Heartburn Relief Home Remedies For Heartburn
Heartburn is a common conditioni and can strike at any time. Thankfully, there are many ways to relieve heartburn symptoms when they flare up. Chewing an antacid such as TUMS® is a first line option, particularly when you need fast relief. However, home remedies and changing lifestyle habits can help, too dampening down the painful sensation you feel in your chest and throat.
Aloe Vera Syrup Products
Aloe vera juice has been used in traditional medicine to heal irritation of the esophagus. It is unwise to use unprocessed aloe vera sap as it contains laxative compounds, but some products are formulated for internal use. AloeCure contains organic aloe juice and is marketed as an all-natural remedy for digestive disorders, including heartburn. Some trials, including a 2015 study, have found aloe vera syrup to be effective for heartburn symptoms. Note that consuming aloe can lower your blood sugar levels. Discuss the use of aloe with your doctor if you have diabetes, hypoglycemia, thyroid disorders, kidney disease, heart disease, or electrolyte abnormalities.
Heartburn: Fight It With Baking Soda
Although antacid properties are attributed to sodium bicarbonate, its consumption must be sporadic. In the case of ailments such as gastroesophageal reflux, the best thing to do is consult your doctor. Did you know that baking soda is useful for fighting heartburn? Since ancient times, this product has been used to treat stomach acid, indigestion, and stomach upset in general. However, it should always be used with caution and in moderate quantities.
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Gastric acidity is a sensation that starts in the stomach and radiates up to the throat. It is a disorder related to the weakness of the esophageal sphincter. This partially digested material can irritate the esophagus, causing acidity, heartburn, and other upper gastrointestinal tract symptoms. Several antacid or proton pump inhibitor drugs and several over-the-counter drugs are currently available to keep it under control. However, some people use baking soda to counteract acidity. Is it really effective?
Also Check: How To Prevent Acid Reflux And Heartburn
Adopt New Bedroom Habits
Do you have trouble sleeping at night due to heartburn? If so, try sleeping on your left side this position seems to help. Experts also recommend keeping your upper body elevated to make it harder for acids to flow up the esophagus. Raise the head of your bed or use a thick wedge-shaped body pillow when sleeping to keep heartburn at bay.vii
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When To See A Doctor
Many mild cases of acid reflux can be managed with home remedies and OTC medication.
However, if you experience any of the below symptoms, contact your healthcare provider:
- Shortness of breath, sweating, or chest pain that radiates to the neck, jaw, or arm
- Chest pain with stress or exertion
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes
- Heartburn or acid reflux symptoms that last longer than two weeks
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Foods That Improve Acid Reflux
via Dr.Axe
There are a number of foods that can greatly reduce your Acid Reflux flare-ups. Almonds, Cucumber, Apple Cider Vinegar, and Honey are just some of the great choices. Kefir and Yogurt and Fermented Vegetables are also other alternatives.
Bone Broth makes the list too and when used regularly, can reduce body inflammation substantially.
As mentioned previously, there are gentler alternatives available when it comes to heartburn treatment. This list of 5 popular remedies is a great place to start. Lets look in-depth.
How To Produce Alkaline Water
If you do not have it at home, you can get baking soda at pretty much any grocery store in the baking supplies section. I found it online on .
Once you have the baking soda, you need to dilute it. It would be impossible to properly swallow it as a powder. Plus, it can be irritating in its pure form.
The Mayo Clinic recommends mixing between 0.5 and 1.5 teaspoons of baking soda in a small glass of still water. Just enough so that you can dissolve the baking soda and swallow it. Stir until the baking soda is dissolved. It will not dissolve well. Use room temperature water instead of cold water this works slightly better. It is fine if you do not get it all dissolved. Once youve mixed your solution, youve made alkaline water!
I recommend gargling with it before swallowing. It will help to neutralize reflux that might have reached the airways. You might say: Wait, what? Reflux in the airways, what is that? I dont have that. The thing is, most people do not even know that some problems they have like hoarseness, cough, and asthma, can be caused by airway reflux.
Also Check: What Can I Do To Make My Heartburn Go Away
Eat An Apple Or Banana
Bananas and apples contain high amounts of natural antacids that will help to soothe your heartburn and indigestion. Ripened apples and bananas can easily soothe your burning and inflammation, and help to prevent the heartburn and indigestion from happening in the first place.
Not to mention, the added vitamins and fiber will be great for your diet.
Required Ingredients:
- One ripened banana or apple
Process:
- Eat one of the selected fruits each day, preferably before a larger meal or foods that may trigger your heartburn or indigestion.
How Does Baking Soda Work For Acid Reflux
- Baking soda or sodium bicarbonate has alkaline nature that helps to neutralize the acids in the stomach and thereby reduces the reverse flow of stomach contents into the esophagus.
