The pain and discomfort that come with acid reflux can make it difficult to work, relax and even sleep. Fortunately, there are wonderful natural remedies that can quickly relieve acid reflux. Surprisingly, the top remedy for acid reflux is apple cider vinegar, which may seem counter-intuitive, but works fast because the vinegar alkalizes your pH. However, many more natural cure options are available besides the ACV, like baking soda and pickle juice!
We’ve put together a list of the 10 most effective remedies for acid reflux for short term and long term relief.
What is Acid Reflux?
Acid reflux occurs when the contents from your stomach come up into your esophagus. Because your food has mixed with the digestive juices in your stomach (which are acidic for the purpose of breaking down your food) the food that comes up is sour or acidic and quite unpleasant.
Natural Remedies for Instant Relief from Acid Reflux
Fortunately, some of the easiest short term solutions for acid reflux are likely in your kitchen right now!
1. Apple Cider Vinegar
While it may contradict your intuition to take something as acidic as apple cider vinegar to cure your acid reflux, raw and organic apple cider vinegar works very to bring immediate relief to your acid reflux by facilitating digestion and restoring proper pH to the stomach. When used for medicinal purposes, organic apple cider vinegar is the best.
Read the feedback from hundreds of our readers on this most popular and effective cure for acid reflux here.
2. Sodium Bicarbonate
Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) has been used for generations to cure digestive problems. ½ teaspoon of baking soda is added to 4-6 ounces of water and taken internally. This not only helps to neutralize the acid in your stomach, it will neutralize the acid in your throat.
3. Pickle Juice
Because pickle juice contains a lot of vinegar, it works similarly to apple cider vinegar. Pickle juice is more palatable than vinegar for many people and just as effective.
Preventing Acid Reflux
If you are prone to acid reflux, natural remedies to prevent reflux will help you to avoid the misery in the first place.
4. Probiotics
Probiotics promote good digestion. Taking a probiotic supplement or regularly consuming probiotic foods like kefir, kombucha or kimchi can help your digestion to work well all of the time, reducing incidents of acid reflux or other digestive problems.
5. Digestive Enzymes
Taking digestive enzymes with your food will help your food to be digested properly, preventing acid reflux attacks. While the body normally produces digestive enzymes on its own, sometimes it needs a little help, especially because aging or hormonal changes can cause a reduction in digestive enzymes.
6. Aloe
Aloe is a gentle remedy that is helpful to a variety of digestive ills. Aloe juice or supplements can be used on a regular basis to improve your digestion.
Lifestyle Changes to Eliminate Acid Reflux
Making some modifications in certain practices can reduce or eliminate acid reflux.
7. Lose Weight
If you are overweight, losing weight can reduce acid reflux attacks. Eating less food at each individual meal will also reduce the risk of an acid attack.
8. Don’t Eat Before Bed
Having a full stomach when you lie down in bed is a recipe for digestive distress! Have you last meal a few hours before bedtime. Resist that bedtime snack. Suck on a mint instead and then brush your teeth. You will be less tempted to eat something else if your mouth feels fresh and clean.
9. Drink More Water
Chronic low grade dehydration can be a cause of acid reflux. Energy drinks, coffee, and soda may be liquids but they are not a good source of proper hydration. Add ¼ teaspoon of sea salt to a quart of water and consume this throughout the day. The salt helps your body to use the water effectively in the cells instead of having it just flush through your system. Drinking more water will also help you to eat less, reducing your risk of acid reflux.
Change Your Diet
10. Dietary Changes
Like it or not, some foods may be the root cause of your acid reflux. Pinpointing these foods and avoiding them, or at least consuming them less often or in smaller quantities will be worth it if you feel better.
Alcoholic beverages, spicy foods, fried foods, tomatoes, chocolate, citrus fruits and juices are all common causes of acid reflux. Of course, everyone is different. You will need to pay attention to the foods you eat (keeping a log of what you eat for a week can help you make connections between certain foods and acid reflux) and plan your menus accordingly.
Medications and Acid Reflux
Over the counter medications for acid reflux may provide temporary relief but used on a regular basis can cause other health problems. Calcium carbonate, an inexpensive over the counter remedy for acid reflux, can actually cause your body to make more acid over time as it compensates for the acid reduction. It has also been linked to kidney stones.
Proton pump inhibitors have become quite popular in the treatment of acid reflux. Unfortunately, they have been linked to bone fractures, vitamin deficiency, and even pneumonia when used long term. A safer option would be to improve your health to eliminate your acid reflux. Covering up any problem with medication is not a good long term solution.
While acid reflux medication carry side effects, other medications have acid reflux as a side effect! If you take medications on a regular basis, you may need to investigate and see if one or more of them could be causing your digest problems. Pain medications, medications for anxiety and depression, and antibiotics can all cause acid reflux!
Could My Acid Reflux Be a Sign of Something More Serious?
Absolutely.
If the “instant relief” remedies above do not bring you relief in short order and/or you have pain in your chest that radiates to your arm, neck, jaw or back, or if you experience dizziness, shortness of breath or cold sweats, seek immediate medical attention to rule out a heart issue.
If your bouts of acid reflux happen on a regular basis, you may have a chronic digestive disorder like GERD, hiatal hernia or gallbladder disease. It is wise to seek medical counsel to understand what you are dealing so that you can best treat it.
Have you tried a natural remedy for acid reflux? Please send us some feedback! Continue reading to learn which, out of dozen of home remedies, our readers found to be most effective in curing their acid reflux.
Related Pages:
Acid Reflux Remedies for Children
Apple Cider Vinegar for Acid Reflux – #1 Most Popular Remedy
Pickle Juice for Acid Reflux – #2 Most Popular Remedy
Baking Soda for Acid Reflux – #3 Most Popular Remedy
KEFIR for acid reflux works for me. I use only the plain Kefir and drink about 1/2 to 1 cup, first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. It is full of nutrients, probiotics and has antibacterial properties. I wait and do not eat anything for about 1 hour or longer so as to let the probiotics work effectively. I have not had any problems with acid reflux since. I realize everyone has different body chemistry's, but this has sure worked for me.
I used to suffer from acid reflux until someone recommended me to try red apple delicious. It really helped and even my sister and some of my friends tried it too. The ripe ones work better.
I was Rolaids #1 customer from the time I was a teen until I was into my 40s at which point I got a tip from an old geezer – a heavy drinker – which was 2 glasses of water, you're dehydrated.
I haven't had indigestion or acid reflux since, And I don't drink so it's not some weird combination of that and water. I only mention the drinking because the guy was in his 80s and the only heavy drinker I ever met who wasn't averse to drinking plain water. He'd stroll into the tavern where I tended bar, shortly after dark, and drink until 11 o'clock – you could set your watch by him. But come 4:30 am, he'd be eating breakfast at the diner, happy as a clam with his bacon and eggs and a whole pitcher of water then back out in the fields by sunrise.
He was a character. He took in any stray that would happen to come around – always had at the least a half dozen dogs running around – and you always knew when one of the dogs was either new or sick because he'd cover them in clay. He'd loosen up some dirt and dump in the water and just pack the mud on them, no matter what, and they'd roll around in the mud and the other dogs would come and roll around with them until they were all running around muddy – it was awesome.
Avocado and acid reflux. I love canned fish in oil – even though I ALWAYS have terrible acid reflux after eating them- always, except last time, a week ago. The only difference was that I ate them with slices of one fresh avocado. No reflux! But I had no idea why… Last night my husband had problems with acid reflux so I came here to find something for him. I was so surprised to read about avocado! So it was what helped me! Problem solved!
Pineapple Juice or Chunks for Acid Reflux
When I know that I may be eating dinner later or having a heavy meal, I drink a 6 oz can of 100% pineapple juice with the meal, or eat a little individual container of pineapple chunks, in juice, right after. I think the Bromelain in pineapple is what stops the Acid Reflux. Works for me!
Actually, I was looking for a natural cure for acid reflux that also happened to address issues with women's infections. I had suspected that chlorine in drinking water was the culprit and went online to find information to support my theory. It seemed I hit the jackpot when I found an article written by Robert Reiling, who's knowledge of chemistry and experience working in the water treatment industry led him to conclude that because it is difficult to extract gaseous chlorine (used in water treatment facilities), even filtered or purified water consumed over long periods can lead to certain health problems. Heeding his advice of drinking only SPRING water (not bottled drinking water or "purified" water) my problem with acid reflux seemed to vanish after just one month. Fast forward a year and I have a new health issue with infection. I tried many of the suggestions here but wanted to tackle the root problem. I realized that while traveling I was drinking filtered water and my troubles started about the same time. So I went back to bottled SPRING water and after about 2 weeks I am happy to report the infection is gone. Sadly I don't live near a spring and I don't feel good about buying plastic bottles, so I make sure to recycle the bottles religiously. I am thrilled that I have found a cure dealing with the root problem and the cost is extremely low compared to the alternatives. One has nothing to lose by trying out bottled SPRING water for a good few months to see how many ailments can miraculously vanish 🙂
FWIW, sea salt, any kind will also give instant relief to acid reflux. I stumbled into a few years ago, and brought a small container to a weekend seminar in Albuquerque in 2012, and folks seen me using it and they wanted to try it too, lol, but it was good for all interested. I carried it in a small 15-ml nalgene bottle on the ready at a moments notice. I no longer need it, cuz I got a hold of some of my dietary issues. Anyways, others had relux and needed the salt and so were grateful, and I was glad to share.
I tried an acidophilus supplement for the first time in my life, trying to get rid of really bad acid reflux. I am a supplement freak — but I didn't want to spend lots of money on good bacteria for my insides, when I could just eat yogurt. I fully expected, based on these reviews and my internet searching, that acidophilus would heal the acid reflux. Here I am a month later, still looking for a cure, because the acidophilus did absolutely nothing for me.
Hi Rachel,
This is what I am doing for my acid reflux. I am drinking fennel seed water and black raisin three times a day. I boil fenned seed powder or seed and black raisin at night for 15min and drinking that jucie in the empty stomach. Make again after one hour of lunch and before bed time. It really works for acidity. If you don't like raisin, you can make only fennel seed water and take with honey. It really works. Hopefully it works for you and everyone who is looking for natural way to reduce or cure acid reflux
Hi Rachel
Acidophilus alone will not cure acid reflux. First it will help your stomach have a better healthy balance but for most people its not a cure by itself. Second standard yogurt only has a small amount of acidophilus and only 2 or 3 kinds. To make a difference you want a capsule with 15 billion or more from as many different strains.
