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.
Tomato Juice, Apple Cider Vinegar, Cayenne
Posted by Adam (Anchorage, Alaska) on 07/19/2009
★★★★★
Ok, I had suffered from acid reflux and heart burn for years all due to what I was eating and drinking ie: white flour,alcohol and many other bad things. I was taking otc antacids daily and was still waking up in the middle of the night with acid coming up and out of my mouth and nose ick not fun at all,.. well I stopped eating all the white flour and cut way back on drinking but the one thing that really helped the most was my little mix of 2oz ACV 4 oz low sodium ______ [tomato juice] and 1tsp cayenne has cleared up all the acid reflux and heart burn. Just mix shake and drink it down it's actually not that bad. Just one hint make sure you inhale before you drink it down because you really don't want your first breath after drinking that to be inward.
Potato Juice
Posted by Terezia (Dallas, Tx) on 07/04/2009
Remedy for Acid Reflux and Constipation is the raw potato juice. I juice 2 potatoes and one lemon in the morning and drink it at once. It instantly diminishes acids and hunger also. I suffered from acid reflux for a long time, nothing worked permanently. Potato juice did, and now I take it for it's great inner cleansing and healing properties.
Potato juice is also a great refresher of tired skin.
For a toxin-purging, sugar free tea, I simply blend a big piece of raw ginger in a bit of water, pour it into a big pitcher of hot water with lemon juice. It tastes like ginger tea, but it works like a miracle infusion. It instantly energizes and purges the body.
When I have stiffness in my bowels before going to bed, I do a iodine enema. I use two ___ bottles, one with a squirt of iodine in it, the other with a squirt of coconut oil with some essential oils. The coconut oil protects the the bowels, by conditioning. Does wonders.
The olive oil, lemon or grapefruit stone cleanse was also life changing to me. After pregnancy my body went down...thyroid, varicose veins... stones, pain and toxicity... inability to lose weight.... even though I was always athletic.
I had to go on a low sugar diet, with parasite and stone cleansings, doing yoga-like workouts instead of the fast paced ones and praying whenever fear is trying to get me. We can find ourselves restless for no appearant reasons, and fear always drives to the wrong direction, like overeating and organ dysfunctions.
Mustard
Posted by Alice (West Mifflin, Pa) on 03/15/2011
Mustard contains vinegar and turmeric, both help with digestion.
Almonds
Posted by Alex (Brooklyn, NY) on 09/15/2010
Try peppermint tea after meals. It does help reduce acid reflux, I tried and it worked.
Almonds
Posted by Amita (New Delhi, India) on 09/06/2011
Peppermint is a trigger but combined with a few drops of honey it works well for acid reflux. Personally for me I swear by apple cider vinegar.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Shobha (Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India) on 04/22/2009
★☆☆☆☆
I think that I have night reflux, as I get up with a coating on my tongue and a sore throat on my right side. Have tried ACV, baking soda, apples and nothing has helped so far. After eating, my stomach feels full and heavy, like its weighted down, and the feeling takes a long while to settle. Is this due to excess acidity or lack of acid for digestion? Could anyone help me? Thank you for letting me share my problem.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Jen (L.A., CA, USA) on 04/23/2009
Hi Shobha, I work in the field of sleep disorders medicine and I have many patient that suffer from nighttime (only) reflux and many of them suffer from snoring and or Sleep Apnea (pauses in breathing or shallow breathing). The snoring/Apnea is an obstruction in the airway makes the person's breathing effort increase, however since the airway is compromised and narrowed it causes a "sucking-up" of the acid from the stomach into the throat when the person tries to breathe... Allot of these patients sleep at an incline with several pillows or a wedge. If you snore or have been told that you make breathing sounds or pauses in breathing while sleeping you should have it evaluated. Good luck.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Selena (Chula, GA) on 04/23/2009
Hi, My response if for Shobha from Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India and any other acid reflux sufferers. Before we married, my husband suffered from a severe case of acid reflux. He had to sleep on his right side propped up on pillows. He took "the purple pill" religiously after going through several other well-known "acid-reducing" meds, that one by one became ineffective as he graduated to a stronger medicine. I have always been opposed to these meds because most people suffer from too little acid and not too much acid, so taking medicines to further lower their stomach acids sounded quite "stupid" and dangerous. If you reduce your stomach acid, then your body can not break down your food for energy and nutrition. Then slowly you begin to get all kinds of health problems bascially due to "malnutrtion" and deficiencies. Kind of like starving yourself to death but with lots of bloat, constipation, and