Acid reflux and GERD in Wokingham, Berkshire

On this page

1. What is acid reflux and GERD?
2. Symptoms of acid reflux and GERD
3. Causes and triggers
4. Peptic ulcers and stomach ulcers
5. Acid reflux in traditional Chinese medicine
6. Chinese herbal medicine for acid reflux
7. Acupuncture for acid reflux and GERD
8. Self-care for acid reflux
9. Commonly asked questions
10. References

1. What is acid reflux and GERD?

Acid reflux is the backflow of stomach contents — acid, and sometimes bile — up into the oesophagus. When this happens frequently or persistently, it is termed gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD, also spelled GORD in the UK). Reflux occurs when the lower oesophageal sphincter (LES) — the ring of muscle that should keep the junction between the oesophagus and stomach closed — relaxes inappropriately or loses tone, allowing acidic stomach contents to escape upwards. Because the lining of the oesophagus is not built to withstand acid, this produces the characteristic burning discomfort known as heartburn.

Occasional reflux is normal and harmless. GERD is diagnosed when reflux happens at least twice a week, or when it causes complications such as oesophagitis (inflammation of the oesophagus). It is one of the most common digestive complaints in the UK, and although proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) such as omeprazole and lansoprazole are effective for many people, a significant number experience only partial relief, find their symptoms return as soon as they stop the medication, or are concerned about the long-term use of acid-suppressing drugs.

Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine offer a well-established complementary approach that works differently from PPIs — rather than simply suppressing stomach acid, they aim to restore the normal downward movement of Stomach Qi and address the underlying pattern driving the reflux. I treat acid reflux and GERD at my clinic in Wokingham, Berkshire, and offer online herbal consultations for patients who cannot attend in person.

2. Symptoms of acid reflux and GERD

Reflux symptoms vary widely. The most common include:

1. Heartburn — a burning sensation behind the breastbone, often rising towards the throat, typically worse after meals and when lying down
2. Regurgitation — a sour or bitter taste in the mouth as stomach contents rise into the throat or mouth
3. Chest discomfort — pressure or pain behind the sternum (always have unexplained chest pain assessed medically to exclude a cardiac cause)
4. Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) or a sensation of a lump in the throat
5. Chronic cough, hoarseness or sore throat — so-called “silent reflux” or laryngopharyngeal reflux, where acid irritates the throat and voice box
6. Worsening of asthma symptoms — reflux can trigger or aggravate wheezing
7. Bloating, belching and nausea
8. Disturbed sleep — night-time reflux frequently wakes patients and reduces sleep quality
9. Dental erosion and bad breath — from repeated acid exposure

Long-standing, untreated GERD can lead to oesophagitis, oesophageal narrowing (stricture) and, in a minority of cases, Barrett's oesophagus — a change in the oesophageal lining that requires medical monitoring. Persistent symptoms, difficulty swallowing, unintentional weight loss, vomiting blood or black stools are red-flag symptoms that always require prompt medical assessment.

3. Causes and triggers

Reflux develops when the balance between the protective mechanisms of the upper digestive tract and the pressure or acidity of the stomach is disturbed. Common contributing factors include:

• Hiatus hernia — where part of the stomach pushes up through the diaphragm, weakening the anti-reflux barrier (see my blog post on Chinese medicine for hiatal hernia)
• Excess weight — abdominal fat increases pressure on the stomach and is one of the strongest modifiable risk factors
• Diet — fatty and fried food, spicy food, coffee, chocolate, citrus, tomatoes, alcohol and carbonated drinks all promote reflux
• Large or late meals — eating close to bedtime is a major trigger for night-time reflux
• Stress and anxiety — stress alters gut motility, acid perception and oesophageal sensitivity via the gut-brain axis
• Smoking — reduces LES tone and saliva production
• Pregnancy — hormonal changes and pressure from the growing uterus
• Certain medications — NSAIDs, calcium-channel blockers, nitrates and some asthma medications
• Delayed gastric emptying — slow stomach emptying increases the time acid is available to reflux
• Helicobacter pylori infection — this common stomach bacterium has a complex relationship with reflux and is the leading cause of peptic ulcers (see below)

4. Peptic ulcers and stomach ulcers

A peptic ulcer is an open sore in the lining of the digestive tract caused by stomach acid. When the ulcer is in the stomach lining it is called a gastric ulcer or stomach ulcer; when it is in the first part of the small intestine it is called a duodenal ulcer. Peptic ulcers are closely related to acid reflux because both involve the damaging effect of stomach acid on tissue that struggles to withstand it — but they are a distinct condition and are managed differently.