For many people its not just about the acid in their stomach but also about the lower esophageal sphincter. This is what keeps the acid in your stomach. If that is not working correctly you will never solve your problem completely.
Have you tried sleeping with your head raised?
I just wrote about my experience with reflux and sea salt, any type, I love himalayan pink. I used to carry around a small 15-ml container so it was ready as I needed it, it worked instantly! I used it for a few years til I just no longer needed it!
Apple Cider Vinegar is good for acid reflux also, get the one with the 'mother' in it.
Hema, thank you so much for posting about fennel and raisin tea. It helped! Have you been able to cure your acid reflux? And if so, what other natural remedies have you used? I can't seem to tolerate any type of processed food, especially breads and cereals with additives. Thank you so much for your help!
KennyWally,
Could you elaborate on the Sea Salt? How do you use it, and in what quantities? Thanks for sharing.
I noticed at 37 years old that if I ate bread products I got tremendous heartburn. It was so bad I had precancerous cells growing in my throat. I went gluten free and in the three years since being GF I have only had two GERD attacks and I believe it was because something I ate was contaminated with gluten. GERD is an inflammatory reaction, something you are eating is having a negative impact on your body and your body is attempting to attack it to reduce its impact on your body. Try eliminating foods in your diet to find what the culprit is. I am keeping activated charcoal on hand for an accidental contamination.
Acidic problems are rare for me; however, I did experience reflux after eating a fatty meal. I read these comments and tried teaspoon of mustard, worked like a charm!
Did you use red lentils? Or other
Whiskey cured my husband's acid reflux!
For 2 months now my husband age 71 was suffering from severe Acid re-flux. His condition was so bad that the Acid Re-flux was going up his throat and causing sore throat and even his ears to burn. And eventually was causing severe asthma attacks! This had gotten so bad that he would go into coughing spells and 2 times we had to take him to the ER as he was having trouble breathing!One time his asthma became so bad we had to call 911 on him and an ambulance took him to the ER! He was given an Inhaler to stop the asthma attacks! One doctor told him he would have to learn to live with his asthma.
One day my husband had to go to the store and bought a small bottle of mild and inexpensive whiskey. He doesn't normally drink but thought since Whiskey was once considered "medicinal" he would try it as he was desperate!
He poured himself 2 shots of whiskey in water and drank it down and he said his stomach churned and this stopped his acid re-flux! So far it stopped his asthma from becoming really bad. He has had a couple coughing spells and has used the inhaler about 2 times but he has improved greatly!
This Whiskey treatment also brought out that my husband had a "silent strep throat" he didn't know he had? And he is treating his strep throat with organic vinegar/salt/and water gargle! Another improvement!
We wonder if the mucus from his strep throat was going down his stomach causing all the trouble?
Just letting others know what has worked for him.
Hello, thank you for this post, how is husband now? I seem to be the same as hubby. Am a female aged 62 who had some coughing problems for a bit, this gradually got worse,then I had to take proton pump inhibitorz to get rid of stomach ulcers and since then acid reflux very bad, sore throat, hoarse, coughing a lot, no energy, breathless and so called asthma, which I know is not asthma. Twelve times rushed to emergency unable to breath and told to use asthma inhalers but will they listen when you insist it is not asthma? No. The strep throat is the same, hoarse/sore throat, it is one and same thing. The mucus may be coming up from stomach not other way around. I never drink alcohol so cannot try the whisky method! Thanks anyway.
I had acid reflux most of my adult life. One day after hearing about what I could do from an elder, I tried it and to this day I no longer suffer from it. It was an old family cure that worked for me and others I passed it on too. Well here it is.
Take 2 tablespoons of pure white Vinegar, heat it up and shoot it down.
Within 3 days the acid reflux was gone forever. All I can say is try it. And by the way don't swallow any water for a few hours. But you can rinse out your mouth.
I sang in church for many years. Slowly began to loose my range and general vocal ability. Also began to have acid reflux. Now after 15 years of issues, I am singing again and also sleeping at night without the reflux. The only thing I am doing is drinking about one-half cup of pure aloe Vera juice before bed and repeat in morning. I can even eat again during the evening hours – even close to bedtime. Several others in our family recommended this to me. They had been cured of reflux and were so excited. This is a godsend.
Blackstrap Molasses works immediately for acid reflux. Now let's see how long it lasts…
Re: Becca, Colorado…..I used to carry a small container of himalayan pink salt, to instantly knock out acid reflux. I was at a transformational workshop and folks seen me taking a pinch and wondered what I was doing, so I shared that with them, of course it worked great. I rarely get the reflux, but am not sure why, I'm just glad it worked, and fast too!
I had acid reflux and came across an article that said taking vitamin C in large amounts up to 10,000 mg a day . I took large amounts up to 5,000 mg a day, (chewable) and that helped a lot. It also help with saliva production if you have dry mouth. Good luck.
Eating raw potato, peeling and all, will cure acid reflux. You can just eat it or put potato in blender and drink it. Works for me everytime.
A dear friend of mine was on Prilosec for 30 years. She got a massive heart attack, nearly died, is on 13 medicines per day, barely alive, and its not clear if she will survive. I read Dr. John Cooke's research about the suppression of 50% of endothelial NO (nitric acid) in your blood vessels that is likely to cause massive adverse coronary events (MACE) aka heart attacks. My friend was a classic case of this. Had she known about and eaten apple cider vinegar 30 years ago, or tried other natural cures, she would be a healthy elder today.
OMG. I am so glad you told us this. I need my endolithelium (sp) to be repaired to keep my blood pressure down. A damaged endo….raises the blood pressure. I am taking L Arginine to repair it. Even my holistic (MD) doctor just today sent me a paper saying how bad the PPI 's are and yet said the "benefits outweigh the risks" and said to take them for awhile. I have debated it all day… I took for 2 days. Went to health store and he gave me slippery elm and said it will heal the esophagus. I am trying not to take the PPI. I have a stricture and have to go for a endoscopy soon.
Also, re: Ginger, I use pickled ginger like they have at sushi restaurants. Works in seconds on the acid! And yummy too. Also candied ginger is yummy and works well. I always have baking soda in the house, 1 tsp to a cup or less of water, bobs your uncle, pain gone! God bless you.
For acid reflux, try boiling 1 ginger and 4 dry loquat leaves, pour in a cup and add 1 tsp of organic raw apple cider vinegar. You can add honey into it for taste. Drink before and after every meal and surely this will balance the acid…
I almost always have a lump in my throat from acid reflux. I even bought special wedge pillows but I couldn't get used to them, they were so uncomfortable. All that really helps is eating three hours before bed and not laying down until the three hours are up.
I have acid reflux and find that taking 4 capsules of slippery elm settles my stomach and makes the acid reflux disappear. I highly recommend it for anyone who suffers from it!
Yes when I had reflux due to lack of acid Apple Cider Vinegar helped but so does changing the diet to more clean foods and not eating close to when you will sleep (elevate your head if you need to).
I was researching Acid Reflux and discovered much concerning H-Plyori. The most effective way to eliminate the cause of the weak spot, which is H-Plyori bacteria, is the nutrient from Brocolli Sprouts commonly called Sulphoraphannne. Look of John Hopkins and search the research of Paul Talalay. He tried to patent brocolli sprouts and make a profit on every one sold in the U.S.A. What a moral creep. But he does good research.
After suffering 2 years with acid reflux I was cured in 3 days drinking water.
Directions:
1) upon waking, drink 44oz glass of water.
2) Required… drink (Only) water with meal.
3) Drink large glass of water before bed.
I've been suffering with GERD since my gallbladder surgery. It has been pretty painful at times. I was never able to take the meds for it (too many side affects). The Apple cider vinegar tore my stomach up. My routine is papaya enzyme after each meal and acidophilus at bedtime with chamomile tea. You have to make lifestyle changes too. No caffeine, smoking. I eat to live not live to eat. My meals are simple grilled meats and lots of fruits and vegetables. Processed bread seemed to make it worse so I went to gluten free. I've given up all spices and seasonings and no longer miss them. Switched from whole milk to coconut milk. Exercise is just 30 minutes of walking. Losing weight will help.
Hi Pam5083 and thanks for this. we might be twins separated at birth …same genetics as me. I will try your ideas … I'm not much of a drinker, but I do love the occasional whiskey in the evenings … hope I don't need to give that up.
Cheers, Herb
I've been suffering with acid reflux for a long time. I finally realized from research that a zinc deficiency can cause this, so I tried supplementing with zinc and it has helped tremendously even though I still have to be careful with the types of food I eat and not eating before bed time, etc.
I have chronic GERD. I woke up one night with bad acid reflux pain. I tried some plain mustard on a small piece of bread. Then washed it down with water. It fixed it!! I felt a thick mucous in the back or my throat. I think it did something to coat my throat. I slept well that night. I also carry around packets of mustard in case of flair ups. It eat it on more foods now too
Hello Folks… Just finished reading about side effect of using AVC and acid reflux. All of you who complain about acid reflux: always eat at the table, do not go to lay down after meal. More likely acid reflux is caused by wrong position at the meal and after. Food is just pushing up. Eat less and be active after meal. The same applies to the children and infants. What do we do? We feed them before bed time so they will sleep better. Do not do it because it is the beginning of suffering from acid reflux in the near future. Acid reflux is an acquired ailment so do not do things leading to it: bad position at the meal, overeating, taking nap after and eating too much acid forming foods, coffee, alcohol, tobacco. Greetings
Been suffering with acid reflux for several months. Doc gave me sample bottles of nexium. After reading about side effects and the consequences of it’s long term use I researched natural alternatives. I chose to try mustard. Took spoonful before breakfast and symptoms disappeared fast!
Yes; I really agree because I drink water with pure lemon juice inside and also I have acid refluxs (yuk). Lemon is a great med;-)
Acid reflux disease, I'm sure there a lot of great remedies, the absolute, dumbest thing I've heard is disease, only an allopathic doctor would come up with that. Try alkalizing, everywhere in nature pH is important, for some reason, not in our bodies. Try chewing your food, eating a little less, and eating greens with every meal.
