Nowadays many people are suffering from hyperacidity and they are taking medicines for it. But in our Sujok clinic, I found a maximum of people are suffering from low acid production and they are taking antacids for a long time. Symptoms of hyperacidity and hypoacidity (hypochlorhydria) are almost the same with few differences.

When I tell my patients that they are suffering from low acid secretion instead of high acid in their stomach, they generally ask why I am feeling acidity in my chest area. They suffer because of indigestion due to low acid or weakness in the esophageal sphincter. We will discuss the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of hypochlorhydria.

Low stomach acid is referred to medically as hypochlorhydria. Hydrochloric acid, several enzymes, and a mucus layer that guards the stomach lining make up stomach secretions.

Our body uses hydrochloric acid to:

• Digest and absorb nutrients like protein;
• It also gets rid of viruses and germs in the stomach, shielding our body from infection.

The body’s capacity to adequately digest and absorb nutrients might be hampered by low amounts of hydrochloric acid. If hypochlorhydria is not treated, it can harm the digestive system, lead to infections, and worsen several chronic health conditions.

SYMPTOMS of HYPOCHLORHYDRIA:

• Bloating
• Burping
• Upset stomach/cramps
• Nausea when taking vitamins and supplements
• Heartburn
• Diarrhea/constipation
• Gas
• Indigestion
• Hair loss
• Undigested food in stool
• Weak, brittle fingernails
• Fatigue
• GI infections
• Deficiencies of other minerals, such as vitamins B-12, calcium, and magnesium
• Protein deficiency

• Neurological problems such as tingling, numbness, and altered vision

Low amounts of stomach acid have been linked to numerous chronic health issues. Which are:

• Lupus
• Allergies
• Asthma
• Thyroid issues
• Acne
• Psoriasis
• Eczema
• Gastritis
• Chronic autoimmune disorders
• Osteoporosis
• Pernicious anemia
• SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth)
• Malabsorption syndrome

CAUSES:

• AGE – more prevalent in older people.
•   Stress – long-term stress may cause the stomach to produce less acid.
• Vitamin deficit – Low levels of zinc and B vitamins can also cause low stomach acid.
•   Medications – long-term use of antacids and other medicines given to treat ulcers and acid reflux.

Diagnosis: –

Your doctor will perform a physical examination, record your medical history, and ask about your symptoms to determine if you have hypochlorhydria. They might check your stomach’s pH (or acidity) based on this information.

• The pH of stomach secretions is often relatively low (1-2), making them very acidic.
• Blood tests may be ordered by your doctor to check for iron deficiency anemia or another vitamin shortage.
• H. pylori – H. pylori infection is a typical contributor to stomach ulcers. It may cause less stomach acid if left untreated.
• Nonsurgical procedures like gastric bypass surgery
• Alcohol Drinking and smoking

A thorough history must be taken. We may test the pH (or acidity) of our stomach using this information.

CHECKING STOMACH ACID LEVELS IN 5 WAYS

1. Test for gastric acid secretion.

This pricey, highly intrusive test is often carried out when a patient is found to have a stomach ulcer. It can be useful to monitor the effectiveness of anti-ulcer medications and check to see if gastrointestinal waste is returning to the stomach.

2. The stomach acid test

A tiny capsule containing a radio transmitter is taken as part of what is known as the “gold standard test” for hypochlorhydria to assess the stomach’s pH while you consume a baking soda solution (reduces acidity). The HCL in the stomach will be naturally neutralized by baking soda. The presence of hypochlorhydria is indicated if the body does not return to normal.

This test can help identify if you have hypochlorhydria, hyperchlorhydria (high acid), or achlorhydria by providing a graph of your unique stomach response to the baking soda challenge (complete lack of acid).

3. CMP (Complete Metabolic Panel) and CBC (Complete Blood Count)

A qualified medical professional can identify hypochlorhydria by considering your symptoms along with these lab results.

4. The betaine HCl test.

Although an at-home test is seen to be quite trustworthy, it is advised to repeat it three times because false-positive results might occur. Then you can take it to assist raise your HCl levels if you have low stomach acid.

Possible results

i) No symptoms are present. This may be an indication of low stomach acid.

ii). Discomfort — A healthy amount of stomach acid is generally indicated by burning, heat, or heaviness in your chest.

