Home Remedies Web

Home Remedies for Acid Reflux

Find natural treatments and home remedies for acid reflux and heartburn.

Shahzad Malik, Ph.D.
4–6 minutes
Home Remedies for Acid Reflux

Signs and Symptoms of Acid Reflux and Heartburn

Heartburn is a condition in which the liquid content of the stomach backs up (refluxes) into the esophagus. The most common and persistent symptom of Heartburn is a burning sensation centered in the middle of the chest and/or throat, brought on by stomach acid that churns up onto the lining of the esophagus.

Acid Reflux, also known as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), is a condition which has many symptoms that are similar to heartburn. In many cases, people suffering from Acid Reflux typically suffer from persistent heartburn two or more days per week. In the long term, this can be very serious since, over time, the reflux of stomach acid can erode or wear away the delicate esophagus lining. This can then lead to scar tissue, which causes swallowing problems. GERD has also been linked to an increased risk of esophageal cancer. However, some people have Acid Reflux without heartburn. In such cases, symptoms include chest pain, wheezing, coarseness in the throat, breathing problems, a bitter taste in the mouth, dry coughing, interrupted sleep, tightness in the throat, and halitosis or bad breath. Acid reflux can also lead to regurgitation of acid into the mouth, often due to overeating or bending down or going to bed right after a meal.

Causes of Acid Reflux

Just like other health conditions, there is not one specific cause of Acid Reflux and Heartburn. However, a malfunction of a band of muscle tissue called the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES) can ultimately lead to many of the problems and symptoms associated with Acid Reflux and Heartburn. The LES is a complex area of smooth muscles and various hormones, which is responsible for the opening and closing of the lower end of the esophagus when we eat and swallow. It normally keeps the stomach contents from regurgitating, but due to certain physical conditions it can weaken and lose its contraction control. If this happens, the LES fails to close up and cannot maintain the pressure barrier between stomach and esophagus. As a result, acid and pepsin from the stomach can back up and cause acidity and heartburn in the esophagus.

The most common causes of Acid Reflux and Heartburn include:

  • stress
  • some antidepressants and sedatives
  • elevated hormone levels during pregnancy
  • eating before going to bed
  • eating large meals
  • slower emptying of the stomach
  • frequently eating greasy, fried, and fatty foods
  • smoking
  • alcohol
  • drinking lots of bubbly (carbonated) beverages such as soda
  • diseases that weaken the esophageal muscle (such as scleroderma, mixed connective tissue disease, or hiatal hernias)

Home Remedies and Natural Treatments

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple Cider Vinegar is an amazing remedy for Acid Reflux. It may sound bizarre to drink an acid as a cure for an acid problem, but there are good acids and bad acids and Apple Cider Vinegar is among the good ones.

  • Add 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to 1/2 glass of water.
  • Sip this glass of water while eating your dinner.

Ginger Root

Ginger Root is an amazing natural herb that is known to absorb stomach acid and have the secondary effect of calming the nerves. For an effective natural remedy from the symptoms of acid reflux, try the following:

  • Purchase ginger root capsules from a natural health food or nutritional store.
  • Regularly take one capsule immediately after dinner.

Fennel Seeds

Fennel seed is an aromatic but powerful herb that helps in digestive conditions and has many other benefits. Fennel seeds contain a compound known as Anethole, which is known to suppress spasms of the stomach or gastrointestinal tract spasms. Therefore, it is considered to be an effective remedy for Acid Reflux.

  • Take half a tea spoon of Fennel Seeds and chew them slowly after your meals.
  • Add half a teaspoon of fennel seeds to one cup of boiling water and let it steep for 3–5 minutes. Strain, then add a very small amount of honey (optional). Drinking it between meals may help.

Anise and Lavender Tea

Here is a tea that you can make to help relieve the symptoms of heartburn, since it reduces the amount of acid you have in your stomach. Note that some variants of this remedy suggest adding peppermint, but this is NOT recommended since peppermint is known to relax the LES (described earlier), which is exactly what you don’t want to do.

  • Mix together equal amounts of aniseed and lavender.
  • Boil 2 1/2 cups of distilled water.
  • Pour the boiling water over a teaspoon of the herbal mixture.
  • Let this tea sit for 3 to 5 minutes.
  • Strain the tea and add a little bit of honey as a natural sweetener.
  • Drink up to 8 oz of this tea in the morning and 8 oz in the evening to get relief from acid reflux or heartburn.

Aloe Vera

Drinking aloe vera juice or consuming aloe vera gel may help soothe the lining of the esophagus and reduce acid reflux symptoms.

Chamomile Tea

Drinking a cup of chamomile tea before bed can help relax the muscles in the digestive tract and reduce acid reflux symptoms.

Slippery Elm

Taking slippery elm in the form of lozenges, capsules, or tea to coat and soothe the lining of the esophagus, helps reduce irritation from acid reflux.

References

  1. Five benefits of Fennel Tea. Danielle Dresden. Reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, PhD, MSN, RN, IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT.
  2. Effectiveness of Nutritional Ingredients on Upper Gastrointestinal Conditions and Symptoms – Author: Rebekah M. Schulz, et al.

Medical disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and isn’t a substitute for professional medical advice. Talk to your doctor before trying a new remedy, especially if you’re pregnant, nursing, taking medication or managing a health condition.

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  1. Judith

    I used to have a cast iron stomach and gastic system, until I started on cortisone for Addison’s Disease. I must take this, the rest of my life, and it has totally wrecked…I’m not sure what, but suspect that the steroids have ruined the ‘flap’ between the stomach and esophagus. Or maybe it has erroded the linings, or both. I’ve been on Zantac for one year, and it gives me horrendous depression, and sometimes agitation. I TRY to go a night without it, but I get in such agony, that I’m forced to take it.
    Funny thing is, Zantac actually burns my more, at first. Then, after maybe 20 minutes, it finally eases the pain. I even get pain down my left arm, which I have read is common in GERD. I hesitate taking some of the others, because of possible calcium depletion, which I don’t need! (Dr. Gott wrote about that) Will I ever get well, and be able to get off of the meds, is what I wonder! I’m afraid that the steroids may ultimately give me cancer, the way they irritate.
    I’m sorry I can’t be of help to any of you! But I may try the vinegar….I have had a small success with raw almonds, but not really enough.

