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.
Cabbage
Posted by Connie (Youngstown, Oh) on 07/16/2012
★★★★★
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
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!!
Artichoke Extract, Aloe Vera
Posted by Maryb (Virginia Beach, Virginia / USA) on 06/20/2012
★★★★★
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!!
Apple Cider Vinegar, Baking Soda
Posted by Mary (San Francisco, Ca, USA) on 06/17/2012
★★★★★
Some one posted that when she took ACV, it gave her terrible acid reflux. Another lady told her to add a PINCH of baking soda to it. IT WORKS! I gave up taking ACV before because it caused acid reflux, too. So after I read the advice to add a pinch of soda, I gave it another try. Now I can drink 1 teaspoon of ACV, added a generous pinch of baking soda and a little honey; and I'm not experiencing acid reflux. THANK YOU so much!
Activated Charcoal
Posted by Susanrose (Orange County, Ca) on 06/14/2012
★★★★★
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.
Mustard
Posted by Tony (Hawhtorne, Ca) on 06/11/2012
When you said mustard is it the one in a bottle or mustard powder or some kind of grain?
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?
Mustard
Posted by Carla (Bellingham, Wa) on 06/06/2012
★★★★★
I just tried it this morning, 2 teaspoons mustard after many days of heart burn, nausea, etc. It has been about 15 minutes and I'm feeling relief already, I hope it will last!
HCL
Posted by Mama T (Sparks, Nv) on 05/28/2012
★★★★★
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.
Mustard
Posted by Connie (Linden, Al) on 05/23/2012
★★★★★
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.
Digestive Enzymes
Posted by Karen (Cumming, Ga) on 05/12/2012
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.
Kefir, Kombucha
Posted by Tina (Houston, Usa) on 05/08/2012
★★★★★
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.
Supplements
Posted by Louwrence (Rustenburg, North West South Africa) on 05/02/2012
Hi, Something that works for acid reflux is squeeze out 4 lemons & drink it undiluted & within 15 minutes you have relief.
Supplements
Posted by Cameron (Brisbane, Qld, Australia) on 04/30/2012
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.
Supplements
Posted by G Shannon (Eads, Tennessee) on 04/29/2012
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?
Supplements
Posted by Christine (Nottingham, England) on 04/29/2012
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
Aloe Vera
Posted by Mmsg (Somewhere, Europe) on 04/27/2012
Lisa, the posts about too LITTLE acid are probably right in the stomach acid department. What I am referring to is general acidity of your whole system. For that, alkalizing will slowly get to the root of the problem.
Aloe Vera
Posted by Heather (Leicester) on 04/27/2012
Hi Lisa, I would always recommend that anyone who has acid reflux symptoms and a swollen abdomen get a full check up from the doctor. My best friend had these symptoms before she was diagnosed with peritoneal cancer an early diagnosis is an advantage. Take Care and please follow Bills advice and get a thorough check up x
Aloe Vera
Posted by Maria (Alamo, Tx, Usa) on 04/27/2012
★★★★★
What I have tried for acid reflux and gastritis is aloe vera pills. When I am going to eat something I know I will regrtet, I take my pill right before and I am just fine. After I had gall bladder surgery, I was unable to continue with my bad habits (ex: sour & acidy junk foods)
Aloe Vera
Posted by Linda (New Haven, Ct, United States) on 04/26/2012
@ Lisa I agree with Bill & Joyce. I too was given medication to reduce my acid & that only made it worse. The acid made me cough constantly. My customers thought I was a smoker & kept trying to persuade me to quit smoking but I don't smoke! LOL
I would cough so badly that I threw up 2 or 3 times a day at work. The burning pain was dreadful. I really wanted off the pills and onto something that worked! Came to this site and tried the ACV & it worked beautifully. I took it faithfully with each meal & the acid attacks stopped as well as the coughing. Then I became a bit lax & took it less frequently & the acid came back. Just recently bought another 1 gallon jug & it's back onto my regimen of 2 tsp in 8 oz water three times a day.
