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.
Apple Cider Vinegar and Baking Soda
Posted by Mich (Reno, Nv Usa) on 02/01/2010
★★★★★
I started having this burning sensation in my chest after eating, right above my diaphragm. It was obvious to me that it was at the end of my esophagus. I also noticed that food tended to get lodged there easily & I had to drink something to force it down into my stomach. This had been going on for about two weeks--I never had it before, so I knew something was wrong. I just assumed I had heartburn, so when I looked it up in a medical book, I found out there is no cure, but only treatments. I do not like to take medications of any kind. One evening I was so uncomfortable with this heartburn, that I decided to G----le "heartburn" (becoming desperate for relief at that point) & came across this site immediately (thank goodness!). The moment I started reading about using ACV, it got my attention but I had my doubts. So many people were saying it helped, so I put down the computer & immediately got the ACV (I use for salad dressing) from my cupboard & mixed 2 Tablespoons in about 10 oz of warm water. I immediately drank it slowly & within minutes I seemed to get some relief. The next day I did it again but added 1/4 teaspoon of Baking Soda (that I just bought to deodorize my refrigerator) and although I didn't like the taste of it, I still drank it. I'm on my 3rd day now & I really do feel better--no heartburn today. I will alternate adding baking soda to my water every other time I do it. I'm concerned about the enamel on my teeth, so I rinse my mouth immediately &/or brush my teeth right after I drink this concoction. I also feel less bloated, so I think this drink helps relieve the inflammation in my intestines as well as the end of my esophagus because I'm not getting that food lodging there as I used to. I am so glad I found this site and this remedy (because I would not have wanted to waste my time going to a doctor just to have them put me on medications that probably won't work.) I also do not like to have medications in my body. I only take vitamins & an occasional aspirin for headaches. So far, I would say this (Ted's) recipe (ACV Baking Soda Water) works, or at least gives me tremendous relief. I simply use the regular brand (H---z) used for Salad Dressing, but I think I will go to T----r J--s & get the B----s, just to see if it is any better. For now, I am happy to use what I already have in my cupboards. This works for me. I hope this helps anyone that maybe has a mild case of heartburn. By the way, I am a 55 yr-old female.
EC: Ha ha! Thanks for the self-editing! Trader Joe's does not sell B----gs (at least not at ours), just their own brand of organic acv.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Jl (Atlanta, Georgia) on 01/31/2010
Honey can be FATAL for infants! Botulism spores can survive in honey's anaerobic environment, but are not concentrated enough to harm older children and adults. Infants however could die from the small amount of spores in honey. So, DON'T GIVE HONEY TO INFANTS! Of course you didn't know and I'm glad your daughter's okay. A lot of people don't know honey is dangerous for infants.
Mustard, Pickle Juice
Posted by Jl (Atlanta, Georgia) on 01/31/2010
★★★★★
I almost never have heartburn but had a terrible episode last night. Decided to check Earth Clinic for ideas and the mustard seemed like something I could keep down. The heartburn was so bad I thought I was going to start throwing up, so had to be careful what I ingested. Didn't think I could handle undiluted ACV, as many people apparently have used with success. I used about a teaspoon of mustard. No problem getting it down. As I was putting the mustard away I saw the pickle jar so thought I try that, too. I downed about a shot glass full of pickle juice. I guess the pickle juice and mustard work because they're made with vinegar, but far tastier than straight ACV. By the time I walked to my bedroom to go to sleep the heartburn was gone!
Apples
Posted by Jim (Lapeer, Michigan) on 01/19/2010
★★★★★
After reading your site and seeing all the feedback about apples helping with heartburn, I decided to take the test. I abruptly quit my OTC heartburn medicine, which I had been taking for many years. I started eating an apple when I felt heartburn coming on or before bedtime. Almost a week later I am happy to say I am heartburn free! I've struggled with both heartburn and acid reflux for many years and this is the best I have felt in some time! Thank you for your site and to the many readers who had given their feedback! I am going to tell everyone about this miracle for me!
Mustard
Posted by Melissa (Attica, Ohio) on 12/04/2009
★★★★★
I suffer from chronic heartburn, I woke up at 2:30 a.m. and I felt like my chest and throat were on fire. I did not have any anti-acids so, I tried yellow mustard, the heartburn got worse for about 5 mins.then it completly went away. I have tried this several times after that and it works great.(My grandmother who is from Kentucky uses this all the time)
Mustard
Posted by Junior (New York, Ny) on 11/16/2009
★★★★★
THIS WORKS!!!!! was suffering with heartburn for a few days, was desperate and looking for a natural remedy.. found this website and used the teaspoon of mustard.. My pain stopped within 5 minutes.
