The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Probiotics, Hlc
Posted by Chris (Jacksonville, Fl) on 03/25/2009
★★★★☆
I'm new to this site, it's awesome... I have been suffering from what the M.D. calls acid reflux and given the prilosec routine, however I was just given info from my acupuncturist that LACK OF ACID in the stomach doesn't allow the stomache valve to dump the acid, therefore whatever acid you have have ingested just comes right up....so the prilosec makes it even worse....her suggestions-massive doses of probiotics along with increasing my acid with HCL with pepsin. So far it's helping. I am going to start the ACV tonight.
Reader Theories
Posted by Kate (Stafford, UK) on 03/22/2009
Hi Mark from Lichfield..
I think your post was fantastic- it's what i suspected myself and i've been looking for some reassurance that my GERD will be cured when i've rid myself of candida.
I've been a victim of daily heartburn for over a year follwing a very long course of antibiotics, and i strongly agree with what you say- i;ve been trying to find this link between candida and GERD for such a long time to put my mind at rest!
I've been on theh candida diet for about two months, and have started to feel better, but not enough yet- i still get heartburn in the evening, and all the info i find tells me this is incurable and i need conventional medicine which i don't want! I'm only 20 years old, and i feel that PPIs could cause me some serious problems - I want to restore my body to the way it was without lifelong drug prescriptions or surgery!
So i'd just like to know, how long did it take you to get better? are you completely free of heartburn? was it a gradual process? can you get away with eating some carbs these days? Is it all back to normal??!!
I'd be most grateful if you could put my mind at rest and tell me this will eventually sort itself out if i maintain my willpower for long enough!
Thank you for your great post :)
Kate
Acupressure
Posted by Ila (Kitchener, Ontario, Canada) on 03/14/2009
★★★★★
Hi All, Would like to share a trick I use when I get acid reflux at night and have no ACV or other remedy at hand. Fluff up your pillow, get into bed and roll over onto your LEFT SIDE, make a fist and press into the hollow area at centre of chest just under your rib cage, and above the stomach. If you use enough pressure, you should feel relief within a minute or two, it works almost immediately for me. I hope it may work for others also. Never sleep on your right side, as it tends to make the reflux worse. It is very difficult for me to get ACV down my throat ,as I dislike it so much, it gives me shivers just thinking about it. I managed to get it down mixed with some water a few times so I know it works for acid reflux. Now I just sip a little pickle juice but I don't recommend this for others because of the salt content,Thanks for the great site,cheers to all,Ila
Salt and Vinegar Potato Chips
Posted by Brian (Campbellsvile, KY) on 03/12/2009
Salt & Vinegar potato chips? I don't have acid reflux but I've noticed testimonials about ACV or Vinegar + Baking Soda. ACV or Vinegar are both forms of acetic acid. Baking Soda is sodium bicarbonate, I don't want to bore everyone with a lot of chemistry mumbo jumbo so I'll get to the point. When you mix the two (acetic acid + sodium bicarbonate) you get sodium acetate which is the same thing used to flavor Salt & Vinegar potato chips. I thought someone might be interested in trying the chips as a junkfood junkie cure.
Orange Peel Extract
Posted by Leslie (New Castle, PA) on 02/24/2009
★★★★★
I went off the "purple pill" after being on it for 12 years for severe acid reflux. The reason I went off it was because I had developed a lower eye lid twitch. When I stopped the "purple pill", the twitching stopped. So I had to find an alternative way to deal with my reflux problem and stumbled upon this website. The ACV and baking soda mixture w/8 oz. water helped but only lasted a couple of hours and then I would have to drink it again. I heard about Orange Peel Extract (1000mg. every other day) and purchased it recently. Let me tell you I took it for the first time yesterday and I feel great! I was nervous about today being that you only take it every other day but so far I feel good - no reflux. I did have to cut out my cup of coffee in the morning because it seems to aggrevate the situation but other than that no issues.
Water and Sea Salt
Posted by Karen (Randolph, New Jersey) on 02/23/2009
★★★★★
Acid reflux is sometimes a symptom of dehydration. The body turns on histamines in order to protect the BRAIN from dehydration; according to Dr. Batmanjelidh, "Dr. Batman" "The Water Cure", the histamine closes off water and function from different body parts in order to preserve all the available water for the protection and use of the brain.
In the stomach this can lead to sensations of burning - see www.watercure2.com. the actual explanation of the mechanism is found in the book - I don't remember exactly how it works.
I have avoided salt most of my adult life, thinking it was bad for you; I found it difficult to even swallow water except for when I used to jog when I was young.
After reading "The water cure"I forced myself to drink water with a little salt in it - no more fatigue, no more constipation, tons of energy. When I get a little heart burn I just drink water - 2 to 3 glasses and it's gone.
