If you suffer from acid reflux, there are a few home remedies that may help relieve the symptoms. But it’s important to note that if you don’t see improvement with these treatments, or if you experience frequent heartburn, consult with your doctor.
A diet that includes a variety of fruits, vegetables and whole grains can help prevent acid reflux. Also, avoiding fatty foods and eating smaller meals can also help relieve your symptoms.
Elevate Your Bed
If you suffer from acid reflux, one of the best ways to prevent heartburn at night is by elevating your bed. This helps your stomach and esophagus work together and prevent acid from leaking back up into your throat.
Elevating your bed 6 to 8 inches can make a significant difference in preventing heartburn at night. This can be done by placing wooden blocks under your bed or by using a foam bed wedge.
A cross-over trial found that sleeping elevated with a foam bed block or on a wedge pillow reduced the number of reflux symptoms in people who had GERD. The group sleeping on a wedge pillow had a significantly lower acid exposure (
Drink Water with Lemon
If you are suffering from acid reflux, drinking water with lemon can be an effective treatment at home. It has a high pH, meaning that it can neutralize the stomach acid.
This is a good way to relieve symptoms like heartburn, nausea, and belching. The pH of lemon water also helps to move food along the digestive tract.
Another benefit of lemon water is that it can help prevent weight gain, which is a risk factor for acid reflux.
Lemons are also rich in vitamin C, or ascorbic acid. It can protect your body against cell damage and lower blood pressure. It is said that a diet rich in ascorbic acid can also help reduce the risks of certain cancers.
Eat Aloe Juice
Aloe vera is a plant that is known for its healing properties. It is traditionally used as an ointment for burns and wounds, but it can also be eaten to relieve heartburn.
Acid reflux, also called GERD, occurs when stomach acids leak back into the esophagus. It’s caused by many things, like eating too much, drinking a lot of coffee or alcohol, smoking, pregnancy, and stress.
The clear gel inside an aloe leaf is a natural laxative that can help ease symptoms. It’s best to drink a spoonful of aloe gel diluted with water or juice 1-2 times daily.
Take Licorice
Taking licorice, or glycyrrhizin, may help relieve symptoms of acid reflux. Studies show that licorice extract, taken at low doses and in combination with standard acid reflux medication, may make episodes less frequent or less serious.
However, licorice extracts with high amounts of glycyrrhizin can have dangerous side effects, including high blood pressure and heart problems. Fortunately, there’s a safer alternative: Deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL).
DGL contains only trace levels of glycyrrhizin and does not have the same side effects as licorice with higher amounts. Besides alleviating heartburn and GERD, it may also improve digestive symptoms like constipation or diarrhea.
Take DGL
Using a high-quality chewable DGL tablet 30-minutes before or between meals to help with acid reflux can ease symptoms. Licorice is a natural antacid that works to calm the stomach lining to help alleviate symptoms and promote digestive health.
DGL contains beneficial plant chemicals, including triterpenoid saponins and flavonoids, that have a variety of medicinal uses. It also has anti-inflammatory effects and helps repair esophageal ulcers.
Deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) is a safe and effective supplement for acid reflux. Unlike crude licorice extracts, DGL does not contain glycyrrhizin, the component that can cause blood pressure problems or lead to heart trouble in children or pregnant women.
