What is rumination syndrome? It’s a functional gastrointestinal disorder that occurs when food that is swallowed – but not yet digested – gets regurgitated and comes back up from the stomach, through the esophagus and into the mouth. 

The best way to treat rumination syndrome, a functional gastrointestinal disorder, is with behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy – specifically diaphragmatic breathing for rumination syndrome – retrains the body to keep food and liquids in the stomach instead of traveling up the esophagus and into the mouth.