Let us try and understand the causes of hyperacidity and GERD.
Food travels down the esophagus into the stomach. There is a valve between these two organs. It prevents the regurgitation of food from the stomach upwards into the esophagus. With age, the valve elasticity reduces, and it is not very effective in stopping the regurgitation from the stomach upwards.
HCL (hydrochloric acid) is naturally released to initiate the digestive process in the stomach. When it regurgitates upwards, you feel the heartburn. There are multiple medications available to suppress acid production in the stomach. Suppression leads to low production of acids or total suppression of acid in the stomach. The gut and intestinal microbiota are essential for digestion composition changes due to suppression by these drugs.
Multiple therapies for GERD are available in science to normalize the process described above. You should consult a gastroenterologist for advice.
Herbs, too, contain chemicals that act in various ways to alter the acid production process. Some of these combinations are seen to be effective in some conditions. Ayurveda prescribes several herbs for GERD to do what modern medicine drugs. The names are exotic and peddled as safe medications with no side effects.
Don’t forget that most modern drugs in use originated in plants. The decision to produce a drug is the outcome of years of animal and human trials conducted under various conditions. These drugs, including herbal medicine, do have side effects. In modern medicine, these are documented and available to the patient. In Ayurveda, this requirement is not followed. Adverse reactions occur, except these do not find mentioned, and the patient is caught unawares.
Ayurveda is an observation-based ancient science. Its concepts, herbs, and formulations must be tested and proven effective and safe. Until that is achieved, patients should abjure these formulations. Given the diversity of human systems, there will be instances in which a certain herbal medical formulation provides relief to an individual. Still, there will be many more where the impact is either negative, or these are efficacious. Therefore, each individual should decide for himself the risk he wishes to take.
I have studied herbs for several years. Most herbal medication being peddled in Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine has not been validated in scientific trials. Consume these at your risk.
Additional reading:
Portfolio of books on natural remedies