    Reply
  2. Emilie

    My acid reflux started about 9 months ago. I took meds as prescribed by my my ENT, but they did not help (Prevacid, Tums, etc). So, I quite taking all meds and make diet changes. Specifically, I completely cut out coffee, smoking, alcohol, and spicy/fatty foods for 4-5 weeks. This completely cured me! HOWEVER – I went back to my old ways after a couple weeks of feeling good. A month of eating and drinking badly put me right back in the same position. I am obviously angry with myself for putting myself back in this position but now I know that this is going to have to be a lifelong lifestyle change, right? If anyone has any advice on what I can do so that I can still have a couple beers on the weekends without fluxing out, I’ll take any advice I can get! Thanks 🙂

    Reply
  3. adrienne

    Hi Ann, I have the same symptoms as you. I’ve recently been taking the yakult. it seems to help. However, I notice that if I eat sweets my symptoms are aggravated. anyways, the acid is driving me crazy.

    Reply
  4. Gina

    Ann I am having the same problem with the nexium affecting my hair. I almost feel like I have to cut it short because I am losing so much hair and I have breakage like crazy. I think I am going to try the apple cider vinegar and see if that works for acid reflux.

    Reply
  5. Ann

    I suffer with acid reflux BAD,waves of burning in stomach, feel it in back of throat.When really bad, tongue and gums tingle and burn, skin peels off roof of mouth.Double up cramping stomach pains.I know my digestion system not right my tongue is white!I can go for a week or so then have really bad attack. Can anyone relate to this?.. Ive been taking acid tabs for years Nexium 40mg but i leave them off when i can because i think their affecting my hair.. It does,t help that i also suffer with IBS and Crohns disease. Really FED UP of feelin lousy!! Ive been told to try Healthy Trinity? Do probotic drinks really help (Yakult)??Any ideas?… Take care everyone. Ann.

    Reply
  6. Dee

    I’ve been having trouble with reflux for about 6 years. I had all the test down about 6 years ago, and i’ve tried pepcid, tagamet, prevacid, nexium, prolosec,reglan,zegerrid, and protonics and none of them have really helped, but recently i’ve had to take alot of antibotics and steroids due to sinus infections and my reflux has really been acting up. I take Reglan 4 times a day it helps some but i seen on tv they have a lawsuit on this med because it may cause TD and it makes you really sleepy and depressed but its the oly thing that helps some.. Sometime i feel like i have a cat scratching in the middle my back and a lump in my throat and my throat stays blood red. I hurt really bad in the middle of my back, and i keep feeling like i need to burp, so i drink a coke and it helps relieve the presure sometimes. Some times i have diarrhea after i add mylanta and rolaids with my regular stomach meds. I am looking forward to trying the apples and apple cider vinegar. i have made and appoint to see a GI dr so he can run another scope since i havent had one done in about 5 years. I gonna really start praying to because i know we have a healing God….

    Reply
  7. AKSHAYA

    HI,
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    I WILL BE REACHABLE AT MY E-MAIL ID:

    OPTIMUM.HEALTHY@GMAIL.COM (ONLINE / OFFLINE)

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    AKSHAYA
    NUTRITIONAL THERAPIST AND REFLEXOLOGIST

    Reply
  8. MerBer

    I have acid reflux although I am 124 lbs and in great shape. All triggered by gallbladder sugery removal after first pregnancy. Now I am in my second pregnancy and have had the WORST throat pain for over a week. Like many of you, little helps. I have had some luck with natural cough drops containing honey & echinacea seems to sooth the pain albeit temporary….. AND discovered Organic Throat Coat tea today. Although pain is still evident, feels a little better. Will be drinking this every moment for as long as it takes. Changing entire diet too.

    Reply
  9. Gita

    Yeah am into so much of depression sometimes I go really mad thinking of this. I do not want any medicine as of now since I feel these pills are increasing my acid levels. For a natural cure I have to wait for months. I started taking water boiled with a spoon of cumin seeds. It gave me some relief from the heart and stomach burn. trying to eat apples too. I guess proper diet also plays an important role and most importantly stress. I am trying my best to not think of it. thanks for all the suggestions given. If there is anyone from India who has tried some good ayurvedic doctor and has got cured completely please let me know.

    Reply
  10. Helen Parkinson

    Gita, you sound so distressed, so sorry to hear you. I posted a comment on Saturday and then went to the health food shop and bought the Apple cider vinegar tablets and the ginger root, but by the sounds of it I seriously think you should revisit your doctor and DEMAND that you are treated medically. Its OK taking herbal stuff and reading everyones comments that are made, and so far this herbal lot hasn’t really helped (but its only been 4 days!!), but get some attention. Otherwise, your depression will take over the actual problem. good luck!! Helen

    Reply
  11. Anonymous

    if anyone wants some free sangre de drago or herbs and lives in NYC email me… I have too many of them and even if the expiration date says 2012, will not use all these… they’re UNOPENED and SEALED and FREE!

    Reply
  12. Anonymous

    Have you tried “Ultimate Flora 50 billion cultures” by the company “Renew Life” for the bloating?

