Heartburn, sometimes having a symptom of acid reflux, is caused by escaped stomach acid or bile which overflows from your stomach and causes irritation to the esophagus lining. Depending on the case, it can cause mild to severe pain and if left untreated, could cause some serious damage. Using home remedies for heartburn is one efficient way to treat the symptoms so they do not get out of hand.

Usually, heartburn is treated with medications called proton pump inhibitors. But some studies have shown that they can be linked to bone loss and a vitamin B12 deficiency if taken too often, so you may want to try some of these home remedies for heartburn instead.

Home Remedies for Heartburn

1. Ginger Tea

Ginger is a marvelous home remedy for all kinds of health-related issues, including heartburn. Add a few slices of ginger root or a tablespoon of powdered ginger into a mug of boiling water and let it brew for ten minutes. You can then drink this and it should help to reduce your heartburn.

 

2. Baking Soda

Because of its alkaline pH level, baking soda helps to neutralize any overflowing stomach acid to stop it irritating, burning, or damaging the lining of your esophagus.

 

3. Gum

Chewing gum stimulates the production of saliva which helps to dilute any acid that has escaped your stomach. This will help to drastically improve your symptoms.

 

4. Sleep with Your Head Raised

Laying down can often increase the risk of acid overflowing from your stomach and getting into your esophagus. Sleeping with your torso on a slight incline can really help lower this risk and prevent heartburn from happening.

5. Wear Loose Clothes

Clothes that are tight and cinch your waist can cause extra pressure on your stomach and cause the acid to rise into your throat. Try loosening your clothes or wearing something that fits a little looser so that it doesn’t push on your stomach.

 

6.  Fermented Foods

Fermented foods, like kimchi, are great home remedies for heartburn as they can significantly help your digestive system. The fermentation process helps to break raw vegetables into amino acids and peptides. This makes the pH in your stomach more alkaline and reduces inflammation in your stomach to help reduce the risk of heartburn. Not only that, but some studies have even suggested that they can help to heal any damaged stomach lining.

 

7. Mustard

Mustard is another alkaline food which acts as a great home remedy for heartburn. It’s packed full of minerals and also has traces of vinegar. Just a spoonful of mustard could be enough to soothe your heartburn by balancing the pH of your stomach acid.  

 

8. Don’t Smoke

Nicotine causes a lot of the muscles in your body to relax. It specifically affects the valve between your stomach and esophagus which allows more acid to escape and cause heartburn. To learn how to quit smoking, read our article 22 Home Remedies for Nicotine Addiction.

9. Avoid Alcohol

Like nicotine, alcohol has a weakening effect on the valve between your stomach and esophagus. It also causes your stomach to produce excess stomach acid, severely increasing your risk of heartburn. It may also cause other issues like stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhea.

 

10. Almonds

While no study has been able to identify exactly why almonds work as a home remedy for heartburn and acid reflux, many people find that they do have beneficial effects. They seem to work best when consumed raw and salt-free.

 

11. Maintain a Healthy Weight

If you’re overweight, there’s more pressure on your internal organs – including your stomach. This can cause the valve between your stomach and esophagus to loosen, increasing the chance that acid will escape and cause heartburn.

12. Stay Away from Spicy Food

Most of us have experienced the burning sensation on the tongue that comes from eating an extremely hot pepper. Well, when eating spicy foods, the same thing happens in your stomach. The burning sensation caused by spicy foods is often a trigger for heartburn symptoms such as pain and discomfort. Try to avoid the following if your regularly experience heartburn:

• Hot peppers and chilis
• Hot sauce
• Wasabi
• Horseradish
• Cayenne

13. Aloe Juice

Aloe is well known for its soothing qualities. This makes it a great home remedy for heartburn. Its soothing qualities are even effective inside the body and can help limit inflammation and soothe the esophagus.

 

14. Track & Avoid Your Triggers

Everyone’s body is different and will react in different ways to different foods. Pay close attention to the way your body reacts to certain foods. If you regularly get heartburn after a specific meal it may be that something in there is causing your heartburn. Once you’ve identified the specific trigger, you can make a conscious effort to avoid it.

 

15. Eat a Banana or Apple

Apples and bananas contain similar antacids which help to neutralize excess stomach acid and so prevent the onset of heartburn. Try eating one of either or both fruits each day and see if it makes a difference.

 

16. Apple Cider Vinegar

Although using acidic apple cider vinegar to combat an issue which is primarily caused by excess acid may seem strange, it actually makes a great home remedy for heartburn. In some cases, heartburn can actually be caused by not having enough acid in your stomach and so apple cider vinegar can improve these cases by rebalancing the levels of acid in your stomach.

17. Chamomile Tea

Chamomile tea is another helpful home remedy that balances your stomach’s acid levels. Drinking it before bed can help you get better sleep and provide the soothing relief needed to prevent heartburn occurring during the night.

 

18. Don’t Overeat

The valve between your stomach and esophagus naturally opens when your swallow, belch, or vomit but should remain closed the rest of the time. People who suffer from heartburn often do so because the valve muscle has become weakened of dysfunctional and acid, therefore, gets through and into the esophagus. Most symptoms occur after eating and large meals, in particular, can cause problems. Avoiding overeating can, therefore, lower your risk of heartburn.

 

19. Low-Carb Diets

Studies have suggested that eating a low-carb diet could be key to avoiding heartburn. This is because undigested carbohydrates have the potential to cause the overgrowth of bacteria and increase the pressure inside your abdomen. Undigested carbs can also build up and leave you feeling gassy and bloated. This may mean you need to belch more often too. All of these factors can increase your risk of heartburn so cutting out those extra carbs could be a huge help.

