So let’s talk about GERD.  Acid reflux is now treated with powerful chemical mediators called H ion proton pump inhibitors.  This mouthful of words simply means that a drug like Zantac or Prilosec takes the H ion from HCL (hydrochloric acid, the acid in your tummy that breaks down your food so that vital nutrients can be absorbed) and stops it from being pumped out by the cells lining your stomach so that you won’t be able to create HCl only Chloride.  With side effects like Abdominal Pain, Nausea, Diarrhea, Vomiting, Increased Heart Rate, Headache, Insomnia, Fever, Sore Throat and Chest pain to name a few it is an important question to ask why do we are being prescribed these drugs in such huge numbers?