- It provides a proper balance of acid/alkaline levels in the stomach and reduces the burning sensation or tightness in the chest.
- It plays a role in maintaining a balanced pH level in the body and bloodstream which, in turn, reduces acidity in the stomach and also prevents the recurrence of acid reflux.
- It acts as a natural antacid that effectively relieves your acid indigestion, stomach upset, sour stomach, heartburn, etc.
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Is It Just Heartburn Or Gerd
Frequent heartburn can be a major issue. If you experience heartburn two or more times a week, you may have gastroesophageal reflux disease .
In this chronic condition, frequent exposure to stomach acid irritates and damages the esophagus. Over time, that can lead to problems such as difficulty swallowing. An estimated 40 percent of Americans report symptoms of GERD but the condition can significantly improve with lifestyle changes.
If you’ve tried home remedies and lifestyle adjustments and still have frequent heartburn, consult with your family doctor or a gastroenterologist. There are multiple treatments that can help, including medications and minimally invasive surgery for acid reflux.
Make A Homemade Electrolyte Drink With Real Food
In fact, we can do one better and make an electrolyte drink with real food. We first look at the World Health Organizations recipe for a rehydration drink2, which serves a very similar purpose for dehydrated individuals: replace electrolytes, give energy, hydrate the body.
It includes:
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basic resources that everyone recognizes
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Home Remedies For Heartburn
Heartburn is a common problem that causes a burning sensation in your chest and throat. It may also be accompanied by a bitter taste. Other related symptoms may include gas, nausea, bloating, and difficulty breathing. The symptoms usually get worse after eating a large meal or while lying down.
The burning sensation is caused by acidic stomach juices rising into the esophagus when the valve between the esophagus and stomach does not close properly. This is why heartburn often occurs after eating fatty, fried or acidic foods.
Heartburn can also be due to a hiatal hernia, which means part of the stomach is pushing through an opening in the diaphragm and into the chest. Heartburn is also a common condition during pregnancy.
Other health conditions or lifestyle choices that can cause heartburn include smoking, obesity, caffeine intake, alcohol consumption, eating spicy foods, lying down immediately after eating and taking certain medications, such as aspirin or ibuprofen.
Occasional heartburn is common and no cause for alarm. A variety of natural treatments can provide relief from heartburn symptoms.
However, if heartburn occurs frequently and interferes with your routine, then you may be suffering from gastroesophageal reflux disease . See your doctor immediately, as untreated GERD can seriously damage your esophagus.
Here are the top 10 home remedies for heartburn.
Contents
Baking Soda And Heartburn Treating The Root Cause
If you are someone who only has the occasional heartburn occurrence treating it with some baking soda is not a problem. Though if you are someone who regularly gets heartburn treating it long-term with baking soda is not a good long-term solution. So when I am asked how much baking soda is safe to drink? Well ideally you should try not to take more than 1 teaspoon per day and as I have said try to not take it for a long period of time mainly because of the high salt consumption.
When someone has frequent heartburn like this they may have what is known by as GERD . Though dont worry this can easily be treated for most people with a change of diet or avoidance of certain foods and drinks .
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How Is Severe Heartburn Treated If Over
When over-the-counter treatments dont seem to help, talk to your doctor about using prescription-strength acid-suppressing therapies for a short period of time. Prescription-strength H2 blockers can reduce the amount of acid in the stomach while PPIs can block it altogether. However, PPIs are not without side effects, and its important to only take them for only short courses.
What Lifestyle Changes Help Heartburn
The best way to avoid heartburn discomfort is to prevent it. These lifestyle changes can make a big difference:
- Avoid trigger foods: Foods that promote heartburn include fried and fatty foods, caffeine, chocolate, spicy foods and carbonated beverages.
- Lose weight: Being overweight increases the likelihood that youâll experience heartburn.
- Avoid eating late at night: Try to eat three hours before going to bed. At a minimum, you should wait at least one hour after eating.
- Elevate the bed: Physically lift the head of your bed about six to eight inches so youâre sleeping on an incline. If thatâs not possible, use a wedge pillow for lift.
- Avoid alcohol and tobacco: These substances increase the chances of heartburn attacks.
- Wear looser clothing: Tight clothing can put pressure on your digestive system.
Read Also: What Is Safe To Take For Heartburn While Pregnant
Also Check: What Causes Acid Indigestion And Heartburn
Administer A Gingerroot Tea
Ginger is a well-known home remedy for several stomach issues and ailments, ranging from nausea and including heartburn and indigestion. Fresh ginger root works best, but dried or powdered ginger root can help just as well.
Required Ingredients:
- 3 quarter slices of fresh ginger root
- 2 cups of hot water
Process:
- Add the ginger root to the hot water and allow to simmer, covered, for at least 30 minutes.
- Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
- Either remove or keep the ginger slices in the water and pour a cup of the tea.
- Drink at least 20 minutes before your meal.
- Repeat when necessary.
Baking Soda Health Benefits
Baking soda has many benefits, which make it one of the most used products.
We can group such benefits for health into two main categories.
The first one is directly related to human health.
The other is related to hygiene and the improvement of sanitary conditions.
Among the first category, well see extensively how baking soda can help in the case of heartburn and acid reflux.
Its a short-term measure, but effective.
In addition, baking soda has been proven effective in calming indigestion.
You can use effectively baking soda also to treat insect bites and stings. However, please always remember that the pH of the skin is slightly acidic. This means that baking soda is not good for health in general. But under some circumstances, it can help a lot.
The mouth can also experience several benefits: a toothpaste containing baking soda has a better effect in whitening, and it can also freshen the breath.
For more specific and serious conditions, it has been observed that baking soda helps fighting cancer. To be honest, theres a lot of buzz around the topic. It needs all our attention and interest for sure. Anyway, we want to post below a famous video made by Dr. Sircus about pH medicine, in order for you to better understand the great potential of baking soda as a whole.
Finally, kidneys can experience good help by baking soda.
For what concerns the second category of benefits, baking soda is a great product when it comes to controlling odors.
Read Also: Can I Have Acid Reflux Without Heartburn
Baking Soda And Heartburn Relief
Sodium bicarbonate, also known as baking soda, is an alkaline chemical compound. It comes in the form of a tablet, solution, or granule .
Because of its alkaline properties, sodium bicarbonate can be used to relieve heartburn. It works by neutralizing excess stomach acid. It belongs to a group of medicines called antacids.
Sodium bicarbonate may also have some off-label use as a treatment for ulcers and to make the blood and urine more alkaline in certain medical conditions. As with any supplement or medication, it’s important to speak with your healthcare provider before trying.
What Is Baking Soda
Baking soda or sodium bicarbonate is a white crystalline compound with slightly alkaline taste that is used in many things like making of effervescent salts and beverages, pharmaceuticals, artificial mineral water and fire extinguishers. It is also called as bicarbonate of soda. Here in this article, we are going to learn about how baking soda helps to treat the heartburn with its natural properties.
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Baking Soda As A Home Remedy For Heartburn
Baking soda is the most widely used by many when it comes to home remedies. It has so many things to brag about. With regard to heartburn, it is the most efficient remedy because of its properties to reduce acidity and neutralize the acid in the stomach. Here are the ways to use baking soda when you have indigestion:
- Baking Soda as liquid antacid. Dissolve half teaspoon of baking soda in half glass of water. Stir well until the mixture has been mixed well. Drink the mixture after every meal.
- Sparkling Baking Soda. Mix one tablespoon of vinegar, sugar, baking soda and water. Stir and mix well. Drink as soon as the mixture is still sparkling.
- Baking Soda in a Capsule. If the above mentioned ways dont fit you because of its bitter taste, then try emptying a capsule of vitamins and replace the content with baking soda. You may use suction to refill empty capsules. Then take the capsule with lots of water.
Baking soda contains some properties that are not suitable for everyone. So, if you are pregnant, nursing, with hypertension, peptic ulcers and if you are under some medications.So, it would be best also to talk to your health provider if the symptoms still persist and before trying anything to cure your condition.
Adjust Your Sleeping Posture
If youre one of the 50% of acid reflux patients5 that experiences heartburn on a nightly or nearly nightly basis, we can help. MedClines Reflux Relief System has been clinically proven to reduce symptoms of GERD and acid reflux at night.
Engineered using the physician-recommended position for sleeping with acid reflux on the left side, at an incline our three-component system features medical-grade materials and is available in three different sizes for close-to-custom comfort. Whats more, our Sleep Specialists are here to support you on your search for reflux-free rest.
To learn more about our Reflux Relief System and its proven results, speak with one of our Sleep Specialists today!
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Other Home Remedies For Acid Reflux
You can find many home remedies for acid reflux and heartburn online.
However, some of these suggested treatments dont have enough scientific evidence to show that they work to soothe reflux.
So keep in mind that it may take some trial and error to find the right remedy for your symptoms.
You may also want to speak to a provider who can recommend OTC or prescription medications.
That said, the following home remedies may help with acid reflux:
- Drinking ginger tea or taking ginger supplements. The herb appears to and improve emptying of the stomach.
- Eating a diet rich in healthy unsaturated fats as opposed to saturated fats .
- Identifying and avoiding trigger foods. Common ones include fried and fatty foods, alcohol, citrus foods, and tomatoes.
- Waiting at least three hours after a meal before laying down.
- Wearing loose clothing to reduce pressure on the abdomen.
- Quitting or avoiding smoking. Smoking can disrupt how the lower esophageal sphincter functions.