    Reply
  13. Gita

    I had severe vomitting after I had a food poison. I hope I had this vomitting for almost 2 years and I had food whenever I could but in very small quantities. After 2 years I did an endoscope and was diagnosed for H-pylori which was treated in just 7 days. still I couldn have food more than a little quantity and this continued for 3 more years till now. I started having serious vomitting, heart burn, tight throat and my stomach has bloated so big and it never goes inside. I was diagnosed of GERD grade II. Doc said my sphincter is not functioning and It has to be repaired(???). I dint want to go for surgery so met another doc he gave me certain pills which worked good as long as I took it. Once I stop the course it worsens like hell..I have difficulty breathing because of excessive bloating, severe acidity. I am continuously loosing weight since intake is very very less. I am trying to eat in small quantities every hour and drink lots of water. still the heart burn is not subsiding. I should agree that I was in prolonged tension for most of my life..yeah..tats true. I can feel my acidity going up when am deeply stressed. I had taken enough pills for so many years. someone please let me know how to bring down by extremely bloated stomach and stop this heart burn. I feel so depressed tat I cant stay normal like any other person. I cant stop thinking of this issue for even a minute. I am so worried about my health. Please help me. I would be very grateful to you.

    Reply
  14. Brandi

    After having GERD for years, I found a cure that worked for me. 1 tsp of *Slippery Elm* in powder form mixed with ice cream or yogurt. I have suffered with GERD since I was very little and had been told I had asthma. Turns out (ten years later) I had Acid Reflux. After nearly every prescription and over the counter product available (Nexium, Cisopride, Zantec, Tums, Rolaids) I started trying natural remedies (cider vinegar, bread, banana’s, diet changes, ginger). Nothing worked and it continued to get worse. For years I had to sleep sitting up so I didn’t choke in my sleep (when I was able to). Vomiting was a daily thing. One day while I was pregnant with my second child I decided to look into an herb I had heard of called *Slippery Elm*. After taking one tsp mixed in ice cream the burning went away in about half an hour. Within a week the vomiting had stopped. I just mixed 1 tsp into my morning smoothie everyday through my pregnancy and stopped suffering. After 20 years I finally STOPPED SUFFERING!!! It is safe to use during pregnancy, the reason some say it is not safe is because prior to modern medicine powdered slippery elm was applied to the cervix to get it to dilate. The powder expands once it gets wet which is why you need to mix it in food (I don’t recommend mixing it in a drink, too thick). They usually have it in health food stores. My son is now 6 months old and I haven’t needed to take it for about 4 months.

    Reply
  15. Charity

    I have had issues with acid reflux and have thought I controlled with diet. I started having problems again and thought maybe I should stop the sodas, because of their acidity. The next few nights I had such bad reflux that I could tell a was coughing out stomach acids. I have been drinking water with a lime in it for the last couple of days and have not had any reflux problems. I hope it continues to work because it is easy and inexpensive.

    Reply
  16. Christa-Alyssa

    Taking antacids will just continue your problem with acid reflux because it increases the alkalinity. Which you think would help, but it just puts your body in a sick cycle. Take a pineapple enzyme called “Bromelain”. Take a capsule with every meal and if you need more take more. I am pregnant right now and started getting acid reflux. I’m just so grateful that I know about natural cures that work. With the Apple Cider Vinegar, that’s good too but most people don’t actually get the right kind of Apple Cider Vinegar for it to be effective. You need to buy it from a health food store and it needs to say “with mother”. This means that it has an active enzyme in it. Don’t use regular vinegar or eat canned pineapple. They are cooked and are void of all enzymes. Those are the best two ways to naturally and effectively cure your acid reflux.

    Reply
  17. Helen Parkinson

    I have been suffering with all of the above symptoms I have just read from everyone, has anyone tried the Apple Cider Vinegar, Ginger root capsules, Fennel and Lavender? Have they worked, before I get dressed & go to the health shop to buy them? I also have a problem on the toilet, its as if when (and I will try and describe this without sounding crude), as the excretion is coming out it leaves a burning feeling, and this burning can continue for an hour after? Has anyone also had this?

    Reply
  18. jackie

    hi i’m 16 years old, and i was diagnosed with acid reflux in january. so far i have tried to different medications, but both have ye to work. i’m using an over the counter heartburn medicine, but my reflux seems to be getting worse. i’ve increased my dosage so much, its not safe. i’m really struggling to find something that works. my throat is starting to hurt me now. its been really hard for me adjusting to this lifestyle. school has been difficult for me as well because of my acid reflux. i feel stuck, and i’m hoping to find something that works for me soon. i’m doing the best i can to stay on top of things. this disease has completely altered my life, i wish i was normal again you know. i don’t know anyone else suffering from this disease, its nice to talk to people who are just like me and understand what i’m going through.

    ,jackie

    Reply
  19. Danielle

    For the past few months I have been experiencing a lot of stomach and back pain. I went to the hospital a few months ago with extreme pain only to find out it was constipation. LOL. Since then I have now gotten a rather weird symptom of coolness in the mouth and throat and severe nausea and stomach pain. Just last week I was sent for a Barium Swallow and have now found out that I have extreme acid reflux and a hiatus hernia. Often after I eat a really get bloated. Anyone have the same symptoms and what would do you do for relief. Does anyone have any natural remedies to help cure or ease the symtoms of acid reflux. Please let me know. Thanks a million. Any info would be great.

    Reply
  20. sherryelisabeth

    My doctor diagnosed me with Acid Reflux several years ago and I am on Nexum which works great except whenever I get a bad sinus infection and have lots of drainage this caused my reflux to act up. Does anyone else have this problem?

    Reply
  21. Pete

    It’s been interesting to see that there are so many people who suffer from GERD etc. I’ve been struggling with GERD for a couple of years now and it seems to come and go. The first episode that I had, felt like what they say a heart attack or angina attack feels like which sent me down a path of anxiety and panic attacks. I had the standard heart tests and they came bacame okay which helped calm down the anxiety and panic attacks but not the other symptoms. That’s when my doctor said it was most likely GERD and recommended Zantac for now. I was doing great until this past month. It started up again which is almost the exact time that it started last year. That’s when I remembered to take Manuka Honey. I had used it before when I had an ulcer and it healed in about two weeks. I can’t believe that I had forgotten about taking it after having had such success with it before. I’ve just started taking it again and am noticing improvements. I’m hoping it works for GERD.
    If any of you are interested in ivestigating the benefits of Manuka honey check out this link: http://manukahoney.com/resources/research/index.html
    I guess it’s like anything else, what works for one may not work for another but it’s not overly expensive to try so why not? If it works for you, the benefits are amazing.
    I hope this may help someone.

