Apple Cider Vinegar and Baking Soda Tonic for Acid Reflux

Linda, if the ACV is working fine, why would you want to add the baking soda?

Linda, there is, to my knowledge, a Potassium Bicarbonate. Also Tri-Salts (Calcium - Magnesium - Potassium). How these would mix w/ ACV I dunno, but you could take them orally at any rate.

I also have osteopenia and I am concered about the acid introduced into my system. I thought the baking soda was used to help with the drain on my calcium as it helps to counter some of the acid, but perhaps I am mistaken. If someone can clairify I would appreciate it.

For acid reflux, PLEASE try iodine, at least 12mg/day, it has changed my life. No more acidy stomach or reflux after 2 days of use.

Chiropractic Hiatal Hernia adjustments and getting off dairy and sugar get rid of Reflux 99% of the time for my patients. Good luck.

Can you tell me how many drops of iodine is 12mgs? Thanks

The number of drops to attain 12 mgs iodine is entirely dependent on the iodine strength used.

5% Lugols iodine, at 6.25 mgs iodine per drop, would take about 2 drops for a 12.5 mgs dose of iodine.

3% Lugols Iodine, at 3.75 mgs iodine per drop, would take between 3 and 4 drops for a 12 mgs dose.

2% lugols iodine, at 2.50 mgs per drop, would take 5 drops for a 12.5 mgs dose.

See Chart: http://www.breastcancerchoices.org/lugolschart.html

I didn't see the posts I put up yesterday so I'll respond again:

@ Timh: Thank you. I'll give it a try. I know Ted speaks of needing the bicarbonate with the ACV. Potassium bicarbonate should work as well as the sodium bicarbonate without the resulting edema I get from the sodium bicarbonate. Thanks for the suggestion!

@ Mark: I've been taking Lugol's 5% since last November. I took a large amount (8 drops) per day for three months, then tapered down to my maintaence dose of 2 drops per day. It helps with other issues but has not seemed to have any effect on the acid reflux.

@ Dr D: I've gone sugar & dairy free for the past 12 weeks and it has improved my acid issues somewhat but my main improvement still seems to be from the ACV. I have had a bit of weight loss recently (20 pounds) and that too seems to have brought some additional improvement. I hope to be reflux free soon!

Too much baking soda is bad for you. The baking soda will neutralise your stomach acid. How are you then going to be able to digest your food. You need the stomach acid to digest your food. Taking ACV alone would be a better option. You can add honey to taste. The ACV alone will stop the acid reflux anyway.

I agree with Debbie from all I have read.

2 tablespoons is on the high end of ACV. You may want to cut the ACV to 1 tablespoon 3x a day and see how that works. Also try using more water so your tongue won't burn.

It is imperative that your stomach is making hydrochloric acid to digest your proteins or nothing will help your health. If your body is not using what you are taking in, your health will get worse no matter what you eat or supplements you take. The older you get the less hydrochloric your body makes but even younger people could suffer this way, I suppose. It's like starving to death eventually. I'm not sure if there are tests to determine how much your body is making but all older people (50 ) might be susceptible and need to take these supplements every time they eat and especially proteins. Proteins are not only meat, fish and dairy but dairy and grains, beans and rice or corn eaten together. Search proteins.

Betaine hydrochloric acid is what is necessary.

I drink ACV/mother with Stevia, everyday while getting hydrated also. Sugar depletes B vitamins. Tupelo honey is the only sweetening agent (except Stevia) that will not activate insulin output.

If you have calcium in your water (lime) and it crystalizes on the edge, white vinegar will clean it off readily.

Dfleming, it's an old post so I hope you've gotten relief. But if not, I find that when heartburn is intolerable and plain baking soda doesn't work, I take 1/2 to 3/4 tsp. baking soda, 1 capful of ACV, and 2-3 oz water. Works like a champ! Plain ACV causes me more pain.

I have ordered some slippery elm powder as I have read that it actually heals the intestinal tract from one end to the other which I could definitely use.

I am in day 5 of the worst Acid Reflux of my life, and in day 4 of Ted's Remedy. I haven't gotten any relief yet, but I'm not giving up! I was taking the purple pill for two weeks, but it seemed to have quit working, so I stopped it. I started with 2 tbsp organic ACV, 1/4 tsp of baking soda and upped it to 1/2 tsp last night. I know Ted's post said you could go as high as 2 tbsp of baking soda, but I'm interested to hear at what dosage of baking soda (and after how long) others started experiencing relief?