To verify your findings, it is advised that you perform the betaine HCl challenge two or three more times. A low level of stomach acid is best shown by three positive tests.

False positives could occur if:

You eat insufficient amounts of protein. Because a low-protein meal doesn’t need much acid, betaine HCl may result in an excessive rise in acid.

You took the capsule before eating, which may have contributed to your indigestion.

You suffer from malfunctioning of the esophageal sphincter. In addition to low esophageal sphincter tone, Hiatus hernias can also worsen indigestion symptoms. If you have a suspicion, rule it out with a medical examination.

5. A stomach acid test using baking soda.

This is a free at-home test you can use to determine your stomach acid levels, albeit it is not as exact as the tests mentioned above. The findings can differ from person to person depending on how they are interpreted.

Early in the morning, before anything, you should:

Mix 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda with 4 to 6 ounces of cold water.

Consume the baking soda mixture.

Keep track of how long it takes between burps. Set a timer for 5 minutes, maximum:

After five minutes, you might not have enough stomach acid in your system if you haven’t burped.

Stomach acid overproduction may be the cause of frequent and early burping (do not confuse this with small burps from swallowing air when drinking the solution). After three minutes, any burping is a sign that your stomach acid levels are low.

Stomach pH Diagnosis

• Less than 3 min – Normal
• 3min to 5min- Hypochlorhydria
• Greater than 5min- Achlorhydria
• People with achlorhydria have almost no stomach acid.

Related tests:

Other health problems may be correlated with low stomach acid.

• Vitamin B12

A stomach glycoprotein called intrinsic factor is required for the absorption of vitamin B12 in the body. The intrinsic factor cannot function if stomach acid is too low. This leads to a major health risk known as vitamin B12 insufficiency.

• Levels of homocysteine

For vitamin B12 to be well absorbed and participate in the process of methylation, where the amount of the inflammatory amino acid homocysteine is maintained. Homocysteine increases when B12 levels are low.

In our clinic, we generally use baking soda tests and functional blood analysis to diagnose hypochlorhydria.

 

TREATMENT:

1. Sujok Therapy:

We can stimulate the stomach correspondence points with red color. We can tonify internal Heat Chakra (Lunar System)

 

2. A lifestyle change:

Before addressing a low stomach acid condition, the underlying cause must be addressed.

However, there are several things you may do on your own to help elevate stomach acid levels.

Take a bite and chew it:

Take smaller bites and chew your food well to stimulate your digestive enzymes. This can lessen symptoms brought on by low stomach acid and help maintain a healthy amount in your stomach.

3. Avoid eating processed food:

If you consume a healthy, balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables, you may also experience an increase in stomach acid.

Processed foods and sugars can decrease stomach acid production, worsen acid reflux symptoms, and promote stomach inflammation.

A balanced diet can also enhance your digestive system by allowing the stomach to properly digest food and assimilate necessary proteins into the body.

4. Consume fermented veggies

You may naturally increase the amount of stomach acid in your body by eating fermented vegetables like kimchi and pickles.

Fermented foods and vegetables provide probiotic properties that improve digestion, fight harmful bacteria, and reduce inflammation brought on by low stomach acid.

In addition to enhancing digestion, fermented vegetables have advantages for the immune system, weight loss, and blood pressure regulation.

5. Consume apple cider vinegar

Apples are crushed and combined with yeast, bacteria, and sugar to produce raw apple cider vinegar, a fermented liquid. It has a lot of proteins and enzymes that can help break down bacteria that are found in food. Raw apple cider vinegar can increase stomach acid levels by bringing extra acid into the digestive system because of its acidic properties.

In addition to raising stomach acid levels, raw apple cider vinegar has also been linked to fewer symptoms of diabetes, high blood sugar, and acid reflux.

Use it by sipping on some water with a little apple cider vinegar diluted in it before a meal. When not combined with water or another solvent, apple cider vinegar can damage the enamel of your teeth.

6. Consume ginger

It is well known that ginger has anti-inflammatory qualities, which are crucial for lowering inflammation brought on by low stomach acid. It is also accepted as an alternate treatment for gastrointestinal conditions such as acid reflux.

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