Avoid specific foods that trigger heartburn, but also be careful with mint, caffeine, soda, chocolate, fruits and citrus juices, tomatoes, onions, and high-fat foods. Bananas are a soft, low-acid fruit that people often consider gentle on the digestive system. Vitamins in bananas help stop gastrointestinal spasms, but it's unclear if they can affect acid reflux, says Rouzer. With the popularity of essential oils, some consider using peppermint or ginger essential oil as a digestive aid.
Talk to your healthcare provider before taking essential oils internally or topically. Essential oils can interact with medications, each person's body reacts differently to these oils, and because oils are not regulated, there can be inconsistencies in what the actual product purchased is. A little baking soda mixed with water can lower the acidity level of the stomach, says Rouzer. It works like an over-the-counter antacid, but unlike those fruity treats, a baking soda concoction doesn't taste as good.
It can be difficult to know what to do when heartburn occurs. With such a variety of over-the-counter (OTC) treatments, various herbal remedies or other natural remedies and prescription drugs available, choosing the right treatment can be an adventure. Most medications used to treat heartburn, both prescription and over-the-counter, have undergone rigorous testing and studies to establish their safe and effective use, but what about natural remedies? You've probably seen long lists of natural cures for heartburn, or maybe you've had friends or family who rely on baking soda or apple cider vinegar to relieve heartburn, but what does the evidence say about these methods?. The reason for the link seems to be that excess fat around the abdominal area puts pressure on the stomach, causing the body to work harder to keep the acid low.
People with obesity may find that achieving and maintaining a moderate weight helps them reduce the frequency of acid reflux. You might have a remedy for heartburn handy in your kitchen without even knowing it. Baking soda can calm some heartburn episodes by neutralizing stomach acid. To do this, dissolve 1 teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water and drink it slowly.
Home Remedies for Acid Reflux May Be as Close as Your Kitchen. Honey, ginger, baking soda, bananas, turmeric and apple cider vinegar are some natural remedies that can help relieve heartburn in the short term. According to Mary Rouzer, DNP, a gastroenterology nurse with the Franciscan Physician Network, unless your esophagus has damage that we've seen on an endoscope and requires medication, it's OK to try natural remedies for acid reflux. When combined with dietary and lifestyle changes, home remedies for acid reflux may be enough to calm the burning sensation in the chest that occurs when stomach contents move into the esophagus.
herbal remedies and supplements are not tested for safety and effectiveness in the same way as medicines. It's usually safe to try to make dietary and lifestyle changes, but be sure to talk to your healthcare provider before taking any supplements or natural remedies. Heartburn is very common, but also relatively easy to treat if you control which foods aggravate the esophagus and combat heartburn with these remedies and other lifestyle changes. Talk to your healthcare provider before trying any natural remedy for heartburn, acid reflux, or GERD.
Find out which home remedies for acid reflux are safe to try and are most likely to help provide relief and when you should seek medical attention. If you are pregnant, nursing or breastfeeding, or have other health conditions, you may need to avoid certain remedies or supplements. Other people may find that home remedies are sufficient to reduce acid reflux and relieve symptoms. If you've tried home remedies and lifestyle adjustments and still have frequent heartburn, consult your family doctor or gastroenterologist.
Normally, the diaphragm naturally strengthens the lower esophageal sphincter, which prevents excessive amounts of stomach acid from leaking into the esophagus. . .