Petai (Stink Bean)
Posted by Siong (Singapore) on 02/18/2009
★★★★★
For some acid reflux could be cured by chewing and eating raw "Petai" a foul smellingseed - see Net search. I chewed and eat petai for one month as advised. Now my stomach could take alcohol and hot peppers without giving me burns.
Yogurt, Apples
Posted by Anne (Hanford, CA) on 02/10/2009
★★★★★
Acid reflux is not something that is common to me. However, lately, if I eat a lot of chocolate, I get terrible reflux. Tonight, I was desperate and ate some low cal. blueberry Yoplait yogurt. Withing 5 minutes, I felt better. Then I read your web site cures but I didn't have any apple cider vinegar, but I do have apples. So I ate a small Fugi apple and felt even better. Thanks for all your suggestions in an emergency situation!!! Guess I'd better take it easy on the chocolate!!
Chiropractic Treatments
Posted by Renee (Ottumwa, Iowa) on 02/06/2009
★★★★★
Chiropractic cured my indigestion: I had a hiatal hernia and acid reflux. The chiropractor cured my hiatal hernia with 2 visits and showed me how to treat my acid reflux with a simple technique. In my case, acid reflux was caused by the sphincter between the stomach and esophagus not closing properly. At times poor digestion or sour stomach may also be caused by a spasm in the diaghragm due to misalignment of the rib cage. I recommend that you try a chiropractor skilled in applied kinesiology treatments as not all chiropractors have the same training. I think it is also important to limit alcohol, chocolate and acid forming foods, too.
Raw Potato Juice
Posted by Marcela (Mexico, Mexico) on 01/26/2009
★★★★★
My husband and his family have used raw potato juice for acid reflux and gastritis for years. And it has worked for everyone we've recommended it to. It is not an everyday kind of treatment, they only use it when they finally abuse their tummies too much with spicy or greasy diets on a long term. Then they use it for a week or so and they go back to normal. It consists of throwing a small raw potato in the juicer along with some carrots, for taste. Drink it right away or it will darken and not taste as good (I guess it also loses some properties with oxidation). One of these juices every morning for a week seems to do the trick.
BTW, My 83 yr old mother-in-law can eat ANYTHING (and I'm talking greasy, spicy mexican food here) and be fine. Thank you for this site, I plan to contribute feedback for many of your wonderful remedies.
Juicing
Posted by Brad (Los Angeles, CA) on 01/26/2009
★★★★★
I used to get regular heartburn. I was young, only 23 years old, and healthy. I got to the point where i was eating TUMS regularly, and using over he counter meds. I went to my doctor, and he prescribed Prevacid. I think i may have had the beginning of an ulcer. Anyways, i had mixed results with the Prevacid, and was uncomfortable taking a pill every day (forever?). I started to change my diet, more healthy, more fruits and vegetabless, and accidentally found that carrot juice will knock out the burn immediately. And plus when you do that you are drinking vegetables too with vitamins, fiber, etc. Nowadays, I have no heartburn meds in my house, and when my stomach burns, which is very rare, a cup of carrot juice just kills it. Forget the pills, work on changing your diet, and keep some carrot juice around. You cant overdose on it, the more you drink, the better for your body.
Digestive Enzymes
Posted by Angie (New York, New York) on 01/22/2009
★★★★★
I was just diagnosed w/ Gerd & Dysphasia. I was prescribed antidepressants and other medication for the acids in my stomach. I refused to take the antidepressants, since I am not depressed and decided to seek for a natural cure -I came across this page and followed the advice given to use "Papaya Enzymes" is a miraculous cure. I could not beleive the INSTANT releif I felt soon after chewing 6 tables. As part of my good eating habits I will continue using the "papaya enzymes".
Thank you soooo much for the valuable information. I am sharing this w/ everyone I come across. It's AMAZING. -Angie
Calcium and Magnesium
Posted by Sage (Aurora, CO) on 01/21/2009
I used a calcium/magnesium supplement initially to help with the stomach pains I got from diabetes medication. It helped tremendously. But then I also noticed an increase in reflux episodes when I was able to get off the metformin (coconut oil and getting rid of all phthalates in my products & house cured my type II) and stopped taking the cal/mag. Back on the cal/mag and its much better. Taking probiotics and digestive enzymes along with that seems to be the best combination.
Licorice
Posted by Floyd Alexander (Louisville, Ky. Jefferson) on 01/19/2009
★★★★★
acid reflux: 9.99 for one hundred. It's a Herbal supplement called DGL LICORICE. 1 in the morning and one in the evening. Take the whole bottle. after that I take one pill about 4 or 5 times a wk. End of problem.
Raise the Bed
Posted by Bev (Seattle, WA) on 01/17/2009
★★★★★
I have put (2) 2X6 blocks under my bed for years and it really helps. Take a jar lid, turn it upside down and nail it to one of the blocks, then place the blocks/lid under the wheels of your bed frame. The cats slide down the bed, but they're used to it...besides, one of them has gerd too!!