    Reply
  22. Marely

    Hi Marge, Teacher and Brad,
    I’m no doctor, but I have been dealing with acid reflux for 10 years. I take prevacid on and off. It has worked really well for me. I have gone without prevacid for years at a time, just by watching what I eat, keeping my weight down and eating my dinner at least 3 hours before I go to bed.
    However, in the last 6 months, I got too relaxed with my diet and I was put on medication for slow thyroid. I developed LPR, another version of acid reflux that is not fun and it’s much worse. For LPR, I have been taking 30mg. of prevacid twice a day and I’m supposed to do it for 6 months.
    Today, I went to my 6 week follow up with my ENT. She was very impressed with my improvement. The treatment is working and she was very proud of me for making the diet and life style adjustments. She thinks that if I continue to follow all the indications my throat might heal before the standard 6 months. I’m pretty happy and encouraged to hear that. I’m even used to my bland diet.
    Marge: I’m no expert, but I know it is not a good idea to just drink water when we have acid reflux. Our stomachs produce acid even when we don’t eat and we need to put something in our stomach to absorb it. I don’t know if you couldn’t tolerate food or what happened, but even a slice of bread would help absorb the acid from your stomach. The Prevacid works, but it takes 3-4 days to give results. When I first started it, I was told to take Mylanta, tums or maalox at the same time for the first 4 days. Prevacid 30 minutes before a meal and mylanta after a meal. For me, prevacid kicked in like on the 3rd day and that’s all I take now.
    The bottom line, at least in my experience; is that once we get diagnosed with acid reflux, we have to always be alert, avoid all the acid triggers as much as possible, have smaller meals, always have our dinners 3-4 hours before we go to bed, watch our weights and exercise regularly. Acid reflux can be controlled. Some times we relax like i did and then we have to rely on the medications.
    I agree that aloe vera helps, but, not when it is too late, like in my case, my throat was so burned I couldn’t drink anything with flavor for a while. I also started taking probiotics and enzymes to help digestion. My doctor told me today that probiotics are a GREAT idea, but enzymes are a BAD idea because they cause more reflux. OOps! I didn’t know that, I read on the internet that they were good. I guess I’ll check with my doctor first next time I take something like that.
    Good luck to all, hope you can all find relief.

    Reply
  23. Brad

    My mother thought she was having a heart attach and after many tests it was acid reflux. She did take the purple pill for a short time but after reading the long term side effects started researching natural options. She has found that Aloe Vera juice works wonders. She has not had an attach in two years and feels all over better taking 2 oz a day. She hasn’t been sick either and says it’s because the aloe is an immune builder as well. It has actually healed the problem not just masked it. She gets it at http://www.marketamerica.com/bl and has tried several but likes this one best.

    Reply
  24. TEACHER

    10 years or more, I have suffered. Everything from the burning, chest feeling like it would EXPLODE, sitting up sleeping with pillow stacked up, elevating the bed, BRAT Diet, Prilosec, Nexium 40mg twice a day, vinegar, losing weight, meditating…it’s awful! They did an endoscopy and found that I have a moderate hiatal hernia. Great! Seems I was born with it but never had any problems until 10 years ago as I started getting majorly stressed with school and gaining weight. I ate a lot of spicy foods, red sauce, love chocolate, coffee, tea, and yes, I smoke. So quit it all and still had the acid problems. The Nexium works miracles for me. I can take it once a day, 40mg for thirty days and then as little as one every other day to keep the acid away. I can eat what I want. The Prilosec is good but if I stop it, look out! Even for a day!Now, I am in South Korea and they gave me two prescriptions, one I had to beg for because they say that their policy is to refrain from medicication until an endoscope is done. Well, I’ve already had an endoscope and told them the findings, they won’t budge. There is no Nexium or Prilosec here, so I have been taking rantidine like crazy! I discovered tonight that my bottom teeth have all eroded at the inner edges. I suppose because of taking too much Zantac or the acid. My tongue also has a whitish color. My throat just looks inflamed and it burns like crazy. I find that ice water helps and soy milk in ice. I promise myself to start exercising again, stay away from spicy foods and try the BRAT diet as much as I can stand. I am just paranoid that if they run more tests, who knows what they will find or want to try like surgery or maybe they’ll find esophageal cancer. I tried vinegar, but that made it worse. So I will continue to try to lose weight and get Prilosec from the U.S. Like others, what bothers me is that medicine only masks the problem. Seems the states did not think the hernia was too bad. I have been told over and over that it’s the weight. We’ll see…maybe I will try some of the other things I have read on the website for a more natural remedy. Thanks to all for sharing your stories!

    Reply
  25. Marge

    I’m desparate. I had a stomach virus over the weekend. It started out like a acid reflux attack but evloved into a full blown stomach viru. Throught out the entire time I continued to hav the acid boil up into my throat. No food, just water but still the acid. My stomach is swollen up under my breast bone. I’m feeling some better but the acid continues to boil up into my throat when my only intake is water. I had prevacid that I took, to no avail. Even doubled up. Please help……

    Reply
  26. Marely

    Mo,
    You have a lot of the same symptoms I had, I got pretty skinny pretty fast too, but my LPR is slowly getting better. Only an ENT doctor can tell you if you have LPR. GI doctors usually miss it because they can only see below your throat into your esophagus. My esophagus was fine too and my barium swallow normal, The ENT doctor will insert a tube with a camera through your nose, and in seconds tell you if you have LPR or not.
    Google LPR so that you can learn all about it. If you have it. You’ll most likely need a double dose of Nexium. I take a double dose of prevacid 30mg each. I am now able to eat more stuff. I don’t have to live on smoothies and oatmeal anymore. However, I do follow the acid reflux diet very strictly and I eat dinner 4 hours before I go to bed.. That is helping me recover faster.

