Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) also commonly known as acid reflux is a condition of mucosal damage caused in esophagus by the acid coming up from the stomach. Also treating GERD must be a top priority because if left unattended it may lead to Barret’s esophagus, a type of intestinal metaplasia. While primary cause of acid reflux is outlined as hiatal hernia, it can also be caused by many risk factors such as:
- Obesity and overweight are major causes of acid reflux.
- Excessive consumption of beverages and alcohols tends to induce acidity in stomach leading to acid reflux.
- Medications such aspirin and ibuprofen or muscle relaxers and blood pressure medicines can also lead to acid reflux.
- GERD is mostly seen in women who are pregnant. During pregnancy the stomach often contains certain acidic substance.
Acid reflux announces its arrival with a list of symptoms given below:
- Bloody or black colored stool is an underlying symptom of acid reflux.
- Nausea and feeling of gastric distress.
- Wheezing, dry cough, hoarseness or chronic sore throat.
- Heartburn, a series of pain in stomach, chest and throat is a marker of GERD.
How to Stop Acid Reflux – Home Remedies
1. Chewing Gum
Chewing gum is one of the best home remedies to get rid of acid reflux. Scientific study shows that people suffering from heartburn feel relieved upon chewing sugar-gum for around 30 minutes. Basically chewing gum stimulates a salivary flow rate that washes away any acid present in your gut. Also the sugar present in gums upon reacting with acids lowers the pH alleviating acidity and gastric pain.
2. Baking Soda
Chemically termed sodium bicarbonate, baking soda is an essential natural remedy for treating acid reflux pain. Baking soda possesses high basicity due to the presence of sodium and carbonate. When acid is mixed with base the solution turns neutral. However, baking soda also produces salt upon reacting with acid and indeed needs to be used only occasionally and not regularly.
3. Licorice
Licorice is a natural healer that regulates digestive tract. The reason being licorice has paramount stomach healing properties. Eating licorice can certainly reduce acidity and heart-burn thereby treating acid reflux. Moreover, licorice also possesses anti-inflammatory characteristics making it a vital remedy to cure heart and stomach burn.
4. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera offers soothing and relief from burns. Deemed as the best anti-inflammatory agent, aloe vera is commonly used to treat burns and rashes. Drinking aloe vera juice daily is considered as one of the best ways to prevent GERD. The cooling effect of aloe vera quiets down the inflammation and burning sensation caused in esophagus and stomach due acid reflux. It is therefore, recommended to drink a glass of aloe vera juice daily.
5. Slippery elm
Of many herbal remedies to treat acidic reflux pain, slippery elm can be determined as the most effective one. The extract derived from its tree creates a thick layer of mucous around your stomach providing a stronger barrier against acids. The coating property of slipper elm makes it a vital herb to treat GERD symptoms. The most ideal method to ingest slippery elm is to mix it with a glass of water and drink before consuming any meal.
6. Chamomile Tea
Researches and studies claim that drinking chamomile tea is the best way to treat inflammation in stomach and esophagus. Chamomile tea is also considered to alleviate irritated mucous membranes in your digestive tract thereby promoting normal digestion. However, in order to garner effective results chamomile tea must be consumed daily three to four times in between meals.
7. Marshmallow
Marshmallow is one the oldest home remedies to get rid of acid reflux. It is known to produce a starchy substance called mucilage, an agent that is responsible for coating and protection of your esophagus mucous membrane. Drink three to four cups a day of water and powdered marshmallow root alleviates burning of esophagus.
8. Goldenseal
Goldenseal extract is the solution to a number of stomach woes such as indigestion, stomach swelling and gas including acid reflux. It can also treat sore throat and dry cough caused by GERD. Barberine present in goldenseal absorbs bacteria and fungi located in stomach or throat. It also absorbs highly acidic substances from stomach lowering the risk of acidic reflux.
9. Fennel
Fennel is popular for a wide range of benefits it offers. However, fennel seeds are world renowned for their digestive and anti-inflammatory properties. Being a rich source of fiber, fennel seeds prevent constipation and swelling of stomach eventually reducing accumulation of acids. Also, they promote body metabolism by breaking down various nutrients and acids. Eating fennel seeds is an efficient method to keep acid reflux at bay.
10. Yarrow
Inflammation is a major symptom of acid reflux and must be dealt with immediately. Yarrow being a rich anti-inflammatory herb can be used to get rid of inflammation in esophagus and stomach. Additionally, it can also be used to treat heart burn and throat swelling.
11. Barberry
Barberry is a multipurpose healer of acid reflux. Its anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties ease the inflammation and swelling of stomach and throat. It also helps to improve digestion and metabolism of your body owing to antidiarrheal characteristic.
12. Ginger Tea
An effective concoction of crushed ginger and water is one of the most effective home remedies to get rid of acid reflux. Ginger is known to treat several stomach related problems. Nausea and gastric distress caused by GERD is efficiently tackled on drinking ginger tea.
13. Apple
An apple a day keeps a doctor away or in this case acid reflux. Eating an apple post a meal reduces chances of gas and acidity. It is suggested that eating an apple before sleeping combats acid reflux at night.
14. Apple Cider Vinegar
Acid reflux is not always caused due to the presence of excessive acids. In certain individuals the capacity to produce acids is not enough to properly digest food. Therefore, in such cases a mixture of apple cider vinegar, honey and lemon can provide essential acids needed to digest food, lowering the probability of acid reflux.
15. Raw Almond
Raw almonds are alkaline in nature and therefore balance out the pH level of your stomach. They considerably lower acidity thereby fighting many symptoms of GERD.
16. Vegetable/Fruit Juice
Vegetable juices of carrot, cucumbers, radishes, lemon and beets help to decrease acid reflux pain in the stomach and esophagus. These vegetables are a rich in alkaline properties and thus, can help you tame acidic quotient of your stomach.
17. Cinnamon Tea
Cinnamon is a traditional herb which effectively deals with heart burn caused by acid reflux. Owing to its diuretic and anti-oxidant characteristics cinnamon tea sooths inflamed areas of esophagus and stomach. It also frees you from acidic burning caused by excessive presence of undigested substance in your stomach.
18. Banana
If you are wondering how to stop acid reflux immediately then grab a banana. High fiber content and large amounts of carbohydrates in banana rapidly subsides the acidic levels of your body. Also bananas are easy to gulp down even with a sore throat thereby making them an exclusive remedy to be used in any circumstance to get rid of acid reflux.
Preventions to avoid acid reflux:
- Lower smoking and consumption of alcohol.
- Maintain a healthy diet and weight.
- Don’t eat too much acidic food.
- Avoid wearing tight clothes.
- Don’t keep your legs crossed for a long while.
Acid reflux or GERD can easily be cure by following the aforementioned home remedies. However, if is escalates to a chronic stage necessary actions must be taken.