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. D. Houlli

    Slippery Elm is great for lining the stomach, it allows the cells to repair themselves as it shields the stomach lining from acid, which may help with acid reflux. Its also very nutritional, so worth using anyway. Try to use the pure herb rather than Slippery Elm Food.

    Reply
  2. Clement

    Pls change your life style by avoiding acidic drinks, white flour, wheat, caffeine (tea & cofee).
    Try slippery elm bark powder & licorice powder
    Nexium is good for 4 to 8 weeks (20 mg) Discontinue as soon as the healing of the esophagus is done. Long term use may cause brittle bones as per 680 news experts report

    Reply
  3. Alex

    I miss the days when I just had regular acid reflux and not this LPR that gives me the lump in the throat feeling and mucous coming down my throat causing nausea and sometimes choking. These symptoms are so annoying. Regular acid reflux’s heartburn was sooo much easier to deal with! This is taking over my life!

    Reply
  4. alex

    constant mucuos! ahhh!

    Reply
  5. Kelli

    How long after you drink the apple cider vinegar do you feel relief from acid reflux? I drank it about 25 minutes ago and I have no relief yet!!!!!!!

    Reply
  6. Amanda

    For James, I had the mucos problem you are describing. This problem disappeared for me once I stopped drinking milk. I eat other dairy products in moderation. I would suggest no dairy at all for a couple of weeks and see how you feel.

    Reply
  7. jojo

    take it from me, I’ve been suffering from reflux since I was 19,the only thing that cures me is juicing ginger fruit and with honey ,I’m now thanking god for discovering this natural medicine.

    Reply
  8. Alex

    I have what feels like mucous coming down my throat and also a lump-in-throat feeling. Went to see a couple doctors and said it’s related to my acid reflux. These symptoms are all new to me. Before this I would only get heartburn but the throat mucuous and nausea feeling is even worse! It makes me very nauseas and sometimes choke. What can I do about this? Please help!

    Reply
  9. Naomi

    I have real horrible acid reflux and tried everything going,it is debilitating and makes me miserable, on top of that ihave horrible ringing in ears and fibrmyalgia I don’t think it’s something that the docs really know much about. The meds don’t work and herbal crap don’t work, so i give up and just suffer.

    Reply
  10. liz

    I have recently begun getting AR after drinking beer. I was woken at 5 this morning with an episode and after reading everyone’s comments I decided to drink about two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar in a juice glass filled the rest of the way with water. The AR episode has stopped now, about 20 minutes later. Ech. I’m done with beer and I’m calling my doctor to get tested for celiac. I eat well (though probably too much), take a probiotic frequently, and I suspect gluten is the culprit.

    Ps. I can’t believe some of the commentary on here from people in regards to rx meds! WTF are you doing on a site clearly labeled as ” home remedies” if you just want to be a sheep to the pharmacy industry?! Maybe pfizer will come out with a pill that will help you grow a brain, you dolt. Good luck to all the rest!

    Reply
  11. Adam

    I’m not trying to jump to any conclusions or anything because i haven’t been officially diagnosed but i just figured it couldn’t hurt to get some input on the matter, but usually 4 days out of the week at least i get a burning sensation in my throat, I never get the burning in my chest though, it ranges from annoying to borderline agonizing, flares up off and on throughout the day. I also get the feeling like there’s something stuck in my throat sometimes,it never causes me any trouble breathing but sometimes it hurts when i swallow and i know this might sound weird but sometimes swallowing is accompanied by a clicking sound, anyways I’m not really freaking out or anything but it would be nice to know if anyone else has experienced this and what they know about, any input is welcome, thanks.

