Dr Oz: New Scientifically Proven Cure for Acid Reflux
Dr Oz said that 30 million people suffer from Acid Reflux, and he wanted to share a natural remedy that you may not have tried before: Melatonin. He called this a “new discovery” that is “absolutely fascinating.”
Melatonin is best known as a supplement and sleep aid. But Dr Tieraona Low Dog is among those who thinks it has benefits in treating Acid Reflux. Research has concluded that it affects the gastrointestinal tract, where it counterbalances stomach acid production.
Dr Oz: Melatonin Vs Proton Pump Inhibitors
Dr Oz and Dr Tieraona Low Dog discussed the results of a study sharing a recommended Melatonin dosage for Acid Reflux, as an alternative treatment option. (miucci / Shutterstock.com)
Healthy At Home author Dr Low Dog joined Dr Oz in the studio to talk about this encouraging breakthrough. “For the longest time, our main treatment for Acid Reflux has been Proton Pump Inhibitors, which we know are fraught with all kinds of problems,” she said.
In a randomized controlled trial, Melatonin was shown to be as effective as PPIs in treating this. In addition, many Acid Reflux also complain about sleep problems. This correlation makes sense, given that reflux is more active at night.
Dr Oz: How Melatonin Works
Dr Low Dog was excited to offer a natural, effective remedy in Melatonin, which could tackle two problems at once. Dr Oz led the audience in using the right hand to make a circular motion above the head. Then he encouraged them to pat their stomachs with the other hand.
He did this to illustrate that Melatonin works in two ways at once to give patients relief. Melatonin, according to Dr Low Dog, increases pressure in the Lower Esophageal Sphincter, as well as reducing acid production while promoting protective chemicals in the stomach.
Dr Oz: Melatonin Acid Reflux Connection
Dr Oz showed a model of the stomach and esophagus, explaining how sometimes acid escapes the stomach and causes reflux symptoms. Dr Low Dog said that she thinks the majority of Americans are Melatonin-suppressed, due to active nightlife and late evening use of electronics.
She wondered whether there is a connection between our Melatonin suppression and the rise in Acid Reflux cases. She added that patients have seen success so far in using Melatonin for Acid Reflux, which she has used to wean people off PPIs.
Dr Oz: Melatonin Dosage for Acid Reflux
“Once you get on these medications, they can really be a beast to get off of,” she said, noting that Melatonin helps to prevent rebound reflux sometimes associated with stepping down PPIs. She recommended a 2 mg Melatonin dosage, taken one hour before bedtime, for treating Acid Reflux.
Dr Low Dog said that Melatonin is quite safe in low doses, and it showed no different side effects than a placebo in the study she mentioned. She recommended an eight-week course for Acid Reflux treatment. At that point, check in with your doctor if you are still having symptoms, she advised.
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