Oh for GORD Sake!! - Understanding Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Disease (GORD)

If you’ve ever felt that uncomfortable burning sensation in your chest after eating — known as heartburn — you’re not alone. Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) affects many Australians, often creeping into daily life and impacting comfort, sleep, and overall wellbeing.

At Healing Tree Acupunture & Natural Medicine, we understand how persistent digestive issues like reflux can affect both body and mind. With an integrative approach combining acupuncture, Chinese medicine, and Eastern nutrition, our goal is to help restore balance and comfort naturally.

What Is GORD?

Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) occurs when stomach acid flows back into the oesophagus — the tube connecting your mouth to your stomach. This backward flow, or reflux, irritates the oesophageal lining, leading to symptoms such as:

• Heartburn or burning sensation in the chest

• Acidic taste in the mouth

• Difficulty swallowing or sensation of a “lump” in the throat

• Chronic cough or sore throat

• Nausea or bloating after meals

Occasional reflux is common, but when it happens frequently or interferes with daily life, it’s considered GORD.

The Holistic View: What’s Really Happening?

In Chinese medicine, GORD is seen not just as a local problem in the stomach, but as an imbalance in the entire digestive system — particularly the Stomach and Liver energies.

Here’s how this perspective differs from the conventional view:

1. Stomach Qi Rebellion

In a balanced state, stomach energy (“Qi”) moves downward — digesting and sending food through the body. But when this flow reverses, it moves upward, causing reflux, nausea, and discomfort.

2. Liver Qi Stagnation

Emotional stress, frustration, and tension can disrupt the smooth flow of energy in the body. In Chinese medicine, this is called Liver Qi stagnation — and it’s a common contributor to digestive issues. When stress builds up, it can “attack” the stomach, worsening reflux symptoms.

3. Spleen Qi Deficiency

Poor diet, fatigue, or excessive worry can weaken digestion (known as “Spleen Qi deficiency”). This leads to bloating, heaviness, and poor transformation of food — creating the conditions for reflux to develop.

By understanding these energetic imbalances, Eastern medicine doesn’t just treat symptoms — it addresses the root cause.

Common Triggers of GORD

While every person’s experience is unique, certain factors often contribute to reflux:

• Eating large meals or eating late at night

• Spicy, greasy, or acidic foods

• Excess coffee, alcohol, or carbonated drinks

• Stress and emotional tension

• Being overweight or wearing tight clothing around the waist

• Smoking or lying down soon after meals

A holistic approach looks beyond avoiding triggers — it focuses on strengthening digestion and reducing internal stress, so the system becomes more resilient overall.

How Acupuncture May Help with GORD

Acupuncture is one of the most effective natural therapies for supporting digestive balance.

From an Eastern perspective, acupuncture helps:

• Regulate the flow of Stomach Qi to prevent upward reflux

• Soothe Liver Qi stagnation (emotional stress that worsens symptoms)

• Strengthen Spleen and digestive function

• Reduce inflammation and tension in the chest and abdomen

From a modern physiological standpoint, studies suggest acupuncture may help by:

• Regulating acid secretion

• Reducing sensitivity in the oesophagus

• Calming the nervous system and stress response

• Improving motility (the natural movement of food through the digestive tract)

Many patients find that acupuncture helps not only with reflux, but also with stress, sleep, and energy — all of which play a role in long-term digestive wellness.

The Role of Eastern Nutrition

In Eastern nutrition, food is more than fuel — it’s medicine. The goal isn’t just to eliminate symptoms, but to eat in a way that supports balance and harmony in the digestive system.

🌿 Foods That Support Digestive Harmony

• Warm, cooked foods: soups, congee, steamed vegetables

• Whole grains: brown rice, millet, or quinoa

• Gentle proteins: fish, tofu, chicken, eggs

• Soothing teas: chamomile, licorice, ginger

  
  

⚠️ Foods to Limit

• Cold or raw foods (which weaken digestion)

• Fried, oily, or spicy foods

• Coffee, alcohol, and carbonated drinks

• Processed sugar and heavy dairy

Small adjustments — such as eating smaller, more frequent meals, and avoiding lying down soon after eating — can make a big difference.

Stress, Emotions, and Reflux

Modern life often brings ongoing stress — and your digestion feels it too. The gut and brain are deeply connected, and emotional tension can worsen reflux symptoms.

Through a holistic lens, calming the nervous system is key to managing GORD. That’s why acupuncture, breathing practices, and mindfulness form an important part of treatment.

Many people notice that once they begin addressing both emotional and physical balance, their reflux symptoms improve naturally.

A Holistic Path to Healing

At Healing Tree Natural Medicine on the Central Coast, we approach Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) through gentle, individualised care.

Your practitioner may combine:

🌿 Acupuncture — to regulate digestion, ease discomfort, and calm stress. 🥗 Eastern nutrition guidance — to support a healthy gut and reduce reflux triggers. 🌸 Chinese herbal medicine (if suitable) — to strengthen and harmonise the digestive system.

Our aim is to not just relieve symptoms, but to restore harmony in the body’s natural rhythms — so you can enjoy your meals, sleep well, and feel comfortable again.

When to Seek Help

If reflux is persistent or severe, it’s important to consult your healthcare provider. In some cases, untreated GORD can lead to inflammation or damage to the oesophagus. A holistic approach can be used alongside medical care, offering gentle, supportive therapies to enhance overall wellbeing.

Takeaway: Healing from the Inside Out

Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) can feel frustrating, but it’s not something you have to live with. By addressing stress, diet, and digestive balance through acupuncture, Eastern nutrition, and natural medicine, it’s possible to find long-term relief — naturally.

At Healing Tree Natural Medicine, we believe that healing happens when the whole person is supported — body, mind, and spirit.

📍 Located in Gosford on the NSW Central Coast, we offer compassionate, holistic care for digestive issues, stress, and chronic conditions.

If you’re struggling with reflux, bloating, or indigestion, we’re here to help you restore balance and comfort — one gentle step at a time.

Schedule an appointment now!