allergies and without the weight loss. Oh you'll still have all the fat broken down and stored on your hips and gut, but you won't be able to break down protein into amino acids. Amino acids are the building blocks of life. Without them your body cannot reproduce new blood cells, muscle tissue, etc. Anyway, back to my husband. Whenever I would try to convince him of the harm he was doing to himself, we would always end up in an argument over it. Finally, Thank God, he started his own company and lost his "company provided health insurance" that paid for a majority of his meds. When he went to refill his prescripton and they told him it was $80 for a month's supply, he turned finally turned to me to help "fix" him the natural way. I put him on a yeast-free-diet and oregano oil capsules. Basically he avoided all simple carbs (white rice, white flour products, all fermented foods and beverages, fungus foods like mushrooms, etc.) He followed the diet Mon-Fri about 95% but on the weekends he cheated alot. In less than 2 months he lost around 15 lbs and his acid reflux. No more meds needed. No more propping on pillows at night while laying on his right side. He could even bend over to wash the bottom of his car without acid coming up in his throat. That was 6 years ago. He rarely gets heartburn now unless he has been over-indulging in beer or refined carbs. And when he does get it, he uses about 1/2 tsp. baking soda in water to relieve it. No more "magic pills" for him. I suggest everyone using this stuff to do some research on the side-effects of it. You are slowly killing yourself. Proton pump inhibitors inhibit a lot more than acid production.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Ceci (Portland, Or) on 06/09/2012
Why should we not eat fermented foods? I had heard that if they are the right kind of fermented foods, they are good for us?
Licorice
Posted by GerdGuy (Yokohama, Japan) on 04/16/2009
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
I did further readings about Liquorice and I find something significant on its toxicity. I hope this helps, so be extra careful.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Licorice
Toxicity -
Excessive consumption of liquorice or liquorice candy is known to be toxic to the liver and cardiovascular system, and may produce hypertension and oedema. There have been occasional cases where blood pressure has increased with excessive consumption of liquorice tea, but such occasions are rare and reversible when the herb is withdrawn. Most cases of hypertension from liquorice were caused by eating too much concentrated liquorice candy. Doses as low as 50g daily for two weeks can cause a significant rise in blood pressure.
Licorice
Posted by Lynn G (Columbia, Maryland, USA) on 04/17/2009
To Denise in Huddersfield, UK. I'm glad to hear that licorice extract has helped your acid reflux symptoms. However, I believe that eliminating any "disease" condition is best done by changing and optimizing your diet with eating foods that help you and don't hurt you. Taking herbal remedies or prescription drugs treat only the symptoms and do not affect the underlying cause(s) of your problem(s).
I have written several posts today as responses to others' posts about acid reflux, so I won't repeat myself again. Please think seriously about trying a gluten-free diet for at least six weeks. I know that most people don't want to take on such a drastic step, but when you're sick enough of the acid reflux and of the side effects of prescription drugs, you should then be open to seriously addressing the actual cause of the "disease" condition.
One last thought, most NHS doctors in the UK are the same as the ones in the USA--they are focused entirely on eliminating symptoms with drugs. So, don't expect your doctor to be thrilled with any improvements that you will gain with drug-free options! (The doctor will be just as happy to see your back-side going out the door because there are many more patients in the waiting room to get their own 5 to 10 minutes with the pill-pushing doctor.)
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.
Orange Peel Extract
Posted by Leslie (New Castle, PA) on 06/17/2009
I took prescription medication for eleven years for acid reflux. I started to develop a twitch in my eye and noticed that it went away when I stopped taking the prescription. So I decided I had to find an alternative and I stumbled upon this website. It is the best thing that ever happened to me! After reading a ton of suggestions on how to get rid of my reflux problems, here's what I did to alleviate my acid reflux issues. At first my symptoms were horrible but hang in there it will get better. First I tried the ACV and baking soda and it helped a little bit but not enough. I then switched to 1,000mg. of orange peel extract and took it every other day for 20 days (I have some on hand in case it flares up). I noticed it is best to take the orange peel extract in the evening, otherwise you may find yourself burping alot throughout the day and it can be unpleasant. I noticed a big improvement but it still wasn't completely gone. I bought organic liquid aloe vera. I take it as directed everyday and things are going great! My reflux issues are minimal now.
