Acid Reflux Remedies

Got acid reflux symptoms?

Well, your not the only one. It is estimated that sixty million Americans have acid reflux. (GastroEsophageal Reflux Disease or GERD)

Heartburn, a sour or bitter taste in the mouth or back of the throat, and trouble swallowing, are the most common acid reflux symptoms.

Although there are various causes for acid reflux, the good news is that there are also an assortment of treatments as well. You do not have to silently suffer with the painful, burning sensation that accompanies this chronic disorder.

There are many acid reflux remedies available, and it seems like there are more being released every day. Although there are plenty of prescription medicines to treat acid reflux (such as Zantac, Pepcid and Tagamet), or heartburn as it is often called, but many people prefer to avoid taking too many pills. Natural acid reflux remedies provide welcomed relief for many sufferers.

Basically, acid reflux disease is a result of inflammation in the esophagus. The pain is caused by liquid from the stomach working its way backwards into the esophagus.

I was not interested in finding acid reflux remedies myself because I had never had heartburn until last week. At first, the thought of the acid reflux symptoms I was experiencing came as a kind-of frightening shock. I thought that something was stuck in my chest and I couldn't work it out. The sensation was one that I would equate with chocking deep in the chest.

After that brief experience with heartburn I decided that I had better check out some natural acid reflux remedies. Again, I wasn't really looking for myself. My husband complains of heartburn on a daily basis. I had never really understood what he was feeling until I experienced it first hand.

Acid Reflux Symptoms May Seem Like Heart Attack

We even went so far as a few trips to the hospital thinking my husband's acid reflux symptoms were a heart attack. Both times it just turned out to be a bad case of acid reflux. The point is... chest pain can be a very scary. If you are one of many Americans at risk for heart disease, it can be even more frightening, as it was for my husband.

My husband abhors medication, but has leaned to abide them over the last few years. We are always looking for natural remedies as an alternative choice.

Acid Reflux Medications

Medications that were used in the past for acid reflux remedies had very bad consequences. The drug "Propulsid" that was used for the stomach ailment was taken off of the market after many people died from the medication.

My husband isn't really excited about taking medication of any sort and the track record for medications for this stomach problem is bleak. We decided that natural acid reflux remedies would be the best approach to his discomfort. If there is a natural way to take care of a problem then that is the way to go.

Water

We found that drinking a lot of filtered water each day helps to elevate the acid reflux symptoms associated with the stomach problem. Water helps to balance the pH in your stomach which neutralizes the acids. This is the easiest of all the remedies.

Garlic

Other acid reflux remedies include fresh garlic. This came as a huge surprise to both of us. You would think that garlic would disrupt the natural balance in your stomach but it does the opposite. Just adding water and garlic to my husband's diet has proved to be an effective natural remedy.

Why not use the most natural acid reflux cure of all?

A healthy diet is the best cure of all as eating more healthy foods will creates less stomach acid. This seems to be the ace in the hole as regards acid reflux remedies.

Many believe that acid reflux symptoms affect the heart or mistakenly diagnose acid reflux as a heart related problem. In fact acid reflux has nothing to do with the heart - it is a digestive problem.

Eating a lot of grains, fresh vegetables and a few fruits, and little fat or grease or meat, can do a lot to treat heartburn. Making sure that you do not overeat, and that you have several small meals over the course of the day rather than just having one great big one can also work wonders for your acid reflux. (coffee and orange juice are to be avoided)

Of course, some people really do suffer from acid reflux disease for other reasons than just poor dietary habits. If you are one of these people, and are simply the victim of an overactive stomach, then there is nothing else for it than to treat your condition with the remedies that you find. Otherwise, you are at risk of all kinds of other health problems caused by the excessive stomach acid.

Give Up Smoking

If you are a smoker, nicotine relaxes the muscle that normally prevents acid from backing up into the esophagus and dries out saliva in your mouth and throat which generally helps neutralize stomach acid. Keep in mind, smoking increases your risk of developing esophageal cancer. So anyone who suffers from severe acid reflux should never smoke.

Acid Reflux Natural Herbs

Natural herbs you may want to consider include: Licorice, Aloe, Slippery Elm, and MSM (methylsulfonylmethane).

Sleeping

Another natural remedy of acid reflux we don't think about is gravity. Acid reflux symptoms at night can be particular disturbing causing loss of sleep. Try raising the head of the bed 6 inches above the foot of the bed, making it harder for the acid to travel it's way up.

Acid Reflux Disease From Stress

According to many doctors, stress is a chronic contributing factor to many diseases of the stomach. Instead of worrying until your stomach twists itself into knots and propels acid reflux disease upwards into your throat, stop and take several deep breaths to calm yourself. Then try to think of something peaceful and relaxing.

One of my favorite acid reflux relaxation methods:

Think of a lovely blue sky shining over a placid, beautiful beach with the ocean in the background.

Even telling it to you right now, I can see it and hear the gentle lapping of the waves on the beach as the ocean falls and rises, falls and rises.

When I picture this placid scene, combined with the calls of seagulls and the feel of the breeze on my cheek, and the warmth of the sun, I just can't stay stressed out, and my whole body and mind calm down immediately. This loosens my stomachs violent churning, and makes the acid settle down right to where it is supposed to be, instead of up in my throat.

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