To Debbie: You take as needed. If you have eaten a lot of spicey food or a lot of red meat or ice cream for instance, then the ACV formula should be taken after eating and before bed. But if you have not eaten so "richly" then you would not have to take the ACV. ACV will help, I have found, mild cases of reflux. Watch the coffee; even the decaf is acidic. And that worsens reflux. Ice cream is a killer, especially consumed at night. Heavy meats like pork and steaks also will kick in reflux.

For a certain case of reflux consume for two or three days the following: Coffee in the am with a bowl of cereal and lots of milk to wash it down, hamburger for lunch, chilli and beans for supper and for a nice night cap a big bowl of ice cream topped with chocolate sauce. Maybe you could get away with that at 21 years old but the body just will not give you enough enzymes to digest that kind of toxic lifesytle at 35. The ACV will help but is not magic is you are self inflecting digestive destruction.

About 35 years ago, Acid Reflux [AR] was an every day, all day occurence... I lived on Baking Soda [BS] and antacids... I only used the combination of ACV & BS for the rare, gut wrenching situations: 1 tbspn of ACV, followed by 4oz of water w/1 tspn of BS.... You could hear the belch across town but there was total relief. Antacids are the worst things you can take... [as advertised] they deplete 100% of the acids in your stomach; then the 'stomach says 'Hey, all the acids are gone and there SHOULD be acids in the stomach'; so the stomach begins to pump in more acids.... Within the hour you now have 'indigestion' all over again, so now you take more antacids, and the cycle begins once again.... I began adding 2-3oz of ACV to my twice-daily 24oz office mug of water and soon the days of indigestion were gone.... I haven't had indigestion since.... I also adopted a concoction of: 32oz Aloe Vera Juice; 48oz Cranberry Juice and 48oz Distilled Water for my replacement of drinking water..... [1 gal. = 1/4 AVJ finished with equal parts of CJ & DW]. Over the years, I've recommended this to coworkers and it was 100% successful... Guess what?... After their issues subsided, they stopped the ACV & AVJ.... Not too smart, huh?? :)

WARNING; DISTILLED WATER IS DANGEROUS in large quantities or over time it become dangerous. It can lead to mineral deficiencies and depletes your electrolytes. Please LOOK this up @ www.mercola.com/article/water/distilled_water.htm

I think the idea is to give your body a rest from supplements once a week. That way you do not develop a need for them. However, I was told during healing/treatment... you take continuously as long as you need until you feel like you can go without.

How long have you been taking acv/bs? If you have been on it long term and still need it everday. You are probably masking another issue. Perhaps you should evaluate your diet?

Hi Rainman, thanks for your reply. I've been taking the ACV BSoda since the 27th May and it's been extremely successful, however when I stop the ACV BSoda combination for the 2 day rest period, my reflux comes back, hence my ? on why we need a 2 day respite from this combo if it's working.

I started getting extreme belching and upper gas locking about 18 months ago. The pain I experienced in my chest because of the locked wind was unbearable....couldn't lie down, had to sleep in a jason recliner some nights, nothing would relieve it.I started 40mg of Nexium and was decreased to 20mg about 6 months ago.....No tests were carried out until about 2 months ago, when I complained that my symptoms were coming back, even worse. My doc advised me to go back on the 40mg of Nexium but that still didn't relieve that tightness and belching pain. My endoscopy showed a large Hiatus Hernia and gastritis....that's when I decided to take a look on the internet for home remedies.

The ACV BSoda has been a Godsend. I went off my Nexium the day I started the ACV (with the Mother) and haven't looked back. I have lost at least 3kg, as weight gain is a side effect of Nexium, as are headaches and numerous other side effects.

I really had nothing to lose by trying this home remedy and hope that if you're a reflux sufferer you persevere with a formula of the ACV BSoda.I take 2tablespoons of the ACV and a 1/4 teaspoon of the BS,3 times a day,usually on an empty stomach but try different strengths, you'll soon find what the right combo is for you.

Goodluck fellow reflux sufferers :) :)....reflux sucks and I'm soooo glad that part of my life is behind me.

OK, just an update....it's now 6 days after my last post and I have been able to decrease my ACV/BS to morning and evening, just before meals.