 

20. Cut Down on Coffee

Studies have also shown that coffee can temporarily weaken the valve between your esophagus and stomach which increases the risk of heartburn.  It doesn’t have a severe effect on everyone though, so it’s all about knowing your triggers and avoiding them.

21. Avoid Raw Onion

One study found that people suffering from regular heartburn experienced more symptoms after eating a meal containing raw onion. This is most likely because it causes an increase in belching, which opens the valve between the stomach and esophagus, making it easier for acid to escape.  

 

22. Limit Carbonated Drinks

Drinking carbonated drinks could increase your risk of heartburn as it is often linked to a number of risk factors and symptoms. They have a weakening effect on the valve between your stomach and esophagus which can make it easier for acid to get into the esophagus. However, the main issue with carbonated drinks is the high levels of carbon dioxide they contain. This causes you to belch more which further increases your risk of heartburn.  

23. Limit Citrus Juices

Perhaps surprisingly, the acidity of citrus juices isn’t the only factor that makes avoiding them a good option for heartburn sufferers. They also weaken the valve at the top of your stomach and can cause some irritation to the lining of your throat.

 

24. Less Chocolate

Many people who suffer from heartburn are advised to cut down on their chocolate consumption, although there is little scientific evidence to back up this advice. Some studies have suggested that chocolate syrup can weaken the valve at the top of your stomach, making you more vulnerable to heartburn. But many agree that further studies are needed to confirm these effects.

25. Don’t Eat Within Three Hours of Going to Bed

Avoiding eating within the three hours before you go to sleep is a great way to prevent heartburn from striking. Larger meals are the biggest cause, but even late-night snacking could cause issues. It all depends on the individual though so find out what triggers your heartburn and do what works for you.

 

26. Sleep on Your Left Side

Several studies have shown that sleeping on your right-hand side could make your heartburn symptoms worse and that actually, sleeping on your left might be better. This is thought to be because your esophagus joins your stomach on the right-hand side and so lying on that side increases the risk of acid creeping up into your esophagus.  So, if it’s comfortable and works for you, try sleeping on your left instead of your right.

 

27. Licorice

Licorice also makes a great home remedy for heartburn. It helps to coat your stomach lining and protects it from the corrosive damage of excess acid. Drinking licorice tea is one of the easiest ways to use this home remedy for heartburn.

 

28. Fresh Pineapple Juice

Pineapple juice contains bromelain, an enzyme which helps to digest proteins properly. By aiding digestion of these proteins, pineapple juice can decrease your risk of heartburn.

29. Lemon Juice

Lemon juice has a highly acid pH of about 2. This means it’s even more acidic than vinegar. However, in small doses it could be could for heartburn. This is because it contains lots of healthy nutrients and vitamin C. This means it could potentially help to repair some of the damage your excess stomach acid has caused. Don’t use too much though as you could risk making your symptoms worse.

 

30. Vegetable Juice

Vegetable juices are usually very alkaline in nature and are therefore great home remedies for heartburn. Carrot juice is one of the best vegetable juices to be used as a home remedy for heartburn.

 

31. Grapes

Eating ten to twenty grapes at the early onset of heartburn could significantly help. This is because grapes work to relieve indigestion and support your digestive system to prevent any overflow or excess of stomach acid.  

32. Basil

Chewing on two or three basil leaves is a great home remedy for heartburn. It can also help to relieve nausea and gas, both of which would otherwise add to your symptoms.

 

33. Cinnamon

Cinnamon can be added to a number of recipes and used to infuse a sweet tea. Its versatility makes it a great home remedy for heartburn. It helps to soothe the heat from the excess acid and so relieves much of the pain and discomfort.

34. Fennel

Tea made from fennel seed can really help to relieve the burning sensation of heartburn. Simply add two teaspoons of seeds to a cup of boiling water and let it stew for ten minutes. You can then strain and strain and drink the tea.

 

35. Garlic

Even though many people find garlic acts as a trigger for their heartburn, it can also help others as a home remedy. Chewing on a clove of garlic at the onset of heartburn could help to ease your symptoms. This is thanks to garlic’s antibiotics and antiseptic qualities which can kill any bacteria that may cause excess acid and soothe the burning sensation.

 

36. Peppermint Oil

A great home remedy for heartburn is to add two drops of peppermint oil to a glass of cold water and drink as soon as you notice the early signs. You can also try sucking on a peppermint sweet. This will help to ease some of the irritation caused by your heartburn.

 

37. Turmeric

Turmeric helps to stimulate better digestion and so prevents a build-up of acid. You can either include turmeric in your meals to add a little spice, take a turmeric capsule each day or use it to infuse a warming herbal tea.

38. Buttermilk

To use buttermilk as a home remedy for heartburn, try drinking a half cup each day. It works best if it’s ice cold! You could also use regular whole milk, although the effects of this don’t work as quickly.  

 

39. Potato

Potato juices are great for neutralizes your stomach acid. It also helps to heal the damage to your esophageal lining as an added benefit! Juice a raw potato and mix it with a glass of cold water. Stir thoroughly until the water turns cloudy from all the starch. You can then drink it straight away and let it work its magic.

 

40. Ease Your Stress

While stress isn’t directly linked to heartburn it can often trigger the symptoms in certain individuals. You can try yoga, meditation or simply engaging in a relaxing hobby like reading or painting as ways to manage your stress and see if this helps to decrease the frequency of your heartburn.

Which of these home remedies for heartburn will you try? Comment below!

 

References

https://www.verywellhealth.com/remedies-for-heartburn-relief-89992

https://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/natural-remedies-for-heartburn

https://truhealthmedicine.com/healthy-living/how-to-naturally-treat-acid-reflux

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/heartburn-acid-reflux-remedies