Need quick relief for heartburn? Relieve your discomfort quickly with our 10 acid reflux remedies, and read on for tips on how to avoid heartburn altogether.
Heartburn can be a very uncomfortable and occasionally embarrassing occurrence. It’s usually characterized by a burning sensation in the throat and chest, and often accompanied by a sense of bringing your food back up (or a need to constantly burp). Heartburn is caused by acid in the stomach moving into the esophagus, resulting in said irritation. Thankfully, there are means of quick relief from heartburn. As heartburn can appear rapidly, it’s worth remembering these 10 go-to remedies.
Quick Relief for Heartburn: Top Natural Remedies
The below remedies may vary in their effectiveness from person to person, so you may wish to try different things if one isn’t working that well for you. Many remedies are made from things you are likely to have in the kitchen, or can make to have at hand. This is a good thing, as you’ll want to relieve your discomfort as quickly as possible.
1. Probiotics can be used for heartburn, alongside other gastrointestinal discomforts. Try a natural probiotic such as kombucha or kefir water.
2. Apple cider vinegar in small amounts, may ease symptoms of heartburn. Use no more than a teaspoon mixed with water to see if it is an effective acid-reflux remedy for you. It may work due to its ability to neutralize stomach acid, even though, strangely, it is an acid itself. Although many people swear by it, there are no formal scientific reports to back up this remedy, but the proof may be in the pudding.
3. Bananas may also be an effective remedy for heartburn. They are gentle on the digestive system and can soak up some traveling acid, with their alkaline content helping also soothe the gastrointestinal tract. Plus, the added vitamins will benefit the body.
4. Chewing gum has been found to ease heartburn symptoms in some people. A small study back in 2005 reported that chewing gum for 30 minutes after a meal could reduce levels of stomach acid.
5. Baking soda and water, although not the most appetizing mixture, may also bring rapid relief from heartburn. This works, once again, by neutralizing the acid in the same way as an over-the-counter remedy. Just use a small quantity of soda (half a teaspoon), mixed with a half glass of water.
6. Aloe vera juice. Aloe Vera gel (extracted from aloe vera leaves) is known for its soothing properties. It is safe to take small amounts of aloe vera in a juice form, to reduce stomach irritation, such as heartburn. Aloe vera juice is also tasty, and you’ll also get a boost of vitamins, including vitamin C, and antioxidants.
7. Peppermint is known to reduce stomach stress and irritable bowel syndrome, so it is no surprise it may also assist with heartburn and stomach gas. Try a peppermint tea or a supplement. If you have your own mint, then you can use it fresh or dried.
8. Lemon juice works in a similar way to apple cider vinegar, counteracting the acid reflux. Juice from a fresh lemon may work faster than concentrated lemon juice, mixed with water, but if you have no fresh lemons, it is still worth a try. If heartburn is a regular occurrence, it may be worth taking the juice before you eat.
8.Ginger may relieve symptoms too, with its healing history dating back to ancient times. Ginger is believed to help with nausea and upset stomachs, so it isn’t much of a stretch to see that it may help with heartburn too. Why not try a ginger tea and see if it brings you comfort? Or you could add a little ginger to your meal. Ginger ale, on the other hand, may not bring the desired results, and may make heartburn worse due to it bring a carbonated drink.
9. Licorice might help provide a quick relief for heartburn, by possibly increasing the mucous coating of your esophagus. Chew a licorice candy, or perhaps try a licorice tea.
How to Prevent Heartburn
Other options to relieve heartburn, are to try and minimize the chances of it occurring. Here are some lifestyle tips for avoiding acid reflux:
- Minimize stress: Often easier said than done, but stress can result in heartburn. This may that when we are stressed we tend to eat faster, and don’t allow ample time for the body to rest, due to its state of agitation. To reduce stress, you could try practices such as mindful walking or mindfulness meditation.
- Certain foods: Some foods may trigger heartburn. If you are a regular sufferer, try to cut out onions and garlic avoid carbonated drinks, spicy, fried and fatty foods, chocolate and caffeine. You can try eliminating one at a time and see what works for you.
- Lose weight: In cutting down on fried and fatty foods you may also lose a little body weight, which may be beneficial if you carry more than you need. A study has shown that being overweight or obese can add a 40% increase to the likelihood of experiencing heartburn.
- Don’t go to bed on a full stomach: Eating at least three hours before bedtime allows the digestive system time to work before you lie down.
- Sleep at an incline: If you suffer in the night, you could elevate your bed. Ideally, lift the top of the bed up a few inches. If this isn’t possible, you can prop your upper body up on pillows, but be careful as this may result in head, neck and shoulder pain.
- Avoid alcohol and tobacco: Both can increase the likelihood of regular heartburn.
- Tight clothing: Wearing this won’t help, as it puts pressure on the body. Loosen clothing so that you can breathe well.
If symptoms persist, or you are worried that you may be experiencing something more serious, seek immediate care from a doctor or hospital. In particular, if you have severe chest pain, vomiting with blood or you cannot swallow. It is always better to play on the safe side, but hopefully the above advice may bring the relief you are looking for.
Read more:
- Stinging Nettle Benefits: How to Use Stinging Nettles as Medicine, in the Garden, and in the Kitchen
- Burdock Roots: Benefits for Hair & Body
- 7 Natural Remedies for Sore Throats: How to Relieve Throat Pain
Important Information regarding Health-related Topics.
** Links to retailers marked with ** or underlined orange are partially partner links: If you buy here, you actively support Utopia.org, because we will receive a small part of the sales proceeds. More info.Do you like this post?