Apples
Posted by Kelly (Cincinnati, Ohio) on 11/11/2009
★★★★★
A very good remedy for constipation and heartburn is: peel and core apples (sweet or sour) put them in a freezer ziploc bag (add 1 tablespoon of bottled lemon juice 2 tablespoons of water/gal. bag) and freeze. They come out like really good applesauce and are well worth the time spent. Here in Ohio when winter rolls around the apples are 3x the price and have no flavor. If you suffer from chronic constipation and heartburn they will especially help if you eat before bedtime. Hope this helps someone. God Bless.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Crazydogjack (New Castle, Pa, USA) on 10/09/2009
Hi Lanette,
For me, orange juice triggers heartburn and acid reflux. Try it just with water. You get used to it. I actually enjoy drinking it now.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Lanette (Sacramento, Ca) on 10/09/2009
I would like to know if there is any problem with taking ACV with orange juice for heartburn. Thanks!
Mustard
Posted by Leelannee (Sussex, Nj) on 09/25/2009
If you do pick up some mustard packets from a public place...please wash them!!! So many people handle them...they may get dropped on the floor...who knows!!! If you're sucking the mustard straight out of the packets rather than squeezing it out onto a spoon or something...I just shudder to think what you might be ingesting. Ick!
Celery
Posted by Barron (Sarnia , Ont) on 09/21/2009
Hi..when I get Heartburn..I put a tablespoon of vinegar in a half glass of water..and take a couple of gulps..and within 10 seconds my heart burn goes away..it really works..try it.
Celery
Posted by Bobbi (Smithfield, Pennsylvania) on 09/20/2009
really really bad heart burn... I have Barret's Disease, and the only thing i've found was presription. I think I am going to try the celery --- seems much cheaper. I'm talking pain from heartburn that one could confuse as a possible heart attack. the pain goes right through into my back, and in my shoulder. if any one has any other suggestions PLEASE PLEASE post them; as a chronic heartburn sufferer you know what it's like to live with every day.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Leelannee (Sussex, Nj) on 08/26/2009
I read somewhere here on earthclinic that if you take too much ACV, your stomach makes less of it's own acid. I've used the water cure with good success (using unrefined sea salt or celtic salt). A lot of people seem to have success with the mustard method, too. I'm going to try that, as I've been slacking off on the salt lately & the burn is returning!
Lemons
Posted by Jay (Johannesburg, South Africa) on 08/26/2009
★★★★★
Hi, I stumbled across this site at work today and have been reading all the great remedies on it. However, I see ACV works for a number of things mainly heartburn. I just thought that I should also comment on how Lemon juice is great for AR/Heartburn. I heard about this as an old folk storie from my Grandmother.
What you do is take a small glass, and just fill the bottom of the glass with Lemon Juice, then dilute it with about a half or a quarter full with water. Then gulp it down in one go. It works like a charm for me, and I must admit I have tried almost every other remedy out there, most of which only gave temporary relief.
Mustard
Posted by Natalie (Mckinleyville, Ca) on 08/26/2009
★★★★★
Mustard Heartburn Remedy
I am 22 years old, and a while back I was experiencing absolutely horrible heartburn which seemed to come out of no where. I would get heartburn after practically everything I ate (whether acidic or not), which became very frustrating. I would finish an entire bottle of acid reducing pills within a little over a month, which I was sure couldn't be that healthy for my body. I went to this website and read about PLAIN YELLOW MUSTARD as a natural heartburn remedy, and decided to give it a try. Every time I was experiencing heartburn (slightly or severely) I would swallow probably a TABLESPOON worth of yellow mustard. I would feel almost instantaneous relief of the discomfort, and the heartburn would go completely away within probably 10-15 minutes. I kept up with this remedy, and am happy to say that I haven't taken a SINGLE acid reducing pill since!
SOME GOOD TIPS:
1) Try not to drink any liquids soon after you swallow the mustard, or you will just wash it all down. If you don't like the taste of mustard, just swish water in your mouth and spit. It should help reduce the taste.
2) GRAB INDIVIDUALLY WRAPPED MUSTARD PACKETS WHENEVER POSSIBLE!! If you are in a restaurant, gas station, grocery store, casino, etc. that has a condiments section somewhere, grab a bunch of mustard packets! You can keep them in a bag in your purse, car, backpack, etc. for when you experience heartburn while on the go! It's self contained, convenient and free! :)
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Brian (Lexington, Kentucky) on 08/25/2009
★★★☆☆WORKED TEMPORARILY
Initial results good then I hit a wall... I started out last Sunday with 2tsp ACV, 2tsp honey, dash of cinnamon and 10 ounces of water 3 times a day. I saw immediate results and was mostly heartburn free. One night I had to get up in the middle of the night and took an extra dose due to heartburn and it knocked it out. Last night, which was Wednesday I got heartburn after dinner, nothing unusual about the dinner and it would not go away. I took my normal dose at bedtime and it did nothing. I tried again about 4 hours later and nothing. I am discouraged because it was working well. Should I take more ACV or less. I am confused, help.