    Reply
  12. Sudharsan

    Hello, I’m Suffering from Acid reflux disease for the past six months. After eating food…i always belch with heart burn, belching one or two is normal. but i’m belching through out the day, days become weeks, weeks become months..what is the remedy for this problem. Please Suggest me…

    Reply
  13. Gary

    Have had a/r for more than a year now. When it started, I was begging my doctor for the fix-it surgery. Main problem is regurgitation and blockage, unable to swallow. He told me to wait, put me on Nexium, which didn’t alleviate the problem much. But now for the last 3 months I have been eating a good portion of fresh papaya each morning, and went down from 40 mgs a day of Nexium to 20 mgs, and now I’m going off the meds completly, and sticking to papaya. It’s true, papaya does absolutely work, along with a fairly decent diet. I’m not the perfect eater, but have altered some of my bad eating habits, and along with the papaya, now finally feeling relief.

    Reply
  14. Cait

    Tililli – in reply to your comment – I have the same thing. I am now a 24 year old female, but I began suffering silent reflux around 22 when I was stressed out. It took me ages to get a correct diagnosis, I essentially had to figure it out myself because doctors don’t know. It’s terrifying to constantly wake up unable to breathe and not due to apnea but due to acid reflux.

    I now live in Germany and I use something called ‘heilerde’ which is clay more or less from a lower layer of earth, and if you eat it after meals it sops up the excess acid and you can breathe.
    Apples do also help, as does fennel. Perhaps one of the most succesfull things I found in the US was DGL – deglycerized licorice – works AMAZING.

    I just wanted to tell you I’ve lived with this condition for 2 1/2 years now and it is manegable, but you have to be really careful because your lungs are easily damaged by acid, more so than the esophagus.

    Reply
  15. Sarah Burns

    Ive had gerd for 19 yrs it was hell everything i ate i vomited up i hardly was able to sleep was on nexium 40mgs 4 times a da now all i do is eat one apple a day drink 5 teaspoons of apple cider vinega and ive never had it again . No more agony in my chest no more sleepless nights and no more never eating just all the things I like so much it works and it works asap in fact even half an apple and the cider vinega once a day works for me and believe me im off the meds now and never had heartburn or reflux again as long as i take the vinega and apple ….. forget them meds they do so much damage mine was so bad i was on 40mgs 3 times a day couldnt eat cheese dairy gluten wheat spicy stuff pizza no takeaways nothing even rice gave me heartburn now i dont get it at all ever take the apple and vinega and do it now it really works .

    Reply
  16. flora

    A July 2010 study in the journal Gastroenterology seems to confirm the 2009 study in American Journal of Gastroenterology that Proton-pump inhibitors (Nexium and Prilosec) can induce rebound hypersecretion of acid, even in healthy volunteers with no symptoms. Instead of short-term use some people have been forced to continue use indefinately! Scary!! Drug Injury Lawyer blog suggests that the drug companies have not been diligent in informing doctors of the side effects.

    Reply
  17. Jim Shaffer

    I was diagnosed with GERD two years ago and because I eat later at night and eat the wrong foods, it has gotten worse. But two things that I read and tried do really help. First is Slippery Elm Bark capsules. You can buy these at Vitamin World. They are about for 100 tablets. I take two capsules and within a minute (really!), the burning sensation in my throat/chest goes away. This is great for getting rid of the symptoms, but slippery elm does not eliminate stomach acid. So for that I eat apple slices or an apple. Apples have a natural stomach acid reducer, even though apples are considered acidy. IT really does work. If I eat a few slices before bed I don’t have Acid Reflux issues or they are minimal when compared with nights that I don’t eat apple slices. Try Slippery Elm Bark (Vitamin WOrld) and apples/apple slices.

    Reply
  18. Are You Kidding Me

    I’m sorry, but if you are so weak that you consider the oh-so-hardcore medication nexium/prilosec the “poison pill” perhaps that is natures way of telling you natural selection is coming. Really? Nexium? Complaining about Nexium side effects is like saying that your new Prius is “too much car.”. I too have many health problems, but don’t trash a wonderful, almost life saving medication because you are too weak to leave the house. Hmm, let’s see…I could take a small, tasteless, and very effective medication…..OR…….I could drink vinegar and aloe drinks. Tough choice.
    I think instead of seeing a gastroenterologist perhaps it might be time for psych evals too.
    I would have felt some pity for ya, but I see that you’re just not worth it. Weak!