    Reply
  27. MO

    I enjoy reading everyones posts. I am in the same boat but they cant figure out what is wrong with me. I had an episode after eating pizza one night where I started coughing so bad and hacking up white phelgm and they had to rush me to the hospital because I couldnt breathe. ER doc said you have GERD see a GI doc. So I did that. He scoped me said no reflux. I ended up at the ER again for breathing issues said probably bronchitis. PUt me on breathing treatments, amoxicilian, inhaler, predisone for 5 days. Finally got rid of that after 2 weeks, but developed a swallowing problem. My pulmonary doc sent me to a speech pathologist who said VC look good, mucus looks good might be LPR due to some swelling in espho. I saw my GI doc again he said he didnt think it was LPR but sent me for a barium swallow and sent me to a neurologist. MRI is next week with neuro. Barium swallow came back fine. Saw my family doc yesterday she gave me an allergy medicine to take, I am taking nexium (per GI even though he doesnt know if I have LPR) also taking ativan. Still having issues eating, swallowing.
    Symptoms mainly are choking feeling (comes and goes)
    constantly clearing throat even after water
    I am literally not eating much at all because i start coughing so bad and choking and it scares me. I live on smoothies, some fish, some veggies. Maybe eat once a day. Dropped 10 pounds if not more in 2 weeks and I can’t afford to lose any weight, down to 97 lbs. 5’4″, 34 y.o. female non smoker. I have tried natural stuff, not sure what else to do. I am so frustrated and hungry and dehydrated I dont know what to do. I just tried to eat a light fat free yogart and my throat got tight. Been tested for food allergies too. They are checking my thyroid and I still think it is LPR. Aggg someone please help before I waste away to nothing. thanks 🙁

    Reply
  28. Marely

    Nana,
    Here’s another link. http://www.holistichelp.net/blog/a-metallic-bitter-taste-in-the-mouth/
    Please note that menopause can also be a cause of bitter taste in your mouth, as well as candida overgrowth among others. Someone else talked about candida on this blog. I also run and I’m in a very healthy weight. I have menopause to look forward to in the near future. 🙁

    Reply
  29. Marely

    Hi Nana,
    If I was you, I would find another GI doctor that could give me the endoscopies sooner than 2 months. Unless your GI thinks it’s not urgent? I am a worrier too, and for me, waiting 2 months for a test is way too long. If I didn’t stay on my doctors, they would still be telling me I was suffering from panic attacks instead of being treated for LPR. It’s easy for them to say, try this and come back in 6 weeks. meanwhile, I kept ending up in the ER because my LPR was giving me the globus syndrome and I couldn’t breath or swallow. Be proactive with your doctors and inform yourself. Just be careful when you read stuff because a lot of diseases share similar symptoms and we don’t want to scare ourselves and end up thinking we have cancer or another deadly disease. I found a link about chronic bitter taste, if you match the way it tastes to you it might tell you possible causes. You might have read it already.
    http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/symptom/bitter-taste-in-mouth.htm

    Reply
  30. Nana

    Marely,
    No, I’m a new nana. My endoscopic is 2 months away because that’s the earliest the gastro could schedule it….busy guy, I guess.:( ENT ordered an MRI for nerve damage? and some more blood work. MRI looked fine….,my zinc level is low-average. He discharged me and sent me to the gastro doc. Gastro gave me an initial exam, ordered stool and bloodwork and scheduled the endoscopy and a colonoscopy. Stool and bloodwork ok….white count in the low-average range. He gave me a whole bunch of samples of Zegerid. I felt WORSE taking that so I stopped 2 weeks ago. I am not overweight, do not smoke or drink, and run 4 to 5 miles daily. (am currently going thru menopause) I am and ALWAYS have been a worrier 🙁 Again, my primary symptom is this BITTER taste in my mouth whenever there is saliva present. The only time it is not noticeable is when my mouth is dry (when I am sleeping or running)Eathing is great while the taste of the food is in my mouth but as soon as I swallow and the saliva starts digesting, the bitter taste comes back with a vengeance. 🙁 🙁 🙁 I am SOOOOOOO frustrated!

    Reply
  31. Marely

    Nana, are you the same Nana that was diagnosed with acid reflux and was fixing it with the cider vinegar?
    First of all, I’d like to suggest that you stop thinking about having cancer. This kind of thinking is just going to stress you out, make you produce more acid and have more heartburn along with anxiety. Why don’t you tell us what your doctors told you? Especially the ENT doctor? That way maybe someone in this blog can have more information to help you.
    I suffer from LPR: http://www.entnet.org/HealthInformation/GERD-and-LPR.cfm
    My ENT doctor was the only one that could find it. Did your ENT doctor actually checked you for LPR? If you still have chest pressure and heartburn. My opinion is you still have acid reflux problems and your esophagus needs to be looked at. Why are you waiting 2 months for the endoscopy? I am taking prevacid 30 mg. twice a day for my LPR. I follow a very strict diet to prevent acid reflux, but it will still take 6 months for my burnt throat to heal. I still have 4.5 months to go, but I can feel a little better every week that goes by. My ENT doctor said that in order to get cancer caused by LPR, you have to have severe untreated damage for a long time, like 2 years at least. Hope you find out what’s going on soon! Just knowing what I have has taken my anxiety away.

    Reply
  32. nana

    I originnally was treated for oral thrush…since I have had a constant, daily, bitter taste in mouth! I have had numerous blood, urine, and stool samples…nothing out of the ordinary. I am scheduled for an endoscopy….TWO months from now. I have been prescribed Zantax, Prevacid, Protonix, and Zegerid. NOTHING seems to help with this bitter taste. (By the way, it is NOT there until I have saliva in my mouth…no problems once I am asleep) I DO have heartburn and chest pressure since taking these medications but no relief from this horrible bitter taste. I have seen my GP, and ENT, my dentist and the gastro doc. I am very concerned that there is an underlying cancer here???? Any advice?

