Introduction of Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease and Unani Concepts

Abstract

The gastrointestinal tract is responsible for the digestion of the food that attributed through chemical and mechanical processes. It provides nutrients, fluids and electrolytes to the body and excretes out waste products. It consists of a group of organs that includes liver, pancreas and GI tract which metabolize nutrients, medicine and other exogenous materials (Proctor, 2008). Gastro esophageal reflux is a physiological action that consists of unwilling expulsion of stomach contents in the esophagus that causes heart burn. It is a common practice characterized by heart burn, acid regurgitation and with or without mucosal damage (Kahrilas, 2003). Usually it may not produce any damage to the mucosa. If there is any pathology involved, mucosal damage is sure. In 40% of the patients, the endoscopic findings are observed while 60% patients have no endoscopic results of heart burn (Orlando, 2008). When there all the symptoms of the gastro esophageal reflux disease are present but the upper endoscopic results shows that there is no erosion or mucosal damage the condition is called non-erosive reflux disease (NERD) (Dent et al., 1999; Richter and Castell, 1982; Waring, 2001).