This blog explains the best homeopathic medicines for water brash, its causes, symptoms, risk factors, management & complete treatment.
Water brash is the symptom that occurs in, individuals with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease- GERD. This article will cover the best homeopathic medicines for water brash, their symptoms, causes, diagnosis, management & treatments.
Water brash occurs when there is excess production of saliva by your salivary glands in the mouth, that mixes with stomach acids and it rises to the throat.
The stomach acids come up into the food pipe even up to the throat.
People experiencing water brash usually get a bad taste in their mouth and feel heartburns.
Doctors may refer to water brash as, acid brash, or hypersalivation.
Water brash is a typical symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease-GERD.
GERD is a common condition of the digestive system.
Water brash may have a significant effect on work productivity and various other aspects of everyday lifestyle.
People with water brash produce excessive amounts of saliva.
When the excess saliva combines with stomach acids, a person may experience heartburn and a sour taste in their mouth.
Researchers have suggested that the excessive production of saliva is a result of stomach acids stimulating a reflex pathway between the esophagus and the salivary glands.
To resolve water brash, which can affect a person’s quality of life treating GERD is very important.
Based on the severity and frequency of symptoms of water brash, doctors may suggest lifestyle changes or a combination of dietary changes and medicines required.
Water Brash Causes
Common causes of Water Brash are:
1)Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease- GERD.
GERD symptoms occur due to failure or improper functioning of the normal mechanisms that prevent stomach acid from rising into the esophagus.
In individuals with water brash, the salivary glands are inclined to produce excessive saliva.
The excess saliva, produced by salivary glands then combines with stomach acids and causes heartburn.
Individuals describe heartburn as a burning sensation behind their chest bone.
Sometimes, they may also get a sour taste in their mouth, in most cases, this is due to the lower esophageal sphincter of the food pipe is not working correctly.
2) Phrenico-esophageal ligament dysfunction
Another cause of water brash is the failure of mechanism to function of the phrenic-esophageal ligament.
This phrenic-esophageal ligament, which attaches the esophagus to the diaphragm, affects or influences the movements of these structures during the process of swallowing.
The ligament weakening process in, people can cause the symptoms of GERD, including water brash.
Individuals with GERD may produce an excessive amount of saliva due to the presence of acid in the esophagus, which causes activation of the oesophagosalivary reflex.
3)Lower esophageal sphincter dysfunction
When the food enters the lower end of the esophagus the muscle called the lower oesophageal sphincter, relaxes and opens, this movement causes the food to enter into the stomach.
This sphincter acts as a separation, preventing the food and acid in the stomach from moving up in the food pipe.
If the lower oesophageal sphincter relaxes, weakens, or gets opened abnormally, this causes the acid in the stomach to flow back into the food pipe, resulting in symptoms of heartburn then water brash, and other symptoms related to acid reflux diseases.
Symptoms of Water-Brash
Water brash is one of the typical symptoms of Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease- GERD.
Other symptoms include
- Heartburns-Burning sensation is felt along the food pipe, expressed by the patient as burning behind the sternum or behind the breastbone.
- Difficulty in swallowing food,
- Sticking of food in the food pipe
- Chest -pain
- Sour taste in the mouth
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Cough and sore throat increase when acid from the stomach rises to the throat
- Long continuous acid reflux can cause ulcers in the esophagus.
Risk Factors for Water-Brash
Some factors increase the risk of gastroesophageal reflux diseases and thus the symptom of it that is water-brash.
1)Obesity:-
Individuals with heavy weight have an increase in,intra-abdominal pressure within the abdomen due to excessive fat content in the body, this causes backflow of stomach acids.
2)Medications:-
Certain medications like NSAID’S-Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, birth control pills and some antidepressants are some of the predisposing factors causing water-brash.
3)Tobacco-chewing and smoking:-
The nicotine content in tobacco and cigarette is the reason that causes relaxation of the lower oesophageal sphincter(LES), this leads to acid reflux and thus cause water-brash.