Hello: acid reflux or GERD is caused by the bacteria 'heliobacter pylorii"
This is the exact cause of stomach ulcers also. The symptoms of gerd are worsened by eating rich foods, and especially late at night.some thgeories blame the condition on a weak pyloric sphincter valve at the base of the esophagus but the condition is always food intake related.. ie no food eaten no symptoms noted. Taking drugs such as prevacid which reduce syomach acid production are counterproductive in the long haul as they can cause constipation and reduced energy due to lessened base sugar intake into the digestive system ie glucose the primary energy causing sugar.thus the type and time of ingestion of most foods is of great importance. Don't eat late at night!! And only eat unprocessed foods. but why worry about what you eat or when you eat it, when there is a BASIC CURE fore the condition. If you consulted a physician to have a stomache acid culture performed y the results nearly always would point to HELIOBACTER PYLORII as a bacteria that is present in the stomache walls. curing this conditionis VERY EASILY!
The condition can be CURED for literally months by ingesting the following "Food"!! Olive leaf powder (capsules) the prefered method of treatment is to open the capsules into the mouth and swirling them around until they dissolve! Then the user is to SWALLOW tyhe mixture of the olive leaf powder and saliva. the taste is clerly awful but lo and behold the GERD will quickly disappear and not return for weeks or perhaps months! With no side effects. the capsules MUST contain at least
16 % euloropein acid!! And the user should also try to avoid a product that contains fillers such as clover etc as the addons basically waste your $$$ olive leaf powder also treats ALL CLASSES of microorganisms including bacteria, viruses, fungis, and even prions. unfor tunately it does not seem to be a systemic "food" and thus has little use unless it cah physically contact the offending organism . it is also effective against
Gum disease and any other symptom where itr can physiaclly contact the microorganism good luck bigpete2
no it’s not. GERD doesn’t normally have anything to do with bacterial infection.
Taking the chlorine out of your diet can have a drastic effect on your GERD, Acid Reflux and LPR. Chlorine gas in tap and bottled water changes the chemistry of your stomach acid, resulting in HCLO instead of HCL.
Find out more at https://www.gerdrefluxcure.com
What is the name of alkaline water machine that turns regular tap water into alkaline rich water and I can buy in India?
Hi Suntosh,
Respecting the policy of this site I can not write about any company. So, if you like kindly write to me on baldev53 at y a h o o dot c o m.I am using a product and I am happy with that.Good Luck
Baldev
My husband had acid reflux every day for many years. He insisted on taking over the counter antacids for relief. Then he tried a dill pickle. Within a minute, relief!
Over the past several years he’s used only vinegar based foods. One time we were out, so of course didn’t have a pickle. He got a packet of mustard. It worked! He doesn’t hardly ever get acid anymore!
I read everyone’s posts and thought mustard was crazy for acid reflux. I was prescribed Pepcid but after reading the side effects I thought there has to be better alternative. That’s when I came across this site and alternative. I just had 1.5 teaspoons of mustard 6 min ago and I must say it worked immediately. Mustard is not tasty but it sure has helped relieve the burning sensation in my stomach.
I have acid Reflux 30 yrs now. I have used different hospital medication but have not helped so far. I have had about 6 endoscopy in different countries but have found neither ulcer no any other problem. In 2002 I had an acid check a machine was inserted in my stomach through my nostril and was kept for 24 hours and found normal acid that was in St Thomas Hospital London, Then I went to India at Okhla hospital, Delhi and repeated various checking and found no ulcer, no hernia no kidney stone and not even appendicitis and recently I went to Chennai Apollo hospital and had several checkups but yet still no problem was found.
The problem now since I turned 40 yrs now I have developed more complications whenever I have an acid attack my pressure also increases, I have changed my diet but simply it doesn’t help, I tried caustic soda actually it made me worse the pressure had risen and had palpitations as well. Should anybody can advise me what to do please.
Google Proper Food Combining and follow the protocol. Problem should be solved.
My mother-in-law has found that a teaspoon of mustard has helped the symptums for the short turm.
I read in Your body’s many cries for water that excess acid is a reaction to imbalance in electrolytes (water/salt/ calcium/potassium/magnesium). Some people also suffer because of lack of enzymes or acids– like lactaid, hydrochloric acid/ papain/bromelain, probiotics and others. Taking calcium (like tums)can make the imbalance in electrolytes more painful, sometimes an antacid makes the body have to work harder to produce enough acid and it goes into overdrive
Constipation and bloating causes a backup in the esophagus of acid from abdominal pressure (colace or store brand work mild for relief without misery) eating smaller meals , half an hour after the water intake
Please try drinking water a half an hour (30 minutes) before meals for one to two weeks and see if your condition improves dramatically… Check out the watercure.
Iodine deficiency may cause Acid Reflux.
Hi had been suffering from terrible acid reflux. So took the advice on here and brought a Probotic from the chemist. After 3 days no reflux so I just take one everyday and its gone away. So thanks for the great advice.
I found that taking a few calcium tablets helps immediately with severe reflux, and I take acidophilus complex, and aloe vera to maintain overall digestive balance
I took some parasite medication for a few days on an empty stomach soon I had a burning stomach and esphogas and acid reflux… Feeling I was also having shortness of breath and pressure type of feeling on my chest, My ND gave me probiotics and told me to open the capsules dump the content into a 1/2 glass of water and swish the probiotics powder in my mouth then drink it down. And the ND suggested pt drinking lactose free PLAIN KEFIR no sugar in and within 24 hours I felt a dramatic change, within three days I had zero pain and my symptoms all feel away.
I take acidophilus every night for its beneficial bacteria. I noticed about a week after I started taking it that I no longer get acid reflux. I take 2 refrigerated pills with a glass of water just before going to bed. Highly recommend this.
James, How much acidophilus are you taking per day? How many million or billion CFUs in total?
Is it a single strain or a multi strain probiotic??
Thanks!
My doctor gave me therelac, and I bought a probiotic that has was in the freezer section that a grocery store it is a organic raw probiotics powder it has 500 billion CfU with 34 strains it has the USDA approval I swear one day they will have gadzillion cfu's My Chinese medicine doctor suggested slippery elm to calm the stomach and fresh ginger in water, body biotics first I had ever heard of it wnt on Amazon and bought the highly rated Broad Spectrum Probioic Prebiotic Powder He told me that our produce is washed and sterilized so many times before it gets to the plate that it is not allowing the body to build the flora it needs. He told me just eat things right out our garden without washing it and allowing the good flora to build up in the system . The oral surgeon, told me he is telling his grandchildren not to use those antibacterial pumps they have in public place, because it disrupts the bodies ability to build up the natural resistance it needs to protect itself. Something to think about it.
This is going to sound weird, but I tried all of the remedies above and nothing helped me long term except sugar. My grandmother, an 80 year old woman told me to put a table spoon of sugar in a cup of hot hot water and drink it like a tea. The first time I took it I heard a gulp in my stomach. I did it for a few days and no acid reflux. Now, I don’t wake up with acid burning in my throat anymore. If I eat something acidic, I just make sure to drink my sugar tea. I also lost a couple of pounds. But, I try not to do that often. Trust me it works!
I was having a bad heartburn, I have tried everything, I came across this post and tried it. Now I have no pain. Thanks!
Funny I came across this comment. I recently developed acid reflux. This happened after I have stopped taking sugar completely in my morning tea. I used to use refined sugar about more than a year ago. Then I switched over to unrefined sugar. Now, about 10 months since, I do not use any sugar. Now I have GERD!! I shall try my good old sugar again and see what happens.
I’ve been suffering from severe acid reflux for 13 long years now. Doctors did numerous endoscopy and declared that I’ve small hiatus hernia and acid reflux. They put me on PPI medication and I used all sort of PPIs like protonix, omeparzole, esomeprazole etc. Nexium (esomeprazole) worked for me best. With this one I almost did not have any problem. But, I’ve been taking it since 13 long years everyday!! The problem of these medications(chemicals) is it will kill you one day if you keep on taking it for so long. It prevents the body to absorbe the essential nutrients/minerals from the food you take. So, as a result, with prolonged use of these medicines you get other side effects like decreasing bone density and all other form of problems and gradually it will take you towards a silent death. But, no doctors will tell you these facts to you. The pharmacitucal companies warn you to take it not more than 4 months max. You have other options like surgery – but, no guarantee that will work for you and doctors will allow you to do it. In my case the doctors said surgery will not be effective for me. Also, the surgeries need to be repeated after some times if it works.
Then…I started looking for alternative medicines as I was desparate to get rid of Nexium. I searched all the web sites like this one and tried homeopathic medicines, apple cider vinegar, apple etc. But, all these did not work for me. Then in this site I came to know about natural digestive enzymes and probiotics. Medicines like Nexium works by stopping the acid production in stomach – which ultimately harms the body as you need the acid in stomach to digest the food. Digestive enzymes and probiotics works on the root cause of the acid problem of the stomach. They help in digesting the food quickly/properly so the body is not required to produce excess acid thereby reducing the cause of acid reflux. I could not think of a single day without Nexium. But, since I’ve been started using digestive enzymes and probiotics they helped me – I’m not taking the Nexium currently as I’m taking digestive enzymes and probiotics. My symptoms are not fully gone – but, definitely they are less with these. I believe if I do more research with these natural remedies it will help to keep this monster away. But, anyway you need to take them for ever as long as you live. But, it is better and safe to take it like food, as long as you live – and not like Nexium. So, my suggestion to all the trillions of sufferers worldwide to try your best to work out a natural solution which suites your body most and definitely try to get rid of PPI and other form of chemical medications. Try the digestive enzymes and probiotics – available in health food stores and also in pharmacies – in US.
I’ve one question though – does anybody know the side effects, problems (if any) of using digestive enzymes and probiotics for prolonged period or has anyone experienced any problem. Though these are natural products – we all know too much of everything is bad. So, I would be really interested to know this – as, if it works, I need to take it forever.
Gerd Fighter: It is generally considered completely safe on the probiotics and enzymes at recommended doses short and long-term, as these are produced naturally in the body. Too much enzyme in a single dose could cause excess bowel movement, so you could always know when to stop upping the dosage by this symptom.
Do consider addressing common underlying problems of the digestive system like dirty colon, gallstones, and sometimes liver disease. There is lots of info on “cleanses” of these three organs. Also, after completing the cleanses, try an herbal pancreas formula (Nature’s Sunshine used to have one called P14 but I think it’s a different name now). This herbal pancreas formula will give new life to the pancreas (which is what produces all the enzymes you talk of substituting). Chronic parasite infestations as well as chronic pathogens can disrupt digestion (a very common cause of digestive diseases).
