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Page 76
| Persistent or sudden unusually severe headaches lasting for three days or more should be referred to a medical practitioner. |
| Indigestion and Heartburn |
| Heartburn, pain in the lower chest, flatulence, and nausea are extremely common, and few sufferers ever seek professional help, preferring instead to try an assortment of antacid remedies to solve the problem. Unfortunately, trying to reduce the normal acid secretions of the stomach artificially simply encourages the stomach to produce even more, so over-the-counter antacids can be counterproductive. |
| The herbal approach is to combine aromatic carminatives to ease flatulence and nausea with relaxing herbs that reduce the anxiety and tension that often contribute to the problem. Add soothing demulcents to help protect the stomach from excess acid and perhaps a bitter to stimulate the digestive process and restore normal function. |
| Tea for Good Digestion |
| 2 parts each chamomile and meadowsweet |
| 1 part each peppermint and lemon balm |
| Mix the herbs and make an infusion using 2 teaspoons to a cup of water. Add a pinch of powdered nutmeg or cinnamon and drink before meals. |
| Slippery elm tablets or gruel taken before a meal can also help (see p. 38), especially if there is any heartburn. This is common in chronic obesity and pregnancy because the stomach is forced upward, putting pressure on the diaphragm, the muscle that divides the esophagus from the stomach and normally prevents food from returning to the gullet. Acid reflux thus occurs with the highly acidic contents of the stomach returning to the esophagus, which can lead to inflammation and eventually ulceration. A hiatal hernia, in which part of the stomach is forced upward through the diaphragm, can cause similar high acidity problems. Raising the head of the bed 6 to 8 inches by putting bricks under the legs will prevent acid from leaking out of the stomach and can prove a very simple way of reducing symptoms, which are generally worse at night. |
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