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  33. Irma

    I’ve suffered with acid reflux for over 5 years now. I drink pure Aloe Vera juice at the first onset of acid reflux. It immediately relives my discomfort. I purchased it from wal-mart, it can be found around the pharmacy area. I drink it straight, but you can add it to juice or water. I originally bought it because I heard it was good for the stomach and digestion. It really helps with acid reflux. I don’t have my gall bladder anymore, so when I drink it my bowels will move freely the next day. Other than that pure Aloe Vera juice is good for acid reflux. It works for me.

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  34. katie

    YOU GUYS!!! okay I had bad diarreah, horrible acid reflux (had to go to hospital so bad), vomiting, pain, it turns out it is CANDIDA!! please look into this, tons of people have it and PHD’s will not give you the time of day about it cause they just want to shove you full of antiacids, which make it WORSE!You have to go to a natural MD!!!!! you need stomach acid! After I was on the stomach pills/ppi I got even sicker, itchy ears, allergies, dizziness,brain fog, head aches, all sorts of stuff. Search the web for candida you will find tons of stuff, it mimicks (sp) all sorts of disorders, I was told I had like ten things by the end hahaha!! I feel it is my duty to educate people about this because I got so sick I almost lost my life and PHD’s would still not do a thing but pump me full of prescriptions! Have you been on antibiotics?? I was on a lot plus birthcontrol and it through my body out of wack! Please research it, if I have hepled one person find the answer I have done my job!

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  35. Adam

    beware of NSAID’s also… actually….caution should be used against others drugs like clonazepam and others as well… I was on that almost 10 years ago for anxiety and wish i was never on it. Now I believe they only contributed to my GI problems… natural alternatives like theanine serene with GABA can be used for reducing tensions… there are many natural herbs for anxieties… drugs might do it but then other problems will start to develop… not worth it…

    Reply
  36. Adam

    check to see if you have H. pylori and if so… then there are a few “bombs” you can use to eradicate them: Manuka Honey, probiotics, turmeric, monolaurin, omegabrite,
    grapefruit seed extract,sangre de drago, mastic gum,
    broccoli sprouts…

    Reply
  37. Marely

    Fortunately, I’ve never had side effects from the Prevacid. I’ve taken it on and off for 10 years. Right now, since I’m on the double dose, I am taking digestive enzymes and acidophilus probiotics along with following a very strict reflux friendly diet. So, I have not had any issues with moving my food so far.
    Although I like and prefer natural remedies. At this point, my throat is burnt from my LPR and I need to rely on my ENT doctor to help me. I don’t want to end up in the ER anymore. I feel better since I saw her 4 weeks ago. Hopefully the treatment will work.
    Natural remedies are good, but some of the could also be expensive and I’ve heard some of them can also have side effects. In a few months, when my throat is better, I will try the ACV because I’m intrigued by the testimonies. I know Aloe Vera, licorice and Ginger are good for digestion too.

    Reply
  38. Adam

    I’ve been on PPI’s for maybe 7-8 years. PPI’s give me so many side effects(Poor concentration/mental fog, blurred vision, dizziness, anxiety/panic attacks, cramps, disturbed sleep/insomnia, chest pains, nausea, headaches/migraines,etc. I’ve been on everything from prevacid to nexium to prilosec) and deplete the hydrochloric acid that the body needs to properly digest food leaving food to stay/rot within you. You can give yourself a PH level test. A natural alternative that I follow now is taking: Metagenics Endefen, Metagenics Glutagenics, Soluble and Insoluble fiber, Ultimateflora 50 billion cultures, slippery elm bark, orange peel extract(if no ulcers). A table spoon of baking soda in glass of water usually works for me. Try SANGRE de Drago and Una de Gato/Cat’s Claw for stomach ulcers! some other items you can check out are:cabbage juice! pepzin GI, mastic gum, marshmellow herb, MSM and catnip, MANUKA HONEY, golden seal root, olive oil?, enzymes, meadowsweet, carrot juice, Zinc-Carnosine, Licorice, Chamomile, Bladderwrack, Fenugreek Seeds, Wood Betony, aloe vera, mullein, raw cabbage and potato and celery juices, Barley Grass, Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice or DGL, Apple Cider Vinegar or ACV, Probiotics, Pickle Juice, L-glutamine powder, Coconut, Lavender tea, ginger tea, Ultra Flora IB, Ultra FloraPlus…Go to your Natural Vitamin shop for your ailments!

    Reply
  39. marely

    Also, on top of my double daily dose of prevacid, I chew on a maalox tablet before I go to bed if I feel any extra burning on my throat or chest or if I am not sure if something I ate was acid reflux friendly. I usually eat with with a drink of water with a little bit or apple juice in it. I warm it up a little, the warm liquid makes the throat feel better. Don’t forget not to lay down or go to bed after you eat for at least 3-4 hours. My husband also raised the head of our bed by 6 inches. I’m really trying to get better sooner than 6-9 months. And i will never accept to take any pills on an empty stomach that might make me back flow my stomach acid into the throat when I run, I love running. I’ll take synthroid before lunch time or something. I’ve heard as long as you are consistent on how you take it, the dose can be adjusted.

    Bottom line, LPR sufferers, we need to stick to our medicine, diet and have a lot of PATIENCE.