Hi Gerd Fighter… I have been particularly interested in GERD problems because GERD and reflux problems occur alot as a co-problem with candida. So I have tried to research this problem in some depth.
In the early 1900s, John Beard was researching protease enzymes and he discovered, quite by accident, that low levels protease enzymes in the blood related directly to cancer formation. These protease enzymes found in the blood are exactly what are used in normal digestion — excess protease enzymes not used during digestion are just absorbed into the blood. William Kelley’s successful Metabolic Protocol against cancer came into being because of John Beard’s research. Kelly and Gonzalez also found that protease enzymes greatly assisted the immune system in removing pathogens and trash from the blood. So I would therefore say that taking protease enzymes over a long period certainly wouldn’t hurt you at all and would probably work to achieve more benefit by helping to protect not only your digestion but also your immune system.
Since the GERD problem can occur due to lack of chlorides — supplementing betaine hydrochloride and supplementing both Magnesium Chloride and Sea Salt would also help to generate hydrochloric acid in the stomach for proper first stage digestion(and to help kill all incoming pathogens with food). But this problem is different. As the affects of supplementing chlorides in the diet takes effect, there will be less and less need to supplement betaine HCL until, eventually, your stomach is back to normal HCL production. In this instance — only Magnesium Chloride and/or Sea Salt need be supplemented(no betaine HCL) to maintain normal HCL levels for digestion.
The other problem, which is not recognized by most people, is that normal duodenal digestion, after stomach digestion, MUST be alkline. So if your pancreas lacks bicarbonates in its juices that should neutralize the stomach acid, then the medium for duodenal digestion will be acid instead of properly alkaline — so the food just sits there, undigested, fast-breeding bacteria — giving you further problems.
Therefore I always advise using Ted’s Sodium Bicarbonate and water remedy in this protocol — just in case the digestion problems are also caused by lack of bicarbonates in the pancreatic juices. This remedy ensures proper main stage digestion in the duodenum. The dose is 1/4 to 1/2 tspn of sodium bicarbonate(Baking Soda) taken 1/2 hr to 1 hour after all meals.
Thanks for the feedback Timh. But daily intake of baking soda will be harmful for the body as well, as it is again a chemical – right?
Hi Gerd Fighter… I would not agree with your opinion on alkalizing with sodium bicarbonate. Read the evidence in these links:
Oral Dosages of Sodium Bicarbonate
Ted’s Alkalizing Remedies
I took Sodium Bicarbonate with water(to alkalize the blood) as well as the lemon/lime sodium bicarbonate remedy(to alkalize inside the cells) as a major part of my own successful protocol to help defeat my own systemic candida problems. I still take these alkalizing remedies today and my candida problems have never returned as a result.
Sodium bicarbonate is also well recognized by the body as a friendly nutrient. Bicarbonates are used throughout the blood and cells for alkalizing and as long as you have a fully functioning kidney to regulate sodium, there should be no real problems taking sodium bicarbonate with water.
Gerd Fighter: Bill is our expert on the Buffer solutions, so do follow his advise, as many folks are getting well as a result. I personally use about half spoon of 50% Sea Salt mixed with 50% Sodium Bicarbonate 3x daily as I have acidosis problems.
Thanks a lot Bill and Timh!! This is a great site.
Bill: I checked the links provided by you – there it is mentioned that “Do not use the maximum dosage for more than 2 weeks. ” – so, is the oral intake of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) harmful for prolonged use? Can I take baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) orally with water everyday (in prescribed amount) – throughout my rest of life? It looks like even after using the digestive enzymes – I’m having residual acidity – which is not very severe, but not comfortable at all. If I take baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) orally with water it is going away. So, to me it looks like it is working as a antacid. My only concern here, everyday use of it throughout the rest of life. Also, if it (prolonged use) is not harmful then why do everybody talks about reducing the consumption of sodium? Now-a-days probably in every food products it is mentioned that low level of sodium – why is that? Please clarify.
Thanks again for the help!
Hi Gerd Fighter… I usually find that I now alkalize, using both the sodium bicarbonate and water(alkalizes the intestines and blood) and the lime/lemon and water(alkalizes inside the cells) remedies. I may not use these every day but I usually use them several times every week because 80% to 90% of all our processed food is acid forming in the body. So, yes, I use these alkalizing remedies constantly every week.
The dosages referred to in the link I provided were 7 half tspns of baking soda for adults and 3 half tspns for anyone over 60. It’s rare that you will ever have to take 7 half tspns unless your body is extremely acidic.
Most people link high blood pressure to too much sodium intake in the body. But just like Calcium, Magnesium and Potassium, sodium is easily regulated by the kidneys. The problems really arise if there is a lack of sodium, calcium, potassium or magnesium in the diet. You cannot regulate minerals that are already at low levels in your body can you?
Calcium is usually always found to be in excess in our processed food diets(everything is fortified with calcium these days!! ) whereas potassium and magnesium are always lacking in our diets. Sodium, as salt intake, is tricky. Alot of people avoid salt and other people just use refined salt(acidic). Our bodies need the Sea Salt form of salt which is more alkaline than refined salt and sea salt also contains many other essential and useful minerals.
The fear with salt is because people believe that sodium will raise their blood pressure. But this is simply not true. It is the excess chloride in refined salt that raises the blood pressure. In his book pH Balanced for Life (which is sold on this site) Ted from Bangkok reveals that he did an experiment on himself to prove this. He took sodium bicarbonate, magnesium chloride and potassium chloride at different times and found that the magnesium chloride and potassium chloride always tended to raise his blood pressure whereas sodium bicarbonate did not raise BP. So it isn’t because of the sodium but is because of the chloride content in refined salt that causes a rise in BP. For myself, I am constantly taking the Baking Soda alkalizing remedies and my own blood pressure has never varied in 6 years– it always remains at around 110/70.
Bill: for me, I already have high BP – for me it always remains around 140/90…
Hi Bill. You mentioned taking magnesium chloride and sea salt to replenish Chloride stores and allow the body to produce adequate levels of HCl for digestion. How much Magnesium Cl and sea salt is needed daily?
Another question: is alkalizing with any of Ted's formulas needed when one is already taking betaine HCl supplements for laryngopharyngeal reflux? Lack of acid is condsidered to be the underlying cause after the Betaine HCl and high protein meal test was negative (no abdominal discomfort). I would prefer the Heidelberg test but its not available in the Philippines.
Acid reflux, especially in people over 25 is generally caused by too little acid, rather than too much acid in the stomach. I saw miraculous results with unpasteurized sauerkraut on my friends and family who had GERD.
Sauerkraut is made by mixing shredded cabbage with a tablespoon of sea salt, covering up with a cabbage leaf and leaving on the counter 3-5 days, until the cabbage is soured. Then refrigerate. Eat a tablespoon when you get acid reflux, or related stomach problems. They will disappear instantaneously. Your heartburn will vanish. Your bloating will vanish. Your stomachache will vanish.
The whole proton pump inhibitor industry is a gigantic scam. PPIs are also extremely detrimental to health.
Acid Reflux: Mix 1 teaspoon Basil seeds (Tutmalanga) in a glass of water, let sit for 5 minutes (the seeds will look like it has fuzz on it) than drink it.
I’ve just recently learned that acid reflux can be a symptom of adult-onset soy allergy, or soy intolerance. It is very simple to see if this is all, or part, of the problem. Just eliminate all soy products from the diet for 2 weeks and see if symptoms improve. Please note that soybean oil, soy lecithin, and soy protein isolate are in a wide variety of foods, supplements, and vitamins, so it’s very important to read labels carefully. For example, most brands of mayonaise are made with soybean oil, as are most products that contain vegetable oil or vegetable shortening. Factory-farmed eggs also contain a lot of soy, since soy protein is fed to the chickens; ditto for farmed fish. So many people must avoid these foods as well. After eliminating all soy from the diet for at least 2 weeks, deliberately eat something very high in soy content, preferably unfermented, such as soy milk. If your acid reflux symptoms return, you have your answer.
As a bonus, several other health issues have resolved since eliminating soy, including a decrease in chronic arthritis pain, brain fog/short term memory issues, loose bowels, insomnia, and vitamin B and D deficiencies. After some study, I’ve found that these are all common side effects of adult soy allergies.
Side effect reported
I developed acid reflux after taking ibuprofen. Once I stopped, the acid reflux slowly went away. With so many people suffering from acid reflux and with so many taking these pills, I highly suspect a connection.
I stopped having acid reflux episodes when I stopped consuming non-fat dairy products. Try going to 1%. If that doesn’t work, go to 2%. 2% works fine for me.
I used to think the episodes were a result of eating acidic foods (e. g., tomato sauce, etc. ), but found that consumption of non-fat dairy actually was the underlying cause that made my system intolerant of those foods. I can eat the other foods now with no problem.
Be sure to read labels, because skim milk and skim milk powder can be found where you least expect. I rarely get reflux now, but can trace it back to accidental ingestion of non-fat dairy every time it happens.
Hope this helps someone.
Your adverse reaction to non-fat milk is probably due to the highly heat treated milk protein that is added to replace the solid content lowered by the fat removal.
The best thing I found for Acid reflux and getting off Nexium was powdered glutamine, heaping tsp in water in the AM with heaping tsp of powdered vit c and then a carnotine pill and carnosine and NAG 750 glucosimine…. this healed my gut right away and my esophogus….
Hi Kaizzzma! Was wondering how long it took you to heal your gut and did this heal your reflux for good?? Or do u still have to continue with supplements?
In Africa, Palm oil is used to give relief for most abdominal problems. Just take 2-3 tablespoons at onset of the problem.
I have just started using a herb tincture called Centaurium by ____. I take it 3 times a day before food. It is helping my reflux problems and my digestion feels so much calmer. It really does seem to help. I obtained it from my local health food stores. It is worth giving it a try. Hope this helps.
Forget Apple Cider Vinegar for Acid Reflux. Go on to Metamucil. Metamucil is basically Psyllium Fibre with a nice taste to it. I had the worst stomach problems ever, but Metamucil has solved the problem. It is not a cure, but it is a management solution. I take it morning and evening every day. I suffered for several years, but not for the last three years. Give it a go. Best wishes, Tony, Australia.
Hey I am new to this cite.. Ive been having acid reflux and gas for a month.. I started with bloating… And burping.. I am scared to death of dying from this.. My doctor put me on acciphex 20 once a day it helps but still get some reflux.. I drink live yogurt evry morning on an empty stomach.. Then a pill of garlic it has to be natural with the garlic smell.. I eat a small meal… I drink horse tail tea mix ith 8oz of water.. And two pills of dgle licorice extract… And it works.. I am waiting on blood test this sypmtoms may be h. Pylori… But can cause gerd.