    I would

    I think

    Reply
  19. hoover

    excess acid and and symptom of reflux can likely be due to slow digestion, thus the stomach cant empty its contents to intestine. every person needs to take a digestive enzyme supplement with every big meal or every day. regardless of diet & etc. the digestive enzymes are lacking in our food supply and lost from stress, antibiotics, etc. after 1st week,symptoms should be resolved. common food allergies are often overlooked as the cause of a variety of symptoms. read and learn how food allergens work @ http://2011diet.com

    Reply
  20. Dianne

    This message is for “Good Grief”. This message board is very important, because the problem is that the doctors don’t help us. Medicine’s like Prolisec may help, but they also cause too many side effects. Natural food remedies are the way to go.

    Reply
  21. mark richard

    I have had acid reflux for 20 years. I always used Tums or Rolaids but that worked less and less well as the years passed by. I saw that people had poeted that gum was working for them. I laughed when I first read that people were chewing gum to get rid of heartburn. But i tried it about 4 months ago and I have to say it definately worked for me. I read that Wrigley Juicy fruit was the best so I tried that one. I chew maybe one or two pieces every other day or so and my heartburn has decreased by 90%. Its not totally gone but I am good with 90% less. I thought I should post this because maybe it will help someone like it helped me. Good luck.

    Reply
  22. par

    I was on Nexium for years..having lots of medical problems unknown to doctors..been off for a month now..taking enzymes and probiotics from source naturals. papaya is good also, or papaya pills..i recently started blending aloe (inside of plant) with a touch of ginger n a piece of cucumber..it helps alot..going to try braggs apple cider vinegar.. wld rather continue tying natural remedies than go back on the little poison pill!

    Reply
  23. Em

    Someone mentioned below about the cause of acid reflux and related issues often being an individual not having *enough* stomach acid. Yes, general docs won’t tell you this, simply because they aren’t aware of it. Antacids and prescriptions can do more damage than good in the long-run if this is the case. A cheap, home remedy to try is: hydrochloric acid capsules before each meal and or a little shot of diluted apple cider vinegar. All I know is, I’d tried everything the conventional way to no avail, then decided to try the opposite approach, and it has been amazingly helpful.

    Reply
  24. Tilili

    Reading this forum has been so helpful! I was diagnosed with acid reflux about a week and a half ago. I initially thought that the diagnosis was wrong because i wasnt experiencing heartburn. But now, after reading these experiences, I have realised that i do have acid reflux (the silent kind I think). My main symptom is the sensation that i cant breathe, like something is blocking my throat. This usually happens after i eat, or in the middle of the night. The doctor prescribed Topzole. Additionally, when this happens i start to panic so she also prescibed something to make me relaxed. When I look back on the past couple of months, my symptoms started slowly, but then last weekend it got really bad all of a sudden. When breathing ‘attacks’ happen, I feel that my breathing becomes restricted, like I can’t take a full breath into my diaphram. I get light headed and feel that i will need to be rushed to hosital any second. It is a terrifying symptom, and I feel that I am starting to become reluctant to eat because I know it will happen! But, this is irrational – I know that in time, I will find ways to over come this. This forum has been usefull in this regard. I have found that when I start feeling breathless, I drink some water. I also rub Vicks Vapour rub on my throat. Im drinking fennel tea, and bathing in essential oils (lavender and marjoram). I am confused because I am young (22) and I feel I have lived a sort of healthy lifestyle…not perfect though. We live and learn, and learn to live with it I suppose. We can do it. Thanks for a great, informative forum.