The two principal causes of peptic and stomach ulcers are:

• Helicobacter pylori infection — this bacterium damages the protective mucous layer of the stomach and duodenum, allowing acid to injure the underlying tissue. H. pylori is the cause of the majority of peptic ulcers and is treatable with antibiotic eradication therapy.
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) — regular use of ibuprofen, naproxen, aspirin and similar drugs impairs the stomach's protective mechanisms.

Typical symptoms of a stomach ulcer include a gnawing or burning pain in the upper abdomen (often between meals or at night), bloating, nausea, early fullness when eating, and in some cases indigestion that overlaps with reflux symptoms. Peptic ulcers require medical diagnosis and treatment. If H. pylori is present it must be eradicated, and any ulcer that is bleeding — signalled by vomiting blood, black tarry stools or sudden severe abdominal pain — is a medical emergency. Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture can play a valuable supporting role alongside conventional treatment: harmonising the Stomach, supporting the repair of the gastric lining and addressing the stress and digestive-weakness patterns that slow healing and predispose to recurrence. They are not, however, a substitute for H. pylori eradication or medical monitoring of an active ulcer.

5. Acid reflux in traditional Chinese medicine

In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the Stomach is responsible for “rotting and ripening” food and, crucially, for sending the digested contents downward to the intestines. Healthy digestion depends on Stomach Qi descending. Acid reflux, regurgitation and belching are understood as rebellious Stomach Qi — Stomach Qi moving upward against its proper direction. The art of TCM treatment lies in identifying why the Stomach Qi has rebelled. The most common patterns are:

Liver Qi invading the Stomach

The most common pattern behind stress-related reflux. Emotional tension constrains the Liver, which then “overacts” on the Stomach, disrupting its downward movement. Symptoms include reflux and belching that clearly worsen with stress, a feeling of distension in the chest and upper abdomen, irritability and tension. This pattern often coexists with IBS.

Liver and Stomach Heat

Where constrained Liver Qi has generated Heat, or where a rich diet of fatty, spicy food and alcohol has produced Stomach Heat. Symptoms include strong burning heartburn, sour regurgitation, a bitter taste in the mouth, thirst, bad breath and a red tongue with a yellow coating.

Stomach Yin deficiency

Often seen in long-standing reflux, in older patients, or after prolonged use of acid-suppressing medication. The fluids that should moisten and protect the Stomach are depleted, producing a dry burning discomfort, a dry mouth and throat, low-grade hunger without appetite, and a red tongue with little or no coating.

Spleen and Stomach deficiency with Cold

A weaker, colder pattern, common in those with a constitutionally weak digestion or who eat a great deal of cold and raw food. Symptoms include reflux with a watery, less acidic quality, a dull rather than burning discomfort, fatigue, a pale complexion, loose stools and symptoms that improve with warmth.

Phlegm and food stagnation

Where undigested food and Phlegm-Damp accumulate in the middle of the body, obstructing the downward movement of Qi. Symptoms include a feeling of fullness and a lump in the throat, nausea, belching of undigested food and a thick, greasy tongue coating.

Most patients present with a combination of patterns — commonly Liver Qi invading the Stomach overlaid on an underlying Spleen-Stomach weakness — and the prescription is adjusted as treatment progresses.

6. Chinese herbal medicine for acid reflux

Chinese herbal medicine treats reflux by restoring the downward movement of Stomach Qi, clearing Heat where present, soothing the Liver, and rebuilding the strength of the digestive system so that the improvement is lasting rather than dependent on ongoing medication. Classical formulas are selected and modified according to the individual's pattern:

• Zuo Jin Wan — the principal formula for Liver and Stomach Heat with sour regurgitation and burning reflux
• Chai Hu Shu Gan San — soothes constrained Liver Qi in stress-driven reflux
• Ban Xia Hou Po Tang — for the “lump in the throat” sensation and Phlegm with reflux
• Bao He Wan — where food stagnation and overeating drive the reflux
• Stomach-Yin-nourishing formulas — for the dry, depleted pattern of long-standing reflux

Individual herbs frequently included for reflux and ulcers include Hai Piao Xiao (cuttlefish bone), which is naturally alkaline and helps to neutralise and absorb excess stomach acid; Huang Lian for Stomach Heat; and Hou Po to move Qi and relieve fullness. The herbs I prescribe are pharmaceutical-grade granules from Sun Ten in Taiwan. It is important to continue any prescribed medication alongside herbal treatment and to keep your GP informed, particularly if you are reducing PPIs — this should always be done gradually and with medical guidance.

