Introduction to Home Remedies for Heartburn
Heartburn. The word evokes a frightening picture: your heart on fire, sizzling and smoking, without a firefighter in sight. Fortunately, the word is a misnomer. It's not your heart that's on fire, it's your esophagus. But heartburn is easier to say than "esophagusburn."The "burn" part, however, they got right. Your esophagus, the food tube that carries what you swallow down to your stomach, can literally be burned by the acids released by your stomach. Those acids are industrial-strength stuff and are meant to stay where the tough stomach lining can handle them.
 © 2007 Publications International, Ltd. With heartburn, it's not your heart that's on fire; it's your esophagus. |
Unfortunately, we can experience something called reflux, or acid reflux. That's when some of the stomach contents, including the acid, slip back up through the esophageal sphincter, the valve that's supposed to prevent the stomach's contents from reversing course. Reflux causes an uncomfortable, burning sensation between the stomach and the neck. Most people feel the discomfort beneath the breastbone.
Why Acid Backs Up
Occasionally the acid keeps on coming until you have a mouthful of something bitter and acidy. You may have some pain in your gut, too, or in your chest. Along with that acid may come a belch, one that may bring even more of that stomach acid with it.
The purpose of stomach acid is to break down the foods we eat so our body can digest them. Our stomachs have a protective lining that shields it from those acids, but the esophagus does not have that protection. Normally that's not a problem, because after we swallow food, it passes down the esophagus, through a sphincter, and into the stomach. The sphincter then closes.
Occasionally, though, the muscles of that sphincter are weakened and it doesn't close properly or it doesn't close all the way. Scarring from an ulcer or frequent episodes of acid reflux (when the acid comes back up), stomach pressure from overeating, obesity, and pregnancy can all cause this glitch in the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). And when the LES gets a glitch and allows the gastric acid to splash out of the stomach, you get heartburn.
Generally, heartburn isn't serious. In fact, small amounts of reflux are normal and most people don't even notice it because the swallowing we do causes saliva to wash the acids right back down into the stomach where they belong. When the stomach starts shooting back amounts that are larger than normal, especially on a regular basis or over a prolonged period of time, that's when the real trouble begins, and simple heartburn can turn into esophageal inflammation or bleeding.
Who's prone to heartburn? Just about anybody. According to the National Digestive Diseases Clearinghouse, 25 million adults suffer from heartburn daily and about 60 million Americans get gastroesophageal reflux and heartburn at least once a month.
Doctors call chronic heartburn gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD. Despite the often goofy nature of TV commercials for heartburn medications, GERD is serious business. Left untreated, frequent exposure to acid can damage the esophagus, making it difficult for food to pass and in extreme cases leading to cancer of the esophagus.
There are several prescription medicines available for the treatment of long-term or serious heartburn or acid reflux, and over-the-counter remedies are available at your pharmacy, too. But there are several home remedies right in your own kitchen that can fight the fire of heartburn. If you suffer from heartburn, read on -- we'll offer some tips for cooling the flames and avoiding heartburn flare-ups.
For more information about stomach ailments and how to treat them, visit these links:
This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Neither the Editors of Consumer Guide (R), Publications International, Ltd., the author nor publisher take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading or following the information contained in this information. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health care provider.
Occasionally the acid keeps on coming until you have a mouthful of something bitter and acidy. You may have some pain in your gut, too, or in your chest. Along with that acid may come a belch, one that may bring even more of that stomach acid with it.
The purpose of stomach acid is to break down the foods we eat so our body can digest them. Our stomachs have a protective lining that shields it from those acids, but the esophagus does not have that protection. Normally that's not a problem, because after we swallow food, it passes down the esophagus, through a sphincter, and into the stomach. The sphincter then closes.
Occasionally, though, the muscles of that sphincter are weakened and it doesn't close properly or it doesn't close all the way. Scarring from an ulcer or frequent episodes of acid reflux (when the acid comes back up), stomach pressure from overeating, obesity, and pregnancy can all cause this glitch in the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). And when the LES gets a glitch and allows the gastric acid to splash out of the stomach, you get heartburn.
Generally, heartburn isn't serious. In fact, small amounts of reflux are normal and most people don't even notice it because the swallowing we do causes saliva to wash the acids right back down into the stomach where they belong. When the stomach starts shooting back amounts that are larger than normal, especially on a regular basis or over a prolonged period of time, that's when the real trouble begins, and simple heartburn can turn into esophageal inflammation or bleeding.