4)Hiatus Hernia-
Hiatus Hernia is the condition in which the upper part of the stomach bulges out through the hiatus opening in the diaphragm which is the muscle that separates the chest from the abdomen.
The risk of getting acid reflux is high during pregnancy, the growing fetus cause changes in the intraabdominal pressure also causes changes in the hormones that relax the lower oesophageal sphincter(LES).
Both these factors combined cause backflow or rising of the stomach acids into the food pipe and throat.
6)Suffer from slow digestion:-
A weak digestive system causes food to digest slowly, leading to the accumulation of stomach acids that rise to the food pipe causing acid reflux and thus water-brash.
6)Other risk factors:-
Certain food substances like spicy food, fried food, chocolates, citrus fruits trigger the symptoms of acid reflux, thus causing water-brash.
Taking alcohol, coffee, stress, lying down immediately after eating, causes worsening of water-brash.
Diagnosis for Water Brash
In most cases Water-brash is diagnosed based on symptoms narrated by the patient-it is the discomfort is felt in the upper chest, the discomfort is fleeting and may be accompanied by acid taste in the mouth.
Usually, these symptoms go away in a few days or by intake of over-the-counter medicines.
When the symptoms become more chronic or they occur two or three times a week then, it is Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease(GERD), which may require formal evaluation of clinical symptoms, by laboratory testing like
- GERD questionnaire
- Upper abdominal endoscopy
- Testing for H.pylori
- Barium swallow
- Oesophageal PH monitoring and manometry
Water-Brash Management
Treatment of water-brash usually aims at reducing the symptoms or trying to manage the GERD symptoms that, include water brash, with over the counter (OTC) medications.
A local pharmacist or another healthcare professional can advise on the best medication for the treatment of water brash.
If the symptoms of GERD/Water-brash are high in severity or last for a duration longer than 2 weeks, a person must consult a doctor.
At times some people may require a referral to a specialist -Gastroenterologist.
The treatment course for GERD will often aid to provide relief from water brash.
When treating GERD following goals are included in the treatment:
- relieving and preventing symptoms of water-brash and heartburns
- improving quality of everyday life
- decreasing the intensity of oesophagitis which is the inflammatory process of the esophagus (food pipe)due to continuous action of acid that backflows in the food pipe.
- preventing or treating any complications of GERD like ulcers in the esophagus
As the frequency and severity of individual case symptoms vary so accordingly, doctors may advise one or a combination of the following medications:
- Antacids
They are typically used for occasional and mild symptoms of acid reflux and Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, if taking antacids daily is not aiding then your doctor will advise you to take stronger medications.
- Proton pump inhibitors
Proton pump inhibitors like Prilosec aid in lowering the stomach acids, as they tend to help in healing the oesophageal lining, damaged by persistent acid backflow.
- Histamine-2 receptor Blockers
Histamine-2 receptor Blockers like Pepcid AC aid in reducing the amount of acid secreted by the stomach.
Over-the-counter medicine is easily available but for higher/stronger medication prescription by the doctor is needed.
Making lifestyle changes can often help relieve symptoms of GORD. These may include:
- Eating smaller meals, avoiding large meals, especially close to bedtime
- give up smoking if applicable
- achieving and maintaining a moderate weight for height.
- avoiding foods and drinks that trigger symptoms, such as spicy foods, greasy foods, and alcohol
Best Homeopathic Medicines for Water Brash
1-SULPHUR: For water-brash along with heartburn
It is useful in treating water -brash in individuals who suffer from complete loss of appetite, or excessive appetite with putrid/offensive eructation. Food tastes too salty.
They can drink much but eat little due to pain in swallowing.
Milk disagrees and causes complaints. Great acidity, with sour eructation, drinking water fills the stomach of the patient. Burning, painful, weight-like pressure in the food pipe.
Very weak and faint about 11 am; must always have something to eat.
Useful in nausea during pregnancy. A great desire for sweets is observed.
30Ch Potency is useful,4globules 3 times a day.
Potency can be increased depending on the symptoms and susceptibility of the individual case.
