Ginger, Cinnamon and Heartburn

What causes stress in your life?  3 kids in three different activities and only one you?  A pay check that covers only half the bills?  A boss that expects you to answer all faxes and emails immediately?  An employee who is causing trouble in the office?  Those may just be the things you know about.  But what you eat can also cause stress in your body.  A combination of fast food, fast life, over-commitment, anger, frustration, and anxiety is causing more acid reflux disease or G.E.R.D. (Gastroesophagael Reflux Disease) across the country. And causing even more concern is that often acid reflux has symptoms similar to a stressed heart, sending patients to the ER or their doctor.  There are also many who believe their condition is simply inherited and that there are no solutions, so they avoid doctors and simply suffer or take antacids after every meal.  Even worse are those who take acid blockers, and few doctors will tell you that antacids or acid blockers can even cause more problems for your digestive system.    G.E.R.D. is a complicated problem, which is why there has not been a decisive cure.  There is no disputing that years of acid-reflux can cause serious problems, including erosion of the esophageal lining and the sphincter between the stomach and esophagus, cancer of the esophagus, stomach irritation and muscular discomfort.

If you are interested in alternatives -- there are more holistic approaches, and they require a more holistic look at your entire life.    How can you change your lifestyle? Do you need to say "No" to people at times?  What can you do to find times to relax or create moments of calm in your life?  Exercise, meditation, deep breathing, prayer.....are all pieces of the puzzle.   But many are not aware of the fact that there may be help right inside your kitchen cupboard.  Korean restaurants serve a drink that is designed to prevent heartburn -  Persimmon Punch.  This concentrated ginger-cinnamon tea may give you the relief you have been looking for.  Here is the recipe for you to try at home:

This recipe can be found on the Food Network Web.

Persimmon Punch (Soo Jeung Ga)  Recipe courtesy Hyungshin Song

Serves: about 2 quarts

Ingredients

2 quarts water
1/2 cup fresh ginger, sliced thin
3 cinnamon sticks
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup dried persimmons, sliced
1/2 cup pine nuts

Directions

In a pot, combine the water, ginger, and
cinnamon and let simmer for 1/2 hour. Remove from heat and strain the liquid. Stir in
the sugar and persimmons. Cool and let sit in the refrigerator overnight. Serve well
chilled with a teaspoon of pine nuts floating in each cup.

You should drink this first thing in the morning and again in the evening for several weeks.   You can add several Tablespoons to your tea, or drink it as is. 

Remember to look for high quality herbs, organic if possible.  You can find sources in our Resources link, or in health food stores in your area.  We would love to hear about your experiences with Persimmon Punch.  Become a member and log in to join our forum and tell us your story!