Who's prone to heartburn? Just about anybody. According to the National Digestive Diseases Clearinghouse, 25 million adults suffer from heartburn daily and about 60 million Americans get gastroesophageal reflux and heartburn at least once a month.
Doctors call chronic heartburn gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD. Despite the often goofy nature of TV commercials for heartburn medications, GERD is serious business. Left untreated, frequent exposure to acid can damage the esophagus, making it difficult for food to pass and in extreme cases leading to cancer of the esophagus.
There are several prescription medicines available for the treatment of long-term or serious heartburn or acid reflux, and over-the-counter remedies are available at your pharmacy, too. But there are several home remedies right in your own kitchen that can fight the fire of heartburn. If you suffer from heartburn, read on -- we'll offer some tips for cooling the flames and avoiding heartburn flare-ups.
A person with a piece of food stuck in his or her esophagus can still breathe and talk. However, he can't swallow his saliva. The Heimlich maneuver, used for dislodging an object that is obstructing the airway, is not the appropriate treatment in this case. Usually, a doctor must use a special instrument that is inserted into the esophagus to dislodge the food. So if it feels as if you have food stuck in your esophagus or if you are having trouble swallowing your saliva, see a doctor. |
For more information about stomach ailments and how to treat them, visit these links:
- To see all of our home remedies and the conditions they treat, go to our main Home Remedies page.
- In Home Remedies for Burping, learn about natural cures that help you squelch belching.
- Nausea has many triggers -- learn how you can use some common household foods to calm it in Home Remedies for Nausea.
- Home Remedies for Upset Stomach covers causes and cures for tummy troubles.
Home Remedy Treatments for Heartburn
You don't have to have GERD to be bugged by heartburn. Here are some home remedies to put out that fire and keep it from flaring up again.
 ©2007 Publications International, Ltd. Over-the-counter H2 blockers seem to help about half of heartburn sufferers. |
Block the problem. Acid in your stomach helps digest food, but your body makes much more than it needs. Shutting down production of this stinging stuff means there will be less of it swishing around in your stomach, just waiting to wash upward and burn your esophagus. Pharmacies sell low-dose, over-the-counter (OTC) versions of medications that block stomach acid from forming. (The higher doses of these drugs are available only by prescription.) These so-called H2 (or histamine) blockers, such as cimetidine (Tagamet HB) and ranitidine (Zantac 75), seem to help about half of heartburn sufferers.
Take an antacid. Over-the-counter antacids in tablet or liquid form can help cool the burn. Take a dose about every six hours as needed. Don't overdo it, though, because too much antacid can cause constipation or diarrhea.
Don't forget your bedtime dose. Even if you forget to take an antacid during the day, you should try to remember to take one at bedtime if you suffer from frequent heartburn. You need to protect your esophagus from the pooling of stomach acids that commonly occurs at night, when you are horizontal for hours on end. Heartburn that occurs during the night causes more damage than daytime heartburn.
Keep your head up. Another way to protect your esophagus while you sleep is to elevate the head of your bed. That way, you'll be sleeping on a slope, and gravity will work for you in keeping your stomach contents where they belong. Put wooden blocks under the legs at the head of your bed to raise it about six inches.
Get rid of your waterbed. In a waterbed, your body basically lies flat on the water-filled mattress. You can't effectively elevate your chest and therefore can't prevent your stomach contents from spilling out into your esophagus.
Say no to a post-dinner snooze. Tempting as it may look, the couch is not your friend after you eat a meal. People who lie down with a full stomach are asking for trouble. Wait at least an hour before you lie down.
Don't eat before bed. Avoid bedtime snacks. In fact, it's best if you can wait two to three hours -- the time it takes the stomach to empty -- after a meal to go to bed. While you're waiting, stay upright.
Pass on seconds. A stomach ballooned by too much food and drink may partly empty in the wrong direction.
Lose the fat. Abdominal fat pressing against the stomach can force the contents back up.
Look forward to delivery. Pregnancy can cause heartburn, particularly in the third trimester when your growing baby is pushing up against your stomach. If you still have heartburn after making lifestyle changes, such as eating smaller meals, talk with your doctor about taking an antacid.
Don't smoke. Nicotine from cigarette smoke irritates the valve between the stomach and the esophagus, as well as the stomach lining, so smokers tend to get more heartburn.
