Heartburn is a problem that causes misery every day for millions of people who rely on drugs to ease the pain caused by acid eating into the tube that carries food to the stomach. In the future though, drugs may not be needed to neutralise the acid – you could instead be visiting a chiropractor!
Local chiropractor, Richard Stenning, from The Chiropractic Health Centres in Axminster and Honiton, is involved in a nationwide study to see whether traditional chiropractic methods can change the way the digestive system works in order to stop reflux from happening. Already, a pilot study has shown that many patients with heartburn and dyspepsia, who saw a chiropractor, noticed a significant improvement in the frequency and severity of their symptoms. Now a larger trial is seeing whether there is scientific validity to the earlier findings.
“It would be of major benefit to patients if these early findings were to be proved true,” Dr Stenning explained. “Many of the drugs used to treat acid reflux have significant side effects and the cost to the NHS runs into tens of millions of pounds every year”.
The experiment, which involves patients from all over the country and runs until early 2009, is being conducted through University of Glamorgan. A Consultations which cost £40, and follow up treatments from £30, are available by contacting The Axminster Chiropractic Health Centre on 01297 35844. For more information about available treatments visit the website www.wellbeingdevon.co.uk.
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