    Reply
  25. Eddie

    It all started when i was in summer camp about 2 years ago, i got dehydrated and couldent eat any food to the point to if i tried to even eat i would choke. and i would go and try to eat again but got so bad that i developed a fear to swallow foods. it was there for a few moths i became depressed and then my immune system when to the ground, i got a fungus infection on my troat and toung, after that i was on ensure and things i could eat. my stomach being empty all the time so i developed gastritis, and acid reflex my stomach lining was giving in, i was so hungry all the time and yet i could not eat. to this day i am alive thanks for the power of the internet. I HAVE REALLY GOOD practices for GERD AND ACID REFLEX. 1. morning juice a potatoe,2 carrots, and one apple. all of those fruits are antiflamatory and acid reducers. 2 LEARN PROPER FOOD COMBINATIONS you can find them on line. 3. take organic chlorophyll with out the mint. i take it with apple juice in the morning. 4. Take digestive enzymes that would help you break down food, these are taken before your meals. 5. take chewable DLP tablets made of licorice extract and they help protect the lining of the stomach and digestive trac the relieve is intestanious, after 30 mins you can eat. 6. Honey works great and calms you down. 7. for flare ups at night its good to have sparkling or mineral water in your fridge its a life saver. 8. Make sure you get a alkaline water filtraition ( costy but worth it) 9. dont use plactic cups or bottles, they contain chemicals that irritate the stomach. 10. aroma therapy/meditaion. be grateful for what you have and fo your life, give thanks for your strenght and smile keep it positive attitude.ginger extract helps to. =) if you want to ask me more questions or add me on yahoo eavila79@yahoo.com thanks

    Reply
  26. Dana Roth

    naumna singhani, What you are describing makes me think another doctor or a naturopath should be seen.
    Also, depression has drugs that help. If you really feel that way about yourself, the time is here to seek out a psychiatrist. I have RA, Hep-C, Fibromyalgia ,also a very painful condition regarding almost everything I eat getting stuck in my esophaogus and the pain is so bad I end up making a moaning sound without choice, happens several times a day. I barely eat.
    Look, I am a happy person anyway. Get proper care, and you can look at this life the way the Universe responds best to. As a way to find joy in your heart. No matter what. Beleive me, I would never have believed it either, but I have been practicing these maxims for a long time and the result in a better happier me. But don’t try w/out meds.
    Good Luck, Dana

    Reply
  27. Christian

    PRAY TO JESUS?! Really?!

    Reply
  28. Cyndee MacLeod

    AN APPLE A DAY DID KEEP MY DOCTOR AT BAY! My Dr. was writing out a prescription to take the rest of my life,I said “NO WAY”,but when I got home I realized how serious my doctor was stressing this,so I went on the internet–found a site that said when acid reflux attack happens “eat an apple”! My Dr. laughed when I told her and 3 weeks later an attack happened,ate an apple & viola attack was gone. I DO drink water with apple cider vinegar daily AND I AM BRAGGING NO ATTACKS IN 3 YEARS! My girlfriend was taking “8” Tums a day, told her my story she now carries dried apples in her purse and hasn’t taken a Tum since.

    Reply
  29. Misha

    Hi Mo,

    You need to ditch that G.I. doc and find yourself a good ENT that specializes in treating LPR. You have a LOT of the symptoms that I have, and I’ve been diagnosed with LPR, as well as a Hiatal Hernia. I still have the breathing problems because my throat and esophagus stays inflamed from the acid; not to mention the damage it has done to my teeth.

    I currently take Kapidex 30MG, which most likely will be upped to 2x’s a day. I’ve been hospitalized because of the LPR which causes Laryngitis, Pharyngitis, and Esophagitis, so you really need to find a doctor that will take you seriously and treat you accordingly.

    It’s seems the only food I can tolerate nowadays is oatmeal, baked fish, baked/broiled chicken, and veggies. Sometimes I’ll have eggs but will cause indigestion if not cooked properly.

    Anyway, you are not alone as you can see. So hang in there, and good luck with getting the correct diagnosis.

