Searching for heartburn home remedies? Find simple solutions to try today!
We’ve all experienced the pain of heartburn and acid reflux. Heartburn is an uncomfortable problem that affects about 60% of the adult American population, and sends many of us to our medicine cabinet looking for some kind of relief. If you run out of Tums, or don’t want to take over the counter drugs, there are home remedies for heartburn relief. This is good news for people who can’t sleep and are up in the middle of the night because of heartburn.
While most people think that heartburn is caused by too much acid in the stomach, the truth is that you do not have enough stomach acid and the food you ate is fermenting in your stomach. You need a sufficient amount of acid to be able to properly digest your food. If your acid levels are low and food starts to ferment, it creates gases, which rise up to the esophagus causing acid reflux and heartburn. Below are some heartburn home remedies that will calm your stomach and help you get a good night’s sleep.
Apple Cider Vinegar
One of the more popular heartburn home remedies is apple cider vinegar. This type of vinegar has a pH level of about 5 (as opposed to an alkaline level) placing it more on the acidic side. Apple cider vinegar will help your stomach digest its food contents and reduce pressure build-up. To relieve your heartburn take 2 tsp. of vinegar mixed in 1/4 cup of water and drink. Repeat this process every five minutes until your heartburn is relieved. To avoid acid reflux, you can try this home remedy before meals. Many people prefer organic apple cider vinegar that contains probiotics.
Herbal Remedies
Home remedies for heartburn relief includes herbal remedies. Herbal teas or supplements may help you get relief from heartburn and may be how to get rid of acid reflux. Popular choices in this category are: chamomile, slippery elm, marshmallow and licorice.
Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is another one of the great home remedies for heartburn relief. The pH level of lemons is around 2, which is a highly acidic level. Add the juice of one organic lemon to a glass and drink it straight if you can; if not, add about ¼ cup of water to the lemon juice and drink. You may have to repeat the process a few times until you get relief.
Baking Soda
Drinking ½ teaspoon of baking soda mixed in ¼ cup of water is how to get rid of acid reflux and heartburn. Baking soda will neutralize the acid in your stomach and esophagus, but you may have to drink more than one glass to get the relief you want.
Digestive Enzymes
Supplements that contain digestive enzymes are another of the great home remedies for heartburn relief. These supplements usually contain: betaine, diastase, papain, and bromelain (from pineapple). Digestive enzymes begin to work immediately to digest whatever food is still undigested in your stomach, and will bring you the heartburn relief you want.
Other Tips
There are other things you can do to help avoid heartburn or get relief from it:
- Keeping your back erect with good posture will help to relieve your inner organs from pressure. Try standing and look up to the ceiling to elongate your torso.
- You should avoid cigarette smoke because it contributes to heartburn.
- Eat at least 3 hours before going to bed.
- Stay at a healthy weight.
- If you are lying down, elevate your upper body.
- Avoid eating fatty or spicy food, tomato-based food, soda, caffeine, chocolate, fried food, citrus juices, alcohol, peppers, garlic, and onions.
By avoiding these triggers you may help to curb attacks of heartburn and acid reflux. If you have these problems more than 3 times per week you should seek medical advice. For occasional attacks of heartburn, our home remedies for heartburn relief might help you.
Sources:
https://medlineplus.gov/heartburn.html
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/acid-reflux-ger-gerd-adults