Be careful of coffee. The caffeine in coffee relaxes the esophageal sphincter, which can lead to reflux. But even decaffeinated coffee may cause reflux problems: Research suggests the oils contained in both regular and decaffeinated coffee may play a role in heartburn. Experiment to see if cutting your coffee intake lessens your heartburn.
Be wary of peppermint. For some people, peppermint seems to cause heartburn. Try skipping the after-dinner mints and see if it helps.
Take it easy. Stress can prompt increased acid secretion and cause the esophageal sphincter to malfunction.
Skip the cocktail. Alcohol can relax the sphincter and irritate the stomach, too, which can lead to reflux.
Slow down on soda. The carbon dioxide in soda pop and other bubbly drinks can cause stomach distention, which can push the contents of the stomach up into the esophagus.
Check your painkiller. If you're about to pop a couple of aspirin in your mouth, think again. Aspirin, ibuprofen, and products that contain them can burn the esophagus as well as the stomach. Opt for acetaminophen for pain relief. For a list of precautions to take when using over-the-counter analgesics, click here.
Check your kitchen for food that can prevent heartburn and calm the fires. Go to the next page to learn more home remedies to quell the fire in your chest.
For more information about stomach ailments and how to treat them, visit these links:
- To see all of our home remedies and the conditions they treat, go to our main Home Remedies page.
- In Home Remedies for Burping, learn about natural cures that help you squelch belching.
- Nausea has many triggers -- learn how you can use some common household foods to calm it in Home Remedies for Nausea.
- Home Remedies for Upset Stomach covers causes and cures for tummy troubles.
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Natural Home Remedies for Heartburn
When you're suffering from heartburn, food might seem like the enemy. However, you'll find many home remedies in your kitchen that can actually reduce or prevent heartburn.Home Remedies from the Cupboard
Almonds. Chewing 6 or 8 blanched almonds during an episode of heartburn may relieve the symptoms. Chew them well, though, to avoid swallowing air and causing yourself more discomfort.
Baking soda. Take 1/2 teaspoon in 1/2 glass water. Check the antacid use information on the box before using this remedy, however.
Warning! If you're on a salt-restricted diet, do not use baking soda. It's loaded with sodium. And do not use it if you're experiencing nausea, stomachache, gas, cramps, or stomach distention from overeating.
Cream of tartar. For an acid neutralizer, mix 1/2 teaspoon with 1/2 teaspoon baking soda in a glass of water. Take 1 teaspoon of the solution as needed.
Brown rice. Plain or with a little sweetening, rice can help relieve discomfort. Rice is a complex carbohydrate and is a bland food, which is less likely to increase acidity or relax the sphincter muscle
Soda crackers. This is an old folk cure that actually works. Soda crackers (preferably unsalted) are bland, they digest easily, and they absorb stomach acid. They also contain bicarbonate of soda and cream of tartar, which neutralize the acid. Tip: You know that package of soda crackers they always give you at the restaurant, that you leave on the table? From now on, take them with you. These come in handy when you're plagued by heartburn and can't seek immediate relief.
Vinegar. Mix 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon honey, and 1 cup warm water. Drink at the first sign of heartburn.
Home Remedies from the Drawer
Paper and pen. Keep a food diary. This can tell you which foods or food combinations cause that heartburn.
Home Remedies from the Faucet
Water. Drink water in between meals, not with meals. If you drink fluids with meals, you increase the volume of stomach contents, which makes it easier for heartburn to happen.
Home Remedies from the Refrigerator
Apples. They cool the burn of stomach acid. Eat them fresh, with the skin still on, or cook them for desserts.
Apple honey. This is a simple remedy that will neutralize stomach acids. Peel, core, and slice several sweet apples. Simmer with a little water over low heat for three hours until the mixture is thick, brown, and sweet to the taste. Refrigerate in an airtight container and take a few spoonfuls whenever you have the need.
Buttermilk. This is an acid-reliever, but don't confuse it with regular milk, which can be an acid-maker, especially if you are bothered by lactose intolerance.
Cabbage. Like apples, this is a natural fire extinguisher for stomach burn. For the best relief, put the cabbage through a juicer, then drink it.
Fruit juices. Skip juices from citrus fruits, but try these stomach-cooling juices for heartburn relief: papaya, mango, guava, pear.
