Acid Reflux & GERD
Root-cause functional medicine care — not just symptom management. Lia Laterza, LAc works with you to find what's actually driving your acid reflux & gerd.
In-person & virtual consultations available
If you have been living with acid reflux or GERD, you already know it is about more than occasional heartburn — it affects your sleep, your meals, your comfort, and your quality of life. Maybe you have been on antacids or PPIs for years. Maybe you have been told to avoid certain foods and just manage it. At Muskego Acupuncture & Wellness, we take a different approach — one that actually listens to the story your symptoms are trying to tell. Acid reflux is often not caused by too much stomach acid. In many cases, it is caused by too little. When stomach acid is low, food sits and ferments, pressure builds, and acid splashes upward. We look at what is actually driving your reflux — low stomach acid, H. pylori, gut dysbiosis, hiatal hernia, food sensitivities, or a nervous system stuck in overdrive — and we address it at the root. You do not have to manage this forever. We are here to help you figure out why it is happening.
Who It's For
This may be right for you if…
- You experience heartburn, burning in the chest, or acid taste in your mouth regularly
- You have been on antacids or PPIs for months or years and want to get off them
- You feel like you have tried everything and nothing has given you lasting relief
- You notice symptoms worsen with stress, certain foods, or eating late
- You have bloating, belching, or a feeling of fullness after small meals
- You have been told you have a hiatal hernia or esophageal irritation
- You want to understand why this is happening — not just suppress the symptoms indefinitely
Our Approach
How We Support Acid Reflux & GERD Through Functional Medicine
We combine modern lab-based diagnostics with Traditional Chinese Medicine and personalized protocols to address the root cause — not just the symptoms.
Why Conventional Medicine Falls Short
Conventional medicine isn't designed to find the root cause.
Do any of these sound familiar?
- Your lab results are "normal", but you struggle daily with symptoms that affect your quality of life
- You've seen multiple doctors and are no closer to getting answers or relief
- Your physical and mental health keeps you from living life the way you want to
- Your doctor has told you "you'll just have to live with it"
- You're looking for an option besides prescription medications or invasive surgery
- You're beginning to wonder if you'll ever feel like yourself again
You're not alone. Most care models focus on symptoms — not systems — and they often miss the full picture, relying on generalized protocols that don't work for everyone.
Schedule a ConsultationWe Do Things Different Here
Most care treats the symptom. We find what's driving it.
Most practices choose one lens to look through. We use two — because your body doesn't separate its systems, and neither should your care.
Functional Medicine
We look beyond symptoms to find their root cause — testing hormones, gut health, and metabolic markers to understand what's really happening in your body. Instead of managing symptoms indefinitely, we build a personalized plan aimed at resolving the underlying imbalance.
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Thousands of years of clinical observation inform how we read the body's patterns — energy, circulation, and organ systems working together. Acupuncture, herbs, and lifestyle practices help restore balance and support your body's own healing response.
At Muskego Acupuncture & Wellness, we combine both — modern lab-based diagnostics with time-tested Eastern medicine — because using them together consistently produces more complete, more lasting results than either approach alone.
What You Can Expect
About Muskego Acupuncture
Muskego Acupuncture is a functional medicine and acupuncture practice led by Lia Laterza, LAc. Lia combines the science of functional medicine — lab testing, root-cause analysis, and personalized protocols — with the wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine to help patients understand what is happening in their bodies and finally feel like themselves again.
Whether you are navigating hormonal chaos, chronic fatigue, digestive issues, or a constellation of symptoms that no one has been able to explain — Lia takes the time to listen, test, and build a plan that is specific to you. No guessing. No dismissing. Just real answers and real support.
Common questions
I thought reflux meant too much acid — is that wrong?
In most cases, yes. Low stomach acid causes food to sit and ferment, producing gas that pushes the lower esophageal sphincter open and allows acid to splash upward. Long-term PPI use makes this worse by further suppressing acid production.
Can I get off my PPI?
Many patients can — but it requires a careful, gradual approach. Stopping PPIs abruptly causes rebound hypersecretion. We build a protocol that addresses the root cause first, then guides a safe taper in coordination with your doctor.
How long does it take to see improvement?
Most patients notice reduced symptoms within 3 to 6 weeks of implementing dietary changes and gut-healing support. Full resolution of the underlying dysbiosis or low-acid pattern typically takes 3 to 4 months.
Milwaukee & Greater Milwaukee Area
Are you local to the Milwaukee area?
We offer acupuncture and in-person integrative therapies too!
If you're based in or near Milwaukee, we offer a full range of in-person services — fire cupping, gua sha, SAAT allergy treatments, muscle testing, and more. These therapies can be layered into your functional medicine plan or booked on their own for support with pain, stress, hormone balance, and skin health.
Your body has been trying to tell you something.
You deserve care that helps you feel at home in your body again. Together we'll stop guessing and start uncovering real answers — with a personalized approach that looks at the full picture of who you are and how you feel.
Book an Appointment