    Reply
  40. Marely

    Chris,
    Sorry to hear that the PPI medicines haven’t helped you (yet). I was told by my doctor that Nexium, Prilosac, Protonix and Prevacid are supposed to do the same work. However, I’ve used Prevacid for regular reflux for 10 years and it has always worked for me. I think I developed silent reflux or LPR after I started taking synthroid last October on an empty stomach with 8 ounces of water and then I went running. I like running in the mornings. I say this because I never had any issues until I started on that pill and I remember tasting the medicine as I ran. The diluted pill and water were probably splashing back into my esophagus and throat as I ran. I started having the sore throats 3 weeks after starting synthroid.
    LPR can cause your throat to have spasms which is the “globus” syndrome that makes you feel like chocking. Then you start feeling anxious and this cause you panic attack symptoms, which adds to the pressure on your neck and feeling like you can’t breath. My doctor put me on a very low dose of clonazepam which is like Xanax but less addictive and longer lasting. All I take is .5 mg a day (middle of the day) this medicine helps with the spasms and prevents the added anxiety that makes things worse. I take 30 mg of prevacid in the morning and 30 mg. at night. This has allowed me to start eating again and has taking the choking away. I have to say that I have followed the reflux diet very strictly. I avoid every food I have to avoid, coffee, chocolate, spicy food, fried food, tomatoes, peppermint or any other tea, no soda or alcoholic beverages. I take digestive enzymes (papaya) and live culture yogurt to help digestion. My throat is still sore, but i don’t choke and I don’t feel that lump stuck in my throat any more. 6 months seems like a long time, but, I’ll be patient and follow the diet. It beats the other option. If you haven’t seen an Ear Nose and throat Doctor yet, I’d recommend that you do. They can go in with a camera through your nose (doesn’t hurt at all) and they can see in seconds weather you have silent reflux or not. Remember, most people with LPR don’t have heartburn symptoms.
    Don’t give up. Keep talking to your doctors, if you fell something is wrong with you, then you are probably right. We know our bodies better than anybody else. I initially was told that I was just having panic attacks or depressed (ER doctors), but I kept making the doctors look and got my diagnose. This took a lot of my anxiety away.

    Reply
  41. Chris

    Marely, that is exactly what I feel. I have gone to doctors and they keep sending me prilosec, nexium and other and those have not relieved my symptoms. They said I have some burns in my esophagus and throat (vocal cords)

    I have the postnasal drainage and the feeling my throat closing lately. I do not feel that much burn in my chest sometimes a bit but almost nothing.

    Reading blogs like this I’ve found out that is the Laryngopharyngeal reflux I may be suffering from.

    A friend told me to try prevacid and I see that it works for you. If you have any other advise in your diet or medicines (like the one to relax you and muscles) please let me know. Doctors seem to not care at all.

    It has become very annoying specially at night sometimes when I am sleeping my throat feels like closing and I wake up scared.

    Any help will be really helpful

    Reply
  42. judy

    I have been having breathing problems for about 5 years now. I have seen 15 different dr’s and a hand full of specialists and they all say something different. I have never had heart burn but I have to constantly clear my throat and often it feels like my throat is closing off.My voice has changed and I now sound very nasily. My inner ears itch and so does the roof of my mouth. When my throat starts to feel like its closing off, my chin itches. sometimes I scratch so mutch that I actually draw blood.. The last year or so I have been having alergy like symptoms. I have been tested for allergies and they say I have none but the running nose and stuffed up feeling tells me otherwise. Has anyone experienced the inner ear,chin and roof of the mouth itching?

    Reply
  43. Adam

    I have been on prevacid, nexium and prilosec a couple years each… adding up to maybe 7-8 years total. Even Kapidex last year which gave me crazy chest pains and made me think i was going to get a heart attack!These drugs only MASK the problem and only treat the symptom. Ultimately they do NOT solve the problem and you’ll end up being on these drugs for the rest of your lives unless you realize that they’re actually making things worse in the long run. PPI’s will make you vulnerable to developing other sickness as your defenses are weakened. Remember… The drug companies make money when your sick. Prilosec, nexium and other PPI’s kill the good bacteria/enzymes that your body needs to properly digest food. You will become malnourished because of these drugs. They are very dangerous long-term as they will stop vitamin and mineral absorption. ie. vitamin B, calcium, etc. They can even cause hip fractures in the elderly. This needs to be taken care of naturally. First of all, you must cut off all fried food, fatty-foods, take out food like Mcdonalds/burgerking and other killer-food, cut-off alcohol altogether, avoid spicy foods, tomato sauce, pizza(yes, i had to give it up), chocolate, smoking, caffeine etc… Yes, this is where you embrace the straightedge lifestyle ;-). Your diet Must change. Go to a Natural Vitamin shop and purchase yourself: Metagenics Endefen, Metagenics Glutagenics, Soluble and Insoluble fiber, microflora 50 billion cultures and also see what they have for heartburn.Ex: slippery elm bark(one of my favs!the natural rolaids/tums), orange peel extract(if no ulcers). There are natural remedies for this. No need to be on these drugs, which actually make things worse. A table spoon of baking soda in glass of water usually works for me. also: Apple cider vinegar. Try Sangre de Drago and Una de Gato/Cat’s Claw for stomach ulcers! and cabbage juice! some other items you can check out are: pepzin GI, mastic gum, marshmellow herb, MSM and catnip. Go to your Natural Vitamin shop for remedies for your ailments!

    Reply
  44. anna

    I started on Omeprazole, and wow, what a difference! I thought I had volca nodes, my throat and speaking voice was so bad. Within a week I could hear the difference. Now I’m going to do a home treatment and see how it goes. I think high doses of vitamin c at bedtime have probably been the culprit. Will do the vit. c after breakfast, when I’m up and use the vinegar too, if needed…

    Reply
  45. marely

    Sorry, I forgot to mention. The name of my disease is silent acid reflux or Laryngopharyngeal reflux. It’s silent because it usually doesn’t call heartburn. Symptoms are: Hoarness, Thick or too much mucous in your throat. Chronic throat irritation, chronic throat clearing, chronic cough, globus sensation(you feel something in your throat), bad taste in your mouth in the morning. Besides the prevacid I’ve got a medicine that tranquilizes me and is also a muscle relaxer.

