3 Home Remedies For Acid Reflux
In this article, we will discuss some home remedies for acid reflux. That way you have natural alternatives that do not cause side effects to reduce the complaints. Keep reading to learn more.
Acid reflux is a common health problem in adults, both men and women, especially when they are pregnant. This condition causes a burning sensation and pain in both the esophagus and throat. It reduces the quality of life of people who regularly suffer from it.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
To begin with, we want to make it clear that you should see a doctor if you often suffer from acid reflux. Your doctor will make a diagnosis and, depending on the cause and severity of the symptoms, can prescribe the most appropriate treatment. The doctor can choose from several options:
- You may be prescribed acid-blocking drugs.
- In certain situations, however, surgery or endoscopic treatment are advised.
It is important to emphasize that a diagnosis of chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is not the same as having sporadic heartburn or reflux. However, in addition to a medical checkup, some home remedies for acid reflux can help you naturally relieve the symptoms of this condition.
Home remedies for acid reflux
1. Honey
For starters, let’s take a look at honey, a medicinal food that people have used since ancient times and is still a topical home remedy for many ailments like acid reflux. You can use it along with conventional medications to relieve the symptoms of acid reflux.
Honey, thanks to its density and viscosity, stays in the esophagus for a certain time. This provides a temporary ‘coating’ on the entire mucous membrane. In addition, it has an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effect.
When choosing honey, we recommend that you buy pure and raw honey. That way you ensure that it retains its good properties and does not contain any unhealthy additives.
2. Ginger
Ginger root is an effective natural home remedy for acid reflux and digestive problems in general. It can also be a godsend for children who occasionally suffer from this condition. In addition, pregnant women can use it as a home remedy for acid reflux as well as nausea and vomiting.
- The correct dosage is between 1 and 1.5 grams of dry ginger powder per day.
- You can take it half an hour before a meal or whenever you feel reflux symptoms.
- You can also take it as an infusion or extract, following the manufacturer’s instructions.
However, in some cases too much ginger can cause digestive problems, so don’t exceed the dosage of this acid reflux home remedy.
3. Licorice
Licorice is one of the natural home remedies for acid reflux and inflammation that we want to discuss today. In particular, we recommend preparations of deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) containing less than 1% glycyrrhizin. However, we recommend checking the glycyrrhizin content on the label.
Thanks to this type of licorice extract, you can avoid the long-term side effects of this ingredient (hyperkalemia, hypertension and sodium retention). However, people with high blood pressure should only use it under medical supervision.
Nowadays you can find liquorice in pills, candies, extracts, and so on. You can choose any of these home remedies for acid reflux based on their characteristics and properties. You can also make a licorice tea every day and flavor it with honey.
Other effective tips against acid reflux
In addition to these home remedies for acid reflux, you can also make some lifestyle changes to help you improve this condition. Consider the following measures:
- Maintain weight or try to lose weight. A buildup of fat increases the pressure in your abdomen and thus increases the risk of acid reflux.
- Avoid toxic habits such as smoking and do not abuse alcohol.
- Do not eat anything in the last three hours before going to bed.
- Raise the head of the bed slightly so that your body is not completely horizontal as this can promote the tendency to reflux.
- Avoid certain foods that can aggravate acid reflux such as highly spicy foods, excess fatty foods, chocolate, citrus fruits, tomatoes, coffee, and mint.
- Eat small portions more often throughout the day to reduce the amount you eat at each meal. That is, eat several light meals instead of 3 large meals.
Now you know some home remedies and tips against acid reflux with which you can relieve the complaints in a natural and effective way. However, if the problem persists you should see a doctor as you could also be suffering from other more serious digestive disorders.