Acid Reflux and GERD Protocol

8-Week Root Cause Plan to Heal Reflux Naturally
(No long-term reliance on acid blockers needed)

Phase 1: Calm the Fire (Weeks 1–2)

Goal: Reduce burning, soothe the throat, and calm inflammation.

🔹 Symptom Relief Tools (Use as needed)

• Choose only one demulcent: slippery elm or marshmallow root
  → Mix 1–2 tablespoons of powder with water after meals and before bed. Up to 3 tablespoons per day.
  → Slippery elm and marshmallow root work best in powdered form.
• D-limonene by Integrative Therapeutics – 1000mg every other day for 20 days
  Supports mucosal protection and helps speed gastric emptying.
• Melatonin 1mg by Quicksilver Scientific – 3–6mg at bedtime
  Improves muscle tone at the stomach opening and helps reduce symptoms.

Phase 2: Heal & Rebuild (Weeks 3–6)

Goal: Repair esophageal tissue, reduce inflammation, and strengthen protection.

🔹 Herbal & Nutrient Support

• Mucosal healing support:
• Continue using your chosen demulcent from Phase 1 (slippery elm, or marshmallow root – choose only one).
• Continue using melatonin at bedtime from Phase 1
• Choose 1–2 of the following based on your needs (you do not need all at once):
• Rhizinate Chewable by Integrative Therapeutics – 75 mg two times daily → Best before meals (about 20 minutes prior) so it can coat and soothe the esophagus before eating.
• Mastic gum by Jarrow Formulas – 1000mg three times daily → Take on an empty stomach, at least 30 minutes before food or 2 hours after, for best absorption and effect on the upper digestive tract.
• Triphala by Organic India – 1000 mg three times daily → Traditionally taken on an empty stomach, either 30 minutes before meals or at bedtime, to support motility and digestive tone.

🔹 Additional Support for Phase 2

• Curcumin Phytosome by Thorne – 2g/day → Can help reduce the need for PPIs or H2 blockers and support transitioning off medication (check with your practitioner if on other meds). Ideally taken with meals for best absorption. 
• Antioxidants – Protect and repair tissues:
• Bright-colored fruits and vegetables
• Herbal teas rich in polyphenols especially chamomile, meadowsweet and calendula
• 250 mL or 1 cup of carrot juice daily for 6 months
• Zinc Bisglycinate by Thorne – 15–30mg/day

Phase 3: Root Cause Reset (Weeks 3–8)

Goal: Identify what’s really driving your reflux.

🔹 What to Assess & Address

• Food reactions:
  Try eliminating dairy and gluten temporarily. If symptoms continue, ask your healthcare practitioner to test for celiac disease.
• SIBO or gut overgrowth:
  If you have bloating, gas, or constipation, consider SIBO testing.
  → If methane is elevated, make sure liver, gallbladder, and colon drainage are open (see the Drainage Reset Program).
• Hiatal hernia:
  If suspected, visceral manipulation or physical therapy may help.
• Low saliva production:
  Chew food thoroughly. Try chewing sugar-free gum after meals and using saliva-boosting herbs (sialagogues).
  → This helps clear acid and protect the esophagus.
• If you're on PPIs or H2 blockers:
  Talk to your practitioner about tapering off slowly to avoid rebound symptoms. Curcumin can help, see Phase 2.
• Chronic stress:
  Prioritize time in nature, yoga, gentle movement, and meditation. These calm the nervous system and reduce pain sensitivity.
• Circadian rhythm reset:
• Get sunlight during sunrise
• Use blue-blocking glasses after sunset. See product recommendations here. 
• Sleep in a pitch-black room
  → This supports melatonin, one of your strongest esophageal protectors.
• Minerals:
  Replenish sodium, potassium, and magnesium through whole foods and a high-quality electrolyte (like Optimal Electrolyte by Seeking Health).

Phase 4: Support Digestion & Emptying (Weeks 4–8)

Goal: Improve motility, reduce gas, and lower pressure on the stomach.

🔹 Key Steps

• Probiotic:
  Bifidobacterium lactis HN019 (Xymogen ProbioMax) – 17 billion CFU/day
  → Helps reduce transit time and move food through more efficiently. Helpful if constipation is present. Take for at least 2 weeks; can continue up to 4 weeks if helpful.
• Avoid:
  Alcohol, heavy/fatty meals, eating too fast, liquids with meals, and midnight snacking.
• Do:
  Eat slowly, chew thoroughly, keep meals small, and eat dinner at least 3 hours before bed.

Phase 5: Nutrition Reset (Ongoing – start as soon as possible)

Goal: Shift to a long-term reflux-safe way of eating.

🔹 Guidelines

✅ Mediterranean-style diet
✅ High fiber (at least 25 grams per day)
✅ Low sugar and low glycemic meals
✅ Low fat in the evening
🚫 Avoid carbonated drinks, chocolate, citrus juice, spicy foods, caffeine, and peppermint. Some or all of these foods can be reintroduced after you fully heal.
🚫 Don’t eat too much or too quickly
⚠️ Only use a low-FODMAP diet if you also have IBS — otherwise, it may harm your gut.

Phase 6: Lifestyle & Nervous System Support (Ongoing – start as soon as possible)

Goal: Keep reflux away and support long-term healing.

🔹 Lifestyle Tips

• Raise bed head 8-12 inches (e.g., with risers or blocks)
• Lose excess weight if applicable
• Quit smoking
• Support your nervous system with calming herbs:
  Lavender, passionflower, chamomile. Consider ME Support by Cellcore. 
• Pre-meal rituals:
  Take a few deep breaths, chew food at least 30 times before swallowing, and practice gratitude before eating.

When to Reassess or Refer

• You have:
  ➤ Unintentional weight loss
  ➤ Difficulty swallowing
  ➤ Anemia or signs of GI bleeding
• You’ve followed the protocol for 8–10 weeks, and symptoms haven’t improved
• You have persistent iron deficiency or symptoms that aren’t resolving → Consider endoscopy

🧠 Important Reminders

• You do not need to use all three demulcents. Choose one and be consistent.
• Most GERD cases are caused by pressure, motility issues, and inflammation
• H. pylori may actually protect against GERD. Only treat if clearly necessary.
• Healing reflux is possible when you fix the root cause — not just suppress symptoms.

 💬 Community Discussion Only

Comments here are meant for sharing feedback, insights, or experiences with other members. Paola does not respond to questions here, but she reads everything and may occasionally pop in to share additional knowledge or refine protocols based on community feedback.

📍 For direct questions or support with applying this protocol, please post inside the Inner Circle Q&A instead.