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.

There are many people who suffer from heartburn – a painful, burning sensation that radiates from the upper chest and can make it all the way to the throat. While there are several medicinal options to treat the problem there are also a number of simple and natural ways to eliminate heartburn.

1. A glass of water helps dilute the contents of the stomach and push them through. This eliminates the opportunity for pressure to build and extra acid to be produced.
2. Ginger has long since been a treatment for stomach problems. Heartburn is no exception. It can be found in pills, candied or tea. All three forms help to prevent and alleviate heartburn.
3. Slippery Elm, once a popular remedy for sore throats, is now being shown to help heartburn sufferers. Though it’s not been proven to be scientifically beneficial, and has not been tested in pregnant women, it may help coat the esophagus.
4. Chewing gum promotes saliva production, which acts as water to dilute and flush out the stomach contents.
5. An amino acid called glutamine can also help. It disposes of damaged cells in the esophagus and promotes healing.
6. The oils found in a handful of almonds may relieve reflux in some sufferers.
7. Aloe Vera juice – not to be confused with aloe vera gel found in some household plants – can help prevent heartburn when consumed before meals. It’s important to distinguish between juice and gel, as the gel acts as a laxative when consumed. Be sure to use caution and find aloe vera juice that is labeled for consumption.
8. An enzyme that aids in digestion and helps prevent pressure and acid build up can be found in papaya.
9. Apples have been said to help soothe heartburn and some people even found relief after just a few slices.
10. Drinking a glass of milk may help, but don’t drink too much. Milk will help absorb acids, but it also has fats that can cause acid buildup.
11. Try to avoid heartburn triggers. Common ones include garlic, onion, caffeine, alcohol, and citrus. Watch what you eat to find your specific triggers.
12. Don’t eat right before bed. Gravity keeps stomach acids down and lying down allows them to creep into the esophagus.
13. Eat less more often. Eating fewer, larger meals has been shown to put pressure on the stomach and result in excess acid production.
14. Don’t smoke. Smoking has been proven to cause heartburn.
15. Take steps to reduce stress. Something as simple as deep breathing or counting to 10 can help prevent the onset of heartburn.
16. Sleeping with a few pillows under your head helps keep your esophagus elevated and stomach acids where they belong.
17. Losing a few pounds may help relieve the pressure on the chest and stomach extra weight can add.

For more information on natural and holistic treatment ideas for heartburn, please see our Reflux Remedy Report.