Lime Peel Tea
Posted by Kellysam (Nassua, Bahamas) on 08/13/2009
★★★★★
I have been recently diagnosed with Gerds after a recent flare up, for the last three weeks i have been using every suggestion i have found , none with lasting benefits. After having heartburn for three days i tried lime tea, that is the skin of one lime, peeled off and brewed in hot water, drinking that with a little sugar or without throughout the day, at least three times has helped to relieve and even rid me of my heartburn. Also i found that i was not making enough bowel movements, this i believe can increase heartburn, because the stomach is not emptying fast enough so gases and acids are released upwards.So a good colon cleanse as also been of great help.
Magnesium
Posted by Miranda (Passau, Bavaria, Germany) on 07/30/2009
★★★★★
Despite eating a healthy diet and getting regular exercise, I suffered from really bad heartburn for over 10 years. At first I just used antacids the doctor prescribed, but I realised that was just covering up the symptoms.Then my heartburn got so bad that I suffered from it almost all the time, especially during the night. The doctor diagnosed reflux and for 3 years I took pills daily to prevent an attack. He even advised me to have an operation. One Friday I ran out of pills. That afternoon I got a really bad cramp in my leg that lasted about a quarter of an hour and was so painful I nearly passed out. In agony, I took two 80 gr. magnesium pills at once and four more spread out over the next 12 hours. Then I took 3 pills a day for the next 2 days, after that one pill a day. When the weekend passed I realised I hadn't had any heartburn all weekend, despite not having taken any heartburn pills. Now I take a magnesium supplement every day and haven't had any heartburn or reflux for two years. It was like a miracle and it certainly gave me a new lease of life.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Irena (LA, CA) on 07/22/2009
★★★★★
It's 3 in the morning and I had such bad heartburn I was throwing up! I went to my computer to look up a natural cure since it'd be too inconvenient to go to the store. just one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar saved me!! This site is awesome. Thank you!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Ed (Green Bay, Wisconsin) on 07/20/2009
★★★★★
I dont believe it, it really worked!...I was thinking to myself I bet someone is sitting behind their keyboard laughing their butt off thinking how many people are going to try this. Well I am gullible and I tried both ACV (mixed with pure maple syrup because I have no honey) and then I took a big gulp right out of the pickle jar!...yup they both worked. I did 2 teaspoons of ACV and then poured in the syrup (took a minute for the syrup to mix in with it) and boy is it NASTY!...but it works, it burned pretty bad for about 15-20 seconds after and then POOF it was gone!...then I decided for extra measure id slam some pickle juice. We recently got ACV because my wife found that mixed in with the pets' water its a great cure to rid fleas, otherwise we wouldnt even have it in the house. I have had GERD for about 10 years now and I have been taking prilosec as well as zantac and the like, and when I run out I use baking soda mixed with water and that almost makes me puke everytime, but also works. in a pinch I would suggest this to anyone, it really works!!!...no more water and baking soda for me, this is far more tolerable.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Emily (Biddeford, Maine) on 06/22/2009
For the person wondering if we're being duped by formula companies, this is from the Weston A. Price Foundation's webite:
"A mere fifty years ago, part of the preparation for women during pregnancy, aside from a diet enriched by special animal foods, was the scouting out of a cow that would be given the best of pasture and whose milk would be available to the infant throughout its infancy. Today we know that we should dilute the milk and add other whole foods, but even before we knew these things, thousands of babies thrived on rich whole milk from a variety of animals. Yet some of the strongest words in the medical literature today are aimed at commercial formula's only competition-homemade formula based on cow or goat milk.
Today the new mother who finds herself struggling with nursing, and frantic at the frequent cries of her baby, is first told that she should have more confidence. When she gives in to the inevitable and switches to bottle feeding, she is told that formula made in factories is better than milk produced by living animals. Another formula customer is born.
Milk
Posted by Carrie (Halifax, NS, Canada) on 06/08/2009
Milk (Dairy) is in the Acid Family. At the time of consumption milk offers immediate relief from acid reflux symptoms, but this is only temporary and the reflux will return. A trick that really works for me is not consuming liquid 30 minutes before and 45 minutes after food consumption. Water (liquids) often times slow digestion and digestive fluids, thus contributing to acid reflux and slow digestion. Hope this helps!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Pat (Tulsa, Ok) on 06/05/2009
★★★★★
I've suffered from heartburn for about 8 years. I've had to take omeprazole for the last 3 years. I started taking raw, unfiltered ACV. No heartburn for over two weeks now. I take a 16.9 fl. oz. bottle, take one drink, & then fill it back up with ACV. It also seems to suppress appetite as well.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Patty (Suburban Philadelphia, PA USA) on 06/03/2009
Just a follow up on the ACV comments I made.. I had a great first 5 days on ACV then heartburn started to creep back in. I wes so disappointed. I took one heartburn pill one day, skipped a day and then heartburn OTC H2 blocker again. All the while taking the 2 teaspoons organic raw ACV 3 times a day. Now I've been 3 days without any medication, just the ACV and things seem to have settled down and I think my body is adapting. It is good! I'm guessing that heartburn could have been part of the "rebound" of long term PPI use. I'm being careful in my diet and will stick with the ACV.So if you are just starting on the regimen, do give it a chance and expect a few bad days as you adjust. Good luck everyone!
