Do Heartburn Natural Remedies Work?

Heartburn is unfortunately a very common and highly unpleasant condition that occurs mainly immediately after a meal. Despite its name, heartburn has nothing at all to do with the heart. It occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) which is the valve between the esophagus and the stomach opens too wide and acid seeps from the stomach into the esophagus. This can be triggered by food or stress.

The main symptoms are a burning sensation and a feeling of fullness. The simplest treatment is to reach out for those anti-acid pills. However, their continual use over a long period of time is not healthy in addition to being expensive. The good news is that there are numerous heartburn natural remedies. These natural remedies can be broadly categorized into three foods to avoid, foods to take and lifestyle changes. The remedies are geared towards preventing occurrence and or relieving the symptoms.

FOODS TO AVOID

There are foods that are known to trigger heartburn and these may be individual. Try to identify what foods cause your heartburn and avoid them. There are foods that have been found to relax the LES and if you suffer from frequent heartburn, they should be avoided. These include spicy foods, tomatoes, garlic, onions, coffee, carbonated drinks, alcohol and citrus fruits. You can eliminate the foods completely from your diet and if that’s not possible, reduce the intake in terms of quantity and frequency.

FOODS TO TAKE

Many heartburn natural remedies are readily available probably right in your kitchen and they are inexpensive. Herbal teas such as ginger, cinnamon and chamomile have been found to be helpful. Juices from mango, papaya and pear fruits are also good at neutralizing stomach acid and hence bringing relief for heartburn. The apple fruit is also a good remedy.

Taking a teaspoon of white vinegar at the earliest signs of the symptoms will prevent progression of the condition. A glass of water with a teaspoon of baking soda dissolved in it also works wonders. Milk only neutralizes stomach acid in the short term and should be used in moderation. Chewing gum helps stimulate saliva production which neutralizes stomach acid.

HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CHOICES

These may be the easiest heartburn natural remedies to put into practice. As tempting as it may be to slouch onto a couch soon after a meal, don’t do it. Lying down immediately after a meal causes the stomach contents to move to the esophagus, causing heartburn. Give yourself two to three hours after a meal before you lie down to sleep. And when you do, keep your head and chest above your stomach to prevent reflux of the stomach contents into the esophagus.

Eat small frequent meals as heartburn is also caused by too much stomach contents. This way you will avoid over extending your stomach and stressing the esophageal sphincter.

Though there are several prescription drugs for heartburn, the benefits of using heartburn natural remedies in treating the condition far outweigh those of using chemicals. If you heed the above, you are well on your way to reducing or even eliminating the condition. A word of advice though – if symptoms persist, consult a doctor.