Drinking certain herbal teas may reduce the burning pain, nausea and indigestion of gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD. Mild herbal teas can also serve as substitutes for caffeinated coffee and tea -- beverages that may aggravate heartburn if you suffer from GERD. However, some herbal preparations can worsen GERD symptoms, cause allergic reactions or interfere with medications. Consult your health-care provider before trying herbal therapies to relieve GERD.
Characteristics
GERD is a chronic, persistent form of acid reflux that occurs at least twice a week. If you have GERD, the muscular valve that controls the opening between your esophagus -- the tube that transports food from your mouth to your stomach -- and your stomach closes slowly or does not close completely. Digestive acids can rise up from your stomach into your esophagus, creating a burning, gnawing sensation in your chest. If reflux persists, these acids may damage the lining of your esophagus. GERD requires a comprehensive treatment plan, including medications, lifestyle changes and possibly surgical intervention to stop acid reflux. Although drinking herbal tea may reduce the heartburn and indigestion of GERD, herbal therapies should not be used as a substitute for conventional medical treatment.
Licorice
The licorice plant, or Glycyrrhiza glabra, has been used medicinally for centuries. Licorice without the active ingredient glycyrrhizia, also known as deglycyrrhizinated licorice, may help reduce the severity of GERD symptoms. In a study published in the January 30, 2004 issue of "Digestion," A. Madisch and colleagues found that an herbal tea containing licorice extract, chamomile flower, peppermint leaves and bitter candy tuft relieved indigestion more effectively than a placebo. Licorice that contains glycyrrhizia may cause serious side effects. Licorice should not be used as an herbal remedy for GERD for longer than four to six weeks, the University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC, advises.
Milk Thistle
Teas made from the seeds and leaves of the milk thistle plant, or Silybum marianum, may relieve the heartburn, stomach cramps and indigestion that characterize GERD. According to MedlinePlus Supplements, a commercially prepared blend of herbs that includes milk thistle, German chamomile, licorice, caraway, lemon balm, celandine, angelica and peppermint leaf may be effective for treating heartburn, pain and nausea when you drink the combination daily for four weeks. Straight peppermint leaf tea, however, may worsen acid reflux and increase your heartburn.
Chamomile
German chamomile, or Matricaria recutita, is an age-old remedy for digestive complaints. Herbal teas containing German, English or Roman chamomile may ease the indigestion that can accompany GERD. Chamomile acts as an antispasmodic, reducing cramping in the smooth muscles of your digestive tract. Drinking a cup of chamomile tea between meals may promote healthy digestion, the UMMC notes. Chamomile tea is generally safe; however, you may have an allergic reaction to chamomile if you have a ragweed allergy.
References
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse: Heartburn, Gastroesophageal Reflux (GER) and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
- MedlinePlus Supplements; Milk Thistle; November 19, 2010
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Licorice, March 31, 2010
- "Digestion"; Treatment of Function Dyspepsia with a Herbal Preparation; A. Madish, et al.; January 30, 2004
- University of Maryland Medical Center; German Chamomile; November 11, 2008
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