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.
Eat Slowly
Posted by Mama To Many (Tennessee, Usa) on 09/29/2015
★★★★★
One of my teenage sons had heartburn last night and had had it since after lunch. He very rarely has heartburn. He has made the connection that he gets heartburn if he eats fast. (Which he rarely does, but apparently he at lunch fast yesterday.)
This does make sense. Chewing food adequately gets the digestion process started off right. Saliva helps with breaking down of the food.
Eating fast will also make you more likely to eat more that your need, which also contributes to heartburn.
I find that if I am stressed or in a hurry, my food does not sit well with me. I am better off waiting until I can eat slowly and enjoy my food.
~Mama to Many~
Probiotics
Posted by Natnmargie (Spokane, Wa) on 02/02/2015
I bought a 120 capsule bottle of Nutrition Now Probiotics PB8, and started taking 2 morning and night. Within days my stomach was feeling "normal". Hurrah....no more heartburn. I've even tested it, by eating something that would normally have caused a problem and it was not a problem at all! I would recommend giving this a try for heartburn and acid reflux.
Carbonated Beverages
Posted by Timh (KY) on 12/31/2014 2043 posts
O.R.H. I think not the younger generation is "passing you bye" as most seem to me going in circles and you have moved forward and close to the finish line.
I love the line from Al Stewart, "Oh, the more it changes - the more it stays the same - and the hand just rearranges - the players in the game".
I suppose a hardened realist like yourself has the courage to face the facts and truths of life and drop out playing the win/loose game. Was it H.W. Longfellow said "Life is real - life is earnest".
Lemons
Posted by Louwrence (Rustenburg, North West, South Africa) on 04/15/2013
★★★★★
Hi Carole, What I have found to be very effective for heartburn is squeezing 3 to 5 lemons & drink it undiluted & within 15 mins your heartburn is gone, but to address the cause, do not eat when you are upset because it shuts down the digestive juices & the food just lies in your stomach & rots & causes acid & the lemon juice gets things going again.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Sunny (Los Angeles, Ca) on 11/21/2012
★★★★★
Many thanks for this website. I had heartburn like 4-5 times a day before I started using ACV. After two months of taking it, I may only have very very minor heartburn once a week. I took a tbsp of ACV with honey and warm water. Once I took 4-5 tbsp for my flu a few days. But now my teeth can't stand for it. I felt like they were going to crack even though I was not eating. So I switched to less than 1 tbsp and added molasses for my grey hair this morning. I also made the homemade toothpaste to remineralize my teeth. I just tried last night and I don't feel like they are going crack now. I also did the coconut oil pulling. Lets see the result later.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Caroline (San Francisco, Ca) on 01/20/2013
I find that it helps to drink the ACV water through a straw--that way it bypasses the teeth.
Water
Posted by John (Johannesburg, Gauteng South Africa) on 09/22/2012
As I have scored so often from this site, perhaps this info may be useful:-
I used to suffer from heartburn, now known as reflux. I had a serious attack on the golf course and my partner advised me to do as my anscestors did, drink water from my hand, bend over the greenkeepers tap and drink from the hand and gulp as much air as I could. When I stood up, I let out one hell of a burp. That was the end of paying for cures! When you drink water, drink as your mother would never let you, drink like pig, gulp as much air as needed.
Almonds
Posted by Jen (New Haven, Ct) on 04/18/2012
★★★★★
I just ate a few almonds and felt more pain as they went down and then - poof - total relief about 5 minutes later.
Mustard
Posted by Kaf (Anchorage, Alaska) on 11/15/2011
★★★★★
OMG I really didn't think this would work! It did. I was afraid at first but anything is better than having heartburn. I just took this natural remedy and I will again.
