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.
Water
Posted by Hollyhock (Wellington, New Zealand) on 08/15/2011
★★★★★
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.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Marie (Ny) on 08/08/2017
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.
Licorice
Posted by Ali (Wales) on 05/05/2021
★★★★★
Elevated blood pressure can often be due to a sodium & potassium imbalance. The modern diet tends to be high in sodium & low in potassium, especially if little or no fresh fruit & vegetables are consumed. Whilst sodium can raise BP, potassium can lower it.
Licorice is often blamed for raising BP, however because potassium is likely required by components in the licorice in order for it to work properly in the body, it can potentially make an already existing potassium deficiency worse. The real issue may therefore not be the Licorice as such, but the lack of enough potassium.
In order to mitigate this possibility it is important to get enough potassium-rich foods in the diet generally, & especially if consuming Licorice root. Rather than removing the highly beneficial Glycyrrhizin, would it not make more sense to advise a higher consumption of potassium-rich foods?
Licorice has been used medicinally & highly beneficially for thousands of years. But it's only in the last century that dietary focus has veered from a more natural diet featuring abundant plant foods, to high sodium, low potassium highly processed, & high animal product consumption.
Digestive Enzymes
Posted by Jeff (Los Angeles, Ca) on 04/30/2011
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?
Alkaline Acid Diet
Posted by Carolyn (Hobbs, Nm) on 04/25/2010
★★★★★
I have read so very much on this site about those of us with Acid Reflux. I have tried everything and nothing seemed to work until I discovered that acid problems are caused by eating too many or too much food that produces acid. Then I discovered the alkaline diet which has wonderful foods on it and it has changed my life. There are still wonderful foods on this diet. I make a green smoothie for breakfast with spinach, a banana, an apple, and a handful of greens such as spring mix or any of the other dark lettuces or kale,collards, etc. I also add a scoop of Whey Protein and 1 T. Chia seeds. Then I add 8 oz. water and a small glass of ice. I blend all of this in my Vitamix and drink this power house of nutrition. I'm not even hungry at noon many times. Then for lunch and dinner I eat from the alkaline side of the alkaline acid chart that you can download after you google acid alkaline food list. When I eat like this I never burn or have acid problems and don't need acid drugs of any kind. It has been wonderful for me. I love snacking on dates, figs, other dried fruits, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds, etc. And isn't this the way God intended for us to eat? I also take Michael James minerals and potassium capsules because they also help to keep you alkaline. Chlorella is also alkaline. It helps too. This protocol works for everyone.
God Bless and good luck,
Carolyn
Aloe Vera
Posted by Katwoman (Bat Area) on 01/23/2016
★★★★★
Try Aloe vera liquid. So purified it taste like drinking water, does not have to be refrigerated. I even put it in my cats water and it's amazing what it does for their elimination as well. It makes your body more alkaline, help your skin and hair- about 2 ounces at least once a day for an adult.
Slippery Elm
Posted by Lenore (Chicago, Illinois) on 04/01/2009
★★★★★
My husband had a bad case of acid reflux for years and I found out about Slippery Elm Bark tea. I made him a cup of it and he drank it down and has not been bothered with it for months.Slippery elm bark tea is said to soothe and heal anything it comes in contact with and is very nourishing. The tea is reputed to stay in a sore and ulcerated stomach where nothing else can and can be purchased in powdered for at any health food store. By the way I love your website and told a friend about using ginger while undergoing chemo. He now thinks I am a genius and said it works so well that he can eat again and is gaining weight.
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.
Acidophilus
Posted by Ren (New Orleans , La) on 12/25/2008
★★★★★
Probiotics has helped me with my acid reflux tremendously. I take them daily before or after a meal and am very satisfied.
Mustard
Posted by Beanie (Burlington, NJ) on 12/10/2008
★★★★★
i cant believe that it actually works!!! but it freakin did 1 tablespoon, and its gone -- i cant believe it works.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Annette (Sacramento, Ca) on 12/02/2008
★★★★★
I am writing to tell you of a discovery I made when I stopped eating carbs for weight loss. As long as I kept off carbs, I had no, zero, nada acid reflux! So, I have come to the conclusion that for myself, carbs are the cause of my acid reflux. It is hard to avoid carbs without planning and it takes a week to clear the sugars from your muscles and liver...but soon you will not have cravings for carbs and I hope, no more acid reflux. Good luck!
Aloe Vera
Posted by Mostrefulxcannotbecured (Houston, Texas) on 07/08/2012
My reflux cannot be cured and most cannot be cured because most reflux is from hiatal hernias. Mine is a sliding hernia which causes acid to come up my esophagus, so how can that be cured? The acid can be nuetralized so it does not come up but not cured!!
