Brief Answer: explaining side effects of alternative medicines Detailed Answer: Hi, welcome to our site. I am Dr Saumya Mittal. And I have been working in the field of GERD for the past 7 years. Read your query. That is a very significant question and i appreciate your problem. I will try my best to answer your query in as simple terms as possible. From your query I understand that the problem was initially treated on some medicines, and you stopped the medicines over a period of time. I would like to know what medicines were you taking? This is significant because obviously the medicines you were taking were not very effective, and that is probably why you stopped taking them. Besides, I would like to know the exact report of your tests. Now you have looked into the side effects of the tablets. But did you look into the side effects of these alternative medicines? From your query I cannot make out which of these alternate routes you are still using. So I would liek you to clarify them e.g. you found liqourice not giving too good results. So did you stop it or continued it, and added something else? I will start by telling you that even these natural, alternative medicines have chemicals, in fact unrefined chemicals. I will mention these one by one Liqourice- it is unsafe if used continuously for more than 4 weeks.May cause effects like paralysis, hypertension, cardiac diseases, hyperkalemia (increased potassium) etc. And should be taken with precaution in hypertensives, patients of cardiac or renal diseases. It may make many gynecological cancers worse. Evamor alkaline- now despite the claims, the pH of natural water is supposed to be 7. This is a water at pH 8.8 (almost 9). And so you are constantly drinking something which is just a little bit less alkaline than lye (pH around 10). I think it would be obvious to you that side effects are bound to happen. Aloe vera is known to be very beneficial. I will not contest that. But the people who are allergic to it develop a wide variety of symptoms, like diarrhea, vomitting, rashes etc. Besides it interferes with absorption of many medicines. aloe water may up the chances of hemorrhoids, inflammatory bowel disease. And can cause renal effects and blood sugar control. I hope this informs you a little better. Inform the reports and details mentioned above so i can be of help further. I will need those details to suggest a better therapy. Meanwhile I suggest you try stopping the alternative therapies one at a time to identify the exact culprit. I would suggest stopping with Aloe Water. Best of luck. I have given you the answer to the maximum considering the information provided. Please do understand that some details could be extracted from a detailed history and examination. Looking forward to your return query with the details asked so that I can help you further. (If the answer has helped you, please indicate this) Dr Saumya Mittal

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