Almonds
Posted by Cindy (Paradise, Ca) on 09/27/2011
★★★★★
Eating about 10 almonds, I use raw, always stops heartburn immediately for me.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Tayrah52871 (Georgetown, Ky) on 08/13/2011
★★★★★
I had chronic heartburn too (like 6-8 Tums Ultra a day chronic) and was not about to start monkeying with my acid pumps. I went gluten free and have not had heartburn since. If I cheat, I get horrific heartburn and feel generally colicky
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Dadhwalz (Ludhiana, India) on 04/11/2011
★★★★★
1) Sleep sitting up, or with the head, neck, and shoulders raised at least above the stomach. This will keep excess stomach acid from traveling upwards into your esophagus.
2) Eat smaller meals more frequently, as larger meals tend to create excess stomach acid, which then leads to heartburn.
3) Although not totally proven, avoiding certain foods like coffee, fruit juice, onions, chocolate, spicy foods, pretzels, tea, fatty foods, etc. can help reduce heartburn.
4. natural Aloe vera juice is another great approach that can help reduce the effects of acid inside the stomach.
5.Teas can be quite effective in assisting with digestive problems.
Low Carbohydrate Diet
Posted by Max (Titusville, Pa / Usa) on 03/28/2011
★★★★★
Recently I switched to a very low carbohydrate diet to control my weight. My heartburn, along with cracking skin and calluses on my feet disapeared along with my heartburn! I have had heartburn for quite awhile and did get relief form apple cider vinegar, lemon juice and celery but it would come back. I can now eat spicy chili and drink coffee and the heartburn does not appear. It is amazing.
Major Heartburn Warning
Posted by Mikeyb33 (Concord, Ca) on 11/27/2010
WARNING!
I thought I was experiencing severe heartburn at 5am in the morning. It was unbearable and I could not sit, lie or stand still. The only thing that helped was to walk around outside, but that only lasted for a few moments. I decided to drive to the hospital ER with my wife. Once inside the ER admitting area, they asked me to sign a few forms, but before I could, I told the admissions person I was feeling lightheaded, and at that point passed out. I woke up in the ER room with several people attending me. It turns out that my heartburn was the prelude to a massive heart attack, where I had to be revived with CPR and the shock pads. They said I had left them for a few moments. Thank God I decided to go to the ER, something I was very reluctant to do. But now I know, that at the slightest signs of a heartburn, or any thing related to the heart, to call 911 immediately. I hope this helps many people who think they are experiencing what they feel is severe heartburn. Hopefully in everyone elses case it is only heartburn, and not the onset of a heart attack. I feel very blessed to be alive to be able to relay this message. Eat Healthy. Live Healthy. Stay Healthy.
Coconut Juice
Posted by Akarim (Mombasa, Kenya) on 04/21/2010
★★★★★
FRESH COCONUT JUICE CURES HEART BURN IMMEDIATELY I USE IT AS SOON AS ACIDITY STARTS.I DONT MISS ONE COCONUT DAILY. I GET GOOD NIGHT SLEEP.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Cinapia (New Bedford, Massachusetts, United States) on 03/11/2010
★★★★★
I was wondering if you could just take 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar straight without mixing in water. I actually did this for 3 days because I started with really bad heartburn. I have to say, it worked! I don't mind the taste taking it straight and all at once, but mixing it with water and drinking it prolongs the process in my opinion. Unless there are adverse affects if taking it undiluted. Can you advise?
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Darlingrosepinkhu (Blackfalds, Ab Canada) on 09/22/2012
Be sure that you rinse your mouth out after you take the ACV though. PProlonged contact with teeth enamel can cause sensitivity.
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.
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 Ben (Chicago, Il) on 02/19/2011
★★★★★
Apples is also what I use for heartburn. They stamp heartburn out almost instantly for me. I also found that eating a pear can do just as well.
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.
Mustard
Posted by Charli (Totnes, Devon) on 11/20/2011
Watch out for mustard packets from restaurants etc.. They are usually full of preservatives & sugar & low quality! All things that contribute to acid accumlation (heartburn)
