You may be able to alleviate symptoms associated with acid reflux with the right herbal teas. Acid reflux is a sign of gastroesophageal reflux disease in which stomach acids back up into your esophagus. There are medications that you can use to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease, also known as GERD. However, lifestyle changes sometimes work just as well, according to the Mayo Clinic. Tea may be used as part of the mix for managing your symptoms.
Features
Slippery elm is often suggested for treating acid reflux, according to University of Maryland Medical Center. This herb contains mucilage, which becomes a gel when it's mixed with water. It soothes and coats your stomach, throat and mouth along with your intestines. To take it as a tea, pour 2 cups of hot water over 2 tbsp. of powdered bark. Steep it for three to five minutes. Consume it three times daily. The Mayo Clinic also cites marshmallow root as an herb that can be used to combat GERD. Marshmallow also contains mucilage. Use the leaf for tea, placing 2 to 5 tsp. of dried leaf in 5 oz. hot water up to three times daily, according to University of Maryland Medical Center.
Potential
Chamomile is sometimes used as an herbal remedy for acid reflux, according to the Mayo Clinic. It's often common to find chamomile in remedies for gastrointestinal conditions such as an upset stomach, diarrhea and gas, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. The flowering tops of this herb are used in the tea. However, it has not been well studied in people, so scientific evidence to back many of this herb's traditional uses is lacking, according to the experts at the center.
Types
The Mayo Clinic cites licorice as another popular herb used to relieve acid-reflux symptoms. Licorice is a demulcent, which means it's a soothing and coating agent, according to University of Maryland Medical Center. Avoid licorice tea with the active ingredient called glycyrrhiza, however, because it can have side effects that are serious. Choose instead the type of licorice called deglycyrrhizinated licorice, or DGL, to treat your acid reflux. Glycyrrhizin can lead to a condition called pseudoaldosteronism that can lead to fatigue, headaches, high blood pressure and sometimes even heart attacks. It sometimes causes water retention, which can bring about leg swelling and other issues. Some people have numbness or muscle pain in their arms and legs after consuming it as well, according to University of Maryland Medical Center.
Expert Insight
Combine several herbs to make a tea that helps with acid reflux, advises Brigitte Mars in "Healing Herbal Teas." Mars recommends two parts each of marshmallow root and chamomile and one part each of catnip, fennel and plantain leaf.
Warning
Some herbal teas will make your acid reflux worse. The University of Maryland Medical Center advises against drinking peppermint tea if you have GERD or a hiatal hernia because it relaxes the sphincter between your stomach and your esophagus. This allows your stomach acids to flow back into your esophagus. By relaxing your sphincter, peppermint is likely to make your reflux symptoms worse, according to the center. Your sphincter is a muscle separating your stomach and esophagus.
Considerations
If you have acid reflux, speak to your doctor before trying to remedy it with a tea, advises the Mayo Clinic. Some herbal remedies can have serious side effects. Herbal remedies also can interfere with medicines or make side effects from medicines worse. Ask your doctor about what dosage is safe.
