5 easy home remedies and tips for heartburn
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Heartburn is often experienced by those that have gastritis, stomach ulcer, GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease), etc. Contrary to its name, heartburn has nothing to do with the heart and everything to do with the esophagus and the stomach.
So, What is heartburn?
Heartburn is the uncomfortable burning sensation that can be felt anywhere from the lower chest area to the middle of the chest behind the breastbone hence the name heartburn. It can sometimes move upwards towards the throat and can leave a bitter taste on the tongue.
This burning sensation can last from a few minutes to an hour or two. The good news is that in most cases, it comes and goes and it can be treated with home remedies. However, when it becomes very frequent and it makes eating or swallowing difficult, it is time to visit a doctor because there might be a bigger problem at hand.
Difference between acid reflux, heart burn, and GERD
They are all related conditions as they all deal with the esophagus. Heartburn is a symptom of acid reflux and GERD.
Acid reflux is when stomach acid and other stomach contents such as food backs up into the esophagus through the lower esophageal sphincter.
The stomach content contains stomach acids that irritate the esophagus causing a painful sensation in the chest. It can sometimes occur when burping.
This lower esophageal sphincter is a muscle that connects the stomach to the esophagus. When it is weak or damaged, it may not close properly hence, your stomach content can go upwards towards your throat.
The lining of the esophagus is more sensitive than the lining of the stomach hence, pain can be felt when it touches the lining of the esophagus.
GERD is a more severe form of acid reflux.
Heartburn is most experienced after a large meal or eating specific types of food such as oily foods, spicy foods, acidic foods, etc. Heartburn is a symptom of a number of health issues such as gastritis, ulcer, acid reflux, GERD, and in some cases, heart problem.
Heartburn is also called acid reflux by some though it is incorrect.
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Symptoms of heartburn
For some, heartburn is beyond just a burning sensation in the chest or upper stomach area and its symptoms often worsen when laying down or leaning forward. Its symptoms include:
- Coughing or hoarseness
- Difficulty swallowing
- Bad breath
- Bad taste in the mouth
- Sore throat
- Nausea and vomiting etc.
People prone to heartburn
Pregnant women are very prone to heartburn due to the relaxing of the sphincter that closes the stomach preventing the stomach acid from escaping the stomach walls. Being overweight, constipated and certain medications such as aspirin and anti-inflammatory drugs can also cause heartburn in some.
heartburn Tips & Tricks:
- Sitting upright during and after a meal (at least up to one hour after a meal)
- Wearing loose clothing that doesn’t compress your stomach.
- Avoid overeating
- Avoid eating too much pepper, spicy foods, oily foods, etc. Like they say, too much of anything is bad.
- Drink and eat slowly while having a meal.
- Eat at least 2-3 hours before bedtime.
- Plan vigorous physical activities at least 2 hours after meals to prevent the food from moving upwards.
- Don’t drink too much water immediately after eating (not more than one cup). You can drink more after 2 hours or so.
Home Remedies For Heartburn
To my knowledge, you can remedy heartburn in two ways. They are:
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by Neutralizing stomach acid
Heartburn is mainly caused by the stomach acid moving upwards through the esophagus towards the throat.
The following remedies are all neutralizing the stomach acid on the esophagus so that your chest will stop burning.
Activated charcoal
Activated charcoal is used in both home therapy and hospitals for neutralising poisons, drugs, and other harmful materials it comes in contact with. It sometimes even stops some drugs from working properly.
It works mostly by absorbing foreign, unwanted, or excess substances in the body. Here, activated charcoal works very well for heartburn by absorbing the excess stomach acid in the esophagus and stomach and passing them out through the bowels.
Its effect is immediate and has no side effects with long-term use. It is actually a better and healthier option than using baking soda.
You can find many reviews and testimonials online by heartburn patients that switched from pharmaceutical drugs like omeprazole Rx, tums to using the healthier option activated charcoal.
