Posts Tagged ‘treat heartburn’
Home Remedy for Heartburn
Many sufferers of heartburn look for a home remedy for heartburn instead of using drugs or medications that may irritate their stomach and add to the problem. Heartburn is a burning sensation in the esophagus as some of the stomach juices are refluxed into the esophagus. This condition can be slight or very intense and normally occurs after eating food. Even if you cannot get rid of your heartburn entirely you can treat the symptoms of heartburn.
Heartburn can be triggered by specific foods and the easiest way to treat heartburn related to food is by simply avoiding those foods that may irritate or cause heartburn. You also can attempt to decrease the portion sizes of those foods that may irritate your heartburn. Many individuals experience heartburn when they are lying down and you may need to wait a few hours after eating before you go to bed to stop this.
Another easy fix for the heartburn you get from lying down after you eat. Sometimes if the heartburn is not real serious you can raise the head of the bed with blocks by 3 to 4 inches. Another option is the wedge pillow to do the same thing by getting the top of your body higher than your stomach. This will help to keep the acids down in the stomach where they belong.
Many people use ginger root as home remedy for heartburn. One of the properties of ginger is its ability to absorb excessive acids in the stomach as well as its calming effects. This is useful as stress can be a major factor in contributing to heartburn. Certain herbs such as goldenseal and gentian root are also helpful to alleviate heartburn.
Stress can also be a major cause of heartburn and indigestion and may just be the underlying cause of most cases. It will not heart to learn about The Best Stress Reduction Techniques on The Effects of Stress on the Body.
Slippery elm can soothe a sore throat that is a symptom of heartburn. Slippery elm contains mucilage, which swells when in contact with water. It is thought that this mucilage coats the esophagus to treat your throat irritation. This herb is frequently found in throat lozenges. It should be noted that no studies have been conducted linking slippery elm to heartburn.
One home remedy for heartburn that seems counterintuitive, yet is very effective, is to drink a mixture of apple cider vinegar and water. Simple stir up to 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar into a glass of warm water and drink it slowly. It may burn slightly, but the relief should be nearly immediate for most people.
Heartburn can be aggravated by drinking carbonated or fizzy beverages. These types of drinks can increase the pressure in your stomach, add to the bloated feeling and eventually cause the stomach acid to flow back into the esophagus. Drinks such as cola can actually harm the stomach lining and cause other problems.
Certain medications can cause heartburn. Your pharmacist can identify which prescription medicines can irritate your stomach and assist you and your doctor in managing the medications. Keep in mind that eating too late at night is not a good idea. Your stomach needs time to digest food and ideally, you should stop eating at least two hours before heading off to bed.