I was having stomach pain for 3 months now. At times it would feel like I had a knot under my breast bone. The pain would go from mild to severe and there was one time I almost went to ER. I was treated with previcid for the attacks. After reading on this site, I began to eat raw cabbage leaves on July 5. Just tried to eat 4-5 leaves throughout the day. the first day or 2 I noticed some relief. I did notice more heartburn for the first few days – but I felt that something was improving pain wise. by day 5 I noticed a significant difference. Here I am 10 days later and I have not had pain for over a week. I am amazed. I started adding cabbage to all my sandwiches and salads. In addition my constipation has drastically improved. Cheap and works!! I am sold!! Thanks and good luck
I cured my acid reflux in 5 weeks. I had gone the route of apple cider vinegar (hated the taste and burning in my throat), then Prilosec, and Nexium. Then I met an Herbalist. She had me go to GNC and get the Artichoke Extract. I took two capsules right when I finished breakfast and two capsules right after dinner every day. She also had me get Aloe Vera juice extract (wildberry is my favorite). I would take two shots right when I woke up an two shots right before I went to bed. Sometimes I would take a shot mid afternoon ( not very often).
I quit the Nexium after being on the artichoke and aloe for 24 hours and had no burning I still followed the bland acid reflux diet. But at five weeks I forgot to take the artichoke one morning and had no burning, so I decided to back off the artichoke and aloe Vera in the next couple of days. Then quit it. I slowly started eating spicy foods again and had no issues. It has been a year now. I told one of my husbands customer about it. (she had been on Nexium for around a year). She called me the next morning an said she slept all night for the first time in ages, she stopped the nexium that day and was cured in 5 weeks with no more issues. My daughter told a coworker about it and hers is cured too. The artichoke help control the bile. Please try it. IT WORKS!!
Are you fully cured from gerd?? Are you able to eat anything you want??? Are you still taking artichoke and aloe regular???
hi I also want to cure mine, pls reps, what shot means, quantity?
Most of the time when people don't answer a reply is because they actually did not get better after a while. I did the aloe vera juice and it helps you to feel better, but it does not cure the acid reflux, ulcers, or GERD.
I have tried nearly all of the remedies listed here for Acid Reflux. The only thing that has greatly helped me is a recommendation from a lady at the local vitamin store. I now take Activated Charcoal capsules, 260 mg. I take two at a time, up to 3 times daily. Sometimes 2 capsules per day is enough. It helps tremendously. I was in bad pain nearly all the time, but thank God, now this seems a minor pain.
Side effect reported
This will work but if you take this for a long period of time it will deplete or prevent other vitamins from absorbing into your system. I was on this for several months and had really low iron because of it.
Had reflux bad many years ago then lost 40 pounds and went macro, was gone until starting eating wide and getting wide again. Don’t like acid reducers like Prevacid so tried calcium tablets which helped a little. Main thing is no coffee, chocolate, tomatoes, citris and grease. Hard in this culture and I love the first two. So just took the first leaf of aloe and ate the jell like I’ve seen my puppy do and already feel much better. Got a luncheon I need to go to so will try and find something to eat that won’t react but this website and all your comments helped so much. Thanks.
Generally I have used mangosteen juice in the past to relieve occasional acid reflux. This last time I got a very severe run of acid reflux due to a medicine that I was taking. It seemed logical that if aloe helps heal wounds that it might help heal my esophagus and my reflux. After two weeks on aloe vera juice, I feel much better. I was using the Trader Joe’s and took one ounce ( a shot glass ) three or four times a day.
How many minutes you I should wait after I take Aloe Vera Juice before start eating. Sincerely, Peter
Does aloe vera affect the thyroid?
Shouldn't. I'm hypothyroid and the aloe juice (inner leaf) has worked wonders for my GERD. Btwy, my doc also has me supplementing my natural desiccated thyroid meds with a bit of iodine (mixed in water) each day. I've been drinking the juice for a month now and have noticed no impact on my thyroid condition.
Years ago I was having severe acid reflux and would not try over the counter stuff. I went to our local health store and I learned a wonderful lesson that BIG PHARMICA doesn't want you to know. When you have acid reflux it is caused because you don't have enough acid! They want to sell you the band aids, the prescriptions. The clerk told me that as we age or if we have poor diets (not enough fermented foods) our stomach does not have enough acid when we eat. So the food goes in and the body reacts by producing acid to digest the food, after the food is in the belly, so the acid goes on top of the food, causing a reflux of too much acid, too late. What he told me I needed was to increase my acid before I eat so that the acid is there under the food in the belly. This information was contrary to what we learn on TV or magazines. He was so certain, he opened a bottle and gave me a handful of HCL hydrocloric acid capsules for free to try this out. There was enough for about 8 days. He said if it works, which he assured me it would, I could come back and buy the bottle. He said take one or two before each meal. I did, and I did come back and buy the bottle because it worked! I asked him how I know when it is enough. He said you can tell when you have balanced your acid when it starts to burn after the meal. You'll know. After a couple weeks I stopped taking them for a time until I need to do it again, which was quite a while. So, you see, eating a pickle before is increasing the acid in your belly. I also drink the apple cider vinegar daily when I get up in the morning. I have done this for years. It helps with your overall ph balance.
This year I got acid reflux even though I drink the vinegar. When I took the HCL it didn't work. I was burning up! I realized I had become too acidic! I quit taking the apple cider vinegar for a while, drank some club soda. I had to bear thru this for a couple weeks to balance out. I do have the saliva test strips for testing my spit first thing in the morning. I just thought that the vinegar was good. I guess it can become too much of a good thing. Now I don't drink the vinegar as often.
Thanks for the information about the mustard. I’ve been struggling with heartburn just about everyday. But today, I had tried drinkng water after water but it didn’t help. So I read about the mustard and decided to try it and instantly the heartburn was gone. Thanks again. This site is a lifesaver.
When you said mustard is it the one in a bottle or mustard powder or some kind of grain?
I can attest to this. This worked for me. I started making tomato tea (TT) for the colds and I started taking TT last year 2011. I usually take 1-2 tablespoons daily during late fall and early spring as well as when I sense that the weather is abruptly going up and down in the winter and my body is sending early warning signals that I am getting “sniffles” that a cold is coming. The only problem I have with taking TT is that I get very bad heartburns… It feels like I am getting heart attack / pains… At that point, I immediately swallowed small mustard packets every 10 minutes or so (they are free along with ketchup, mayo, salt, pepper, etc. ) that one gets in the fast food restaurants or sandwich shops. The packets are small, do not break and easy to carry). Yesterday I took TT in the morning and late afternoon in anticipation of an oncoming cold (which did not happen). In the early evening I swallowed three packets, 15-30 minutes apart and within or less than taking the first packet my pains went down by 50%. Within 30 minutes, my heart pains totally went away… Can’t live one without the other.. This worked for me..
After alot of different “tricks” for my dog’s discomfort, I finally got her to take a dose of mustard, and she is almost smiling! Finally wagging her tail again. Thank you so much!
Happy to report that home-made Kefir and Kombucha has resolved long standing acid reflux. I now can sleep uninterrupted in the night, and do not suffer from painful acid reflux.
Google to find easy ways to make these at home.
I have been looking into trying a different approach to reflux problems, and wondered if anyone has any expereince with the following supplements. The first one is d-Limonene, which is extracted oil of orange peel. They think it may work by coating the digestive tract which may prevent reflux going up into the oesphagus. It is also anti fungal and bacterial. The second supplement is Melatonin which is found in the gut as well as the pineal gland. It helps monitor sleep cycles. It also helps regulate the digestive system. It is anti inflammatory and helps the immune system. I found this information on the Natural News site. It sound very promising. I would love to hear from anyone who has tried these supplements or has any knowledge of them. Best to all Christine
I have found that reflux and heartburn often have same or similar causes. These problems are often, not always, associated with electrolyte imbalance. It is somewhat difficult to identify which electrolyte is the cause even after taking medical tests. The best solutions I have found are in eating one or more of these vegetables every day.
Broccoli—Asparagus—cabbage–greens
This usually works, but it will not work just eating them twice a week. Again, keep in mind that calcium and magnesium are almost always lacking in people that have frequent heartburn or reflux.
Some people have reflux and heartburn because they have the wrong ratios of acids in their system that the body is using for digestion. If the blood ph begins to drop below 7. 375 the body will rob the stomach of alkaline material to balance the blood. This transfer of alkaline material results in even greater acidity in the stomach; but it is often the wrong kinds of acids that end up in assisting digestion. When the body has to borrow to balance the ph one may end up with too much carbonic acid (could cause seizure or coma) or too much lactic acid (could cause muscle cramps). When these things occur they are often associated with either too much or too little HCL. When this occurs the body will eventually reject these inappropriate acids after it has utilized some of them for digestion; thus the reflux. Many over the counter medications will make the adjustment with aluminum; but this like sodium is a quick fix.
What must be determined is this. Is the reflux the result of too much acid (generally speaking) or is it the result of the wrong kind of acids. And then again, could it all have been initiated by a gradual lowering of blood ph?
Best and simplest way to fix Acid Reflux is with Apple Cider Vinegar. I use the recommended 2 tablesoons in water but I add Lime Juice for taste, I have had just 1 bout of Heartburn since after a really big pasta dinner and it was not nearly as severe or long lasting as in the past.
You just cannot beat ACV.
Hi, Something that works for acid reflux is squeeze out 4 lemons & drink it undiluted & within 15 minutes you have relief.
I have read with interest, the suggestions for help with acid reflux on this site. I have suffered for years with this problem and have now resigned myself to taking proton pump inhibitors to ease it. Digestive disorders are on both sides of my family so I’m thinking it could be partly hereditary. The tablets do make me feel more comfortable, I do watch what I eat as well. I just wish someone could wave a magic wand and make it dissapear altogether.
My boyfriend suffered from acid reflux, and tried so many different prescriptions and otc products to no avail. All of the pills seemed to only mask the pain. We heard using alkaline water may help. We couldn’t find a store that sold alkaline water? We did find a machine that turns regular tap water into alkaline rich water… you can buy one online. It worked 100% Now I drink it too, and I feel so much better overall!!! I believe in it!
