The eosinophilic esophagitis is a chronic immune system disease. This type of disease has been identified only in the past two decades. Nowadays, the eosinophilic esophagitis is considered as a major cause of gastrointestinal illness. The most common signs and symptoms of eosinophilic esophagitis in adults are upper abdominal pain; difficulty swallowing; persistent heartburn; backflow of undigested food; food getting stuck in the esophagus after swallowing.
The most common signs and symptoms of eosinophilic esophagitis are abdominal pain; vomiting; difficult feeding in infants; difficulty eating in children; no response to GERD medication; failure to thrive. When someone has eosinophilic esophagitis, then he or she has an allergic reaction to an outside substance. This reaction can happen as follows multiplication of eosinophils; reaction of the esophagus; dysphagia and impaction; damage to the esophagus; additional symptoms.
The most common risk factors for eosinophilic esophagitis are age; climate; season; allergies and asthma; family history; sex. If you think that you have a symptom of eosinophilic esophagitis or esophageal cancer, then you should talk with your doctor as soon as possible so in this way he or she can help you. It is noticed that people who have autoimmune conditions, such as HIV are having the highest chances of getting eosinophilic esophagitis.
Also, it is noticed that the eosinophilic esophagitis is very common in people who have GERD and people who eat shortly before bed and consume a lot of acidic foods or drinks, such as alcohol and caffeine. It is known that taking antibiotics, corticosteroids or anti – inflammatory drugs can increase the risk of eosinophilic esophagitis. The most common complications of eosinophilic esophagitis are damage to the esophagus and scarring and narrowing of the esophagus. [1]
Your doctor will diagnose the eosinophilic esophagitis using some of the following tests: esophageal X – ray; lab tests; esophagogastroduodenoscopy; esophageal manometry. How long the eosinophilic esophagitis will last depends on many factors, including the underlying cause and the type. You need to talk with your doctor if you suffer from eosinophilic esophagitis before you start using some of the below mentioned home remedies so in this way you will avoid side effects.
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Home remedies for eosinophilic esophagitis
Acupuncture for eosinophilic esophagitis
We know that acupuncture involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body. There are some studies in which are said that acupuncture can help people with heartburn and regurgitation caused by eosinophilic esophagitis, but on the other hand there are many studies in which are not shown positive effects of it. This is a reason why you need to talk with your doctor about the acupuncture and its benefits on your health. [2]
Elevate the head of your bed
If you experience heartburn on regular basis at night or while you are trying to sleep, then you should put the gravity to work for you. You should place wood or cement blocks under the feet of your bed so the head end is raised by 6 – 9 inches (this is 152 to 228 millimeters). If it is not possible to elevate your bed, then you should insert a wedge between your mattress and box spring to elevate your body from the waist up.
Turmeric and honey paste
The mixture of turmeric and honey is one of the best home remedies which you can use for the eosinophilic esophagitis. This is not the greatest tasting mixture, but this paste will effectively mitigate the symptoms and it will ease the pain when swallowing. This mixture has anti – inflammatory properties which can help to reduce the discomfort experienced during ingestion. Honey can help to relax the esophagus naturally and it can prevent reverse peristalsis which is causing vomiting.
If you do not mind the garlic, then you should add fresh garlic or garlic flakes to the paste because this will help to increase the effectiveness of this natural cure. You should take this natural cure 2 – 3 times per day because in this way you will get the best results. You should add half a tablespoon of turmeric to 2 tablespoons of honey and you should mix it well. You should add a quarter of crushed garlic if you desire.
Eat several meals
It is very important to eat several small meals throughout the day instead of eating 2 – 3 large meals. This can help you to reduce the symptoms of the eosinophilic esophagitis. It is very important to stay upright for 3 hours after eating. You should limit the alcohol intake because it can worsen the symptoms of the eosinophilic esophagitis. [3]
Decrease inflammation in the esophagus
The inflammation of the esophagus due to the presence of eosinophils is resulting in difficulty swallowing in people who suffer from eosinophilic esophagitis. While you are identifying the underlying allergies and normalize the function of your immune system, you should talk with your doctor about decreasing inflammation in the esophagus and improving the symptoms [4]. Some of the best anti – inflammatory products are Omega – 3 fish oil, slippery elm powder, marshmallow root and curcumin. They can be used short – term or long – term to support the esophagus and they can allow you to be free from the symptoms.
