Acid reflux affects many people and is a condition that involves the esophagus and the stomach. It often causes a burning sensation, both in the throat and the mouth. While there are many conventional medicines used to treat acid reflux, some alternative health practitioners recommend trying herbs first. They say some herbs not only aid in soothing the problem of reflux, but also aid in healing.
Function
Herbs have long been recognized as having medicinal properties and can be easier on the body than regular medicine because they are natural and therefore tend to prompt fewer side effects.
Stomach problems are often treated with herbs because many herbs are soothing and can eliminate some of the discomfort of stomach issues, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera has long been recognized as a soothing healer of many medical problems. It is soothing for the outside of the body, such as for problems with the skin, as well as treating internal issues, such as stomach woes. Aloe vera is used for acid reflux because it soothes and cools the acid in the stomach to help promote healing. The recommended dosage to treat reflux is 1/4 cup of aloe vera juice taken just before each meal.
Cloves and Potato Juice
Cloves and potato juice also have been used to soothe the stomach. The recommended dosage of cloves is three. These should be consumed with a glass of cool water once a day. To make potato juice, grate a raw potato and place it in cheesecloth. Squeeze the grated potato so that juice from it runs through the cloth, and let it drip into a glass. Pour into double the amount of warm water as you have juice. Stir and drink once a day.
Marshmallow Root and Slippery Elm
Marshmallows contain an ingredient known as mucilage, which becomes a gel-like substance when mixed with water. It has been found to soothe and comfort the lining of the stomach by coating it. Drinking marshmallow root tea is a simple way to get the benefit of mucilage.
Another herb that contains mucilage is slippery elm. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, slippery elm works by first coating and soothing the mouth. It also soothes along the way as it passes through to the stomach and eventually into the intestines. Slippery elm also works by causing stimulation of the nerve endings in the gastrointestinal tract to increase the production of mucous, which can help protect the GI tract and its lining from developing ulcers from excess acid.
Considerations
Always include your doctor in your health care decisions. If you want to try home remedies for your reflux, ask if your doctor has some ideas about the herbs that might benefit you. If you are already taking any prescription medicine, he might need to adjust the dose or change what you take so that there are no potential interaction problems.