    Reply
  46. Marely

    I’ve suffered fro acid reflux on and off for the last 10 years. Prevacid has been wonderful when I get it bad. But I can normally control it with diet, exercise and not laying down for 3-4 hours after I eat (especially dinner). A few months ago I started getting sore throats, laryngitis and ear pain along with postnasal drainage. Since it is winter, I assumed it was a cold and so did my doctor, I went through 2 treatments of antibiotics and nothing helped. I has a bad attack on january 5th, were I was having dinner while I was drinking peppermint tea. I immediately felt my throat closing on me and heaviness on my chest. I couldn’t breath right. I ended up in the E.R. after heart and lung tests were clear, I was told I had a panic attack, but I should see my Gi doctor since I suffered from GERD. The endoscopy came clear, no big damage on the esophagus. I still has the chocking sensation and difficulty swallowing, burping etc. i was put on a double dose of prevacid and it helped a little although my symptoms weren’t explained. I saw my ENT doctor. She ran a fiber optic tube through my nose and looked inside my throat and stuff. She said I had so much damage from acid reflux that it was causing my throat muscles to contract (spasm) and that’s why i felt like I was being choked. She double my prevacid dose and told me to follow a bland diet. I’m happy to know what my problem is after one month of anxiety. The only bad news is that it might take up to 9 months for my burns to be cured.

    Reply
  47. rose

    I was wondering if anyone has experience bad acid reflux and burning in their esophogus after a dental procedure ? I have acid reflux and GERD and the last two times I had my teeh filled and some bonding done, I had the worst case of burning in my throat that lasted for over a week. I was just curious if anyone else has experienced this or if it was just coincidence ?

    Reply
  48. MrSerge

    Acid reflux.
    Coming out of acid reflux. My story may be able to help some of you.
    They say that acid reflux is caused by poor eating habits and or bacteria in your stomach.
    Right before my episode with acid reflux I was eating healthy, in perfect shape and had my perfect work hard.

    Once day, I stared having all the symptom of acid reflux and no one knew what I had. This went on for months. I forced my doctor to check for Helicobacter pylori. which I ended up testing positive.

    I got omeprazole (Prilosex) plus 2 antibiotics. 4 pills a day for 14 days.
    After the treatment my stomach was hitching and I still had a hard time eating. I was still creating too much acid so my doctor give me again omeprazole (Prilosex). I refused to be on any drug and I knew that the omeprazole (Prilosex) was not the answer it was just a bandage without dealing with the root of the problem.

    This is what I did:
    I knew the Key out of this was: I need to keep the body alkaline, the bad bacteria don’t like an alkaline environment.
    I stop take the omeprazole (Prilosex) and starting taking a of Jarro Dophilus EPS (can find it in health store). The 3rd day I started to feel the difference. I was able to eat more verity of food.
    Aloe vera juice before every meal
    Eating every 3 hrs small meal. No row vegetable – fresh steam vegetable only and protein. No oily or greasy food at all, not black chocolate , not alcohol, no caffeine, no soda and not spices in your food. Avoid hot water, somehow my system does quite down with colder drink and food.
    I eat protein and green 3 time a day and a lot of low fat low sugar organic yogurt as snack and all day.
    I take 4 pills a day of Jarro Dophilus EPS . One pill 45 min before every meal to help my stomach and intestines get their natural bacteria back while controlling the excess of acid the stomach is creating. Drink the pills with hot water It makes swallowing the pills easier.
    I drink Apple Cider Vinegar (2 table spoons in 0.5l drink of water) throughout the day with a lot of water.
    I don’t mix the protein & green vegetable with fruits.
    Sugar create more acid so I am very careful with the fruits I eat (low sugar index fruits only) and I don’t eat any carbohydrate for the same reason.
    I recommend: Cranberry juice-Prune juice (the sugar free type mix with H2O)
    2 tea spoons of honey mix with water before eating.
    Avocado-apples-banana-melon-walnuts-almonds-tofu-sweet potato-fish-Grilled chicken (legs grilled) easier on your stomach. Not red meat at the beginning it is too hard on the stomach. Camomile tea help digestion process.
    Stop eating 3hrs before bedtime. I sleep with your upper body higher than the bed level almost in a semi sitting position.
    I don’t lift weight or jog because I was creating too much acid and it was giving me some palpitation. (yes, the doctor said that the palpitation have nothing to do with acid reflux-there not connected-well doctor have news for you everything is connected and how can a super athlete with no hard problem get some palpitation every time his stomach create too much acid).
    To avoid the palpitation, I ride my bike slowly without too much effort, and also walk. I make sure I space out my workout throughout the day.
    Now I am getting better and I know you can be acid reflux free..it take time and patience.
    I am almost certain that a lot of us will test negative for every test on the planet regarding stomach bacteria but small bacteria such as Escherichia coli-E-coli and other don’t really have a test for them and you could have something in your system putting your stomach out of balance. So fight back by drinking Apple Cider Vinegar to clean your system and work on increasing the growth of the good bacteria your body need. Mediation is a must in the healing process
    Good luck to you all.

    Reply
  49. Kristina

    Charlene I was reading your post and it breaks my heart to know you are not feeling good. You need to go on the brat diet for a week bananas plain rice applesauce and toast. help get those stomach acids to rest then introduce other foods back into your life SLOWLY> dairy and gluten sounds like the source of your problem especially with the blood you have been experiencing. Talk to your dr about celiac disease. Hope this helps with allieviating your pain

    Reply
  50. TOny

    I have Had Gerd for about 1 month now i am about to go see a specilist cause it does not seem to go away ..i ve been on a diet for a month now no alcohol or any acid foods and it kinda went away. i have been eating just food with alot of protein like chicken,turkey,fish,wheat,yogurt,granola,oatmeal,and water. I worked out and played soccer last week and it seem that burning sensation came back . IS there something i am doing wrong? and Will this last for the rest of my life? I was taking prataprozole and now i am just taking prilosec .

    Reply