Can you
eliminate heartburn using home
remedies? This question occupies tens of
millions of heartburn sufferers worldwide who have been
let down by the conventional medicine approach. Since
the vast majority of medications used to treat heartburn
produce short-term results accompanied by a myriad of
side effects, there is a growing demand for safer, more
effective long-term and accessible alternatives.
Fortunately, there are home remedies that can yield
immediate results for most heartburn sufferers when
correctly chosen and implemented.
What is
heartburn?
Heartburn is a
painful burning sensation in the chest and/or throat
that usually occurs during or after a meal. Persistent
heartburn experienced twice a week or more often
indicates the occurrence of gastro-esophageal reflux
disease (GERD), also known as acid reflux.
Gastro-esophageal reflux disease
occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter (the muscle
connecting the esophagus with the stomach) becomes
relaxed and allows gastric acids to leak ("reflux") back
from the stomach into the esophagus. As the acids come
in contact with the epithelial cells of the esophagus,
they cause the painful sensation referred to as
heartburn.
Except for heartburn, acid reflux
can manifest as numerous other symptoms, such as
brackish taste sensation, dry cough, chest pain, nausea,
persistent hoarseness and asthma attacks at nights. Over
time, daily acid reflux damages the cell lining of the
lower esophagus and can evolve into a precancerous
condition called Barrett's esophagus
. This is one of the reasons why treating GERD
in a timely manner is of a great importance.
GERD's
contributing factors include:
- Poor
dietary choices and the consumption of large meals
that contribute to improper digestion and the
accumulation of toxins and acids in the stomach (toxic
overload can suppress the immune system and sluggish
digestion can encourage Candida overgrowth. these can
all aggravate your existing acid reflux
condition).
- Among
obese individuals the pressure on the abdomen
increases thus more acid is splashed up into the
esophagus.
- Stress
and inadequate sleep also weaken the immune system.
The
following are several simple and accessible home
remedies that can relieve the GERD symptoms (although
they do not tackle the above underlying
causes):
- Consuming
2 teaspoons of raw, pure, unheated and unprocessed
honey after a meal. This type of honey has proven
antibacterial, antioxidant, antiviral and antibiotic
properties; therefore it can relieve the inflammation
in the esophagus.
- Taking 1 tablespoon of organic apple cider vinegar
once a day
on an empty stomach. ACV is a powerful antiseptic and
antibiotic food, so it acts as an effective intestinal
cleanser and can also help restore the proper acid
alkaline balance of the intestines (extra acidity in
the blood and the intestines often leads to the
aggravation of acid reflux).
- Elevating
the head of your bed six to eight inches
. This
practice can help keep gastric acids in the stomach.
Note that using extra pillows is often not enough to
elevate the esophageal area to prevent acid contact.
On the contrary, putting blocks of wood under the
bedposts, or using special foam wedges, sold in
bedding stores can do the work.
Bear in
mind that while the above home remedies can produce
almost immediate relief, they are not heartburn cures
per se. The only way to eradicate your acid reflux
condition permanently is by choosing a comprehensive all
natural holistic treatment that naturalizes the
underlying factors responsible for
GERD.
