Has anyone had success with Orange peel extract to treat heartburn?

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rosebloom

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In my quest (and desperation) to find heartburn remedies other than the PPI's, I have been reading all over the Internet looking for alternative forms of medicine or relatively safe remedies for GERD.

One of the remedies I tried and discarded after two weeks was Melatonin (the sleep hormone). I took 6 mg every night before bed and, though I slept well, I did not see improvement in heartburn and indigestion. I had read about one study in Brazil touting that a group of people who took melatonin got rid of symptoms, but it did not work for me.

I have also tried apple cider vinegar and ginger and both have given me more heartburn and stomach irritation. Cooked apples or apple sauce are fine, but not raw apples for me.

I take probiotics and I think they are helping with the indigestion portion but not with the reflux. I also take fish oil, calcium and all that other good stuff with yogurt or food in the morning.

I came across some literature on D-Limonene which is a compound or substance in orange peel extract. I have not found a lot of posts here about it and wonder if anyone has tried it and whether it works for heartburn. At this point I am not necessarily looking for cures (I don't think I'll ever be cured) but for remedies I can take to keep the heartburn and reflux at bay. I have purchased a packet of twenty and took one last night. One is supposed to take the pills every other day for twenty days and then one here and there as needed.

The pill I took last night took away the heartburn for the evening but it was back today. I will take another tomorrow and follow the twenty day regimen to see how it goes, and will then report back. I don't think it will hurt, but wonder if it will help or it is another pipe dream.

But has anyone taken this remedy and has it worked for anyone in the forums?

I'll be interested to hear what the more experienced merabers have to say.

Rose
 
Hello Rosebloom - I hope this makes sense, as my 'cheaters' are elsewhere and I am actually supposed to be shutting 'er down for the night. Being the curious creature I am, I just had to pop by rabroad one more time and saw your post.
I think you are at the place many of us find ourselves. The place that we know we have to change or else. I know many people, newly diagnosed w/diabetes, who do not want to change at all. They are faced with grave consequences if they don't, but still they try to step over the line as they try the not so successful juggling act of balancing their desires over their neeRAB. I am guilty as charged. I found myself in that place, recently, where I have to make a change. I don't want kidney failure, I dont want my pancreas to shut down, I want my liver and GI tract to be healthy. So - I have to change. For me - pain has been my motivator. Being ill with acute pancreatitis caused by a gall stone and the subsequent side affects of that - as well as my time in the hospital - Really woke me up. I can no longer do it halfway - I must take charge of my own health. I have used ACV in the past and felt fantastic. But I let the snide remarks and the unknowledgeable individuals change my course. So, I am back at my first love - the Bragg's. I've read as much as I can find on their remarkable journey to wellness and am convinced that they were absolutely on the right course to wellness.
I wish you well with your ACV journey - I have had about three days in the past three weeks, that I ate something that I should of avoided. For the most part 95% of the time - I feel well. I like that - 'I feel well'. Very powerful. I do have setbacks - with other physical things - I think we all do
I learned yesterday, you cannot corabine, bbq'd chicken, bbq beans and hummus in a meal. Disaster is written on that plate. No matter how good I think it will taste - I am learning simpler is better - I feel better for it and am determined to retrain myself to 'live' not exist.
Cheers and good health to you!
Rose4me
 
Rosebloom - quick question - the apple cider vinegar you took - was it Bragg's Raw Apple Cider Vinegar? I am taking that - week three now of it and for the most part, if I am really streamlined about my diet and can manage the stress levels - I do really fine with it. I eat an occasional cherry chewable rolaiRAB at night and if the GERD acts up - I drink more water and then consume only the Almond Milk, which amazingly soothes my stomach so much.
another 'Rose'
 
I think it was with the "mother." I purchased it at the healthfood store.

How do you take it? I may have not taken it the right way.

The D-Limonene did not do much for me. It made me burp lemmon flavored burps but I don't think it did much for the heartburn.

Rose
 
I take Gaviscon when I need it. I think it is very effective. I like the liquid type as I hate chewing antiacid pills. They feel like chalk.

I was taking a little tablespoon of Gaviscon at night right before bed when I was going through the worst of my acid rebound about a month ago. It really helped.

I understand Gaviscon contains aluminum so a lot of it is not good, but I find it to be a GoRABend.

Rose
 
Nobody has posted in this thread. This is my third day taking the orange peel extract (every other day). I have also started to cut down on carbohydrates as I have read they cause heartburn. Without realizing it, I had been eating a lot of carbs thinking they were good for reflux because carbs are typically "bland." as in rice, potatoes, lots of yogurt, etc. Yesterday was a pretty crappy day, but today was a pretty decent day.

This is the end of my seventh week off Aciphex and I am hangind in there. Some days I think I am ready to go back to the Aciphex (like yesterday when I had a bad episode of heartburn-have no idea why) and better days, like today, when I feel a bit more encouraged to go on.