Aloe Vera
Posted by Siouxellen (Grand Rapids, MI) on 01/14/2009
★★★★★
I have found that Aloe Vera is the most helpful. Didn't have much relief, if any, with ACV. Also, one needs to alter one's diet -- take out coffee (decaf is just as bad), teas, milk, chocolate, and especially alcohol. No food after 7 p.m. I think, however, I am unusual from most in the fact that when I lie down, the problem lessens. I don't have problems with sleeping, and if I am having a bad attack, I try to lie down somewhere until it passes. Of course when I arise, there is quite a bit of belching, from all that gas sitting in there all night, but usually I don't have heartburn. Just a lot of gas and belching and swallowing problems.
I have had the added displeasure of a Zenker's Diverticulum in my throat, and when food gets stuck in there, the acid reflux goes into overdrive trying to dislodge the food.
Between Prevacid, daily aloe vera doses, diet alteration, and getting a fair amount of exercise (relieves stress), I am slowly getting a handle on it all. Stressing out about the reflux doesn't help matters.
As for the Aloe Vera, I use both George's - which has no flavor, and the Stomach Formula, which is gaggy but helpful. I also have a Hiatal Hernia. My doc has said that if things worsen, there is a surgical procedure that he can do that involves inserting botox in the lower sphincter to narrow it. I would be interested to find out if anyone else has had this procedure done.
Mango
Posted by Sherry (Moreno Valley, California) on 01/13/2009
★★★★★
hi, i have acid reflux for 4 years, and what help me is eating a mango a day or when i feel the acid reflux active. I do not take any medication for acid reflux at this time i use to take nexium, but the mango does just as good without the side effect.
Lemons
Posted by Joyce (Joelton, Tn) on 01/12/2009 490 posts
To Joan from Pawtucket:
Beware of any sugarfree lemonade, especially if it is sweetened with artificial sweetener like nutrasweet, Equal or aspartame, you will most likely get side effect problems you don't want.You should be safe with sugarfree lemonade if you make your own and sweeten it with stevia.
Lemons
Posted by Joan (Pawtucket, Rhode Island) on 01/11/2009
I would like to try the lemonade, but I cant have a lot of sugar in my diet. If i can find a sugarfree lemonade, will that work just a well as the regular lemonade. Thank you
Lugol's Iodine
Posted by David (Huntington Beach, California, USA) on 01/04/2009
★★★★★
Hi, I'm a Chiropractor of over 22 years. I want to add a cure that I got from reading Dr. Donsbach, D.C.
My wife and I found as we got older that we were both starting to have digestive problems and really bad acid reflux at nite. The wholist concept is acid reflux is due to NOT ENOUGH acid! You can confirm if this is the case by taking a tablespoon of ACV when you are getting it, if it stops it, then you are LOW in acid.
The next step in the wholistic approach is to take digestive enzymes and HCl to substitute for the low acid. I always thought this isn't getting to the root problem of WHY isn't the body producing enough acid anymore. This is where Dr Donsbach came in.
He discussed that the body needs IODINE to produce the stomach acid. That made sense in that since becoming a Vegetarian, I don't get much seafood and I keep my salt intake down.
So I ordered Lugol's Solution;
http://www.amazon.com/Breath-Life-Lugols-Iodine-Solution/dp/B001AEFM9Y/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1231093911&sr=8-1
and began taking 2 drops a day in a glass of warm water first thing in the morning on an empty stomach, monday through friday with the weekend off. My wife did the same. Sure enough within a few weeks my digestion is back to where it was as a teenager, and acid reflux is gone! My wife had the same results as well as a friend that tried it.
If you go to take the iodine, first make sure you aren't allergic. I think a drop on the inside of the wrist or arm and see if it gets swollen or itchy, is a good test. After that, if no reaction, then you can start with one drop in water and see how that effects you. If you have no problems then you can proceed to the 2 drops.
I've been trying to get this information out there, because when people take antacids and medicines that decrease acid production in the stomach, it greatly limits the bodies ability to digest the food,and starts a process that ends up greatly harming your health.
If the word can get out about this cure, it will help millions to improve their health for less than a penny a day and prevent them from ruining their health as they are trying to help it.
Good luck and please write your feedback here so others can see.
Best wishes for health and happiness,
David from H.B.
Apples
Posted by Gary (Los Angeles, Ca) on 01/01/2009
★★★★★
This last week I started having this acid reflux happen to me really bad. I went online and saw that apple cider vinegar and some type of apples were mentioned to help it. So, I bought some medicine at the store, but I haven't taken them. The apple cider vinegar and eating apples seem to work. It hasn't been bothering me much now and when it does, I eat an apple or drink apple cider or a shot glass full of straight apple vinegar. That's a bit of a "face-twister", but just drink some water after it and it's not too bad. Seems to work. I haven't opened the meds yet.
