Acid Reflux Natural Remedies

Acid Reflux Natural Remedies

Article by Barry Lutz

I wanted to learn about some natural remedies for acid reflux, and went to the internet to do some research. I found that there are a number of natural remedies that have shown to be effective for controlling acid reflux, but much to my surprise, the overwhelming choice is apple cider vinegar.

My initial reaction was that this didn’t make much sense to me as a remedy. If vinegar is an acid, then how is that going to help with a condition called acid reflux? Isn’t the objective to block the acid, not add to it? There are a number of theories as to why the acid in apple cider vinegar is effective as a natural resource for acid reflux.

Interestingly enough, the LES or lower esophageal sphincter, which is a valve at the entrance to your stomach that is supposed to close and keep acid from moving up into your esophagus, is pH sensitive. So, when it senses acid it shuts to protect from the acid reflux. As it turns out, some people who have heartburn actually have too little digestive acid instead of too much, and thus the additional acid from apple cider vinegar can help keep the LES closed.

Another viewpoint is with regards to the kind of acid that is in the stomach. Since stomach acid is hydrochloric acid, and vinegar is acetic acid, which is a weaker acid, it is thought that the combination could reduce the total acid. If this is the case, then the stomach can still digest food, but do so without the additional acid that leads to acid reflux and heartburn.

When using apple cider vinegar as a natural remedy for acid reflux, it was recommended to mix 2 or 3 teaspoons in an 8 ounce glass of water, and then take it before meals or when there are heartburn symptoms.

Another natural remedy for acid reflux that was recommended is baking soda; try this by mixing one tablespoon into a glass of water. This made sense that since baking soda contains sodium bicarbonate, which would have a pH balancing effect that could be useful for helping to neutralize the acid content in the stomach. However, if the theory for using apple cider vinegar as a remedy when one actually has too little stomach acid is valid, then using baking soda would reduce the acid further.

Also note that baking soda is very high in sodium content. This could become a problem from using too much and/or with prolonged use for someone with high blood pressure. There are also a couple of other things to be sure of: do not drink the baking soda mixture until it is completely dissolved, and don’t use this if you are already very full from drinking or eating.

There are a number of other natural remedies that could be tried, but apple cider vinegar and baking soda, or even a combination of the two, appeared to be of the most useful. Just remember that even though a natural remedy isn’t a medicine, it is still something that could have side effects or cause interaction problems with other medicines that you are taking. In light of this, if you aren’t going to talk about this with your doctor, at least check with a pharmacist.

This may not be a natural remedy in terms of apple cider vinegar or baking soda, but when compared to this or to medicines that are used to control acid reflux and heartburn problems, what could be more natural than a change in life style as a solution.

I am a chronic acid reflux sufferer. I have been on nexium for years, and there have been days where I have taken 6+ tums on top of that I have chipped teeth from tums. I also let myself get overweight. And although I have never had a drinking problem, we would go out each weekend where I would have red wine. Alcohol is bad enough for acid reflux, but red wine may be the worst.

So is it no wonder that I had acid reflux problems with that life style, and other related problems to being overweight and out of shape? Well, all of that changed a couple of years ago after having a 911 heart scare. I have lost 50 pounds, and workout most every day. I eat very ‘properly’, and also try to avoid the foods on the acid reflux bad list.

And go figure, I have very little acid reflux problems any more. So, if I was recommending something as a natural remedy for acid reflux, it would certainly begin with improving the life style factors that are contributing to it.

About the Author

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