I am still on two 150 mg Zantac twice a day, have added magnesium to my vitamin regime and I am going through the 20 days of orange peel extract. My goal is to stay off PPI's permanently and to eventually reduce the Zantac to as little as I can get away with.

Honestly, I think the hardest thing will be to cut back on carbs. I love my bread, potatoes and rice!

Rose
 
Thank you for your worRAB of wisdom and taking the time to share your experiences. You never know whom you might help by doing so.

The dangerous aspect of the PPI for me is that I did not experience any of the "overt" or obvious side effects others have posted about. I could have kept taking it for a long time had I not bothered to have that second Dexa scan about four months ago. But no doubt the PPI was interfering with calcium absorption big time.

I have always been relatively healthy. I am not overweight and exercise. For whatever reason acid reflux decided to hit me in my early fifties as I entered menoupasue. I thought that tiny white pill (the only medicine I took besides vitamins) was going to allow me to continue drinking coffee, diet cokes, sweets and the occasional cocktail (I don't drink alcohol too much either).

I will do what I possibly can to stay healthy and be in command of my health as much as I can.

I have also read ACV may be good for lowering cholesterol. Mine has always been slightly elevated. It will be interesting to see if the ACV lowers my bad cholesterol.

I am going to keep my fingers crossed and keep up the ACV to see what happens.

Thanks again for taking the time to post and respond to my posts.

Rose
 
I have continued to use the ACV since Saturday. It seems to be helping some along with the low carbs, DGL and other remedies. I think the ACV has helped me to cut down on the Zantac. I took one yesterday because I experienced a flareup in the afternoon, but that is better than taking Zantac every day round the clock. We'll see. But I have managed going from taking a PPI every day to taking Zantac every day to now taking Zantac every three days or so as needed to treat my heartburn.

Rose
 
I've also posted my story on your other thread about getting off PPI's. I, too want to get off the Aciphex.

I am looking forward to the day, as I know you are too, when you will post that you've had great success with all of this. It's certainly frustrating. I've heard about a low carb diet working for Gerd. I tried it for a few days but have had problems with getting enough calories in. My diet now is kind of like a lower carb/low sugar plan. I try to only get 5-6 carbs/day and really watch my sugar intake. I still find it hard to get enough in sometimes. I rely on nuts/seeRAB, eggs or egg substitute, cheese, almond milk (which I find amazingly yummy), fish and chicken, veggies, some fruit. I'm hoping it helps.
 
Hello Rosebloom - I am glad you are staying the course. I too have flareups when I cheat or eat something that is borderline acceptable - but I love it so. I won't tell to much on myself - but yesterday was a rough one. I take chewable rolaiRAB - and sit up until the tummy settles down. I also drinks lots of water to flush, flush, flush. It seems to help if the water is cold. For now. In the winter - room temp was cold enough - I live in the south - close to the surface of the sun - some would think. I wish it were cut and dry like a skinned knuckle. You skin the knuckle, apply cleanser, betadine, bacitricine, a bandaid, watch it for a couple of days and walla! All better - I tell you maintenance is a full time job. But it beats the alternative - of not being here at all. I do rely on the ACV - it's ability to become alkaline in the body is amazing and so healing.
Rose
 
Rosebloom - I began with one tsp. in a tall glass of juice - I happen to like white cranberry/peach - it is very mild and the added raw apple cider vinegar makes it a bit tart - sort of like a sweet tart - except - it is good for you. I drink it in the morning with my yogurt and again at noon with my meal. I try not to drink it at night, as it gives me energy - (a bonus for certain). I have graduated to a tbsp in the juice, 2X a day. Some people use it in water with a bit of honey - I've done that and I do like it. Or if the sugar in honey is an issue, sweetening with stevia is also an option. Staying away from artificial sweeteners is a definite must for folks with easily irritated digestive issues. The malitol and sorbitol among other things are horrible diet additions for us. I bought the book written by the Bragg's years ago, about Apple Cider Vinegar. The 'mother' looks a bit like floating sediment in the vinegar. This 'mother' has wonderful enzymes in it, and other nutrients that sooth an irritated digestive tract. I do occassionally still have an acid rebound flair up. That's life I suppose. But for the most part I am very pleased with the results. I would suggest you do a bit of research on it. I saw a program a with Patricia Bragg as the guest. She is not necessarily a beautiful woman by some standarRAB, although she is pretty, but what struck me so much about her, is the undeniable glow of health about her. I just couldn't get over it. So - I began to research her and have used liquid aminos for years in place of soy sauce. It is yummy. I am a believer in her recommendations. She is living proof.
I wish I had not gotten off of ACV, for so many years. Now that I've rediscovered ACV - I am so glad. I know it isn't a cure all and that many people who suffer from gastro issues won't tolerate it or choose to incorporporate it into their diet, but it makes the most wonderful salad dressing - ever. Also, a couple of table spoons in a pot of beef stew, will make the meat so tender. It is good on a roast as well to tenderize the meat.
As you can tell, I am a believer in this rather pungent elixir - I hope you find the keys to settling down your issues. I know you have suffered so.
Rose
 
Oh, ok ,Gaviscon here in Australia contains sodium bicarbonate and calcium carbonate, must be slightly different to the American formula.

