If you have chronic acid reflux, or heartburn, your health care provider may recommend that you try some natural remedies including dietary or lifestyle changes before you begin taking a prescription or over-the-counter drug. Many people who have acid reflux are diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease, or "GERD," which is caused by stomach contents and acids backing up into the esophagus. Before you start taking a prescription medication or consider gastrointestinal surgery to correct your acid reflux, try some simple natural treatments first.
Diet Changes
You can reduce your acid reflux by making a few simple changes to your diet. Drink plenty of filtered water each day, ideally six to eight glasses, and avoid drinking coffee, carbonated drinks, alcohol and other beverages that can stimulate bile production or irritate your stomach, advises the University of Maryland Medical Center. Foods that may cause or worsen acid reflux include high-fat, fried and spicy foods, as well as chocolate, peppermint, citrus, tomatoes, peppers, onions and garlic, notes the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. You should also avoid consuming any foods or drinks that seem to trigger your acid reflux and avoid eating large meals, the Mayo Clinic says. Eating smaller meals will decrease bile production and heartburn. Also, eating fewer processed foods, sugars and carbohydrates may help to lessen acid reflux . A preliminary study of obese individuals with GERD reported by the University of Michigan found that eating a low-carb diet consisting of fewer than 20g of carbohydrates per day substantially relieved GERD symptoms.
Lifestyle Changes
Certain changes in your habits and lifestyle may also effectively treat acid reflux. Losing weight if you're obese or maintaining a healthy weight can reduce heartburn, because excess weight can push your stomach and its acids up toward your esophagus, the Mayo Clinic notes. Also, smoking cigarettes can affect proper function of the lower esophageal sphincter, causing acid reflux. Therefore, quitting smoking can effectively treat chronic heartburn, says the University of Michigan Health System. Stress can also weaken the lower esophageal sphincter, so you can try a wide range of natural and homeopathic remedies for reducing your stress. If you have stress- or anxiety-induced heartburn, you can try aromatherapy, hypnosis, massage therapy, relaxation techniques or gentle exercise, the Mayo Clinic suggests. You should also wait at least two to three hours before lying down or exercising after eating to relieve acid reflux. If you still have acid reflux when you go to bed, try raising the head of your bed by 6 to 9 inches to ease your heartburn symptoms.
Licorice
Licorice is a common natural remedy for treating acid reflux. You should use chewable deglycyrrhizinated licorice, or "DGL-licorice," to soothe your stomach and protect it from damage, advises the University of Maryland Medical Center. DGL-licorice has also shown efficacy in treating stomach and duodenal ulcers in clinical trials, notes the University of Michigan Health System. To ease acid reflux, chew DGL-licorice tablets that are 250 to 500mg three times daily, about one hour before meals or two hours afterward. Other soothing herbal remedies for the stomach include aloe, bladderwrack and slippery elm, the University of Michigan notes.
Probiotics
Taking a probiotic supplement containing the helpful natural bacteria called Lactobacillus acidophilus may balance your digestive system and reduce your acid reflux, says the University of Maryland Medical Center. Probiotics are the good bacteria found in your digestive tract, and people with digestive problems like acid reflux may have an imbalance of harmful and helpful bacteria. You can take 5 to 10 billion colony forming units, or CFUs, of probiotics each day to balance the bacteria in your digestive system.
