Heartburn – Causes, Treatment, and Symptoms
Acid reflux is a serious problem that affects the digestive system and can affect almost everyone. The symptoms of this condition are frequent heartburn and sometimes vomiting, as well as difficulty swallowing. Heartburn is a burning feeling in the chest caused by stomach acid travelling up towards the throat (acid reflux). Apart from the burning sensation you may also have a bitter taste in your mouth from the acid. Other symptoms may include bloating, hiccups, a cough and bad breath. The symptoms are often worse after a meal or when you bend over or lie down. Many people are looking for ways to cure acid reflex naturally. There are many natural methods that people use to cure their reflux.
Causes Of Heartburn
Many people get heartburn from time to time and the cause can be difficult to pin down. Things that may make it more likely are
- stress
- pregnancy
- eating some foods particularly those that are fatty or spicy or acidic like lemons
- drinking alcohol or coffee
- being overweight
- some medicines like Ibuprofen
- a hiatus hernia
Treatment Of Acid Reflux
In truth the best way to cure acid reflex naturally is for you to avoid the causes listed above. The lifestyle changes you can make include the following.
Don’t eat the foods and drink that causes your symptoms.
Give up smoking.
Find ways to relax so you keep stress under control
Lose weight if you are overweight
Don’t eat late at night
Sit up straight while eating
Eat little and often. Have smaller meals.
Raise the head end of your bed so that your head is above the level of your stomach.
If these lifestyle changes don’t work you should see a doctor or pharmacist. Many people will suggest you take antacids to ease your symptoms but this can bring it’s own problems.
This video explains why you may want to re-think how you approach your acid reflux and look into natural cure for acid reflux and heartburn.
In the video, Dr Berg discusses the causes of acid reflux, heartburn, and GERD. and the problems that arise from the traditional medications like PPI, Tums, and H2 receptor blockers. Each of them come with a lot of side effects.
One common side effect that all of these medications have is called Achlorhydria. Achlorhydria is a condition where you don’t have the acid in your stomach anymore. These medications can actually cause GERD, acid reflux, or heartburn. There seems to be a relationship between stomach acid and the stomach valve. If the stomach acid is the correct pH, that valve will stay nice and tight. But, with these issues, it’s not that you have too much acid, you actually need more acid.
These problems lead many people to eventually realize that the commonly recommended cures are actually not working and may indeed be making things worse. This leads many to ask how to stop acid reflux naturally.
Read on for some of the natural cures for acid reflux, listed below, that you may want to explore. Many people have found that these natural remedies are extremely beneficial.
It is important that you are able to get relief from reflux. Some people have a lot of reflux and it’s not uncommon for the symptoms to be so severe that it’s causing them great pain.
If you are one of those people, then you might start looking into natural remedies instead of prescription medications. You will be able to treat your acid reflux in a way that is comfortable for you and without the side effects that often come with prescribed medications.
Some people find they are able to cure acid reflux naturally with herbal remedies.
Natural Cures For Heartburn and Acid Reflux
Some of the natural ways to treat, prevent and cure acid reflux naturally include caraway, milk thistle, chamomile, lemon balm, licorice, fennel, ginger, aloe vera, apple cider vinegar and peppermint.
There is also evidence that eating a banana can help. Banana coats the lining of the stomach and is a natural antacid. Apples and papaya can also help.
Chamomile tea is a soothing and healing alternative to coffee.
Another natural cure for acid reflux is baking soda. It can be used in different ways but it’s best to make a mixture of one tablespoon of baking soda and a half cup of warm water. Drink this solution before going to bed at night.
It is good to keep in mind that the natural acid reflux remedies aren’t always the answer. But if you really want to be relieved from the pain associated with acid reflux then these natural remedies are a good place to start.
Dr Apelian who wrote The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies advocates her Leaky Gut Herbal Blend for many digestive problems. It forms a protective layer around any perforations in your gut wall.
Is Acid Reflux Serious?
Trying to cure acid reflex naturally is always a good start. However if the lifestyle changes and treatments either natural or antacids don’t relieve your symptoms you should see a doctor.
You should seek medical advice if
Despite trying the self help methods you get frequent attacks
You have trouble swallowing
It feels like something is stuck in your throat
You have frequent vomiting or coughing
While acid reflux is fairly common it can also be an indication of something more serious. You may need a gastroscopy to check that it is not the case. So do see your doctor if your symptoms persist.