I had chicken curry last night, delicious and absolutely no belching,heartburn or any discomfit. I haven't had to sleep elevated for 1 month. I haven't had discomfit for 1 month .I am able to eat what I like however the memory of reflux is still there so I am cautious.

So the long and short of it is, I and my family are really relieved that something so simple is able to help me.

My stomach was burning like fire and in my experience this worked! Do the ACV and Baking soda for the Reflux. But you MUST replace your Stomach Flora or it will continue and not be able to return to normal. I took

Aloe Vera Water

Bioflavenoids to replace Flora

Kefir

Plant based Vit. C

There was one other thing the vit store lady gave me and I can't remember what it was but it also replaced stomach flora.

In a few days it made a world of difference!!! I continued drinking the Aloe until the gallon jug was gone. I just drank an ounce or two several times a day.

No one mentions this here but you must STOP ingesting the culprits, especially Alcohol/beer. There is NO alcohol that is healthy and that includes your glass of wine every night! It's feeding your candida and killing your stomach/gut chemistry. Not to mention the sulfites and bad chemicals. If you have to have sweetner use only raw honey. No breads.

About the light headedness I can sympathise. I took it to be part of the malady. I also have anxiety but never attached the light headedness with acid reflux with anxiety until I was trying to analyze just what is going on and maybe I can stop it bit by bit. Then I realized I was anxious and disappointed that here reflux comes again.

I feel your pain, Mary. I have a problem with panic attacks, as well as acid reflux. When my stress is high, like it is now, I get severe reflux from eating even bland foods. The lump/swelling feeling in my throat from the reflux triggers panic attacks, as the "closing of the throat" feeling is one of the worst things I hate about panic attacks. My reflux was so bad this morning, I took 2mg of xanax over 4 hours to calm down and tolerate/address the reflux. I'll try this ACV and baking soda recipe once I go the store. I sure hope this works, because pepto, tums, and prilosec OTC don't do a damn thing.

I also suffer from headaches and body aches and general malaise when I have acid stomach. I have often noticed all symptoms relieved with stomach acid neutralization. My father has noticed the same correlation, however, your symptoms could be something more severe. Pay close attention to your symptom relief when you get relief for your stomach acid reflux. If you cure the reflux but you have other symptoms, then the issues are likely unrelated.

To Joni, Mary, Adam, and Jalynn: I have read that ALL of your symptoms can be connected to a candida overload. You all may want to research on how to fight candida. It is apparently a fungus normally found in small quantities in our bodies, but can go into overdrive, in turn causing an overwhelming amount of problems, including the ones that you all have listed. Ted's ACV-Bsoda remedy may help, but I encourage you to read his response to 06/12/2008: Kristin from Los Angeles, CA:" http://mail.earthclinic.com/remedies/acv_baking_soda_cures7.html

Good luck!

My husband suffered with acid reflux for many many years. After trying absolutely EVERYTHING, I finally hit on the perfect regimen for him, and he does not suffer anymore, thank God! Please try this and do it religiously, and I promise you will see results.

1) Take a broad spectrum digestive enzyme with each meal. Any health food store carries this.

2) As needed, take charcoal capsules for reflux, stomach upset, gas. Don't take this with medication as it will absorb anything and everything in your stomach. Also available at health food/ vitamin shops.

3) Before bed each night, have a glass of aloe juice or some kind of wheat grass juice. This will neutralize the stomach acid and it got rid of my husband's gas/belching problem completely. Buy at health store in liquid form, or for the grass, in powder form and make your own glass of juice.

That's it! These 3 things seem to address all the symptoms, and my husband now eats pretty much anything he wants. Just avoid eating too close to bedtime.

I agree with the person who said Acid Reflux is not a disease. It can be your body's response to eating food that it is having trouble digesting. It can also be a sign that your body is reducing the production of natural enzymes and hydrochloric acid, something that occurs naturally with age.

I started having acid reflux about 15 years ago, when I was in my 40's and noticed it would be much worse if I ate pasta or fried foods at dinner. I went to a nutritionist who had me start taking enzymes and Betaine Hydrochloride capsules with every meal. One each at light meals and two each with heavier meals. I haven't had acid reflux since day-1. I too thought it was strange to add acid to an already acid-feeling stomach but I now realize that, if you want to be healthy as you age, you have to replace what your body stops producing.