    Reply
  30. Isabelle

    i am currently on 150mg of ranitidine twice a day, i have celiac as well as acid reflux (from my list of 20 or so meds i take daily), and with a serious infection right now, the antibiotics are making it even worse… when it flares up, i try to take some milk (lactose free) that helps sometimes, also slowing down whatever i’m doing and sitting down with a fan going in front of me helps too… it’s psychological of course, but i find the cool are helps as well, since when the acid flares up, i tend to sweat all over… i take room temp. water as well, since cold water can shock the system and actually make it worse (for me anyway)… for the most part, ranitidine has helped, just not with these antibiotics right now… also, anyone with gastroparesis (slow digesting stomach) – GERD, celaic, acid reflux, etc. can occur quite commonly and flare up when your digestion is at its slowest or you ate something heavy, fatty, starchy, etc… i had a peanut butter toast this morning and everytime i think i’m going to throw-up, all i get is peanut butter taste… and it’s been almost 9 hours since i had it (1 toast)…

    Reply
  31. nancy

    let me just add that papaya enzyme provides relief, but doesn’t cure. it similiar to taking pepcid,prilosec, etc. but for many of us the only thing that will stop acid reflux is to either lose weight (if overweight) and/or change our diet. but for a natural source of relief, i stopped taking anti-acids a couple of years ago and find papaya enzymes work better anyway (and much cheaper too.)

    Reply
  32. nancy

    papaya enzyme. they really work. you can get them at any health food store. You can take them anytime, before eating, during eating, and after eating or later when the refulx kicks in. you just chew 2 or 3 and relief. a natural supplement that won’t harm you and really helps.

    Reply
  33. dar

    Learn How to Get Rid of Acid Reflux..
    1.Stop drinking pop, alcohol and caffeine-rich drinks such as coffee.

    2.Don’t consume excessive spices, and instead of adding spices on the food, try and include them in the cooking part.

    3.Avoid oily foods such as chips and fries.

    4.Drink lots and lots of water. This helps control the total acidity and also helps with digestion and helps prevent Acid Reflux as a result.

    5.Don’t over-eat – This leads to over-production of acids that persist in your stomach long after the food is digested.

    6.Avoid too much sugar-rich stuff – Sweet foods cause unregulated spikes in blood sugar and leads to uncontrolled acid production in the stomach because you trick your body into thinking it’s full when it isn’t.

    7.Quit Smoking.

    8.Don’t under-eat – Under eating will result in uneven production of acids in the stomach.

    9.Avoid read meat of all kind, and especially Pork. Stick with chicken and lean beef.

    10.Eat more fruits and vegetables. That’s what we were made to eat for the most part anyway.

    11.Pray to Jesus that he’ll give you more opportunities to share the Gospel with people and thank Him for His grace that has sustained even in sin and an uncontrolled sinful life.

    Acid Reflux is a problem today primarily because of our refusal to eat what we should instead of what we want. While Acid Reflux is extremely painful and very hard to overcome with medication, especially if it’s severe, it’s much easier and more important to correct what’s actually wrong by eating right and getting rid of activities and habits that you know you should.

    Reply
  34. Kathy

    Alkalizing foods can helps with acid reflux. Most of the foods we eat are acid producing and cause great discomfort. A good book to learn about an alkalizing food plan is the pH Miracle.

    Reply
  35. Lyn

    Irritation, Inflammation and incorrect Ph are the triggers to the acid reflux problem. To prevent irritation, I eat moderately cooked green leafy vegetables, plain kefir and yogurt, and mild proteins like chicken and white fish. I use fruits that are highly anti-oxidant like raisins, purple grapes, and blueberries. These also help to heal inflammation. Raw vegetables including salads, are hard to digest and can be highly irritating to the stomach, so avoid them for now. To help prevent inflammation, don’t consume wheat, oats and rye. Those grains are highly inflammatory, and once you are well, you may go back to them in moderation. Use Quinoa for a grain—it is very versatile. Spicy or hard foods, and processed sugars should be avoided for now. You may have to avoid fast food entirely until your stomach has healed. For a more alkaline Ph, I use ¼ teaspoon Wachters’ Organic Sea Vegetation’s Formula C which is powdered Chlorophyll, in water morning and night. (it is highly concentrated chlorophyll) I use Perm A vite Powder by Allergy Research Group, because it helps to soothe and build the stomach lining. I use DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice) by Enzymatic Therapy for pain. Lastly, I use BioK+ by BioK+pharma which is a strong live culture of l. acidophilus and l.casi. With every meal, I take VibraZyme by Vibragenix. Be well.

