Interview: How to Treat GERD from a Functional Medicine Perspective?
Ondřej DvořákInterview with Mgr. Eva Hájková, MBA
Specialist in preventive and functional medicine and nutrition. She graduated in Public Health Protection at the University of Ostrava and practised for the NHS in London (cancer screening programmes).
In short: functional medicine looks for the root causes of reflux (GERD) rather than only suppressing symptoms. In this interview, Eva Hájková explains the approach, the lifestyle and diet changes that help, and where Chios mastic — a food supplement that contributes to normal digestion — fits in. Mastic is not a medicine; persistent reflux belongs in a doctor's hands.
In this interview
Could you explain what functional medicine is?
Functional medicine (FM) is a comprehensive approach to the patient. The practitioner draws on knowledge across several areas:
- nutrition,
- environmental burdens,
- psychology,
- toxic load,
and can therefore look at the patient in a truly holistic way.
Functional medicine doesn't suppress symptoms — it looks for the causes of health problems.
Practitioners spend much more time with the client than a regular appointment allows, to understand the whole story and identify possible causes and triggers, which they then work to reduce or remove together with the patient, using tools such as a timeline or matrix. FM focuses on chronic conditions rather than acute ones.
It's still a new field in the Czech Republic, which is why — together with my colleagues MUDr. Jan Vojáček and Žaneta Kremsa — I co-founded the Institute of Functional Medicine and Nutrition, where alongside the clinic we provide professional training for doctors, pharmacists and nutritionists.
What is reflux disease (GERD)?
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is common and significantly affects quality of life. Stomach contents flow back into the oesophagus and can cause a range of symptoms, up to inflammation of the oesophageal lining. In conventional medicine the cause lies in a weakened antireflux barrier — mainly the lower oesophageal sphincter (LES) and the diaphragm. It affects roughly 20–25% of people worldwide and is often linked to age and lifestyle (diet, exercise, toxic and psychological stress).
Common symptoms
- heartburn (pyrosis)
- bad breath (halitosis)
- burning in the throat
- pain behind the sternum when swallowing
- regurgitation of gastric juices
- chronic cough, hoarseness
Less well-known associations include asthma, dental caries and gingivitis. Most people with reflux take medication that suppresses stomach-acid secretion — this eases symptoms but doesn't address the underlying cause. In our clinic we look at clients more holistically and try to find why reflux occurs. Common factors include specific food sensitivities the person is often unaware of, certain micronutrient deficiencies, and lifestyle (excessive stress, alcohol, smoking).
Recommendations
| For GERD | Description |
|---|---|
| Weight | For clients who are overweight, losing weight can help significantly. |
| Stomach acidity (HCl) | In older people stomach acidity is often too low — the issue is the sphincter function, not excess acid. Low HCl can also be associated with H. pylori overgrowth. |
| Lifestyle | Avoid tobacco, alcohol and late-night meals. Check blood for deficiencies that can affect nerve and sphincter function. |
| Diet | Limit foods that aggravate reflux (caffeine, chocolate, spicy and very acidic foods including citrus, and fatty foods). |
| Supplements | Digestive enzymes can help, and many of our clients give good feedback on Chios mastic gum as part of their routine. |
Chios mastic and reflux
Chios mastic is a resin from Pistacia lentiscus var. Chia, traditionally used in Greece for heartburn and bad breath. As a food supplement, mastic contributes to the normal function of the digestive system, and it has been the subject of scientific research in connection with the stomach.
The crystals are usually chewed, releasing the resin in the mouth, oesophagus and stomach.
Another option is mastic gum capsules, which contain pure mastic powder that reaches the stomach directly. Mastic is also used in Mediterranean cooking. As this interview shows, reflux is best approached in a comprehensive, systematic way — and in our view long-term medication suppresses the signals of the body rather than solving the underlying cause.
Could H. pylori be involved?
Because low stomach acid can be linked to H. pylori overgrowth, it can be worth ruling it out. You can check at home with a stool test (active infection) or a blood antibody test — see both home tests, or read best mastic gum for H. pylori. Confirm any result with your doctor.
FAQ
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is functional medicine? | A comprehensive approach that looks for root causes of health issues across nutrition, environment, toxic load and psychology, focusing on chronic conditions rather than only suppressing symptoms. |
| What causes GERD? | Stomach contents flow back into the oesophagus, causing heartburn, bad breath and pain when swallowing. A key factor is weakened function of the lower oesophageal sphincter; diet, stress and alcohol can contribute. |
| Where does mastic gum fit in? | Mastic is a food supplement that contributes to the normal function of the digestive system and has traditionally been used for heartburn and bad breath. It isn't a medicine or a treatment for GERD — persistent reflux should be checked by a doctor. |
| What lifestyle changes can help? | Weight reduction if needed, avoiding tobacco, alcohol and late-night meals, reducing stress, and addressing any nutrient deficiencies. |
Continue reading
Curious to try mastic as part of your routine? Choose capsules or raw tears.