Papaya. Eat it straight to reap the benefit of its natural, indigestion-fighting enzyme papain. Or drink 1 cup papaya juice combined with 1 teaspoon sugar and 2 pinches cardamom to relieve acid.
Warning! Pregnant women should not eat papayas; they're a source of natural estrogen that can cause miscarriage.
 ©2007 Publications International, Ltd. Potatoes can help to ease heartburn. |
Pumpkin. Eat it baked as a squash to get rid of heartburn. Fresh is best. Spice it up with cinnamon, which is another heartburn cure. Or, make a compote of baked pumpkin and apples, spiced with cinnamon and honey, for a dessert that's both curative and tasty.
Yogurt. Make sure it has live cultures in it. Because of the helpful and digestive-friendly microorganisms in yogurt, it may sooth the acid-forming imbalances that can lead to heartburn.
Home Remedies from the Spice Rack
Cardamom. This old-time digestive aid may help relieve the burn of acid indigestion. Add it to baked goodies such as sweet rolls or fruit cake, or sprinkle, with a pinch of cinnamon, on toast. It works well in cooked cereals, too.
Cinnamon. This is a traditional remedy for acid relief. Brew a cup of cinnamon tea from a cinnamon stick. Or try a commercial brand, but check the label. Cinnamon tea often has black tea in it, which is a cause of heartburn, so make sure your commercial brand doesn't contain black tea. For another acid-busting treat, make cinnamon toast.
Ginger. A tea from this root can soothe that burning belly. Add 1 1/2 teaspoons ginger root to 1 cup water; simmer for ten minutes. Drink as needed.
Sage. A sage tea can relieve stomach weakness that allows acid to be released back into the esophagus.
More Do's & Don'ts
- Eat smaller meals. The more food in your belly, the more likely that bulk will push stomach acid right back up.
- Eat slowly, chew thoroughly. Sometimes heartburn will flare because the food is simply too large to get through the digestive tract and it, along with the acids, is forced back up.
- Don't eat right before bedtime. Give your stomach a two- or three-hour break before you sleep. And if you're plagued by the burn at night, sleep with your head elevated on pillows.
- Let the gravity be with you. Stay upright so the gastric contents are forced to stay down. In other words, don't head for the couch after you eat. If you must snooze, try the recliner, but don't recline too steeply.
- Loosen the belt. Tight clothing and belts can create enough pressure to cause heartburn.
For more information about stomach ailments and how to treat them, visit these links:
- To see all of our home remedies and the conditions they treat, go to our main Home Remedies page.
- In Home Remedies for Burping, learn about natural cures that help you squelch belching.
- Nausea has many triggers -- learn how you can use some common household foods to calm it in Home Remedies for Nausea.
- Home Remedies for Upset Stomach covers causes and cures for tummy troubles.
Timothy Gower is a freelance writer and editor whose work has appeared in many publications, including Reader's Digest, Prevention, Men's Health, Better Homes and Gardens, The New York Times, and The Los Angeles Times. The author of four books, Gower is also a contributing editor for Health magazine.
Alice Lesch Kelly is a health writer based in Boston. Her work has been published in magazines such as Shape, Fit Pregnancy, Woman's Day, Reader's Digest, Eating Well, and Health. She is the co-author of three books on women's health.
Linnea Lundgren has more than 12 years experience researching, writing, and editing for newspapers and magazines. She is the author of four books, including Living Well With Allergies.
Michele Price Mann is a freelance writer who has written for such publications as Weight Watchers and Southern Living magazines. Formerly assistant health and fitness editor at Cooking Light magazine, her professional passion is learning and writing about health.
ABOUT THE CONSULTANTS:
Ivan Oransky, M.D., is the deputy editor of The Scientist. He is author or co-author of four books, including The Common Symptom Answer Guide, and has written for publications including the Boston Globe, The Lancet, and USA Today. He holds appointments as a clinical assistant professor of medicine and as adjunct professor of journalism at New York University.
David J. Hufford, Ph.D., is university professor and chair of the Medical Humanities Department at Pennsylvania State University's College of Medicine. He also is a professor in the departments of Neural and Behavioral Sciences and Family and Community Medicine. Dr. Hufford serves on the editorial boards of several journals, including Alternative Therapies in Health & Medicine and Explore.
This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Neither the Editors of Consumer Guide (R), Publications International, Ltd., the author nor publisher take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading or following the information contained in this information. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health care provider.