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Natural Treatments for Eosinophilic Esophagitis

Caitlin Iles | May 31, 2024
Health

Gentle Solutions

If you’ve ever struggled with acid reflux, mechanical issues swallowing or food getting stuck in your throat, then it might be worth exploring whether you are experiencing eosinophilic esophagitis. This chronic disease is characterized by inflammation of the esophagus and an overproduction of eosinophils which cause a narrowing of the throat. Today we’re going to outline what eosinophilic esophagitis is, symptoms to watch for and some natural treatments you can incorporate into your healing plan.

What is Eosinophilic Esophagitis?

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic disease of the immune system in which a white blood cell called eosinophils build up in the esophagus as a result of inflammation; the tube that connects your mouth to your stomach.

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The build-up of these eosinophils is often a result of an allergic reaction or can be triggered by acid reflux or certain foods. Over time, this buildup can lead to a narrowing and damaging of the esophagus causing issues with eating and swallowing, with food sometimes even getting stuck in your throat.

Compounds that are found in eosinophils can also cause issues with the integrity of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). Our digestive system has a series of sphincters whose job is to prevent food that has passed through them from returning up the digestive system. When the integrity of the LES is compromised and the muscles begin to relax it can lead to acid reflux.

Anyone who has experienced acid reflux knows how painful and uncomfortable it can be. Often acid reflux is treated with proton pump inhibitors, medications designed to block the production of stomach acid to alleviate symptoms. Unfortunately, according to the Mayo Clinic, many individuals who are prescribed these medications don’t see much improvement in symptoms. That’s when looking at the root cause, such as lowering exposure to allergenic foods and exploring an elimination diet can help.

What are the Symptoms of Eosinophilic Esophagitis?

In addition to acid reflux, there are other symptoms of EoE caused by inflammation to look out for. If you experience a combination of these symptoms it’s worth getting checked out and trying some natural remedies to help alleviate your discomfort. Other symptoms of EoE include:

  • Difficulty swallowing food, which is often referred to as dysphagia.
  • Regurgitation of undigested food.
  • Food getting stuck in your esophagus, also called impaction.
  • Centrally located chest pains that don’t respond to antacids.

As you can imagine, these symptoms are not the most pleasant to deal with, especially since they are often chronic and can be triggered by different foods or seasons.

Natural Remedies for Eosinophilic Esophagitis

Since the inflammation of EoE is happening in the throat, it makes sense that the foods we eat may impact the severity of this disease. That’s why dietary therapy and other natural interventions can help improve symptoms and improve your quality of life. As always, it is important to discuss your changes with your doctor or healthcare provider.

1​. Elimination Diet

Since EoE is often an allergic reaction to food, one natural approach to treatment is dietary management through an elimination diet. The six-food elimination is typically the most effective, though it can be difficult to maintain long-term. This elimination diet removes six of the most common allergens: cow dairy, nuts, seafood, soy, egg and wheat. After a few months, your doctor will perform an endoscopy to determine whether your levels of eosinophils have decreased. If they determine they have, you will reintroduce one food at a time to see which one is the most likely culprit and then will be advised to avoid it as much as possible to alleviate symptoms.

If starting by eliminating these six foods/groups sounds overwhelming, often providers will start with the two most common allergenic triggers: cow dairy and wheat. Starting here or with a four-food elimination (cow dairy, eggs, wheat and soy) can be easier to maintain and provide a lot of relief.

2​. Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a treatment during which the body is penetrated by small needles to improve energy flow or chi. This practice has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for centuries and has been shown to help alleviate symptoms of everything from headaches to acid reflux. Incorporating acupuncture into your personal care plan may help reduce symptoms of acid reflux as much as over-the-counter medications.

​3. Turmeric

As a culinary nutritionist, one of my favorite kitchen staples is turmeric since it is packed with anti-inflammatory compounds such as curcumin. As mentioned above, EoE is characterized by inflammation, so incorporating anti-inflammatory foods and spices into your diet can help to lower body-wide inflammation. In addition to these benefits, curcumin may also help prevent damage to the mucosal lining of the digestive tract, which includes the esophagus. When cooking with turmeric make sure you combine it with healthy fats and black pepper to boost absorption.

4. Licorice

Another herb I love to incorporate into digestive healing plans is licorice. While you may be thinking of red or black candies, licorice is a root that has been used in herbal medicine for centuries to support everything from digestive health to resilience. When it comes to using it for the acid reflux associated with EoE, you’ll want to look for a supplement that contains deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) since it will be less likely to cause any medication interactions.

Licorice root can help the body produce more mucus to protect the lining of the esophagus from stomach acid. You can easily find chewable tablets online, at your local health food store or pharmacy. While you will likely want to discuss dosage with a healthcare provider, typically this study has found that two 380 mg tablets chewed before a meal helped decrease symptoms of acid reflux.

Finding Balance

While there may not be a cure for EoE, there are natural remedies you can try to help alleviate your symptoms to improve your quality of life.

Take a look at some options for natural estrogen therapy.

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