Contrary to its name, heartburn has nothing to do with your heart. This condition affects your stomach and the tube leading to your stomach called the esophagus. Heartburn occurs when you suffer from a burning feeling in your lower chest, accompanied with a sour or bitter taste in your throat or mouth, according to FamilyDoctor.org. Understanding heartburn and various homeopathic and lifestyle remedies will help you gain control over your heartburn.
Causes
Heartburn results when acid from your stomach enters your esophagus. Usually the muscular band around the bottom of your esophagus, called the esophageal sphincter, allows food and liquid to enter your stomach, but prevents anything from coming back out. Unfortunately, if the sphincter relaxes wrong or becomes weak, it fails to prevent the leakage of acid back into your esophagus, according to the Mayo Clinic. Frequent heartburn may be a sign of a more serious condition such as acid reflux disease, gastritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, peptic ulcer or hiatal hernia, according to FamilyDoctor.org.
Worsening Heartburn
In addition to bending over or lying down, many things will worsen the severity of your heartburn or may cause you to experience it more often. Foods such as citrus fruits, tomato products, mints, chocolate, fatty foods, spicy foods or onions can aggravate your heartburn, according to FamilyDoctor.org. Drinks containing caffeine, all types of coffee or alcohol may also increase your heartburn. Taking certain medications or being overweight may also cause your heartburn to worsen.
Lifestyle Changes
Many lifestyle changes may help decrease the severity and frequency of your heartburn. Reduce the pressure placed on your abdomen by maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding clothes that fit tight around the belly, advises the Mayo Clinic. This may require a diet to lose weight. If you find certain foods always lead to heartburn, avoid them. Eating smaller meals will decrease the pressure placed on the esophageal sphincter when you eat, decreasing your risk of heartburn. Waiting two to three hours after eating before lying down and elevating the head of your bed by six to nine inches may also help decrease your heartburn.
Homeopathic Options
Homeopathic remedies often provide relief for heartburn, but you should consult a professional homeopath to determine the exact remedy for treating your heartburn. Common homeopathic remedies for heartburn include arsenicum album, bryonia, carbo vegetabilis, colocynthis, lycopodium, natrum carbonicum, natrum phosphoricum, nux vomica, phosphorus and pulsatilla, according to the University of Michigan Health System. The best homeopathic remedy for your heartburn will depend on a combination of your symptoms, your personality and your response to the remedies.
Dosage
Taking too much of a homeopathic remedy can worsen your heartburn, making it important to consult a professional homeopath. Most homeopaths recommend taking one dose of a remedy and waiting to see if it helps, according to the University of Michigan Health System. If it does not help in a reasonable amount of time, another dose may be needed. The frequency of dosing varies based on the condition and the individual. If one remedy fails to work, try a different remedy.