I have found that I have a particularly difficult time digesting carbohydrates so I limit them, especially at the evening meal. Other than that I eat like I did when I was a youngster, including red meat.

My colon is clean because I fully digest my food and I am blessed with good health because my body is able to extract all the nutrients from the food I eat.

I just wanted to clarify that acid reflux is also due to the flap or sphincter between the esophagus and stomach not closing correctly so the acid seeps back into our esophagus as well as what I call verps (vomit burps). I inherited this condition from my grandfather (lucky me) so I want to try the Apple Cider Vinegar and baking soda. But my question is that I am taking Apple Cider Vinegar and honey for excessive sweating so will two different concoctions be too much for me? Or can I not have too much of a good thing?

Angela from Oxford - Thank you for your comments and I am going to give it a try as I don't like taking Bi Carb Soda nor Appple Cider Vinegar.

I am a young 63yr old and under a lot of stress with living on very for 3 years with no job. I was 9st 3lb and lost 1 stone each year (which is not good) due to the stress of trying to run a house on the little $ and over the last year have noticed that I get the acid reflux from time to time and it is very painful. I have also become very constipated and get terrible wind coming up the left side of my stomach and when I sit or lay down I get wind thru my body and am to see a specialist at the end of October. Meanwhile I am trying to get some answers. My doctor gave me Rantidine for the acid reflex but I find if difficult with the 3 restrictions that go with it.

Therefore I will try your remedy and see how it works. Thanking you.

Hi Paul from new Brunswick Canada,

I had similar symptoms you are having. When talking to my doctor, I kept telling him terrible gas and irregular bowels.

After a year I tried other diets, raw food, no help. The short story, emergency operation, and a piece of my bowel was removed. It was diverticuliis. If the doc would've caught it

before, it could have been treated with antibiotics.

My husband was diagnosed with a hiatus hernia. The doctors wanted to operate. We heard a radio talk about a natural product called "oragamax" pill form not oil. You get acid reflux because the "flapper" is not closing properly because of accumulated bacteria, oragamax eats it up and the flapper can close. Good luck

I used Ted's remedy back in February when I awoke early one morning to horrible pain near my diaphram (?) and had spit coming up to my mouth, but not necessarily vomiting. I found his remedy a day later when I figured out I had acid reflux. I took it for 5 days or so then had to stop because my tongue was so raw. (I see now it says to take 2 days off after 5 on.) The good news is that by that time I felt fine.

I realize now I have acid reflux for quite awhile but never knew it. I get wet burps and have dispepsia (but did not even know what that was before) and a few other symptoms. With research, and because I try to do the natural, healthy thing anyway, I have kept this at bay by eating mostly raw foods, healthy nuts (mostly almonds), no dairy, very little meat, very little grains/breads. This is helping. I cheat and have a piece of chocolate (because I LOVE it) once in awhile. I also gave up my occasional glass of red wine:( and try not to drink coffee - I usually drink tea anyway - And drink LOTS of water.

The thing is, I went to the GI doc (just to make sure because this is all new to me and my hubby was worried) and he confirmed the condition and gave me a bunch of Prevacid samples. I have not taken any so far - YAY!

I guess I should keep up the ACV regime. I stopped and never went back but I know I still have reflux. I just don't like my tongue getting so raw.

So many are misled to think that acid reflux is a real disease. More likely it is the body's warning signal that something is wrong (in this case with the function of the GI tract)much like a headache is also a warning symptom not a disease to be "treated" with painkillers. One thing I have noticed in my own self treatment of "acid reflux" is that ACV does give relief but that persistent acid reflux is caused by overload of my intestinal tract and a "dirty" colon. Regular attention to what I am eating and high fiber raw vegetables and fruits along with occasional high colonic irrigation or detoxing get rid of acid reflux permanently. Unfortunately, I am sometimes weak about my eating habits and over indulge in meats, fats and starches. Twice in my life I have had a bout of severe back pain that would not go away along with acid reflux. Both times I eventually realized that the pain was really caused by retention of fecal matter on the colon walls. Even though I thought I was "regular" I was not voiding enough. Eventually, enemas, raw fruits, vegetables, probiotics and yes ACV and lemon juice got me back to a good condition. If I keep it up and don't indulge, especially now that I am 57, I will never experience back pain and acid reflux again. That's my expectation. I will keep you posted.

