Natural Remedies for Acid Reflux Relief

Dietary Changes

Posted by Poornima (Mumbai, India) on 03/24/2007
★★★★★

I used to cough for a year when ever I went to sleep. I tried all the cough remedies i could find but there was no use. Finally one doctor told me that the reason could be i have mild acid refulx ( i never had heart burn or anything like that) i tried a lot of anti acid medication... it did not help. what finally helped was eating dinner early. Also avoid gasy foods like lentils for dinner. My dinner was light. Apple also helps but do not have it immediately after dinner. Avoid coffee and tea if possible.

Aloe Vera

Posted by Toni (Palm Desert, CA) on 02/27/2007
★★★★★

I have bouts of acid reflux, and am therefore intrigued by the Apple Cider Vinegar remedy. Like a number of the people who responded to your posting, I, too, ended up in the emergency room on more than one occasion surrounded by perplexed physicians. Since I won't take pharmaceuticals, I began experimenting with natural remedies, and have found that taking an ounce of Whole Leaf Aloe Vera Concentrate before each meal stops any unpleasant symptoms. Interestingly, aloe tastes a little like ACV. In addition to the aloe, I have found that chewing each mouth-full of (wholesome) food thoroughly before swallowing helps enormously. This takes much of the digestive burden off of the stomach. It's important to eat your meal slowly, chewing each bite of food until it's totally pulverized. Too many of us eat under stressful conditions, devouring our meal like it's the first we've seen in days. DGL-500 (deglycyrrhizinated licorice), Ayurved series, is also quite helpful when taken between meals or at bedtime. It helps to protect the stomach lining, and unlike regular licorice, will not elevate blood-pressure.

Olives

Posted by David (Annapolis, Maryland) on 02/06/2007
★★★★★

Great page. Thank you all. Along with ACV recipe #2, I would like to add that I have found Olives to be excellent against reflux and easier than pickle juice to swallow. They are PH neutral and some brands contain Sodium Alginate in the brine. Can anyone out there elaborate more on Sodium Alginate? From what I've read it sounds like studies are finding conclusive advantages. Along with apples and olives, other diet changes include a switch to snacking on almonds, raisins and Green tea with maple syrup.

Reader Theories

Posted by Eileen (Rockville Centre, NY) on 01/30/2007

I tried norm robillard's low carb diet for my acid reflux. By day 3 my pain was lessened and by the end of the week, I felt normal. I cannot eat extra carbs for more then 2 days for by day 3 I'm sick with another irritation. I just can't eat any sugary or starchy foods, too many carbs I guess. Not eating bread at all reduces my symptoms just enough that I know I feel a little better. It's just so hard to stay away from. I also get less stomach problems and my bowels don't work much different now then they did when I ate all that fiber and high carb foods. Maybe it will take awhile before everything changes. I wonder if starving out the bacteria in my colon will eventually change my bathroom habits.

Water

Posted by Lawrence (Green River, Wyoming) on 01/17/2007
★★★★★

I first got GER...D 5 years ago at age 75. The Dr. wrote GER on the paper, the clerk added a D to make it match the TV commercials. Was prescribed Nexium, took it for two weeks while researching acid reflux on the web. I concluded that acid is necessary for proper digestion. A Dr, Spreen wrote that the problem is low acid, especially for older people, he recommended juicing some ginger and taking a teaspoon a day. I found the ACV info and tried it with some success. I tried raspberry vinegar, it helps also. I tried Betain HCL pills and Twin Labs super enzyme caps with food, if it is fatty two pills work well. putting any vinegar on food helps me. Some people dip bread in fancy vinegars. Dr. Batmanj??? cured everything with water while he was in jail. If I have an acid attack during the day I start drinking water and keep on drinking it until the pain stops; it has always worked, sometimes it takes three half liter bottles. The LEF site claims Limonine cures some people.

Water

Posted by Cindy (Wichita, KS) on 07/03/2008

Dr. Batman's "watercure" ended 30 years of indigestion and acid reflux in the time it took me to drink 2 glasses of water. I never drank plain water. I have since done a great deal of research on dehydration and have a theory that all water consumed in other things belongs to the colon. Even juice is processed like food, by the body. Nothing is processed in the same manner as plain water on an empty stomach and if one doesn't drink it, the body must steal the water it needs from the colon. And it needs water for every single process.