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 Corkymoo (Buffalo, Ny) on 08/08/2011
Stay away from anything that has caffeine. Caffeine is a well documented LES relaxer. There is a lot of hard research on this. I only use decaffeinated products. I was told by a functional doctor ($) to use fish oil pills. I told her I had tried but could not tolerate them (severe indigestion). She stated I might have a leaky gut. Fish oil is a very good anti-inflammatory. She also stated they have them in enteric coated pills. These are what I now take. They are very helpful. Water is very helpful also. The trick to many things natural is getting good quality and timing of them. Never take large amounts of water right after a meal or during the meal. There is a large amount of poor quality herbs and supplements out there. You will have to try several brands before dismissing something. I have yet to find a cure for mine. My definition of that is when you have no problems after the cure and can dispense with the remedy.
Take Care!
Yogurt, Apples
Posted by Cheryl (Magnet, In) on 04/22/2012
An apple will stop acid reflux, not cure it but it really works to stop the gerd for the time being. Try it, it really, really works.. Store bought yogurt makes mine worse....
Yogurt, Apples
Posted by Lisa (Australia ) on 07/04/2016
hi I have bad acid reflux, sitting up straight helps, also every morning I drink a alkilizer, going to try turmeric, also had to cut my alcohol down to 2 drinks a week which helped a lot
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.
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.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Marie (Ny) on 08/08/2017
You are so right about the carbs, becuz I remember 12 yrs ago when I went on the Atkins diet for 4 months my heartburn went completly away!! I think I will try the paleo diet.
Peppermint
Posted by Gregory (Royal Oak, MI) on 11/30/2008
★★★☆☆WORKED TEMPORARILY
Peppermint! I have had Acid Reflux now for 6 years and tried medicine, which doesnt work, apple cider vinegar, which made me vomit, and all sorts of remedies. I tried a lifesaver peppermint and it temporarilly helps me stomach settle! Not a cure, and not sure if it will help you, but why not give it a try?
Directions: Simply eat one or two peppermints
Peppermint cured my burning throat pain for the night, however it doesn't end acid reflux either. I carry a bag of peppermints in my room when I get attacks.
Peppermint
Posted by Priya (Perth, Wa) on 03/01/2010
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
Hi, Just want to let you know that peppermint does give temporary relief BUT is a DEFINITE NO NO in the long run for all people who have reflux...it will surely make things worse after few months. It over-relaxes ur muscles and gives a temp. relief...but make things much worse. So do not consume on regular basis...
Antibiotics
Posted by Skinlady (Ridgefield, Wa) on 09/25/2009
This is in comment to Bill from the Philipines...
My late husband developed stomach cancer as the result of the pylori ulcer. He had indigestion and heartburn for almost a year, being given all kinds of anti-acids products to no avail...no antibiotics were given, however. After he demanded that they put a tube down in his stomach and see what was going on, did he get an answer. And of course it wasnt a good one......cancer. He was gone within 5 months! My advice... if you have heartburn or any kind of continuing indigestion, get on it immediately!@!! (his general practioner apologized to me later for letting him slip through his fingers).
Antibiotics
Posted by Dragon (Nyc, New York) on 10/21/2010
I hear sangre de drago is known to kill H pylori.
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.
Sauerkraut
Posted by Linda (Dayton, Ohio) on 11/17/2008
★★★★★
I noticed that saurkraut had not been mentioned for relief of acid reflux. I know that lots of german delis serve this with their meals....The fermentation of the kraut is really good for the digestive system...really helpful to decrease acid reflux.