Aloe Vera
Posted by Teresa (Rockford, Iowa) on 11/16/2010
★★★★★
Just read your thread and had to reply. Have been taking the ACV for months and it's great and my husband is also a big fan but recently my acid reflux has returned with a vengence. I snipped a leaf off my aloe plant out of desparation and chewed it. Lo and behold, I am writing this to say that immediatley my ar is gone and I am going to need to find another plant as mine is a bit small and may not survive me!! LOL
Mustard
Posted by V. Gillespie (Saint Louis, USA) on 09/16/2007
★★★★★
Mustard, regular prepared mustard that goes on a hotdog or sandwich quickly and completely cured intolerable acid reflux and heartburn. My husband told me to try it, so I swallowed a good tablespoon each time the reflux and heartburn came for a few days. It has been well over 6 years since and I have never had acid reflux or hearburn again. Mustard works amazingly.
Slippery Elm
Posted by Kathleen (New York, NY) on 09/04/2007
★★★★★
Acid Reflux - Slippery Elm -- Cured my acid reflux after trying everything for a year. A herbalist in my neighborhood said get a bottle of water and put 2 Tablespoons of powered slippery elm in it and sip it all day long. Also, the Thayer's Slippery-Elm lozenges -- you can let one after the other dissolve and always at night when I go to bed (and during the night). Put more slippery elm powder in a little water and drink it straight, after meals -- it will be a little thick, but it absolutely works.
Banana
Posted by Sean (Seattle, Wa) on 10/15/2009
How much water do/have you been drinking? The one thing that I have noticed about people with acid reflux...Not enough water and not enough fibrous foods. Cut out bleached white flower products and bleached white sugar/corn syrup products. They can easily account for 1/2 of your caloric intake if you don't wage a war on them. I feel that we are in the midst of a nutritional holocaust. Stick to natural foods. I know a lot of people that don't like water! They even go YEARS without getting enough. -Just a thought
Chamomile Tea
Posted by JohnnieLou ( Lawton, OK) on 02/20/2007
★★★★★
I had suffered from severe reflux for months. Nothing seemed to help. While surfing the internet, I found some information about chamomile tea helping with reflux. I bought the green tea with chamomile and started drinking it at the first sign of reflux and always about an hour before bedtime. The chamomile tea helped immediately and I no longer have reflux. I guess Peter Rabbit's Mom knew what she was doing when she gave him chamomile tea and put him to bed after he ate too much in Mr. McGregor's garden! Regular chamomile works as well as the green tea/chamomile combination.
Slippery Elm
Posted by Diane (Minster nr Ramsgate, UK) on 02/06/2007
★★★★★
I would like to recommend pure slippery elm powder (not slippery elm food which has flour in it) to help with acid reflux. Slippery elm when made up into a milkshake type drink (see tip at end of this for making it up without lumps!) has soothing properties, lines as it goes down, and is also nutritional. My children used to have slippery elm mixed with fruit such as stewed apple or apricots or banana as a cereal when they were bubbies. They loved it. Anyway, re: acid reflux - it will not instantly make it go away but will help soothe some of the symptoms and calm the volcanic eruptions a bit if drunk fairly frequently, especially when one has the symptoms of heartburn or sore throat etc. I think used in conjunction with yoghurt (or even better pre and pro biotic capsules) and the apple cider remedy, as well as of course changes to ways of living, it would be very good. I cannot say it will be as I have not tried the ACV remedy yet - but I intend to! My husband has ulcerative colitis and drinking slippery elm has really helped him as well as natural anti-inflammatories such as turmeric, taking pre and pro biotics, and taking flaxseed oil. Has anyone tried ACV for ulcerative colitis btw? Oh before I forget...I said I would give a tip for making up slippery elm without the lumps. This is how my hubby and I do it: Put two heaped teaspoonfuls of slippery elm in a mug. Bring kettle to boil but before pouring into mug, put a covering of cold water over the powder in the mug. DO NOT STIR yet though but stir as you are pouring in the hot water. Leave some room at the top for adding milk (we use soya milk btw as this suits my husband's UC more, but other types of milk are ok if you can drink them). Diane :-)
Betaine Hydrochloride
Posted by Katzie (Canada) on 11/18/2022
OR - you could try Manuka Honey, which is great for acid reflex and heartburn. Many Naturopaths prescribe it for same.
And since HCL is what you have used with success, wouldn't ACV be cheaper and work just the same?! ; also its easier to find!
Betaine Hydrochloride
Posted by John (USA)
★★★★★
If apple cider vinegar cures acid reflux then you do not have enough acid. An acid supplement like Betaine Hydrochloride can work wonders. It did for me. I lived on acid reducers until I figured it out. Quick test take a teaspoon of baking soda on empty stomach. A good belch with normal stomach acid should occur in 2-3 minutes. Mine took 15-16 minutes. Goodbye to Nexium/Prevacid etc.
Ginger Ale
Posted by Douglas (Toronto, Ontario)
★★★★★
This is my dad's remedy. One day I had heartburn and my dad suggested drinking ginger ale. With the equivalent of only two tablespoons worth, the heartburn was gone instantly. I hope he isn't too upset with my sharing of his remedy. Also, it is a theory of mine that heartburn can be cured with any kind of pop or carbonated beverage.