Everything the body does requires plain water. Even the emergency dehydration mode that steals water from the colon requires water to operate properly so that your body must steal water to use in the process of the theft AND to keep you alive.

The body processes plain water, on an empty stomach, differently than it process anything else. You need plain water. That's all there is to it. The body doesn't "make" water except in a dehydration emergency at which point it steals water from the colon. The whole body operates differently - in emergency mode - when it is dehydrated. So differently that most medical testing is useless because it doesn't take into account the widespread epidemic of chronic dehydration in the pool of test subjects.

Anyway, there are books and things that explain the science but the formula is free and the only expense is sea salt.

I'm glad to be able to share this here. The only reason I can is because I discovered the dangers of dehydration after being sent home from the hospital to "get my affairs in order". Well, I got them in order all right! AND cured my chronic indigestion! I'm currently the healthiest person I know despite smoking for over 30 years and drinking coffee even longer!! Both are extremely bad, but coffee is the worst as the body requires 1 and 1/2 cups of plain water to filter out the toxic caffeine in one cup of coffee. The Dr. even said that compared to drinking caffeine drinks, cigarettes are health food. Fortunately, thanks to EarthClinic, I've just discovered the wonders of hydrogen peroxide which has significantly reduced my craving for cigarettes! Thanks EarthClinic!!

Papaya

Posted by Ted (Los Angeles, CA) on 01/17/2007
★★★★★

I achieved instant relief from acid reflux and all indigestion in the Philippines. The small papayas, even a small slice, would do it. Some of the small Papayas from Hawaii are good but the Mexican variety we get in L. A. will not work.

Dietary Changes

Posted by Gabi (Czestochowa, Poland) on 01/14/2007
★★★★★

I have comments on Acid Reflux. I suffered for many years using as a treatment over counter remedies, whatever people advised me, etc. nothing was helping. It was life in a hell. My acid reflux was so strong that it was getting into my throat and I was chocking on it! It was usually causing inflammations combine with high fever like bad case of bronchitis or pneumonia. the last three years my acid reflux joined forces with Irritable Bowel Syndrome and bleeding stomach ulcer (had only 2 episodes of bleeding ulcer).Family doctor told me that there is no cure for it and I have to start learning how to live with it!It forced me to look for cure on my own. I discover that main reason was diet. I was eating healthy but... I did change everything in one day and week later... That's right! Just one week later ALL symptoms were gone! I removed from my diet all products made of flour, all carbohydrates.

I was eating undercooked vegetables, fish, healthy oils, yogurt. Adding spoon of yogurt to jar of milk I was making soured milk. Lot, lot of cabbage, cauliflower and brocooli. I know that main think is to keep PH balanced. It means nothing acid forming! I don't take acidophilus. Yogurt and soured milk do the trick. To keep good level of that friendly bacteria (is expelled from your body every day!) learn to eat sour kraut. Eat it raw or cooked. Add to your diet a lot of lemons. Stomach ulcer, IBM &Acid Reflux are gone. Oil Pulling was another great "tool". Arthritic pain was gone in 10 days. Swollen joints needed almost a year to get back to normal state. Now I eat VEGAN diet and I feel great! I look much younger and my energy level is high

Dietary Changes

Posted by Joyce ( Joelton, TN) on 11/16/2007

To Gabi (11/14/07) from Czetochowa, Poland It sounds like you were eating good - but were still eating white bread? If so, try eating l00% whole grain bread and see if your problems return. When trying to eliminate bleached flour products from the diet, you must really exercise your common sense. My brother told me it didn't work. I then pointed out to him that the chicken noodle soup he had just eaten about 30 minutes before, probably had bleached flour noodles in it. Another fellow told me that getting bleached flour out of his diet didn't work. Qestioning brought out "Ive been eating the hell out of saltine crackers" which were made with bleached flour. Most soups, gravies and lots of other foods are thickened with bleached flour.