I have just been diagnosed with laryngospasm- severe throat closing- wakes me up in my sleep choking... The Dr. Mentioned GERD- Acid Reflux Disease. Is lemon Juice and Acidic fruits not the worst thing to take? This is what I have been reading?

For the people with acid reflux, change your diet!!! The acv/baking soda combo is great, but used to fix something is missing, the reason you have heartburn to begin with. An alkaline body is very important in ridding ourselves of built up toxins accumulated over time so in that respect acv/baking soda is important but you're using it as a sort of bandaid if you don't also change your diet.

Stephanie, bicarbonate of soda has sodium in it. Sodium causes the body to retain water and that is why you feel puffy and are gaining weight. 3/4 tsp. is too much for you, reduce the dosage to 1/4 teaspoon.

Hello everyone, This is leonardo again. I want to keep writing here because I haven't seen anybody posting their progress here so everyone can see how long before they were cured. My experience has been since I posted the first time is that ACV has done a better job in my desease that 5 visits to 3 different doctors and prescriptions like omeprazole,prevacid and others that are similar. this week I went to the doc and he gave me another one to make my stomach process food better that when I received it from the pharmacy has 4 sheets of possible side effects. In my situation, I dont have any condition that shows somethings is wrong. liver,esophagus,blood work ok. Most of the day I'm ok but at night the acid goes up and it burns my throat. its really bad. I stopped acv for a couple of days to try prevacid but the second night I got some nasty stomach pain and same acid going in my throat. I stopped right away and resumed acv/bakind soda. two nights ago it was 2 am and I had not gotten acid in my throat. I'm basically taking ACV 4x a day. protonics, papaya enzymes,magnesium/potasium supplements, ginger root supplements and doing a mostly alkaline diet. on the night that i did not have any issues I also worked out. So I'm checking to see what exactly happened for this type of success but I'm excited. Still going to the doc to check my throat soon for permenent damage. remember I wasted 2.5 months tying the docs medicine. I'm pretty confident that this as well as my new diet will cure this nasty disease and I'll keep everyone updated as too many people are being hurt by the medicines they are prescribed

To Leonardo from Atlanta, thanks for your feedback its nice to know this works. Just a comment on fresh veg giving you gas, its because it is live food and needs more enzymes to break it down, which is a good thing and so is gas unfortunately, better out than in. Rice Bread and Potatoes are a different carbohydrate bread is already processed so the hard work has already been done.

Response to Bee from usa. Bee, kefir will make your stomach worse. I know. I tried it for months and continually got worse. I would suggest you stay off everything for a few days and then try the ACV again with honey. It has worked miracles for me. It wasn't easy taking it at first but I stayed with it. Now I am so much better. I've been on it 3 months now. It is the only thing that has ever helped me. I used to take Prevacid and Nexium and now I am down to 1 small Zantac a day. Good luck. Carolyn

Hmmm..I wondered if dairy products may not be best. I have to avoid dairy or I get digestive issues- kefir doesn't bother me though. But I really wanted to use kefir since it has soo many great benefits. As for the ACV I actually don't mind the taste so taking it is okay. As for honey- I would even enjoy it that way- but I'd like to reduce sugar in my diet. I still wonder if I have an ulcer since I have symptoms of it- but when I went to the doctor they said my stomach was probably just irritated- and lay off irritating foods such as coffee. I know which of these foods make it worse- cuz I can feel it almost instantly. I think it may be that I need a much more drastic diet change tho- mine is definitely not the best. I eat healthy food- but too much other bad/junk food. Thank you for your feedback!

if you feel you have an ulcer, i recommend trying raw manuka honey. it cured my severe stomach pain. take 1-2 tsp on dry bread or crackers before each meal and at bedtime till your stomach feels normal. now i just take some in the morning--it tastes good too. it is rather expensive--around $20 for 12 oz but it is well worth it.

I want to try the ACV/baking soda remedy for GERD but I'm currently taking Prilosec 20mg, which I want to stop taking altogether because of the bad side effects. Is it okay to take ACV/baking soda while taking Prilosec, or should I ween myself of Prilosec first?

Hello, I want to start using the Apple Cider Vinegar with soda but I cant find the exact measurements. Can someone tell me please where can I find Ted's recipe?

This is good to know, I had kidney issues my whole life so I am naturally acidic. I have always craved things like vinegar and apple juice and cranberry juice, as a result. Nice to know my body knew what to do on its own.