A Natural Remedy For Heartburn

Several people are being affected by heartburn each day. Regular or continuous heartburn is a ubiquitous indication of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Other symptoms of this disease include sore throat, chest pain (especially while you are lying down at night), sour taste in the mouth, wheezing, coughing, hoarseness and regurgitation of food or liquid.

With GERD, the stomach’s acidic contents flow back into the esophagus, irritating the frail covering of the esophagus and thereby causing pain. When experiencing heartburn, it is imperative to consult the doctor or a specialist to be evaluated. If GERD is not treated properly, it may result in severe problems, including strictures, esophagitis, ulcers and esophageal bleeding, Barrett’s esophagus and esophageal cancer.

One natural remedy for heartburn is avoiding foods and beverages that trigger heartburn. These include chocolate, citrus fruits, peppermint, tomatoes, spearmint, raw onions, black pepper, garlic, fatty foods, vinegar, coffee, spicy foods, alcoholic beverages and carbonated beverages. Avoid going to bed after eating. Practice eating your last meal at least 2 to 3 hours before lying down and try to eat foods in smaller portion or sizes.

Another natural remedy for heartburn is to practice mindfulness while eating. It is advisable to remove all the savor and distractions instead of inhaling your food. You have to pay full attention to what your food looks like, how it smells and how it tastes and then chew slowly.

Based on the result of the survey conducted by the National Heartburn Alliance, about 58 percent of recurrent heartburn sufferers suggest hectic lifestyle as the main cause of their heartburn. The survey also revealed that about 52 percent of respondents have mentioned work-related stress as the main factor that causes their symptoms to worsen. So, reducing stress is considered by several people as another natural remedy for heartburn. In spite the fact that several people have considered stress as one cause of heartburn, scientists have not yet established a link between stress and heartburn.

Avoiding cigarettes or any products with nicotine is also considered a natural remedy for heartburn. Nicotine can weaken your lower esophageal sphincter and prevents the contents of your acidic stomach from entering the esophagus. There are several people who are making use of deglycyrrhizinated licorice or DGL as a natural remedy for heartburn. DGL is a form of licorice that has no glycyrrhizin component. Although a few researches imply licorice may reduce inflammation, slow down the growth of potentially destructive stomach bacteria, and may aid with ulcers, there have not been any scientific or clinical trials that investigate the use of licorice for GERD or heartburn.

The sap from aloe vera is another well-known natural remedy for heartburn. In spite the fact that there is no scientific evidence that this plant can really help those with heartburns, it has a long history of utilization in Europe as a natural remedy for heartburn. Approximately ¼ cup of its juice is given to adults.
The aloe vera plant should not have any aloin, aloe latex or aloe-emoin compounds. These are substances in the plant that are considered powerful laxatives. Aloe gel is not recommended to be taken directly as it can be impured by the latex. Only juice or gel preparations particularly for internal usage should be utilized.   

Another natural remedy for heartburn is slippery elm. This herb was once popular remedy for sore throats and was listed in the U.S. Pharmacopeia until 1960. This herb is a folk remedy that has not yet been studied for heartburn. Its inner bark is comprised of mucilage, which is a gel-like substance that puffs up when it’s mixed with water. This substance is thought to cover the esophagus and lessen irritation.

Slippery elm is commonly the chief ingredient in sore throat lozenges that are usually found in natural food section of a few drug stores and grocery stores or in health food stores. A well-known slippery elm lozenges brand is Thayer's. Like slippery elm, Althaea officinalis or marshmallow herb is also a good natural remedy for heartburn. This herb contains mucilage, which is considered good in coating and soothing the lining of the esophagus. Herbalists often advocate marshmallow root tea that is typically made by adding 1 tablespoon of dried root to an 8 ounce of boiling water.