30-35 years ago, Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease was unheard of. It is majorly a disease of the modern lifestyle that we all lead today; a lifestyle which is too faulty to be called healthy. Work pressure, family stresses and extreme lack of physical activity have led to the emergence of many such Lifestyle Disorders like G.E.R.D. Untimely and erratic eating patterns and habits have made this a household disease. Our stomach produces Hydrochloric Acid (HCl) every 3-4 hours. HCl is needed for proper digestion of the carbohydrates along with the help of enzyme Pepsin. When the food pattern is erratic and untimely, this Hydrochloric Acid starts accumulating inside the stomach wall and starts escaping through the Lower Oesophageal Sphincter giving rise to a severe chest pain and burning. As this pain mimics the pain of a heart attack, it is called Heartburn. As mentioned earlier, food materials like chocolates and beverages like coffee and alcohol and even excessive tea, all can result in the Gastro-oesophageal reflux. The pain and burning is usually associated with loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting. The sphincter is a muscle which becomes dysfunctional due to all these factors stated and discussed above. So, one must follow a healthy routine to be free off this disease. Antacids and painkillers is not the solution! In fact, such medicines make the sphincter loosen its elasticity and grip even more and as result after a while even these medicines become ineffective. Until and unless the life style is corrected, G.E.R.D will come to haunt again and again. In such a scenario, patient needs a medication which actually helps in making his own system and sphincter ready for the big fight! And thus comes the role of Homoeopathy. The homoeopathic medicines based on the symptomatic presentation, try to not only reduce the complaint but also it strengthens the basic musculature and make it more viable to sustain such pressure situations for a longer periods of time. But here also, I must emphasize that the problem will return though, may not be with the same intensity, if the patient‟s lifestyle is not corrected. Regular physical activity; eating food at shorter intervals without actually over eating; sleeping for at least 6-7hours and on time with avoidance of dangerous beverages and food items, are the ways to correct the faulty lifestyle. Some of the useful Homoeopathic medicines in such cases are Arsenic Album, Acetic Acid, Anacardium, Asafoetida, Carbo Veg., Nux Vomica, etc.

The diagnosis is usually made on the presentation and clinical history itself. But at times to rule out other causes, these investigations may need to be carried out:-

• Endoscopy
• Barium X-ray
• Ultrasound of the whole abdomen