Non-Alcoholic Beer

Posted by Robert (Orlando, FL) on 01/13/2007
★★★★★

The intestinal problems I'm referring to are caused by too much acid reaching the intestines. I've found that some packaged juices such as grape juice, tomato juice and apple juice, contain a lot of acid and can eventually cause intestinal pain when overdone. I attribute that to the acid eating away at the lining of the GI tract and causing irritation and ulcers. The obvious thing that's called for in those cases is to cut out these beverages. However, even though I used to suffer from such GI tract irritation to where I had to cut out my favorite beverages, I found a way to get around that problem and drink all the fruit juices I wanted without any problems at all and have been doing so for many years now. What I found is that if non-alcoholic "beer" or brew (I prefer Miller or Coors) is drunk at the same time as these juices (I mix them together for a good fizzy drink) I can, and do, drink as much juice as I want without any of the normal problems I used to get. Plus I find it to be a healthy and tasty alternative to soda drinks. I don't know what it is about beer that neutralizes the effects of acid in the GI tract, but it works every time.

Yogurt

Posted by Michael (Buford, GA) on 01/11/2007
★★★★★

What helps acid reflux: 3 Yogurts a day, 5 small meals, plenty of water, and fiber. Also get up.... Sitting around or laying around will not help reflux what so ever. Walk around the block. Walk at the mall, stay somewhat active and upright. Don't know about curing, but seems to happen alot less, unless I do something stupid like eat spicy foods for a month and think I'm cured. It will always bites back if you bite first.

I agree with the woman about the yogurt. Although I am trying the AVC as of today. I also have had back surgery back in the mid 90's and could drink hot sauce out of the bottle at the time, but after tylenol, Ibuprofen, and pain killers I have joined the masses with reflux and stomach problems, and don't forget constipation. I do feel that at least three yogurts ad ay and as much fiber and water as you can get your hands on through the day helps, along with the staying somewhat active as possible and upright at least until the symptoms go away. Then just pay attention to your diet. America may be great but we eat like dogs, and I don't have the same stomach as a dog. Please just know this is my body and not yours, so your may need different attention.

Dietary Changes

Posted by Margaret (Eugene, OR) on 12/27/2006
★★★★★

My heartburn and acid reflux were getting worse and worse, then I was diagnosed with type II diabetes. After reading about 20 books I decided low carb was the way to go so I didn't need to take any meds. After switching to a very low carb diet, not only was my blood sugar in control and I started losing about a pound a week, unexpectedly my acid reflux totally disappeared as well as most of my body aches. It's seriously scary the ADA recommends diabetics eat carbs for diabetes -- pretty much dooms them to needing meds all of which have side effects. One article I read (recent Men's Health Magazine article) likened it to the American Heart Association recommending we eat trans fats.

Reader Theories

Posted by Mae (Suffolk, Va) on 03/13/2012

Hi, I have reflux very bad had to stretch and still food seem like it is stuck but it is going down. Doctor don't know what that feeling coming from can anybody reach out to me and give me some pointer that I might want to look at. Thanks- have been to ear and throat doctor and they just say they see reflux. I am so sad I can't eat anything but soft food.

Reader Theories

Posted by Sandra (Humboldt, Tn) on 07/31/2012

same here, I am going to gastro doc tomorrow for a consult. Regular doc thinks I might have narrowing of the espohgas which can be caused by reflux. I hope not because I have heard that if you have these sidtures then you will have to keep having your throat stretched to open it back up. It is bad when even water won't go down like it is supposed to.

Reader Theories

Posted by SJ (TENNESSEE) on 09/27/2021

I would love to get your advice on my issue. I have acid in my arms legs and back as well as my stomach. I'm very acidic and I've tried everything. Thank you!

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

Reader Theories

Posted by Johnny (London, Ontario, Canada) on 04/14/2009

read your comments re: hiatal hernia on another website . .. you were dead on regarding stressed diaphram & psoas & quadratus laborum being stressed . . found a chiro to massage these aeas & all acid indigestiong diappeared . . he was conviced all of this was primarily a back injury causing weakness in diaphram .. . he aleady knew all this but your website put me on the right track! you need a seasoned chiro: mine is 30 years of experience trained in applied kinesology so he found the site of weakness very quickly! thank you so much for this invaluable info.

