It used to be common knowledge that indigestion or heartburn was a sign of dietary indiscretion. Taking an antacid was the typical means of treatment. If the heartburn sufferer was ahead of the game, he or she would avoid suspect foods or take a natural remedy to improve digestive function. Now, a pharmaceutical drug is prescribed to treat a full-blown disorder. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a disorder of chronic heartburn. GERD may also be a silent cause of breathing issues if ascending stomach acid irritates the bronchioles. It’s thought to be caused by an overproduction of stomach acid that gets pushed up into the esophagus. Holistic medicine posits an opposing view of the underlying cause, with reflux occurring due to an impairment of proper digestive function. Modern proton pump inhibitor drugs are designed to treat a limited presentation of patients with reflux—those who overproduce gastric acid. However, the majority …