Hypochlorhydria: The most common, most debilitating health disorder you’ve never heard of

It’s amazing that doctors don’t tell us about Hypochlorhydria. In fact, if you want to be treated for it, you’d better see a naturopathic physician, or a holistic M.D., because the traditional health care system just doesn’t care about this condition.

This is odd, because Hypochlorhydria is said to affect 10 to 15% of the population in general and as many as 50% of those in their fifties and older!

You’re probably thinking it must be no big deal if it’s that common, yet doctors don’t care about it.

Not so. Hypochlorhydria means low stomach acid. This lack of stomach acid impairs digestion. In turn, the body doesn’t absorb all the nutrients from the food you eat.

This can result in a number of health disorders, including diabetes mellitus, asthma, chronic hepatitis, food allergies, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, hypoglycemia, autoimmune disorders, gallbladder disease, dry skin, weak adrenals, lupus erythematosis, rheumatic arthritis, poor night vision, dry skin, weak nails, chronic fatigue, vitiligo, rosacea, acne, eczema, Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), anemia, osteoporosis, psoriasis, candida yeast infection, multiple sclerosis, and stomach carcinoma.

Quite a list, huh? If you suffer from symptoms of several of these disorders, you should consider seeing a naturopathic physician to find out of you have the condition.

I found out about it when I read Green for Life, a book about green smoothies, by Victoria Boutenko. Ironically, my digestive system can’t handle the green smoothies, possibly because of the hypochlorhydria that I would never have know about if I hadn’t read this very informative and thoughtful book.

You can find out more about hypochlorhydria by Googling it. The sites I used to write this article are:

http://www.medical-library.net/sites/framer.html?/sites/_hypochlorhydria.html

http://altmedicine.about.com/library/weekly/bl_quiz_hypochlorhydria.htm

I’m now seeing a naturopath for this condition. I’m taking hydrochloric Acid capsules. You can find a qualified naturopathic physician in your area at the “Find an ND” section of the website of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP):

http://naturopathic.lv0.net/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabindex=51&tabid=59

Here’s the URL for their home page:

http://www.naturopathic.org/

This is getting pretty long, so I’ll tell you a little more about my own experience with this disorder next time. Until then…

Namaste,

Janet