Reader Theories

Posted by Rosemary (Trenton, NJ) on 11/18/2006

I had acid reflux (see my posted message from March, 2006). I am finally getting back to you with what did finally cure me. The apple cider vinegar I tried did not work. What did work was eating a good quality yogurt several times a day along with two acidophilus/bifodophilus capsules with a high bacterial count. I took the capsules 3 times a day with each meal. I did this for 3 weeks straight. That is how long it took for the symptoms of acid reflux to totally subside. The yogurt was very cooling and it contains a lot of good bacteria. I ate a cup in the morning, then I had a half a cup after lunch and after dinner. During the day, I would take a tablespoon full periodically to help cool the throat. I had good results after one week, but it did not totally subside until the end of the 3 weeks.

I came to the conclusion by putting together these two known facts.

(1) Stomach ulcers are caused by a bacteria and many people with stomach ulcers are aspirin users.
(2) Antibiotics cause diarrhea because it destroys the good bacteria in the intestines. All one needs to do is to take acidophilus during and after taking taking antibiotics to avoid diarrhea and loose bowel problems.

Armed with this information....the more I thought about the sudden problem I had developed with acid reflux, the more I thought it must be related to a bacteria problem (either not enough good or too much bad). Since I try to eat a healthy diet, I could not see why I would suddenly develop this "disease". Therefore, I banked on the idea that ibuprofen was probably destroying the good bacteria which allowed the bad bacteria to attack the esophagus. I have to say, I have stopped taking pain pills except on rare occasions. I started exercising (biking) and my knee is now 80% better than it was before. One other new fact that has just come out about ibuprofen is that it also inhibits muscles from strengthening. I heard about this through a friend - I believe one of the universities did a study with athletes and they discovered this about the athletes who took ibuprofen either before, during or after training.

Warnings

Posted by Jeisea (Byron Bay, Australia) on 11/09/2006
★☆☆☆☆

WARNING!

Someone on here asked about cough and reflux. My son had a chronic cough and was treated for asthma. He was in the worst category for asthma. He never had a wheeze. He just had a chronic cough. When he was finally diagnosed with reflux, he had developed Barrett's Oesophagous, a pre cancerous condition. Reflux causes asthma. The meds for asthma cause reflux. You see his problem. He had a laproscopic fundoplication operation which completely stopped reflux. He hasn't had asthma at all since. If you are coughing it could mean your reflux isn't under control. Chronic reflux isn't safe.

Warnings

Posted by Ali (Portland, OR USA) on 11/01/2008

Re: Posting of 11/09/2006 by Jeisea from Byron Bay, Australia: Please tell us the age of your son, and if he had any problems after having fundoplication surgery. Thanks

Dietary Changes

Posted by Moira (Topeka, Kansas) on 10/06/2006
★★★★★

To All: All acid reducers, PPH's, steroids, allergy meds, antibiotics and anti-inflammatory agents compromise digestion. Protein is the hardest to digest, so it's logical to assume reactions to high protein foods, like eggs, etc would occur while on certain meds. Stop all meds - eat 6 small, healthy meals - no alcohol, coffee or citrus, exercise and find a homeopathic procedure that might soothe you, like ACV, Aloe, whatever, but just try one at a time for 3 or 4 weeks. Reduce stress, get tons of fresh air, laugh more, think good thoughts. Be patient, you will heal and get better. Oh, yeah, stay away from doctors.

Dietary Changes

Posted by Cathy (Basin, Wyoming) on 09/28/2006
★★★★★

In reading Type A Diet I found Type A's need extra biles and acids to break down the food in their stomach so when I get acid reflux I take lemon juice and it is cured in minutes.

Pears

Posted by Joanne (Littleton, MA) on 09/02/2006
★★★★★

One night after being awaken by a throat full of "acid", I decided to try eating a pear to cool down my burning throat and discovered that eating just a few bits, I know longer felt any burning or pain.