There must have been so many times that you must have felt it. The feeling, of it coming on and that somewhat familiar burning sensation in your chest. Whether you are standing, sitting or lying down it can be absolutely uncomfortable. Here are a few natural ways to get rid of heartburn and act as a solution to your digestive woes.
Heartburn happens when the stomach acid creeps up into your esophagus, and it’s a problem many of us have dealt with. You might reach for over-the-counter antacids and medications, but all too often those don’t seem to provide enough relief. Luckily, you probably already have several natural, home remedies for heartburn in your pantry. These can be even more effective than antacids.
Heartburn is a common symptom of acid reflux, a condition where some of the stomach contents travel back up into the esophagus, or the food pipe. Something, not very new to all the South Asian brethren with our spicy food and cooking with every possible kind of masala. Heartburn creates a burning pain in the lower chest and can be pretty uncomfortable. Frequent and persistent acid reflux that happens more than twice per week is known as gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD.
You will possibly feel heartburn when stomach acid flows back up into the esophagus, the pipe that carries food from the mouth to the stomach. To put a number, it is estimated that more than 15 million people in the United States experience heartburn symptoms every day.
We will try and discuss heartburn and its causes, symptoms, and home remedies for heartburn. First, let us understand whether heartburn, acid reflux and GERD are the same thing? The answer to that is that even though they are different but they are related. The esophagus that starts from the mouth and connects to the stomach has a valve that pens and shuts so that the contents of the stomach do not come back up. Acid reflux is a disorder that occurs when this valve opens when it should be closed, allowing the stomach juices to flow backward up the esophagus and sometimes into your mouth.
Are there home remedies for heartburn? Yes, there are and we will go over these natural remedies for heartburn in this article.
Natural Remedies for Heartburn
Stand upright
To employ gravity to your advantage is another of the initial steps that should be done for instant relief. By just standing up you are managing to keep food and all the stomach juices in your stomach and making it difficult to come up your esophagus.
Water
The panacea to all ills – Water. The first thing that you should do to wash your food pipe, is to drink some water. This first step of simply drinking a glass of water is a one of the best ways to start the hearburn relief at home.
Baking soda
If you suffer from an extreme bout of heartburn pain then you might want to opt for baking soda which is another natural way to get rid of heartburn. It is an antacid that can offer the much-needed relief. Mix half to one full teaspoon of baking soda into a small glass of water and drink up. Again word of advice – do not over use this remedy as even though baking soda does neutralize stomach acid, it is high in salt.
Fresh lemon juice
Another natural cure for heartburn is lemon juice. It helps in increasing stomach acid, which is highly beneficial because heartburn is often caused by a lack of stomach acid. Drink a glass of lemon water and you are likely to feel much better.
Pineapple Juice
An enzyme known as bromelain is found in Pineapple juice which can help in controlling the levels of hydrochloric acid in your stomach. As soon as you feel the first symptoms of heartburn setting in, get yourself a small glass of pineapple juice to get some natural heartburn relief.
Aloe Vera Juice
The many benefits of Aloe Vera are not just restricted to matters of the skin. Drinking Aloe Vera juice is also helpful and an effective way to counter heartburn. However word of advice: Find yourself Aloe Vera juice that is meant for drinking and not juicing out the Aloe Vera plant in your backyard. It will not have the same effect.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Similar to Lemon juice, the Apple Cider Vinegar also works for the same purpose. The vinegar increases stomach acid. Just drinking the Apple Cider Vinegar might be too much to ask on its own. However, you can sweeten the taste by mixing honey to the glass of water with approximately two teaspoons of vinegar.
Fruits
Some fruits that are believed to give relief from heartburn are Apple, Grapes and Banana. These fruits are known to provide natural heartburn relief.
Peppermint
If the thought of baking soda and vinegar gives you another bout of heartburn then try peppermint. Many antacids have Peppermint as an ingredient and there are a few options that will have the same effect as taking a pill. The simple options are peppermint tea or even mint candy.
Buttermilk
We all are aware of the popular chaas, especially during the summer. Chaas or buttermilk is a quick homemade heartburn remedy to calm acid reflux. Usually, fermented milk products are great dietary inclusions for heartburn sufferers.
There are so many home remedies for heartburn that do not necessarily require medical assistance. If the occurrence is only once in a while, resorting to the natural ways to get rid of heartburn above should be enough. Just take care of the following precautions:
- avoiding spicy dishes
- eating smaller portions
- avoiding alcohol and fizzy drinks
- Stop smoking
- Keeping a few hour’s gap between dinner and sleep
- Maintaining body weight
Basically everything boils down to living a healthy lifestyle and taking care of your digestion.
FAQs
For instant relief, stand upright. An upright posture puts lesser pressure on your esophagus and helps the reflux rising. Elevate your upper body. Lying down can make heartburn worse.
First of all, it is important to know what NOT to drink to avoid experiencing heartburn. Alcohol, coffee and carbonated beverages are common triggers for heartburn. What to drink? You can pick from the many drinks mentioned above like water, buttermilk, pineapple juice, lemon juice etc. Sometimes the best solutions are the simplest ones.
Low-fat milk and other plant-based milks such as almond and soy milk, are great for providing relief from heartburn. Milk neutralizes stomach acid and relieves heartburn and helps to calm the stomach.
A too-full stomach makes it more likely that acid will be pushed into the esophagus, so eat small meals and pause between bites, chewing thoroughly to slow your intake and give your stomach time to digest. Wait three hours after a meal to lie down: When you’re upright, gravity keeps stomach acid from rising into the esophagus.
If you have indulged in some overly spicy chili or overdid it on those late-night chicken tikka masala leftovers, then these homemade heartburn remedies may help soothe your fiery stomach but drinking water to cool down the fire is your best bet. Drink a whole glass of water. You can also follow it with a mix of baking soda in half a glass of water.
If this article proved helpful, be sure to check out Handy Home Remedies for High Blood Pressure
