Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, causes regular feelings of heartburn or painful indigestion. It occurs when stomach acids rise back up into your espophagus, burning the lining. However, unlike some other digestive conditions, GERD symptoms don't always subside with herbals tea. Some herbal teas may soothe your stomach, but others may in fact make GERD worse -- particularly peppermint and spearmint teas.
GERD
While most people experience the occasional bout of heartburn, if you suffer from GERD you may regularly feel a burning sensation in your throat and chest. Acid and enzymes from the stomach damage the soft lining of the esophagus. In most cases, GERD isn't a serious problem and very rarely life-threatening. However, over time you may develop conditions such as esophageal ulcers or other inflammations. These can cause lots of pain and discomfort if left untreated.
Peppermint Tea
Peppermint tea may seem like an ideal herbal tea to soothe indigestion -- and indeed many people use it to treat constipation or heartburn. However, peppermint tea has a negative effect on people with GERD, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Since peppermint helps to relieve pressure on the ring of muscle between your esophagus and stomach, this allows acids to pass through. As the acid leaks through the sphincter, your symptoms of GERD will worsen. Spearmint teas may trigger similar symptoms.
Other Herbal Teas
Most other forms of herbal tea should be tolerable to take if you have GERD, the American Dietetic Association states. Teas such as chamomile, jasmine or raspberry may not do much to alleviate GERD symptoms, but they're unlike to make your GERD worse. Some people may find that chamomile or other herbal teas have some soothing effects. Watch out for any herbal teas with added ingredients, particularly caffeine. This may provoke more symptoms.
Considerations
Some people consider green and white teas to be herbal teas. However, both green and white tea come from the same plant that traditional black tea comes from. This means that they contain caffeine. Caffeinated drinks such as coffee and tea may trigger GERD symptoms. Therefore, green and white teas may make your GERD symptoms worse. Your doctor can advise you for more suitable treatments for GERD, including ways to soothe the pain of heartburn.
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