I had reflux attacks so bad that I went to the emergency room on several occasions thinking that I was having a heart attact. I was getting most of my calories at the time from whole grains and legumes. I read that concentrated carbohydrates are not a natural food for man, and they can contribute to creating an environment that encourages the growth of bad bacteria that have a hand in reflux. I went low carb-paleo and stopped eating all grains and legumes. The reflux disappeared in TWO DAYS. The arthritis tht I had developed in my neck and shoulders disappeard in TEN DAYS
I really don’t know what I have but it sounds similar to what you guys are talking about. I’m not going to the the doctor cause, first, I don’t have money for that and two, I lost faith in them long ago. Tomorrow I start my war against this stuff. I got a lil overwhelmed at the beginning with all your remedies but I said to myself… Well something has to work. So I’m using them all. I’m getting tomorrow: aloe vera, honey, cabbage, coconout oil, garlic, mastic gum, peroxide, ginger, turmeric, acv, baking soda, cayenne and glutamine. I’ll try to use them separately to see what happens, I’ll let you guys know!! Thanks for the info!! . By the way, I was so stressed out about this pain that I just had a lil baking soda, garlic and maple syrup (I had it abandoned in my cooler and I know it’s good for you) and… I don’t know if its in my head or what but I feel a lil better 🙂 somebody wants to try? maybe it does help a bit! . Love you all!!!!
I have had severe acid reflux and gerd for years. It began progressing to horrible spasms and chest pain. The last three years I figured out a cure. I took the following things:
Quit prevacid
Began taking L-Glutamine to heal my stomach
1000 mg Calcium 1000 mg Magnesium to get those levels back up after depleting them for 10years of prevacid
Probiotics with digestive enzymes
1 glass red wine
After 4 weeks, no burning, no throat clearing, no chest pains, no hard time breathing and I can drink coffee all I want.
HOWEVER, if I get a sinus infection/virus. My doctor puts me on Allegra D and an Antibiotic. And the misery starts again. It takes me 3 weeks or more after the cold is over to calm the acid reflux down and get rid of the wet cough. Why????
Shelley, Please read this….
https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2012/02/14/antibiotics-no-good-for-sinus-infections-study-finds/
Thanks, T
My reflux was very similar to yours. I also got a lot better when I stopped taking ompreazole, and started taking L-Glutamine and probiotics. Betaine HCl stabilized everything for a little while. Ted’s lemon bicarb remedy is my current weapon of choice.
From what I’ve read, the antibiotic use goes something like this:
Antibiotics kill the good gut flora, leaving behind the resilient yeasts and who knows what else. The bad flora now have very little competition and proceed to digest/ferment the food we eat. Pressure from the fermentation pushes stomach acid up the esophagus, and we experience reflux. Cough/throat problems abound.
I’m not sure if that’s true, but it certainly lines up with my experiences — be it antibiotics, acid reflux drugs, or any other source of damage to my digestion.
i have had acid reflux since I was in grade school trying one perscription then the next all working for a while then not at all. my heartburn comes with headache, nausa, and aching in my arms and legs.
i am 32 now and I was walking through the mall in knoxville, tn and ran across a store called vitamin world. this was my lucky day. the person behind the counter suggested papaya enzyme tablets. they taste good, not chalky like tums
and best of all they really work. I suggest you try these.
DOES THIS TAKE THE NASTY TASTE OUT OF YOUR MOUTH?
I have had acid reflux for years now and finally got around to Cayenne pepper and apple cider vinegar. I have been doing this for only 3 days and my acid reflux is under control without taking pills. Just a pinch of cayenne to a coffee mug and 2 teaspoons does it for me. I am thankful I found this site.
I have been dealing with acid reflux, acid indigestion and gastritis on and off for years. GI docs put me on Prilosec then Prevacid after scopies where they saw erosion and hiatial hernia. The Prevacid gave me a life threatening intestinal infection of C. Difficile. Mainstream medicine knows little of this and thinks you only get it from antibiotics. After a year of recovery from the c. diff (and loss of 45 lbs in six weeks) my acid reflex and terrible acid burning came back.
H.pylori is a very common intestinal bacterium that most docs overlook as well. The antibiotic treatment is terrible and many do not kick it with this and become sicker. The tests (stool, breath) for h. pylori are unreliable.
I am now treating acid reflux and for h. pylori naturally with Mastic (sometimes called Mastic gum).
Also taking digestive enzymes (Digest by Transformation) before meals and made major nutritional changes to get PH balanced. You can buy the little strips to test urine PH at health food store. This is essential.
Seeing an excellent licensed naturopathic doctor has helped me enormously with this. There is so much more to tell but not enough time or room.
Please do not believe the mainstream line on this and avoid PPI’s, OTC antacids, prescriptions, etc!!!!! These things exacerbate the problem.
Two good websites are: Weston Price foundation and Cure zone for more info.
Be and get well naturally!
Side effect reported
I started to take Mastic Gum after having an episode of vomiting for 3 days straight couldn't even keep down water. After it stopped I developed very bad Panic Attacks. I went to see my natural doctor and she said, “we better give you something to help heal your stomach issues first” I was told to take Mastic Gum.
It affected me badly by raising my blood pressure to 188/113. It wasn't great before that but never that high. I started to take Oregano oil lets see what happens to me next. I will keep you posted thank you. Mary
Okay so since Christmas day I’ve had what is believed to be acid reflux. My mother has it and said it is probably acid reflux, I saw my physician once and he also said it is probably acid refluc. ACV used to work for me great… But now it doesn’t. Nothing helps at all anymore. Apples helped for a week and now they don’t. I was prescribed prilosec and I took it for a full two weeks. That didn’t work. Baking soda also didn’t work. Can anyone help me! ? I got four tubes of blood taken out yesterday to see if I have other things wrong with me. I should get the results back tomorrow. I don’t get heartburn at all, though. I get waves of nausea every day and feeling like something is in my throat. THe bad thing is…. This usually affects me at night. I do get it during the day, but at night it’s horrible. I sleep propped up and I STILL get it. I was up from 11 pm to 400 am because I was so nauseous. I attend highschool and wake up at 5 in the morning, so this really sucks when this happens on a school day, whether it’s night or day.
To restore healthy and balanced intestinal flora, you need to have Sulforaphane (from Broccoli), Vit. A, Ginger, Zinc and Copper to provide essential Vitamin, minerals and phytonutrients to help support gastric health and to minimize oxidation during gastric tissue repair.
I have been taking Cayenne for 4 to 5 months for my stomach and bp. My bp is great, my stomach is not, I eat healthy am seeing a holistic Dr. and have been taking supplements to rid me of anxiety and stomach problems, the cayenne has not healed my stomach.
EAT CELERY! It is like a miracle food for acid reflux!
I use a couple of sticks of raw celery for indigestion. I find it far more effective than commercial antacids. Sodium Bicarbonate works well too.
I do agree with the Ginger Candy for acid reflux. It is very good and I also eat it after my meal. I try to suck on it and it can turn into a very small piece of ginger root and I chew on it for about a half hour or so. If I can't get a piece sucked down I also chew ginger gum for about an hour helps a lot.
This is my first post on Earth Clinic. I just started using BSM this past week for the first time ever. I had never even tasted it before. I’m trying the Organic Unsulphered Wholesome brand. (I wanted to use the Plantation Organic brand because it’s packaged in glass instead of plastic, but I couldn’t find any. :() So far I’m only using 1 tsp in my coffee once a day. One day I also tried it in tea, and it tastes ok, but I like it better in coffee. Anyway, I only started for the health benefits of getting extra vitamins and minerals, and also as a possible hope of maybe helping my endometriosis. I found it on Earth Clinic while trying to help my mom find a cure for her very large Uterine Fibroid so that she won’t have to have a hysterectomy. So I figured, if people say it can help that then maybe it could help me also.
Well, I would have never guessed that it would help my GERD/Acid Reflux! I had no idea it could be used for that. I’ve mainly heard about ACV. I know it’s got to be the BSM that’s helping. I have had GERD for the past 2-3 years, and it is flairing really badly right now. I have been in extreme pain and discomfort this last week from reflux (dry cough throughout the day, acid belly–which I normally only get during my cycle, burping up food and acid 1-2 hrs after I eat, congestion in the morning). Somehow these symptoms have become considerably less since starting the BSM, and it hasn’t even been a full 7 days. Amazing.
Last night I even ate tacos and didn’t have any reflux issues. That’s a huge breakthrough. I will try using up to the recommended 1 TBSP on the bottle to see if that cures it completely.
RED CABBAGE!!!
Greatest cure for acid and indigestion I have found that really chewing a chunk of raw red(purple) cabbage, quickly balances my system quicker than anything.
It seems to work instantly!! Been a life saver for me.
Acid reflux can be dangerous in my view. Several times after I have gone to sleep, I wake up suddenly, and because of acid reflux, food has come up and is filling my wind pipe. I jump up and have a horrible time getting the food out. You might recall that both Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey DIED of this condition. So what I do is keep a cup of soda water by my bedside, and routinely take several swallows before I lie down. By doing this I have no worries.
I just wanted to add something to help with the problem of Acid Reflux.
I had this problem in the past and this might help:
1. Place blocks of wood under the two legs of your bed where you sleep near the headboard side. Not so high that you slide off but raised slightly so that your upper body is slightly raised so that your acid will have to stay down and not come up to where it will give you trouble. When I was suffering from panic attacks years ago the acid reflux would inflame the situation.
Baking soda about 1 tablespoon in a glass of water (I used more) and/or antacids (Tums/Rolaids and even Maalox) will help.
You might even want to go so far as get on a bland diet if the problem is really bad.
I was told that as a last resort some people need surgery for acid reflux. But it would be better to control the problem without surgery.
Side effect reported
Does anyone know if probiotics can make reflux worse? I cannot understand why this would be, however it appears to make my reflux worse. Thanks.
When I had a parasite (and I did not know it) my acid reflux got much worse when I took a probiotic. I think this is because the probiotics were fighting for a place in the intestines and trying to dislodge the parasites.
I had chronic giardia which cause numerous problems in addition to diarrhea and stomach issues. I had constant acid reflux. Once I took medicine (flagyl) to kill the giardia I could take probiotics without flaring up my acid reflux.
Incidentally, it has been 8 months and my acid reflux hardly ever flares up (I follow the paleo diet, eat coconut oil regularly and take probiotics daily).
