Other Therapies

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Exercise

• Promotes gastric motility as well as vitamin and mineral absorption

• Promotes overall health and well-being

• Decreases anxiety

Relaxation Techniques

• Stress and anxiety increase gastric acid production

• Stress decreases LES tone which may worsen GERD symptoms

• Relaxation breathing, biofeedback, meditation have all been shown to increase LES tone and decrease gastric acid stimulation

• Types of meditation include:

  • Transcendental Meditation: Involves repeating a mantra (e.g., a single word or phrase)

  • Mindfulness Meditation: Involves focusing attention on moment-by-moment thoughts and sensations

Acupuncture

• Used in ancient Chinese herbal medicine for many gastric conditions

• Increases esophageal and gastric contractions and motility

• Patients with GERD who report daily symptoms of acid reflux are six times more likely to try complimentary and alternative therapies compared to those without GERD symptoms

• Acupuncture has a demonstrated effect in decreasing acid production, improving gastrointestinal motility, and improving sensory thresholds for visceral pain

• One small randomized trial determined that once daily therapy with a proton pump inhibitor plus ten acupuncture sessions for 25 minutes each over a period of four weeks resulted in improved quality of life based upon symptom scores, compared to patients who were taking a proton pump inhibitor twice daily

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