2-NUX VOMICA: For water-brash due to sedentary lifestyle
Symptoms
It is an efficient remedy for gastric derangements.
The person who needs this remedy has a loss of appetite, pain after eating, the discomfort comes about half an hour after meals or due to spirituous liquors.
Indigestion-causing acidity is almost a specific symptom of this remedy.
It has pains radiating to various directions from the epigastrium with spasmodic vomiting, and gastralgia due to nervousness.
Potency and dosage
30 ch potency is useful,4globules4globules 3 times a day. Potency can be increased depending on the symptoms and susceptibility of the individual case.
3-BRYONIA: For water-brash with profuse vomiting or belching after food
Symptoms
It is indicated for cases of a profuse water brush, the water brash may either be tasteless or sour in cases, this medicine is required.
Belchings of stomach acids arise after eating, belchings may be sour, bitter, or taste like food that has been eaten.
At times there is vomiting of food which is thrown up immediately after eating food.
Potency and dosage
30 ch potency is useful,4globules4globules 3 times a day. Potency can be increased depending on the symptoms and susceptibility of the individual case.
3-IPECAC: For water-brash with constant nausea and accumulation of saliva in the mouth
Symptoms
It is useful in water brash with heartburn along with nausea or vomiting and excessive flatulence.
It is suitable for water brash that occurs during pregnancy.
Most of the time there is a clean tongue with shirtlessness.
Potency and dosage
30 ch potency is useful,4globules4globules 3 times a day. Potency can be increased depending on the symptoms and susceptibility of the individual case.
4-ROBINIA: For water-brash with a bitter taste in the mouth
Symptoms
It is useful when there is water brash with bitter acid risings in the throat. Vomiting of intensely sour fluid occurs with this.
There are constant belchings of sour fluid. Heartburn and acidity also arise mostly at night while lying down have to wake up and vomit.
Potency and dosage
It is used in 30 CH Potency,4-globules 3times a day, an increase in potency can be made as required.
5-PULSATILLA: For water-brash with the foul taste in the mouth
Symptoms
It is used when there is dryness of mouth with putrid taste in the morning on waking and a sensation as if the food had lodged under the sternum are characteristic symptoms of this remedy.
Tongue coated with thick rough white fur along with acidity and heartburn, the food tastes bitter, sour or putrid: water brash and eructation tasting of food.
There is no thirst, but only a desire to moisten the mouth. Bad taste is a special indication of Pulsatilla. It is especially useful for dyspepsia arising from fatty foods, pork, pastry, or mixed diets. The patient is chilly, but worse from heat.
Complaints are worse in the evening unlike Nux Vom, where complaints are worse in the morning.
Potency and dosage
It is used in 30 CH Potency,4-globules 3times a day, an increase in potency can be made as required.
6-SULPHUR: For water -brash with regurgitation of food or drinks
Symptoms
Sulphur is very useful in heartburn that is intense, as a result, the person is afraid to eat anything.
There is regurgitation or backflow of sour acid matter, of food or drink.
Cases needing it, usually have complaints of water- brash that is felt more in the morning.
Potency and dosage
30 ch potency is useful,4globules4globules 3 times a day. Potency can be increased depending on the symptoms and susceptibility of the individual case.
7-LYCOPODIUM: For water-brash with the bitter taste and belching
Symptoms
It is useful in water brash when there is too much flatulence or gas accumulation in the lower part of the abdomen.
Vigorous appetite but few mouthfuls make him feel as if the stomach is bloated and he has to leave his meals.
The distress in lycopodium is seen Immediately after eating. Another important symptom of this remedy is the desire for sweets. It is especially useful in the atonic and acid forms of dyspepsia, for it has a sour taste, sour belching, and vomiting, whenever it occurs, it is sour. Painful swelling at the pit of the stomach with belching of gas does not give any relief.
Potency and dosage
It is used in 30 CH Potency,4-globules 3times a day, an increase in potency can be made as required.
8-CARBO VEGETABILIS: For water -brash with heartburns and circulatory disturbances
Symptoms
It is a remedy for slow and imperfect digestion, there is weight in the stomach and intestines with a faint and all-gone sensation in the stomach which is not relieved by eating.
