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Popular Remedies for Esophageal Symptoms: a Critical Appraisal

  • Esophagus (J Clarke and N Ahuja, Section Editors)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Popular remedies are of ongoing interest to patients experiencing common esophageal symptoms, particularly as typical pharmacologic interventions have been subject to increased scrutiny. Herein we summarize the available data regarding potential risks and benefits of several such remedies.

Recent Findings

With emphasis on reflux and non-cardiac chest pain, research is ongoing into the clinical utility and diverse physiologic mechanisms underlying a variety of complementary and alternative modalities, including dietary manipulation, apple cider vinegar, melatonin, acupuncture, and various herbal products (rikkunshito, STW 5, slippery elm, licorice, and peppermint oil, among others).

Summary

A substantial gap persists between anecdotal and empirical understandings of the majority of non-pharmacologic remedies for esophageal symptoms. This landscape of popular treatments nevertheless raises several interesting mechanistic hypotheses and compelling opportunities for future research.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA

    Amisha Ahuja

  2. Division of Gastroenterology, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Boulevard, 7 South Pavilion, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA

    Nitin K. Ahuja

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Ahuja, A., Ahuja, N.K. Popular Remedies for Esophageal Symptoms: a Critical Appraisal. Curr Gastroenterol Rep 21, 39 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11894-019-0707-4

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