Red Wine
Posted by Max (Tuxedo Park, NY) on 11/04/2008
★★★★★
a good red wine for acid reflux cure
Ok.....i just spent the last 6 hrs battling a severe case of acid reflux....i might deal with this 2 to 3 times a year, but this was the absolute worst....i actually thought it could be a heart attack so obviously that didn't help matters....i was popping pepsid and tums and downing bottled water to no avail....checked your website but had no applecider vinegar or baking soda. No way did i think red wine would do me any good, but i wanted to calm my mind so i poured two big glasses, drank them rather quickly about an hour ago....and its all gone...back to feeling myself again. Maybe someone could tell me scientifically how this could be?
Reader Theories
Posted by Ali (Portland, OR USA) on 11/01/2008
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Su (Nairobi, Kenya) on 10/31/2008
★★★★★
I had serious acid reflux and went the whole whack endoscopy, colonoscopy, etc also had gastrointestinal bleeding. Hpylori was the culprit so I was put on the antibiotic treatment and nexium for a month after wards. I got a little better then lapsed again into same condition. I discovered apple cider vinegar and was pleasantly suprised to see it worked for others for the acid reflux. I also discovered soda water, simple and effective for the reflux as well as green apples, eaten as needed when acid build up began.............use soda water or green apples.
I'm intolerant to berries, any berries fresh and even in jams, chocolate, coffee, tea etc
Now tryin hydrogen peroxide, 20 drops in half a glass of water on an empty stomach in the morning and before I slepp. It seems to work. No acid reflux. Excersise helps alot too. I run and swim. 5 minutes into running and no more acid reflux.
I'm still experimenting. Deep breathing and relaxing also help..........I feel when I am stressed I crunch my torso and disrupt the normal space of my stomach as well as tense my jaw and neck. I;m not fat, slimmish . I used to be on my feet most of the day, my problems started when my job entailed I spent alot of time sitting behind a desk and driving..............I blame the change in posture and pressure on my stomach when sitting alot. I also tend to forget to eat and only notice when the acid builds up...........am trying now to listen to my do body more and eat drink and excersise before the acid reflux symptoms.........Sometimes I win and have no problems for days , then I forget and slip back into the vicious cycle again. Anyone know if the hydrogen peoxide is dangerous long term?
Vitamin B-6
Posted by Pete (Eastbourne, UK) on 10/02/2008
★★★★★
I cured myself after suffering nightly with acid reflux i took vitamin B6 from 10-100mg until symptoms went and it works very rapidly, after spending countless pounds on over the counter medicates& Also good for hangovers, alcohol consumption, depression. If you're an alcoholic, it will seriously reduce your imbibing as B6 is present in alcoholic drinks.
Papaya
Posted by Rocky Raccoon (Humboldt, AZ) on 09/30/2008
★★★☆☆WORKED TEMPORARILY
Comment is regarding acid reflux. I have horrible daily heartburn at least two times per day. It has become progressively worse since 2000. During that year I was consuming almost 10 TUMS per day if not more. An old Civil Engineer (Russell Taylor) told me that TUMS cause Alheimers Disease because it contains Aluminum. So immediately, I decided to try papaya pills that he hightly reccomended. They work but only last a few minutes to a couple of hours. Reading about ACV has inspired me to give ACV a try. Hopefully it will make a difference. I'll keep you informed of my progress.
Sprouted Moong Lentils
Posted by Shak Kumar (San Jose, CA) on 09/06/2008
★★★★★
I have suffered from acid reflux for over 12 years, and over this period I tried several remedies (Prevacid, Zantac, Prilosec, Nexium, etc.) As long as I continued to take the medication, the acid reflux was contained, but would come back if I stopped taking the medication. I have also tried slippery elm, aloe vera juice, and apple cider vinegar. None proved to be effective. So about a 10days ago,on a friend's advise, I started eating two cups of RAW sprouted Moong lentil with every meal - lo and behold!! - the acid reflux has almost disappeared!!!!! Moong lentil is one of the very popular lentils in India and cna be found very easily in Indian grocery stores and health food stores. Moong sprouts have high concentration of enzymes, which greatly help in digestion of the food. Hence the stoamch does not have to produce as much acid as it did earlier. In addition, sprouts are classified as 'live' food with a bunch of other benefits like very high levels of vitamins and easy to digest proteins. I hope other people try this this natural remedy for acid reflux and I sure hope it works for them!!
Please make sure that you eat them RAW (enzymes get easily destroyed during the cooking process)