7. Acupuncture for acid reflux and GERD

Acupuncture can reduce the frequency and severity of reflux by improving the tone and function of the lower oesophageal sphincter, regulating oesophageal and stomach motility, reducing visceral hypersensitivity, and calming the stress and anxiety that so often amplify symptoms. A 2023 randomised controlled trial found that acupuncture significantly increased lower oesophageal sphincter length and pressure in patients with refractory GERD who had not responded adequately to proton pump inhibitors (Tang et al., 2023). Acupuncture at points such as PC 6 (Neiguan) and ST 36 (Zusanli) has well-documented effects on upper gastrointestinal motility and on the downward movement of Stomach Qi.

Treatment is typically given weekly for an initial course of 6–8 sessions, with the point prescription tailored to the predominant TCM pattern. Acupuncture is particularly valuable for patients whose reflux is strongly stress-driven and for “silent reflux” affecting the throat and voice.

8. Self-care for acid reflux

Diet and eating habits

Eat smaller meals, eat slowly, and avoid eating within three hours of lying down. Identify and reduce personal trigger foods — commonly fatty and fried food, spicy food, coffee, chocolate, alcohol, citrus, tomato and carbonated drinks. In TCM terms, these foods generate Stomach Heat or Damp and aggravate rebellious Stomach Qi. Favour warm, cooked, easily digestible meals. For detailed guidance, see Chinese food therapy.

Raise the head of the bed

Raising the head of the bed by 10–20 cm uses gravity to reduce night-time reflux. Extra pillows alone are less effective because they bend the body at the waist and can increase abdominal pressure.

Weight, smoking and alcohol

Losing excess weight is one of the most effective single measures for reducing reflux. Stopping smoking restores LES tone and saliva production, and reducing alcohol lessens both acid production and LES relaxation.

Manage stress

Because the gut-brain axis strongly influences reflux, building genuine rest and stress-reduction into the week — gentle exercise, mindfulness, breathing practices, time in nature — directly supports the downward movement of Stomach Qi.

9. Commonly asked questions about acid reflux and GERD

Can acupuncture and Chinese herbs cure acid reflux?

For many patients, acid reflux can be substantially resolved when the underlying cause — whether stress, dietary, a weak digestion or excess weight — is properly addressed. Where there is a structural factor such as a large hiatus hernia, treatment focuses on reducing symptom frequency and severity rather than cure. Chinese medicine works best as part of an overall approach that includes dietary and lifestyle change.

Can I use Chinese medicine alongside PPIs such as omeprazole?

Yes. Many patients use Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture alongside PPIs. If the aim is to reduce or come off PPIs, this should be done gradually and with the guidance of your GP, as stopping abruptly can cause a temporary rebound increase in acid. Always tell both your GP and your Chinese herbalist what you are taking.

Is acid reflux the same as a stomach ulcer?

No. Acid reflux is the backflow of stomach acid into the oesophagus, whereas a stomach (gastric) ulcer is an open sore in the stomach lining, most often caused by Helicobacter pylori infection or NSAID use. They can produce overlapping upper-abdominal symptoms and sometimes coexist, but they are distinct conditions. A suspected ulcer needs medical diagnosis — Chinese medicine can support healing alongside conventional treatment but is not a substitute for it.

When should I see a doctor about reflux?

See your GP if reflux is frequent or persistent, if over-the-counter remedies are not controlling it, or if you are using them regularly. Seek prompt medical assessment for difficulty swallowing, unintentional weight loss, persistent vomiting, vomiting blood, black tarry stools, or chest pain — these require investigation to exclude serious causes.

How much does treatment cost?

Full pricing is on the treatment prices page. Online consultations are available at the same rate.

10. References

Tang Yuming, Zhao Yuping, Lin Yihan, et al. Acupuncture improved the function of the lower esophageal sphincter and esophageal motility in Chinese patients with refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms: a randomized trial. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2023. https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/4645715.

Jieyun Yin, Jiande D.Z. Chen. Gastrointestinal motility disorders and acupuncture. Autonomic Neuroscience, Volume 157, Issues 1–2, 2010, Pages 31–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autneu.2010.03.007.

Takahashi, T. Acupuncture for functional gastrointestinal disorders. J Gastroenterol (2006) 41: 408. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00535-006-1773-6.