Heartburn, the common term for acid reflux, occurs when stomach acids are forced up the esophagus to irritate the lining and cause pain, which is felt in the chest and stomach area. Related symptoms include bad breath, bad taste in the mouth and tooth enamel damage when the acids reach the mouth. Mild, irregular heartburn may be reduced or even eliminated with natural home remedies and lifestyle changes.
Significance
Although nearly everyone experiences occasional heartburn after overeating or eating irritating foods, repeated acid reflux that occurs on a regular basis or with all types of food may indicate gastroesophageal research disease (GERD), a medical condition that requires treatment by a doctor. If mild heartburn is left untreated, it can irritate the gastric linings enough to lead to GERD and can contribute to bacterial infection of the stomach that can also lead to GERD.
Considerations
Foods and stress are the most common aggravators of acid reflux. Natural, non-pharmaceutical ways to reduce reflux are to incorporate lifestyle changes to reduce stress, such as aromatherapy or massage treatments, and to change your eating habits, possibly with a dietician's input, to remove offending foods. For example, planning meals and snacks that are low in fat, hot spices and caffeine will lower stomach acid levels. Following a healthful diet with appropriate portion sizes also may encourage weight loss that could improve reflux symptoms; according to the Mayo Clinic Disease and Condition Heartburn Overview, excess weight and eating large amounts of food at once add pressure to the stomach valves that hold acidic contents in.
Acid-Reducing Remedies
Eating foods that have absorptive properties and that are non-acidic themselves can be used to neutralize acid already in the stomach and causing heartburn symptoms. Some examples are potatoes and carrots; fruits like apples and bananas can lower acid levels as well, although these foods can be trigger foods of reflux instead in some sensitive individuals. Baking soda, chemically known as sodium bicarbonate, is a non-acidic substance that can be mixed with water and swallowed. This remedy reduces acid rapidly, because the baking soda works on contact in the stomach. However, baking soda overdose is possible and can be very dangerous, because too much of the substance can quickly change sodium and other important mineral levels in the body.
Antibacterial Remedies
People with GERD have a bacteria called Helicobacter pylori in their stomachs, and the disease cannot be cured until the bacterial infection is also resolved. Even people with occasional heartburn may be infected with Helicobacter pylori and may be at higher risk of developing GERD, so antibacterial remedies may improve acid reflux symptoms and prevent developing GERD. The most common example of antibacterial probiotics used to rebalance the stomach's bacterial content is Lactobacillus acidophilus. This culture is found in lactic acid--based products like yogurt. Related probiotic agents like Lactobacillus bulgaris may provide similar benefits to digestion; however, no published research journal reports show evidence of acid reflux cures with these products.
Herbal Remedies
Herbal products and kitchen-cabinet resources can provide immediate relief of mild heartburn symptoms, although they are not a cure for progressive GERD. Anise, licorice, peppermint and mugwort all have reputed benefits for acid reduction when ingested as a raw herb or in a prepared extract. These herbs have had known antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties even in ancient civilizations, and these effects are the likely reason for their benefit in heartburn. Similarly, chamomile steeped as tea can calm stomach acids and reduce histamine release. Since a primary mechanism of continued reflux irritation is increased histamine release, this tea can soothe mild reflux long term when used regularly. Finally, ginger as a powder, tea or food additive reduces nausea, most often from motion sickness or pregnancy. Although the mechanism for its effect is unclear, it is possible that stomach acids are reduced to contribute to lower nausea and indigestion.