Avoid foods and drinks that aggravate acid reflux
It is very important to avoid the allergens which can cause you inflammation. You should talk with your doctor about making allergy test so he or she can help you to know which foods should be eliminated from your diet. You should take a diet which can help to reduce the acid reflux or another esophagitis diet plan which you will develop with your health care provider. You should always take care about your health and take the advice from your doctor. Always talk with your doctor if you want to add new food in your diet.
Herbal remedies for eosinophilic esophagitis
There are some cases when herbal remedies are used for heartburn or reflux symptoms. Some of the most common used herbal remedies for eosinophilic esophagitis are marshmallow, chamomile, slippery elm, licorice and others. You should know that herbal remedies can have serious side effects and they can interfere with the medications that you are taking. This is a reason why you should talk with your doctor about a safe dosage before you start taking any herbal remedy.
Maintain a healthy weight
It is known fact that the excess pounds put an extra pressure on your abdomen which is pushing up your stomach and it is causing acid to back up into your esophagus. If you have a healthy weight, then you should work to maintain it. If you are overweight or obese, then you should work slowly to lose weight. You should not lose more than one or two pounds (0.5 – 1 kg) a week. You should ask your doctor to help you in devising a weight – loss strategy which can work for you. [5]
Relaxation therapies
You should use techniques to calm stress and anxiety because they can help to reduce the signs and symptoms of heartburn or reflux. You should ask your doctor about relaxation techniques, such as guided imagery and progressive muscle relaxation.
Identify food allergies and sensitivities
It is very important to identify and eliminate the cause of disease because in this way you can expect to overcome the symptoms of eosinophilic esophagitis. It is known that the cause of eosinophilic esophagitis is the allergy and in the most cases is an allergy to an ingested food. This is a reason why you should avoid some of the most common triggers, such as caffeine, dairy, eggs, wheat, tree nuts, peanuts, soy, fish and shellfish, onion, garlic, mint, chocolate, alcohol, tomato sauce and fatty or fried foods. You should always avoid foods which you know that they will trigger your heartburn. When someone is taking the elimination diet, then the mentioned foods are completely removed from the diet and then, they are slowly reintroduced one by one to determine if you are sensitive to one of them. [6]
Avoid smoking
It is known that the smoking can worsen the symptoms of the eosinophilic esophagitis so you should quit smoking as soon as possible. [3]
Chamomile for eosinophilic esophagitis
You can use the chamomile as your home remedy for eosinophilic esophagitis because it can help to reduce the acid reflux symptoms. You need to talk with your doctor which is the best way to use the chamomile as your home remedy so in this way you will avoid side effects.
References:
[1] Miehlke S. Clinical features of eosinophilic esophagitis. Digestive Diseases. 2014;32:61-7.
[2] Li D, Zhu L, Liu D. Acupuncture for refractory gastro-oesophageal reflux disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol. BMJ Open. 2019;9(8).
[3] Koutlas NT, Eluri S, Rusin S, et al. Impact of smoking, alcohol consumption, and NSAID use on risk for and phenotypes of eosinophilic esophagitis. Diseases of the Esophagus. 2018;31(1).
[4] The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). Understanding how omega-3 dampens inflammatory reactions. Science Daily. 2017. Retrieved from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170823093831.htm
[5] American Gastroenterological Association. Adults with eosinophilic esophagitis should consider a diet change. Science Daily. 2014. Retrieved from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/07/140718115622.htm
[6] Anyane-Yeboa A, Wang W, Kavitt RT. The role of allergy testing in eosinophilic esophagitis. Gastroenterology & Hepatology. 2018;14(8).