Ditch the pills & try the ACV. You won't be sorry. It will help, just give it a fair try.
Linda :-)
Aloe Vera
Posted by Cachis (Reno, Nv) on 04/26/2012
Lisa, I had similar problems as you mentioned. I had a colonoscopy done, but specialist did not find anything. My family doctor said that I had acid reflux but I could not afford the medicine and he prescribed one from over the counter. Since new technology and doctors' knowledge did not find the reason of my symptoms I decided to stop all medicine (I do not recommend this in your own, talk with your doctor first) and test which one was making me ill.
I found out that a medicine for diabetes was causing stomach and back pain; fatigue; depression; constipation, and other problems. I asked to stop all meds for diabetes and gave me insulin if I needed any medicine. I had to find a doctor who was willing to change from pills to injections. Three months later, my stomach problems were gone and I stopped taking any medicine for diabetes, but my stomach kept bleeding every day constipated or not. I made a drink with cabbage and water. I blended half of a head of cabbage with 2 cups of water, let it rest for 30 minutes, and ate the top mixture during the day, three table spoons every three or four hours, until I ate the whole mixture -- I did not drink the water or juice below the mixture. I drank this mixture for three days between meals or 15 minutes before meals.
The book of raw fruits and vegetables juices and drinks by William, H. Provides a list of juices that could help with many illness and stomach problems with back pain is one of them. Do not stop asking and looking until you get what your body is asking to recuperate. Also, try the water treatment based on a Japanese theory, which is working for me to get rid of many problems caused by my stomach problems.
Good luck to you!
Aloe Vera
Posted by Joyce (Lansdowne, Pa) on 04/26/2012
I had the same problem with acide reflux. The dr prescribed nexium which I was taking. I do not like medication and the many side effects they caused so I decided to find a natural alternative and started with apple cider vinegar. This helped tremendously and I am happy to say I do not suffer from acid reflux anymore. I remember years ago in college I was having the same problem and my doctor told me to drink milk. I am lactose intolerant and drinking milk only made the condition worsen. The only thing that could help was to drink orange juice. The dr was baffled as she beleived that the orange juice would aggravate the condition. That just goes to prove that it is not an excess of acid but too little acid in the stomach. Try the ACV and I hope it helps. Start out with a teaspoon in 8 ozs water and instead of juice with your meal have a glass of water with ACV.
Aloe Vera
Posted by Bill (San Fernando, Philippines) on 04/26/2012
Hi Lisa... I am afraid the that medical thinking, concerning GERD and reflux problems, is simply not correct. The doctors will insist and simply assume that GERD and reflux problems are always caused by EXCESS acid. When, in actual fact, 90% of all reflux problems are usually caused by
TOO LITTLE acid in your stomach.
See this link:
http://metabolichealing.com/key-integrated-functions-of-your-body/gut/lack-of-adequate-stomach-acid-what-you-don-t-know-could-be-causing-major-distress/
This link goes right through to describe the reasons and also tells you exactly how you can check properly if you have TOO LITTLE STOMACH ACID. You can confirm whether you have too little or too much stomach acid by The Heidelberg pH Test. But this is quite an invasive check. They can also assess your problems and tell using another less invasive method using urine analysis, hair analysis and blood chemistry. I think naturopaths can also do this latter test.
Generally, if you take PPI's or proton pump inhibitors -- this massively and dangerously inhibits your stomach acid production and usually makes the problem much worse. And so when the undigested food passes into the duodenum, the CCK hormone (cholecystokinin) will not be released (stomach pH not low enough because of no stomach acid) to trigger the enzymes for main stage digestion and so very little duodenal digestion occurs. The food then just sits there and stagnates and rots giving rise to a whole host of other digestive problems in the body that usually involves dysbiosis, candida and other pathogenic bacteria rapidly taking hold in the stomach and upper intestines.