I believe acid reflux is a symptom of something else. I used to think when I took the probiotics and got horrible acid reflux problems that it was the probiotics but it wasn’t – it was actually a parasite.
Get a stool sample done and find out what is going on in your stomache and intestines. Because of what I went through I still get stool samples taken whenever my stomach does something weird to make sure I dont have giardia or any other parasite or bug.
Thank you for your response Humphry, I had thought about parasites. It is nice to know we are all trying to help each other on this great site. Thanks again.
Hi, I have suffered from sore throat and heartburn and chest pain nearly daily for almost a year now. I have been taking Nexium now for 3 months. After little relief, I am seeing a gastro. Apparently my esophagus appears normal and I am now monitoring my pH levels in my throat with a probe. My readings appear normal (6-8 pH) but I am still experiencing the “typical” GERD symptoms. I am baffled because I thought for sure I had GERD, now I am not so sure. What could this be? I am feeling hopeless because now, it seems, there will be no diagnosis after this testing. =( Thank you so much for your time and what you all do! Aloha, Liz
When I initially found out I had reflux with no reason for getting it, it turned out my gallbladder had “died” and I didn’t know it. I had to get it removed and have been on a low-fat diet ever since. You have to ask to have a scan done because most doctors won’t offer it up. Hope that helps.
Have had acid reflux since I am 12 years old. Tried all kinds of things thoughout the years, I learned that my stomach changes with time. ACV is good and I add it to most meals when possible. Pickle juice is also very good. The one thing that provides me with almost instant relief is avocado. The curious thing is that I didn't see it in the list and makes me wonder why? Hope it can provide some sort of help to some. Best luck!
I added to my alkaline diet and probiotics a few more things that have given me some incremental improvements: I only eat seafood for the “meat portion”, chew baking soda gum and in July 2011 I had my Vit D levels checked. They were low. So I put myself on 6,000 IU Vit d3 drops and the level of searing pain reduced substantially. The reason I tried Vit D is that I read it stregthens muscles. I thought maybe it could improve the contractions of my LES/UES. My Vit D test in Oct 2011 went to 44 so I reduced my Vit d3 drops to 4,000 IU units. My ENT saw me and was surprised that the bottom of my throat was healed but my upper throat still shows acid burn marks up to the molars. I am hoping that with time maybe my throat will heal. I looked at my throat yesterday and it depressed me. I only look at my throat once every 3 months. I can’t bear seeing how bad it looks. But at least the bottom of my throat is not searing.
My Drs have told me there is nothing more they can do for me. I’m pretty down about it but at least I’m better than I was a year ago when I thought I’d be dead by Feb 2011. It’s beginning to sink in that I will have this for the rest of my life. I saw the top GI Dr in the northern part of the state I live in and he advised that I have a vagel nerve problem and that it would take 10 years for science to figure out how to treat it. Very depressing that so little can be done for LPR. There is nothing on the Upper Esphogeal Spinchter (UES) that I can find. No clincal studies.. Nothing. No research being done on it that I can find. My Lower Esphogeal Spinchter shows that I went from a 40 ph to .4. My Drs say it is normal reflux and that the fundo surgery looks like it worked but that there may be a secondary problem that they can’t figure out. They don’t know what is wrong with me. I came out of the fundo surgery 10x worse… Seriously depressing. But I keep a smile on my face for my family and at least my pain is so much better with the Vit D3 drops.
I just eat 1/2 an apple anytime I eat acidic food and acidity is bothering due to overeating or fried food. It has helped me. I don’t take any medicines, always the natural cure. It works. Doctors were writing prescriptions for my acid reflux but thank God I checked home remedies.
Take 6 mg of melatonin every night at bedtime. It strengthens your stomach sphincter making it harder for acid to travel up your throat. I’ve been doing it for 1.5 mos and feel 70% better!
Will try this along with D-limonene. Thanks for posting.
Once I stopped using tums for acid reflux, I was using apples, which work well. But, I don’t always have them on hand especially away from home. So I tried crystallized ginger (ginger soaked in sugar), and it works great. Anytime symptoms come on, I eat several pieces. If the symptoms don’t go away immediately, I eat a few more pieces. Works every time. I keep a few pieces in my purse and a jar at home. You can buy these in any health food store.
Im 18 years old and studying in college, when 3 days ago I justs started feeling this sensation like acid was backing up in my throat. So the first day I ignored it, but it continued to grow worse so on the second day I started popping tums and they didn’t help at all. So on the third day I decided not to eat anything at all in hopes that the sensation would go away. Well haha, halfway through the day it still persisted and I couldn’t take it anymore so I got online, found this website, and out of desperation tried eating apples. To my surprise, within 30 minutes the sensation cleared right up and I feel much better. The weird feeling in my throat is not completly gone, but I feel like if I keep eating the apples and stay away from trigger foods, I will be fine 🙂 thanks for this great tip
Yes apples can help with acid reflux. But acid reflux can cause irritation to the esophagus and lead to Barrett syndrome and precancerous situitions so get a doctor to check you med situation. Just don't rely on home med alone.
Hold the vinegar. I tried it, but couldn’t take the taste. Now I take digestive enzymes with each meal. I couldn’t live without my Prilosec, but since I started the enzymes, no more Prilosec and no more acid reflux. The one that I use is Natural Brand Super Digestive Enzymes. GNC sells them.
It might not help everyone and it’s not a complete cure but chewing gum after meals helps me a lot. The saliva from chewing the gum helps to wash all the acid down and keep it out of your esophogus.
A warning re chewing gum: All wrigley’s gum, not sure about other brands contain ASPARTAME – a poison – stay away from chewing gum. It will cause seizures sometimes fatal and can even lead to death. Research the dangers of ASPARTAME.
You are better off taking iodine as it regulates stomach acid and cures the problem. Research “iodine stomach acid”.
I have suffered from ocasional acid reflux for years but have never been treated by a physician for this illness. I love all kinds of pickles and sometime about a year ago I just happened to start eating a pickled okra just before bedtime and have noticed that since that time I have never once had acid reflux bother me. Just today I found this website and was happy to find out why the pickled okra seems to work. Thanks. Larry
I have tried ACV and HCL for low stomach acid and have had side effects from both. I heard that gelatin can increase stomach acid and was wondering if anyone knew anything about this? I want to try this but I don’t know how much. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks for all info. I also found lot of useful information on:
https://consultpri.wordpress.com/2011/09/12/acid-reflux-cure-natural-way/
Hi Sarvanon, sorry about your suffering. I have the problem my self. I read an article about a condition called NERD. Witch I think is a type of reflux that is not caused by acid. I think this is what I have been suffering from, it is causing many throat problems with excessive mucus and throat clearing. I am trying to be more aware of my diet, thing like excessive suger and wheat, milk make it worse. I take probotics. Glutame, milk thistle, garlic and ginger tea. Progress is slow. I do hope you can find some solutations. It is often trial and error. Good luck Christine
The best and most effective cure for acid reflux, even the most serious case, is to drink one to two tablespoonful of Sesame oil on a empty stomach first thing in the morning. It will be difficult to stomach during the first few days but there after you will acquire a taste for it. Also take the same quantity fifteen minutes after the night meal. Please do not drink any water immediately after drinking the oil it will defeat the purpose.
It has to be taken every day for about ten days for a permanent cure.
The roasted sesame seed oil is more effective than the cold pressed and it has to be 100% pure oil. This oil is available at any Chinese grocery. It is also very necessary that one drinks hot water with one's meals. Drinking cold or iced water or drinks after each meal will only prolong the ailment and inhibit cure. Spicy and/or oily food for the night meal is a no, no. It will only aggravate the stomach acid.
Hi Nylle, I'm interested in the sesame oil. I have some virgin oil that I started using for oil pulling, but I am not sure I understand which oil you are recommending. So in the scheme of Extra Virgin, Virgin, Refined and Pure, you are saying to get Pure is that correct?
Will it specify that the sesame seeds have been roasted on the bottle, or is the name "Pure" simply a way of stating that roasting is a part of the process?Are there any brands you would recommend?
I currently live in Paris, France and the nearest Chinese grocery is not near at all. I did see a Pure sesame oil at my local grocery store but I wasn't sure if it would do.
Also, is this a cure for GERD or only acid reflux? Thanks for your help!
Somewhere on this site I discovered drinking a glass of water a half hour before dinner prevented acid reflux. I would like to post that this is true for me and an older friend who also experienced acid reflux. Thank you.
Try 4 to 5 Almonds. It is a very good tested treatment for ACID REFLUX.
Ted’s Remedies. Please be very careful if you suffer from acid reflux. I suffered for over ten years and used many remedies including conventional medicine only to find out after a routine stress test that I required a triple bypass. During the stress test the reflux became worse and I was pulled off the treadmill and given oxygen and nitrolingual spray which helped to lessen the burning. I was amazed by this as I had no other symptoms other than a little breathlessness which is also common with reflux. It was explained to me that women often have different symptoms than men and it was actually the reflux that made my cardiologist take notice. Just be aware that reflux can be caused by more than one reason. I do not have reflux now since the surgery.
<P>hi Apil glad the aloe is helping your reflux. I have tried most of the remendies on the site and they help a little. Over the last few days I have trying orange peel, Im just using well washed satsuma peel, i wanted to try it first before buying the extract. Its helping and the frothing from the gut seems to be a lot less this morning. Goggle it and see what you think. Hope this helps.
I found kefir works for acid reflux, it takes a few months to cure it but stops the burning in the meen time.
I concur that both kefir and yogurt can cure acid reflux over time. You just take one with each meal. Whenever I go to the doctor and they give me pharmaceutical medications, such as painkillers like paracematol, or antibiotics, as long as you take kefir with the mix at the meal, you can prevent acid reflux. If you do get it (whether or not you are taking it) it will cure it in time.
Also one teaspoon – one tablespoon of ACV and enough sodium bicarbonate it to neutralize it (1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon typically) is very good for dealing with that too.
hi guys, I think I have finally found something that could help you. I used to suffer from acid reflux terribly. Whatever I ate caused a reflux so I started looking for cures, I tried the ususal stuff that the doctor’s prescribe but it didn’t help me out much.
THEN I STUMBLED ONTO A TEA BY ______ IT IS GREEN TEA WITH LEMON. It reduced the acid reflux drastically, I have it twice a day, in the morning before going to office and after coming from office. I am using the tea bags.
This tea has really helped me out and I hope that it helps all you people looking for a cure.
