For the many people who feel the burn, ways to calm acid reflux are often at the fore front of their minds. What can you do to relieve the pain, the burning, the burping and indigestion? Actually, there’s quite a bit you can do, and a lot of it doesn’t require a trip to the doctor’s office.

Why medications might not be the answer

Over the counter antacids can help with the occasional acid reflux, but they are in no way meant to be taken over an extended period. In fact, none of them are meant to be taken for more than two weeks without doctor supervision, even though some of the commercials may make statements like “By day 14 I was acid reflux free!”

Prescription medicines can be helpful as they target specific areas. For example, one type of prescription medication will stop the production of stomach acid, while others will block the acid production process altogether. These can be a good solution as they target specifically what is causing your acid reflux, however it’s an expensive solution. You’ll be tied to a prescription that has to be refilled every month for the rest of your life. With the cost of drugs going up all the time, and insurances constantly pulling back how much they’ll cover, it can become a huge financial commitment rather quickly.

So, what are your other options?

What you can do to calm acid reflux

Calming acid reflux can actually be easier than you might think. Here are a few tips you can try at home before or during an acid reflux attack.

• Drink water, and lots of it. A large glass of water can often be very helpful when it comes to relieving pain from acid reflux. Something this simple may seem like it’s just too easy, but the water helps to dilute acids in your stomach and wash them through your digestive system more quickly, so they can’t cause as much irritation and damage.
  • Additionally, try mixing a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in the water to help prevent an attack of acid reflux. If you’re already experiencing it, just swallow the apple cider vinegar undiluted for faster relief.
• Teas can also be quite helpful in calming the stomach and soothing acid reflux. Ginger, Fennel and Chamomile teas are all known to settle indigestion and help cool a stomach burning associated with acid reflux.
• Eat an apple. The saying an apple a day keeps the doctor away didn’t come without any basis of truth. Some people have found an apple before or after a meal helps prevent or get rid of acid reflux.
• Try papaya. Papaya has a digestive enzyme that assists in breaking down food, which prevents acid buildup. Taking a papaya enzyme tablet immediately before or after a meal can help prevent reflux, while taking one during an attack can help soothe it.

Explore these and many other natural ways to calm acid reflux in The Reflux Remedy Report. There you’ll find countless holistic remedies for heartburn and the reasons they work. Visit refluxremedy.com today to find out more.

Heartburn is the uncomfortable result of stomach acids backing up into the esophagus.? While medicines are widely used to treat heartburn, there are a number of inexpensive home remedies that can be tried before rushing out and spending a healthy sum on a month’s supply of medication.

• First of all, try changing your eating routine a bit. Eat smaller more frequent meals instead of a few giant ones. This helps prevent the buildup of acid and pressure in the stomach from too much food. Also, avoid eating before bed. Gravity helps keep acids where they belong, and lying prostrate allows them into the esophagus if the stomach is full.
• Watch your weight. Extra pounds on the chest and abdomen create pressure build up in the stomach causing reflux.
• Try putting a few pillows under your head when you sleep. This will help gravity do its job. In addition, when napping during the day, sleep in a chair or in a semi-upright position.
• Stop smoking. Heartburn is only one of the many health issues caused by smoking.
• Watch what you eat. Certain foods can trigger heartburn. Garlic, caffeine, alcohol, citrus and onion are a few common triggers. Monitor what sets you off and then stay away from that food.
• Don’t wear clothes that are too tight. They put pressure on the abdomen, causing acid to back up into the esophagus.
• Avoid medications known to cause heartburn, like calcium, iron, potassium and NSAID pain relievers such as aspirin and ibuprofen.
• Drink a glass of water. This helps dilute the stomach acids and flush contents through the system.
• Chew gum. Your body responds similarly to drinking water when chewing gum. Excess saliva helps flush your stomach contents and dilute acids.
• Ginger is an effective natural remedy for many stomach conditions, including heartburn. When taken in pill form, as tea, or candied it can help treat and prevent heartburn.
• Fennel or chamomile tea, when sipped warm, can help soothe acid reflux.
• Milk can help absorb stomach acids, but should be used in moderation as it also contains fats that are difficult to digest and causes acid production.
• Papaya contains a helpful digestive enzyme that aides in the breakdown of foods. When taken before meals, it helps prevent the buildup of pressure in the stomach.
• Glutamine, an amino acid, can help heal damage done to the esophagus as a result of frequent acid reflux and eliminate damaged cells.
• Just a few tablespoons of undiluted apple cider vinegar can eliminate heartburn. When diluted in water, it acts as a preventative.
• Just a handful of almonds contain soothing oils that help relieve heartburn.
• Unflavored yogurt has helpful bacteria that aid in the healing process of the esophagus and helps tighten esophageal muscles.

For more ideas on natural heartburn remedies, please see our Reflux Remedy Report.