Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a chronic digestive disorder that causes stomach contents to back up into the esophagus. If you have frequent heartburn, you may have this condition. 

A growing body of research shows that some complementary health approaches, such as acupuncture, breathing exercises, and alginates (compounds found in brown algae or seaweed), may improve GERD symptoms and quality of life. Other complementary approaches, such as hypnosis, relaxation techniques, and melatonin, have also been studied to a limited extent, but the evidence is insufficient to clearly show whether they’re helpful.