Saffron Tea for Heartburn

Kicking back with a cup of hot tea may be relaxing for some people, but it may also trigger heartburn, particularly if the tea contains caffeine. However, some types of tea you can drink might cure heartburn, including saffron tea. Consult your health care provider before drinking saffron tea to treat any medical condition.

Saffron and Saffron Tea

Saffron tea is made by steeping saffron in boiling water; the result is a slightly bitter tea with an orange hue. Saffron -- the most expensive spice in the world, according to the Gourmet Sleuth website -- is the inner threads collected from a certain type of crocus. It must be harvested by hand and comes primarily from Western Asia. You can purchase ground saffron or whole threads, but when making tea, whole threads are preferred unless you package the ground saffron in fine-mesh bags for soaking.

Heartburn

Many people suffer from heartburn. This condition occurs when the esophageal sphincter, a thin band of muscle separating the stomach from the esophagus, loosens and allows stomach acid to back up into your esophagus. Occasional heartburn is not particularly dangerous, but routine heartburn not treated with medications or surgery can lead to more serious complications, including esophageal cancer. Drinking saffron tea may be a good alternative for treatment if traditional treatments are not an option.

Saffron Tea's Effect on Heartburn

Ancient Egyptians swore by eating saffron for treating digestive disorders and heartburn, according to Jacqueline L. Longe, author of "The Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine." While this population ate saffron to get ride of heartburn, soaking the threads in tea may provide the same effect. Note that no scientific studies support the use of saffron tea for treating or preventing heartburn.

Alternative Teas

If saffron tea does not work to relieve your heartburn, you can choose other teas -- either as alternatives to saffron tea or in addition to it. Chamomile tea is sometimes used to treat heartburn by relaxing you. Licorice or peppermint tea may also ease heartburn symptoms. As with saffron tea, there is no evidence to suggest the effectiveness of these herbal teas for heartburn.