    Reply
  36. Girl007

    There are several things you can do once you get a proper diagnosis. If you do get a diagnosis, you need to follow your doctor’s instructions. Sometimes natural cures work well, but initially, if your doctor suggests meds, listen to him/her, as there is a reason. Experiencing these bouts of Acid Reflux and not treating the condition properly, can lead to serious consequences. Once you do get the condition under control, there are certain things you can do to such as watch your diet, take probiotics daily (AccuFlora is a good one – you can Google it and see the positive reviews), Charcoal capsules can help in the aid of digestion, drinking plenty of water throughout the day. Also, a nice cup of hot Chamomile tea before bed might be soothing. Do not, however, diagnose yourselves. If it’s bad enough that you’re searching for answers, then it’s bad enough to seek medical help. Before treating your symptoms, find out your cause.

    Reply
  37. Karen

    My 5 yr old daughter was just diagnosed with acid reflux!! She was sick about 1 year before we got a diagnosis. So hard to figure out when they don’t know how to explain the pain and symtoms. The specialist put her on Ranitidine, I want a natural cure. We eliminate the “bad trigger foods” but not a whole lot better. She would say her necks hurts, tummy hurts and she feels like she has to puke. She wants to constantly eat…. Any of these remedies have a safe dose for children???

    Reply
  38. amy

    For those of you with problems and your doctor says its not GERD have you been checked for Cellac disease? My 4yr old son has it but it can flare up at any age. Helen Parkinson,I really think you should ask your doctor.GOOD LUCK!

    Reply
  39. naumna singhani

    I am suffering from GERD since three years, as a result i have lost my precious 10th board exam just because i wasn’t well.The problem i am having is:-
    1.sinusitis(may be because of GERD, as sometimes the acid enters into my nasal cavity)
    2.severe throat rashes accompanied by small bud like structure which are superbly coating my throat with pure blood.
    3.Breathlessness is in the top list.Some doctors say i am having asthma and give me inhalers which in turn make my GERD symptoms WORST.
    3.DEPRESSION, as a result of all this what had happened to me from 3 years and will continue till my death has pushed me into some different world.People sometimes think i am lying just to avoid going school, but the one who suffers only know the taste of bitterness.
    4.Financial situation has been really hit hard because of me, who is just a piece of big mass which can’t be eaten and has to be taken care by feeding medicine , food…….
    GOOD LUCK TO ALL MY FRIENDS SUFFERING FROM THE SAME SITUATION AS I AM,WE WILL MEET AFTER DEATH AND CELEBRATE BY DRINKING WINE.

    Reply
  40. MO

    does anyone think or have heard about not having enough acid in your stomach? my chiro gave me zypan which creates acid. he said a lot of docs wont tell you that sometimes people dont have enough acid in their stomach. also question…how long with silent reflux does it take for symptoms to start. i will take a drink of water or take one bite of something and i am immediately coughing or trying to catch my breathe. not all the time but most. i stopped my nexium 2 weeks ago as i felt it wasnt helping, but wondering if i should go back on it. the 2 things you need in life are food and air and im struggling with both of them. please help. my gi still says its not reflux but pulmonary doc says it is. i am going insane on what to do. pulmonary doc gave me reglan but gi doc doesnt want me taking it. i have heard a lot of bad side effects of it. i had to see my gi today because it has been 3 weeks since i have had a good BM. i dont eat anything that creates acid. the only maybe pudding for dinner, but it usually doesnt bother me. thank you so much im going insane.

    Reply
  41. laura

    I have had acid reflux for over a year now. The things that have helped me the most are taking vitamin b12, 500 mcg. daily, and every morning for breakfast I mix together 1 4 oz. cup of Activia vanilla yogurt, 1 tsp. of raw honey and half of a grated apple. This gives me more relief then anything else I’ve tried: zantac, prilosic, prescrip meds, acv,etc. Other yogurts don’t seem to work. Something in the Activia really helps. It took me 2 days to start to see the difference, hope it can help somebody else too.