I helped a woman from Africa who had very similar symptoms to you. She had GERD, esophigitis, gastritis, systemic candida, colitis, LES and a whole host of other serious problems besides. She was also on PPI's and in quite a bad way. See this link for her complete symptoms, daily protocol and cure story. Her protocol is identical to The Anti-Candida Protocol that I normally recommend for Candida problems but I also included and added pancreatin enzymes and betaine hydrochloride tablets daily with every meal to help with the lack of stomach acid.
First thing you should do is get a complete doctor's check-up including blood and liver work up. Also I would ask your doctor for a proper and more accurate stomach acid check by one of the above methods that I have already mentioned.
I suspect that you will be severely lacking in stomach acid, severely lacking in energy and you will also be severely mineral deficient -- especially magnesium and iodine deficient -- all caused by the PPI's. This means that your calcium levels will be way too high --> excess blood calcium causes tissue pain, blood problems and also inhibits the absorbtion of iodine in the body, so you may well have low thyroid or hypothyroid symptoms as well (low energy, intolerance to hot/cold, low basal body temperature etc.).
Aloe Vera
Posted by Mmsg (Somewhere, Europe) on 04/26/2012
Lisa, sounds like over-acidity. Try alkalizing.
Aloe Vera
Posted by Lisa (Middle Village, New York) on 04/25/2012
I am 49 years old and diagnosed with Gerd about 2 years ago I am on 40mg of Nexium 2x a day, Baclofen 10mg 3 x a day (which they give to people with MS, it helps tighten the sphincter so the acid doesn't come up) and a medication called Domperidome 10mg which comes from England to Canada then to me in the states. The medication that they would give in the states has to many side effects that my Dr. recommended that instead. I still have severe trouble breathing, pain in chest in the rib cage. I feel the acid constantly coming up my throat all day long and burning in my throat. I have a constant bad odor and taste in my mouth and nothing helps. I can't sleep. I need to lose 40 lbs and that should help relieve the pressure from my abdomen.
The problem that I am having is I am in pre-menopause and I believe the medication that I am on makes me swell up so When I try and lose the weight I am always swelling with water and I can't get passed my 5lb mark that I lost 2 weeks ago. This is becoming very fustrating. I am afraid to try the apple cider vinager because I am afraid that it will burn the hell out of me. I get severe pain in chest and throat, trouble breathing. The acid makes me so physically sick sometime that I am so out of it I do not know how I function days. I also experience severe burning and back pain, too. Anyone have similar symptoms especially with the breathing and back pain? I can use any suggestions and help.
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....
Red Wine
Posted by Elizabeth (Cambridge, Ma Usa) on 04/05/2012
Very helpful. I've been working on this two months, am much better, trying to fine tune the "in between meals" problems. Tried red wine this evening, and was so pleased I went to the net. Please look up and consider the 6 mg. Melatonin per night approach, which has nearly taken away my symptoms, and the low carbohydrate diet approach. Melatonin reasons are beyond me. For low carb, many people have an imbalance between fungus and good biotics, and need to rebalance. The fungal contingent is happy eating carbs/sugar/fast burn refined anything. If that is your problem, a proprietary product called Candex is the best I've found (although there are many other herbal approaches). It takes months, but you will automatically lose weight (be prepared if you are thin), and it will balance out. Good luck to all, and thanks for the confirmation on red wine.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Michael (Dix Hills, New York) on 03/28/2012
★★★★★
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
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.
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.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Alex (Honolulu, Hi, United States) on 02/27/2012
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.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Tina (Houston, Usa) on 02/24/2012
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Shelley (Gadsden, Al, Usa) on 02/24/2012
★★★★★
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????
Papaya
Posted by Cindy (St George, Ks) on 02/22/2012
DOES THIS TAKE THE NASTY TASTE OUT OF YOUR MOUTH?
Papaya
Posted by Sara (Knoxville, Tennessee) on 02/19/2012
★★★★★
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.
Cayenne
Posted by Olddude (Chattanooga, Tn, Usa) on 02/08/2012 21 posts
★★★★★
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.
Mastic Gum
Posted by Cl (Morrow, Ca) on 02/06/2012
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!
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Jc (Manila, Philippines) on 02/05/2012
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.