Activated charcoal is safe for children of all ages and just about everyone. It is a very safe and effective remedy.
How to use:
Try taking a capsule or a teaspoon of an activated charcoal powder in half a cup of water after a meal once you start to feel the obvious signs of incoming heartburn.
You can also just take it as described on the product pack after an oily or heartburn-inducing meal like alfredo sauce before the symptoms even begin. This will stop the heartburn before it even begins
Where to get it:
Nature’s Bounty Activated charcoal is a good start. It has 100 capsules which will last you for a while and costs about $7. You can get it here on Amazon.
If you prefer organic charcoal from coconut shells, Belle organic activated charcoal powder is your option. Its powdered form makes it easy to use for other purposes such as face masks, teeth whitening, etc. You can get it on Amazon.
Baking soda
This is a good option when you are in pain but don’t have any other remedy in the house. It works well, but its frequent use might not be advised.
Baking soda on the other hand, neutralises the stomach acid quickly, and then, there will be no pain or discomfort. It is a known and trusted natural anti-acid.
How to use:
Dissolve a teaspoon or less of baking soda in a cup of water and sip slowly. Caution should be taken when using too much baking soda because it can cause an increase in acid production.
It should not be used for children less than 12 years old. You can read more on baking soda here
*Quick reminder, baking soda is not safe for pregnant women but you can use any other remedy on the list.
Apple cider vinegar
Though I have not used this for myself, there are many people that claim that it worked for them.
Apple cider vinegar is an acid itself but it works for some in relieving heartburn fast. I have not found much scientific evidence to support its effectiveness so, I will just go with numerous online and personal reviews since most of the health sites classify it as safe to try.
Try it and you might be among the lucky ones to find relief through it.
How to use:
Take a tablespoon of apple vinegar, dilute it with water until you are comfortable with the taste, and sip slowly.
Where to get it:
As you probably know, raw unfiltered apple vinegar is always best. I will recommend the apple vinegar that I use which is the Bragg organic apple cider vinegar. It is available on Amazon
Diary
Yoghurt and milk are good remedies to soothe the areas irritate by the stomach acid in the esophagus. This is obviously the safest remedy for heartburn but it might not be the quickest.
For long-term relief, it is best paired with a good lifestyle and eating habits to prevent heartburn from occurring in the first place.
How to use:
Eat some yoghurt or drink some fresh milk alone without any accompaniment. Try to eat a diary that doesn’t have sugar content.
By soothing The Burn
Honey
Honey is often used for stomach irritation, indigestions, infections, colds, burns, etc. This is because it is a powerhouse of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and amino acids.
As discussed in this study, one of the ways that honey helps heartburn is by coating the mucus membrane of the esophagus and also fighting any inflammation or irritation there.
How to use:
Dissolve about 1-2 tablespoons of honey in a small amount of water and sip slowly when experiencing heartburn. This will help clear the irritation from the esophagus.
You can also take the honey as it is if you prefer but you might have to take more than a tablespoon for it to work.
Where to buy:
For heartburn, Nature Nates’s Raw Honey is a good option. It costs about $10 for the bottle and the best part, it is raw and unfiltered thus, higher quality. You can find it on Amazon.
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Conclusion
Heartburn can be very uncomfortable to live with even of it’s just for a while. I used to experience it too.
If you have any of the mentioned such as ulcer, gastritis, GERD, etc., or other illnesses that are contributing to your heartburn, remedy them first. Then, your heartburn will subside or stop altogether.
Try these listed remedies for your heartburn and I hope that they work for you. Remember it is best to prevent heartburn by taking good care of your health then, there won’t be any need for a remedy.
I hope to see you next when I publish another article. Subscribe to this blog to be included in receiving the notification and other goodies. I hope you learned something here that helped you with your heartburn.
Feel free to let me know your thoughts in the comment section below.
Until we meet next time, bye for now.