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  42. Mariely

    Mo, I suffer from LPR (Silence reflux) and that causes the globus syndrome, the feeling that you can’t breath. My ENT was the one that found it after 2 trips to the ER, she said I had to get an a daily double dose of Prevacid. 30 mg. each for 6 months. I also was put on a very strict diet (acid reflux friendly) that I have been following with a lot of discipline.
    I’m happy to report that 4 months later I feel a lot better and I’m confident that when I go for my 6 month check up, she’ll reduce my prevacid dose because my throat would be healed.
    I also want to mention, that I have suffered from regular acid reflux for 10 years and I was controlling it with diet and eating at least 3-4 hours before going to bed.
    However, last year during my annual check up, the doctor found out that I was hipothyroid and I started taking Synthroid first thing in the morning.
    I am very sure that taking the pill first thing in the morning caused me the silent reflux, I remember my stomach didn’t like it first thing in the morning and I could taste the acid and pill together as I jogged or I was getting ready for work.
    Now, I take my synthroid 3.5 hours after breakfast, the only bad thing is that I can’t eat anything during those 3.5 hours and one hour after I take the synthroid. That’s keeping me away from the doughnuts and cake in the office and helping me maintain my weight, there is always a silver lining. 😉

    Matt commented that everybody reacts different to disease and treatment, that is sooo true. So, we have to take note of what foods affect us because we are all different. Doctors just give us the most common foods that cause acid reflux. We should also pay attention if our body doesn’t like a medicine…

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  43. MO

    All of this hit me so suddenly in January. I had an episode after eating pizza about 40 minutes after I started coughing and got to the point I couldn’t breathe. GI doc did an endoscope. Pulmonary doc sent me to ENT. Family doc said probably bronchitis and put me on a bunch of antibiotics. I truly think whatever happened just irritated my bronchi tubes. Because I didn’t feel sick if I had bronchitis, but was having problems breathing. Endocrinologist doesn’t think it is the thyroid causing all of this, but no one can explain why I am only able to eat certain things.
    ENT says its probably silent reflux, GI doctor says its not.
    I am basically eating fish, veggies, banana smoothies, pretzels, graham crackers and water. I have been doing this since February. I really didn’t think it was reflux either because before all of this happened I was eating chocolate, spicy foods, drinking some wine occasionally, and caffeine. I am able to do dairy, I know I eat a box of pudding every night and it doesn’t bother me at all. I can eat toast too. It’s like I clear my throat a lot after I ingest food or drink. ENT says it is silent reflux, GI doctor says it is not reflux. They had me on nexium but I stopped taking it. I would rather treat it naturally with supplements. I do not like Prescription Medicine. Your body needs acid to help digest food. So taking PPI’s stops the acid.

    I am taking supplements from a company called Standard Process. They do have me on iodine rescue and thytropin PMG. My chiropractor is a natureopathic and is the one who told me I had the thyroid problem and to keep pushing my family doc for more tests. He said most blood work on thyroid will come normal but people have problems. I have not noticed any difference in the symptoms with or without the supplements. I feel with my lack of nutrition some of the supplements are the only things that are keeping me surviving. I am not even sure if I am absorbing any of the supplements. I also thought of ileo-valve being messed up because I have some pain in my stomach and problems breathing when I eat sometimes. I know I do probably have some reflux from the lack of food I am eating. Plus I keep having breathing problems. But the breathing problems are in my stomach like I cant expand my diaphragm. No hiatal hernia.

    I do not have any other illnesses besides maybe the reflux. If I truly have that. I have had a heart work up, CT scans of stomach, chest for a lot of different symptoms. I dont have a gallbladder. I was also tested for food allergies and it was normal.

    Supplements I am on
    Catalyn, Cataplex B, Folic Acid, Minchex, organically bound minerals, trace minerals, thythropin PMG, iodine rescue, okra pepsin, zypan, Juice Plus, ginger, tuna omega III, Immuplex. I think that is it.

