In our last post, we alluded to a mysterious link between allergies and indigestion. Today we will clue you in and we think you might be surprised by what you learn.
Okay, let’s talk digestion and chronic sinus problems. You may ask, how does mucus in my nose or ears have anything to do with my stomach? The answer is a phenomenon called “silent reflux” or laryngopharyngeal reflux.
If you have “traditional” acid reflux – or even lie down too soon after eating – pepsin, a normal stomach enzyme, can travel up your esophagus along with stomach acid. This enzyme begins to then eat away at the lining of the esophagus. When this happen your esophagus swells, causing post-nasal drip, persistent cough or hoarseness. The swelling also numbs the nerves that detect pain so you won’t experience the usual heartburn with this type of reflux. Wondering if you could be suffering from silent reflux? Look out for sinus drainage after eating to clue you into a connection between your respiratory symptoms and indigestion in your body.
Here are some things you can do if you suspect you suffer from silent reflux:
1) Call on Mother Nature. The family of herbs called carminatives aid digestion and can provide relief when consumed after a meal. Chamomile and ginger teas have both been shown to improve digestion. You can also chew on fennel, dill, anise, or caraway seeds, or crush the seeds into a soothing tea as a home remedy for calming the stomach.
2) Eat no fewer than 3 hours before you go to bed, lying down reactivates pepsin and acid from the stomach can leak back up the esophagus
3) Eliminate the the following foods and beverages:
- Alcohol
- Fermented foods
- Mature Cheeses
- Smoked Foods
- Shellfish
- Beans
- Nuts
- Chocolate
- Vinegar
- Wheat
- Tomatoes
- Citrus
4) Try some digestion-improving yoga poses like Cobra pose. Cobra pose stretches the abdominal muscles, stimulates circulation, improves digestion and relieves constipation. Click here for instructions on how to do this pose and addition poses to improve your gut health.
You are always getting clues about the magical workings of your physical body. Be sure you are listening and don’t assume the usual suspects are in play. Silent reflux is a fantastic example of the mysterious language of your body.