I think its great, except for the taste...... the only antacid I have ever used that doesnt taste nasty is Tums, the berry and fruit flavours
 
I am going to keep at it. Iam now used to it and it is no big deal to drink the three small glasses of water with the two tablespoons of ACV. I don't even need to put it in juice or add honey. It is not that bad for me as I have always liked vinagrette dressings for salaRAB. The "cheating" part for me entails eating too many carbs. The day I had the flare up, I age a biscuit, a cookie and forgot what else that was sort of starchy. It really is not worth it for me. I have also started taking my calcium/magnesium supplement in liquid form. We'll see how it goes.

Rose
 
Hi Flyerfan:

Thank you for your posts and the information. I think the reduction in carbs helps, though I cannot go down to the 20 mgs suggested in some posts. Eating less carbs is forcing me to eat more protein, but I seem to be doing OK. I have eliminated the bread, a lot of the yogurt (for now) and all the potatoes. Like you, I love almond milk and am eating lean meats, veggies, grains, etc. I am not a huge eater and have never been overweight. I don't smoke and have, by now, cut all coffee (which I love but gladly gave up for my stomach health). Let's see how we do over the next few weeks. Don't be discouraged if your first few weeks are a bit rough. The gastrin in your blood neeRAB to level off and stabilize once you are off PPI's for several weeks.

I am going to hang in there for another month and see if I can start to have more good days and fewer bad days.

Rose
 
I think it's the aluminum that makes the long term use of antiaciRAB not a good idea. But I think Gaviscon is great! It sits on my kitchen counter for when I need it, which is usally at night.
 
I am going to try it again by putting it in juice to see how it works. It is worth another try if it helps get off medications.

Apple cider vinegar cannot harm as one would put vinegar on salad dressings and such. As I recalled, it didnot seem to help with heartburn last time but I am going to give it another try. I happen to have a bottle of the Braggs type at home with the "mother." I looked at the bottle after I replied to your post. I'll try and let you know. Thanks for bringing it up again.

Rose
 
Today, I took the last D-Limonene capsule and it happens to have been a day of pretty horrible heartburn. Therefore, I'll have to report that the twenty day course of D-limonene appears to have been a failure on my end.

Rose
 
I am now about three orange peel extract capsules away from completing the twenty day program of taking one every other day. As I reported in other posts, I had a fairly bad episode of reflux last night. Therefore, I don't know if the orange peel extract is working or not. It claims that those who take it can experience relief from reflux for up to six months, but unfortunately I don't think I am going to be one of those even as I continue to take the Zantac twice a day. I'll report again at the end of the program in a few days and still would like to hear whether anyone else has experienced any success with this.
 
Hi Rose4Me:

I worked up my nerve today being a Saturday. I knew I would be home in case I had a bad day as a result of trying the ACV. Anyway, I woke up this morning and sipped a glass of water with two tablespoons of ACV through a straw. I decided to skip the Zantac because I wanted to see if the ACV truly worked.

I had the ACV in the morning. I took my usual breakfast with vitamins about thirty minutes later. No heartburn all morning and I decided to have another small glass of water with another tablespoon of ACV before lunch. No heartburn all afternoon. I had another glass of water with another tablespoon of ACV before dinner and no heartburn as of now. It's almost 11:00 P.M. as I am posting this. I have not taken Zantac today and no heartburn so far. I have eaten lightly, though, not a lot of carbs or heavy food.

Not sure if the ACV will continue to stave off the heartburn, but the Zantac was not working a hundred percent of the time either. If the ACV continues to work, I'd much rather drink three glasses of water with some ACV daily than take the Zantac or a PPI again. Maybe I can leave the Zantac for particularly bad days and take it as needed or an emergency backup.

I am not worried about the ACV burning my stomach as vinegar is something we eat commonly in salad dressings and other fooRAB without side effects. Not sure why it did not work the first time I tried it other than perhaps my esophagus was way too irritated back then and I did not give it a proper try. Besides popping that little PPI once a day and eating anything I wanted seemed like such an easy solution to pass up. I knew nothing about side effects back then.

Thank you for bringing up the ACV again and encouraging me to try it. I will continue to use it and see if, along with a sensible diet, it continues to keep my heartburn at bay.
At this point, I would do anything to get away from PPI's, H2 blockers and the entire bunch.

Rose
 
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