    I am not sure what to do I just want to be able to eat normal again. Just very frustrated. Oh and I am 35 years old, 5’4”, 100 lbs. Was about 115 before all of this started. I am just so frustrate and sick of all of this. I have tried apple cidar vinegar, I just dont understand what is going on and why I have tried several different doctors and no one can give me an answer! Does anyone have any insight?

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  44. Matt

    One thing that concerns me is that allot of the info I’ve looked up on the net about foods that cause reflux and heartburn and foods that prevent it, is contradictory. Sometimes even on the same site they contradict themselves.. I think the best way is to keep a diary of the foods that seem to still give you reflux and take it from there, slowly eliminating the ones that cause the discomfort. I think all people react differently to different food groups due to their own body chemistry. Burp! .. Here it comes! 🙁

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  45. Pam

    Hello everyone, this all makes very interesting reading for me but is confusing me as well. I have recently been told I have Barrets Oesophagus. I have very bad scare tissue, the interesting thing is I wasn’t aware of having acid reflux as I have never had noticeable discomfort. I have been prescribed TopZole one daily for the rest of my life. Is the Apple Cider remedy too late for me, does anybody know about Topzole tablets.?

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  46. Rose

    I used to suffer from severe bloating,gas,burping and acid reflux as well. I got a severe pain in my left lower side which got worse two years ago. Visited the emergency dept. six hours later, after lots of tests and examinations I was told that I had Diverticulitis. I did research and went on a diet of baby food, all pureed with no fiber so healing can take place for approx. one month. I went to see my doctor, after some questions he told me that I was “Gluten Intolerant” I eliminated all wheat products (flour) biscuits, breads etc. My waist size reduced from 33″ to 28″ in one week. The severe bloating stopped. I take fennel seed tea, or chew some to help with gas. I take digestive pills and eat more frequently for the acid reflux. I finish eating by 6pm in the evening, light stuff, salads and some vegetables. This seems to help a lot.

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  47. Good Grief

    You people are all insane. See a doctor for Christs sake.

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  48. George

    Thanks for all the input, tried the apple cider but it did not seem to improve the heartburn effect. I would like to get off the Previcid because I feel it in the long run makes the symptoms worse. I have been using a product called Nopalea, an anti-inflammatory wellness drink and since I was having an acid fair up, I thought I would give Nopalea a try. It worked and I experienced relief with-in a few minutes. Nopalea is nationally advertised and you can access more info at http://www.trynopaleanow.com Good luck and good health to all.

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  49. Trey

    I was always a vomiter as a kid, not like bulimia but when i would get really nervous my body would just naturally barf. i can’t help but to think this why i have such horrid acid reflux, mine is so bad its to the point where the heartburn is so much pressure on my heart i really do feel like i am having a heart attack or like congestive heart failure. Saddest part is i am not even 18, i was diagnosed when i was 16 and have been struggling basically my whole teen years… It’s really hard to live this way.. my Gastrologist even said he has NEVER seen as patient as young as me.. Anyways he wants to perform a scope on me to see if he can correct the problem. I delayed on the procedure because i dont like being put to sleep, i know now i need to do this to better my health.. The congestion from my esophagus backs up into my throat and throughout my chest.. it’s not pretty, to anyone out there who has it this severe and to anyone who is my age please reply and contact me, it’s really hard living this way and i am happy to know i am not a lone

    xox

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  50. Mohammad

    Two responses:
    First to the anonymous on April 20, 2010 to please send me some Sangre De Drago herb. I am in Long Island. My email is nasirazeemi(at)gmail(dot)com
    Second to Gita or anyone else suffering from GERD. I have 20+ years of research in color and light. They play a miraculous role in cure and healing. For GERD drink yellow colord absorbed water 3 times a day 30 min.before meal. Also rub yellow color absorbed oil on your chest (on the mouth of stomach) in one circular motion for 5 minutes every night before go to bed. Email me to explain preparation of water and oil. Its very easy, no side effects whatsoever and natural way of getting rid of the diseases permanently. Only precaution is to eat 3 hrs before bed.

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