Acid reflux or Reflux Esophagitis is a situation the occurs from reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus. This causes an inflammation of the gastroesophageal tract and discomfort for the sufferer. The chief complaint with acid reflux isheartburn with or without fluids coming up into the mouth. The standard of care for is situation consists of raising the head during sleeping, dietary changes to avoid additional acid secretion,  and anti-acids.

The main pattern in TCM that causes this imbalance is the Liver invading Spleen/Stomach. The easiest way that I can explain this through the engendering cycle of the five elements. In TCM, there are five elements that exist: water, wood, earth, metal, and fire. All these elements can either create or destroy each other. On the creation side (engendering), Wood creates fire, fire creates earth, earth creates metal, metal creates water, water creates wood. The destruction cycle works as wood controls earth, earth controls water, water controls fire, fire controls metal, and metal control wood. The cycle of these elements is a basic understanding in TCM. All the organs are associated to one of these five elements. The liver is associated with the element of wood, while the Spleen and Stomach are associated with earth. In the destructive cycle, Wood controls earth. An imbalance of the liver is caused in many ways, the most common is anger. When an imbalance is created in the liver is often goes across to invade the Spleen and Stomach. When this happens, the stomach and spleen energies are pushed in the opposite direction of normal operation. The stomach energies are supposed to descend in the body, and the invading liver energies cause this stomach energy to rise in the body. When it rises in the body it goes back up through the esophagus and cause possible vomiting.

Acupuncture and herbal therapy can work individually or together to solve this problem. When can easily calm the liver to stop it from invading the stomach and spleen. This resolves the issue instead of treating the symptoms. Acid reflux can be resolved completely to allow the patient to live a normal life and resolve daily activities without any concerns.