After a few mouthfuls, there is a sense of completion, the eructations are rancid, sour, and putrid.
A patient requiring this remedy suffers from violent burning in the stomach, chest, and abdomen with crampy pains which force the patient to bend double, there is heaviness in the stomach.
There is flatulence/gas formation in the stomach or upper part of the abdomen.
Potency and dosage
It is used in 30 CH Potency,4-globules 3times a day, an increase in potency can be made as required.
9-ARSENICUM ALBUM: For water-brash with nausea, vomiting on eating contaminated food
Symptoms
Patients requiring this medicine cannot bear the sight or smell of food it causes nausea, retching, vomiting, after eating or drinking.
Everything swallowed seems to lodge in the esophagus, which seems as if closed and nothing would pass, there are long-lasting eructations.
Heartburn with gulping up of acid and bitter substances which seem to excoriate the throat and cause vomiting of blood, bile, green mucus, or brown-black mixed with blood.
Anxiety in a pit of the stomach with burning pain. Great thirst; drinks much, but little at a time.
The stomach is extremely irritable; seems raw, as if torn indicative of gastralgia from the slightest food or drink.
Dyspepsia from vinegar, acids, ice cream, ice water, tobacco.
Terrible fear and dyspnoea breathlessness, with gastralgia; also faintness, icy coldness, great exhaustion.
Water-brash due to ill effects of vegetable diet, melons, and watery fruits generally.
There is typical craving for milk, acids, and coffee
Potency and dosage
It is used in 30 CH Potency,4-globules 3times a day, an increase in potency can be made as required.
10-NATRUM PHOSPHORICUM: For water -brash with heartburns
Symptoms
This remedy is useful where there are blisters on tip of the tongue, with stinging in the evening, there is a thin, moist coating on the tongue.
There is a yellow, creamy coating at the back part of the roof of the mouth, indicating serious gastric derangement, with dysphagia.
Along with water brash, there are sour eructations, sour vomiting, and greenish diarrhea. Vomiting of a mouthful of food that is eaten.
Useful for morning sickness during pregnancy, with sour vomiting.
Potency and dosage
It is used in 30 CH Potency,4-globules 3times a day, an increase in potency can be made as required.
11-PHOSPHORUS: For water -brash with heartburns and sour belching
Symptoms
Phosphorus is indicated when there is the regurgitation of food, still, there is a craving for cold food which is vomited as soon as it becomes hot in the stomach, spitting of blood without nausea is also commonly seen in this remedy.
All gone, weak feeling in the stomach, which extends to the bowels, burning between the scapulae is also present at times.
Vomiting in chronic dyspepsia. It has a special relation to destructive and disintegrating processes, hence it is one of the remedies for ulcers, indurations, erosions, of the food pipe.
A burning, gnawing, circumscribed pain in the food pipe and stomach is an important symptom pointing to Phosphorus. Another important feature of his remedy is the rapid loss of flesh and anemia along with water brash.
Potency and dosage
It is used in 30 CH Potency,4-globules 3times a day, an increase in potency can be made as required.
12-ALUMINA: For water -brash with sour rising and difficult swallowing
Symptoms
Alumina is indicated in water brash with abnormal cravings for chalk, charcoal, dry food, tea grounds.
Heartburn along with water-brash feels as if the throat is constricted.
There is a typical, aversion to meat, potatoes disagree.
There is constriction of the esophagus, which can swallow but small morsels at a time.
Potency and dosage
It is used in 30 CH-200CH Potency,4-globules 3times a day, an increase in potency can be made as required.
Remember that homeopathic remedies are prescribed based on individual symptoms and characteristics. It’s crucial to consult with a qualified homeopath for proper evaluation and personalized treatment. Homeopathy focuses on treating the whole person, so a detailed case study is necessary to select the most appropriate remedy.
Homeopathic medicines should be taken only when prescribed by a homeopathic physician. Self-medication may aggravate the original conditions.