera were also great at easing the pain in my chest and upper stomach. I was on lansoprazole and then omeprazole for about 6 months but decided to come off them and see what happened. Nowadays I seem to get bad bouts and then nothing for a while. I usually get a bad bout approx 5 days after a stressful event/period (which also usually co-incides with a temporary bad diet!) I had an endoscopy in Jan 07 and was diagnosed with silent reflux which was causing inflammation of my gullet (which now seems to be not so silent!) I now watch what I eat carefully - have treats still but very, very much in moderation - and exercise regularly (but with an empty stomach) I am very lucky - it would appear that some people are having an awful time - wish I could help them.

Thanks again, Centaurium makes a real difference to me:D

3

I am very interested in what uou say about the Centarium. I have been suffering from acid reflux for nearly 2 years now and am still not getting any nearer a cure. I have had every medicine my gp can prescribe for me. I have seen a consultant 3 times now and have had anumber of tests. Barium swallow, a tube down my nose to measure the muscle pressure in the oesophagis and numerous endescopy tests. They still say they cannot find anything wrong. I am vomiting acid on a daily basis now and the oesophagis is burning as is my throat. At the moment I am sat here with a tube into the oesophagis through my nose to measure the acid coming up from the stomache (pH test) it is attached to a monitor. I go back in the morning to have it taken out.

Having read what you both have said about Centarium I am going to give that a go. will keep you informed of results. thanks

4

I am interested in your experience using Centarium. Have been trying to find some on the web but without success. Please could you tell me where you can buy it. I have acid reflux, hiatus hernia and slow emptying stomach. I have had awful side effects from all drugs and am now much on my own. I have just started taking Aloe Vera to see if this might help, to soon to say either way. Also are you still taking Centarium and is it still helping you.

Best wishes,

Sheila

5

[quote:40837300cf=\"Colin\"]and had been taking these, together with Charcoal Capsules (Holland & Barretts) for some three years. After many many consultations and lots of pills,!

For gods sake NEVER take 'Charcoal Capsules' with prescription medicines :?

6

Hi all ive been suffering with this acid reflux for a while now, have asthma as well but not sure if one is affecting the other.

I have changed my diet and unless i eat lettuce, cucumber and herbal tea and nothing else i cant figure out what causes this!

im on omeprazole and not doing any bit of difference at all! constant pain in chest, back of throat sometimes and in my back, under my rib cage and i thought i would try some alternative things.

ive just got some licorice tea and also some centarium, will try these and hope its ok, with all your stories im hoping it will work like you say!

I see the doctor on friday anyway so hopewfully we will get to the bottom of this.

kelly

7

I too have tried Centaurium with great results. I had my gallbladder out on 25th April and also have hiatus hernia and Barrett's. I thought all would be cured after op but started getting pains in chest again at night. My consultant said not to use the herbal remedy but I had just bought a bottle so I thought I would have a go! I started taking it twice a day last Tuesday and I have had no pain since. Some days I just take it once, before evening meal. My alternative therapist is is full support of my taking it and I also checked with Bioforce. If it takes the pain off and means one less drug to take it is worth a try. I can find nothing on the Internet which suggest side effects etc.

8

I have been taking Centaurium on and off now for 3/4 years and it is amazing I was previously taking omeprazole but it was constant and if I stopped taking them then it would come back instantly. I was recommended this alternative by a guy whose mother takes it and I could not believe the change in my symptoms. I bought 2 bottles used it 3 times a day till the first bottle was empty thn used the second one just to make sure, I had no reflux for about 12-18 months but I now have an extra bottle just in case..some times it  reoccurs but not very often. I used to work with boots the chemist and would hear people at the pharmacist asking for something to help their reflux and I wish I could of told them about this remedy. I will always continue to have a bottle I honestly think it's the best thing I have ever used 

9

Afraid I had just the opposite experience with Centarium . It actually makes my reflux worse . I tried it for almost a week but had to stop as it made a lot of esophageal burn