I’ve found aloe juice to help with digestive issues and read that it works by lowering the acidity of the gastric juices found in the stomach. Aloe vera is also a powerful anti-inflammatory (think sunburns), offering relief for sore throat symptoms as well. Hope it helps!!
Aloe Vera is also nice, I had had acid reflux for 7 yrs, having been going to hospital taking all antibiotic. It seemed not working. When I saw GNC food supplement in Thailand I went for it. I have been taking aloe vera with fish oil and it seemed working. I suggest people with stomach problem should try this. U can buy this from Top Markets, central and future park at the first floor. If anything I can be of help. God bless ya all.
I'm starting to have symptoms. Can you tell me the name and where I might be able to find this juice. Thanks.
I've had reflux for a few years now and I've been taking 40 mg Protonix mostly to control it, and it did for the most part, but the burning always woke me up in the mornings and my sleep/rest time suffered. I discovered recently that drinking a few ounces of milk before go to sleep helps a great deal, eliminating about 95% of that burning sensation. Now I can sleep in more often than I have for years. I hope this helps you.
I'm thinking about trying to get off the meds altogether by taking the ACV.
Barring there are no underlying conditions & there is ‘typical’ acid reflux then diet is essential. Poor food combining added to diminished enzymes & hydrochloric acid production causes food to rot. Enzymes & digestive acid production decline with age due to the constant eating of lifeless cooked foods. I am not recommending a raw food diet as all foods cannot be eaten raw. 1/4 to 1 tsp of air dried pink salt in a glass of water in the a.m. stimulates hydrochloric acid production. Enzymes may be taken before each major meal, not after, & followed by betaine hydrochloride after the meal. Dr. David Brownstein, M. D. wrote a small book on salt which is helpful for many ailments. Dr. Bob Marshall, PHd, CNC has a site that addresses these issues.
Some older people who have high blood pressure can't take salt. I test it alot and if I eat more than 600mg sodium a day my blood pressure sky rockets. The other day it was 121/77 and that nite I ate two bowls of chinese egg drop soup and today it was 153/95. The other days it's in the 120's/80 except when I eat salt the nite before. So be careful with the salt. One hot dog can contain about 500 mg of sodium. I boil them to get the salt out into the water and I boil smoked sausage the same way and I believe that 90 percent of the salt comes out. I do it with ham too. You can tell cuz there will be no taste., but you can sprinkle a TINY amount of Celtic salt to make up for it and yet it will be way less than before.
I love salt. However I do take 400mg Potassium Citrate twice a day to attenuate the effect of higher sodium intake. I keep packaged and fast food to a minimum. This keeps the BP fluctuations to a minimum for me. Always use Himalayan Pink salt for the spectrum of minor minerals in it.
I had terrible acid reflux a couple years ago. Went to the doctor and she prescribed some medication. When I asked how long I had to be on it, she said she didn’t know. Apparently some people are on for life. I never filled the prescription. Instead I did some research and in addition to dramatically reducing my soda intake I started taking chewable (saliva enhances the effectiveness) DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice). Research and you will find several articles saying DGL cures ulcers! Take it 20 minutes prior to eating each meal (up to 3 times/day). I went from having acid reflux every day-all day to seldom if ever. I no longer vomit stomach acid in the morning and I am able to eat spicy foods again. I also don’t have to take it before every meal anymore. I only take it before I eat spicy foods.
Two last things, if you don’t like licorice, they do have German Chocolate flavored DGL which helps to disguise the flavor. Secondly, if you have high blood pressure, make sure you buy the kind that has the glycyrrhizin compound (associated with high blood pressure) removed.
Yes, I was using Licorice tea and drinking it with my meals. It did help (Rutin was better though).
One cause of acid reflux is parasites. A liquid combination of black walnut, woodworm and cloves is the remedy and can be bought at a health food store. It taste very bad but is good for you.
I am taking the cayenne pills and so far its has been ok. I take 3 pills a day after each meal. I get a slight burning in the chest for about a minute then it goes away. so maybe instead of taking 2 at a time you should break it down to twice a day.
I’m a singer from Toronto. My reflux problems started in December. Now it’s May and I’m still suffering. Nexium didn’t help. Neither did dexilant. I’ve been to an ENT and have been waiting several months to see a GI specialist. I’ve had several tests. Apparently, hernia has been ruled out. So has an ulcer. The diagnosis after x-rays and an endoscopy was “mild gastritis”. I’m a otherwise healthy person who exercises and eats quite healthily and am average weight. This condition has significantly impacted my career and I’m frustrated by the lack of treatment. I’m determined to become an expert about reflux to (a) get my career and health back (b) help others who are frustrated by doctors who don’t know and medication that doesn’t work.
I’m working on my PhD now and hoping to include this topic in my specialty. I would love to hear from other singers from anywhere. I would also love to hear from singers anywhere from Toronto to Kingston to form a support group of sorts. I’m shocked by how little is known about this. The non-traditional healers seem to have far more knowledge than the allopathic doctors (licensed doctors who prescribed pharmaceuticals). I would love to hear about any doctors you felt were knowledgeable or not helpful and to hear any stories from singers with this condition. This is a life-altering condition about which there should be more knowledge of cures. Please feel free to post, but also email me directly: dearsistermoon(at)gmail.com Thank you. Good luck!
I struggled for years with acid reflux… To the point it was diagnosed as precancerous Barracks-esophagus I now juice fresh aloe vera (scrape the inside of the plant out and mix it with some water using a hand blender. I drink this before I go to bed or on an empty stomach. This is very healing to the GI track. Do not juice the outside of the plant, it will give you the runs!
DGL (deglycerized licorice) coats your throat and GI track. Take about half an hour before eating and at bedtime.
Take digestive enzymes. Much of the time, we just need some extra help to digest our food. This also is great for skin issues and general healing.
baking soda (about a teaspoon to a cup of water) will soothe reflux.
_____s vinegar (about a teaspoon in a cup of water) helps with digestion and helps to alkalize your body.
I am also about to add L-Glutamine to my regimen. It is very healing to intestines.
The last time I went in for an endoscopy/biopsy, my Dr. Said everything looked very good and I did not nee to come back for two year (I usually have to come in once a year for this procedure)
Best of health to you
Kathie
You don’t need a disclaimer here. There are NO ‘professional medical preventions, diagnoses, or treatments’. It simply doesn’t exist. Drs only wait until the esophagus is so badly burned by stomach acid that it turns cancerous, only then will they step in with their chemo and radiation ‘therapies’. It’s frightening and rather Fransteinian.
I have been getting some relief by combing a controlled carbs diet with HCL and other digestive enzymes. I have learned a lot from the following site and would urge all to visit and read the extensive information presented. He does not sell digestive products or aides.
https://thehealthyskeptic.org/heartburn
I appreciate all who have posted their ideas here and I wanted to share this information as it is helping me.
I want to get a digestive enzyme for my silent reflux… Two questions… 1-I read in a natural healing book it is good for reflux but to get one without Hydrocloric acid… The viatamin store said I should get one within particual a Twin Lab product… 2- Any particual brands that any have used or reccommend?
hi, I take 2 TwinLabs Super Enzyme caps and 1 Swanson Acidophilus before each meal. When I first started, now I take it once a day and if I should have a problem I take them as soon as I notice……. and it works for me
I buy my products from http://www.swansonvitamins.com and have useed them for at least 25 years
I have taken Digestive Enzymes with Probiotics for 8 years. My worst symptom was a constant cough for 10 years for which I was prescribed various inhalers for asthma. After a tongue biopsy which diagnosed candidiasis (probably caused by the inhalers), I began doing my own research online and decided to try Probiotics. I wanted the best one I could take and consulted a friend who sold “high quality supplements”. As it turned out, she sent me the above mentioned product and my cough was gone in three days. It was nothing short of miraculous!!! Since then I have learned much and believe what I suffered from was GERD (not asthma), with no “typical” acid reflux symptoms. I had an endoscopy and the DR diagnosed Barrett’s Esophogus (caused by GERD).The enzymes are all plant based, and since it is a powder that you mix with water and drink (with or without a meal), it is 100% bioavailable. Fully absorbed by the body – no waste, and no need to digest a pill in order for it to work. Just be careful if you take a timed release medication as this product contains cellulase, which will break down the cellulose in some timed release medications too quickly. Ask your pharmacist if the medication you are taking is timed release and if it is bound with cellulose, then use accordingly – ie: taken several hours apart. Enzymes and Probiotics are live and should not be heated. Be aware: Ordering them online in the summer is risky since the product could sit in a hot truck or your mailbox for hours on end rendering them ineffective. So order and store them appropriately.
What is the brand of your Digestive Enzymes With Probiotics?
I have a very bad acid reflux. Even with two Nexium 40 mg I have a lot of acid. I just found your site and I bought apple cider vinegar. Today for the first time I had it with honey and warm water. My question is should I only mix ACV with honey and water or for my case which is very bad one. I should take ACV with baking soda. And with 2 tbs ACV how much should I add baking soda? Can I continue taking Nexium and the same time taking ACV? Please help me I am really suffering from it. It is killing me.
Lili, you are getting acid reflux because you probably have too little acid in your stomach not because you have a lack of it. If you add baking soda to the mix you are again making your stomach acid too alkaline so the problem will only improve temporarily. You also would be wise to have digestive enzymes to help digest your food better.
I also read recently that salt “increases” acid in the stomach (of course natural sea salt not processed salt). Another reason to add salt to our diets.
Google dangers of antacids and see the results.
Just a heads up for those of you who have some type of stomach discomfort. About a year ago I had a nagging upset stomach which would go away after using over the counter prilosec. After a month or so the problem would come back. I researched my symptoms on the Earth Clinic and came up with a fairly effective treatment of apple cider vinegar & baking soda, along with mastic gum and a few other stomach healers. I had on and off success but just could’nt get rid of the upset stomach feeling for good. So I contacted a specialist and underwent the ‘endoscopy’ procedure. (which is a minor invasive look into your stomach). I was suprised at what I didn’t have. I had all the symptoms of the H-pylori bacteria, but the results stated I had the beginning of an ulcer, probably due to diet and stress, and eating late at night. (no h-pylori) I have been placed on Nexium which has controlled my discomfort quite well.
My point is make sure you diagnose your malady. Sometimes close, ain’t good enough. I still use Earth Clinic as a valuable help aid and most remedies are organic which makes them relatively safe. I did get some relief for my stomach thanks to Earth Clinic however you can’t cure it if you don’t know what it is…