Heartburn Remedies
Heartburn or pyrosis is a painful or burning sensation in the esophagus, just below the breastbone caused by regurgitation of gastric acid. Heartburn is not as dangerous a disease as it sounds. The pain often rises in the chest and may radiate to the neck, throat, or angle of the jaw. Heartburn is also identified as one of the causes of chronic cough, and may even mimic asthma. Despite its name, heartburn actually has nothing to do with the heart. It is so called because of a burning sensation of the breastbone where the heart is located although some heart problems do have a similar sensation to heartburn. Compounding the confusion is the fact that hydrochloric acid from the stomach comes back up to the esophagus because of a problem with the cardiac sphincter, a valve which misleadingly contains the word cardiac (an adjective referring to the heart) in its name.
A changed lifestyle can be a natural cure for the pains and discomforts that go along with acid reflux. Avoiding foods that irritate the symptoms is the perfect beginning towards an acid reflux cure.
The very next step can be other lifestyle changes like giving up smoking and beer and alcohol, avoiding coffee and eating too much. For an overweight person, losing fat and shedding pounds is a first duty for a reflux cure. In prostrate (lying down) position during one’s sleeping, GERD may deteriorate.
One can employ a pillow or go to sleep with the higher body raised by at least 6 inches for helping with the symptoms of the disease. Other lifestyle changes for a natural angina cure may include homeopathic as well as natural help like herbal teas. Fresh fruits like grapes and pineapples also provide relief. Apple cider vinegar is also made claims to be an acid reflux home remedy but such alternative drugs are not commended without medical advice.
Natural Remedies for heart burn
- Dissolve some baking soda in water and drink it. This method works because baking soda is sodium bicarbonate, a substance that can neutralize the gastric acid that causes heartburn. However, this method will not work for people who have chronic conditions of heartburn.
- Aloe vera is a commonly used remedy. Chew some leaves of the aloe vera herb if you have complaints of heartburn. However, refrain from using commercially available aloe vera gels that might have laxative substances added to it which may compound the problem.
- Both marshmallow and slippery elm have been used since long for the treatment of heartburn. These herbs can tone down and smoothen the inner lining of the esophageal tract and hence reduce the condition of the heartburn.
Medicines, like usual antacids and H2 blockers that cure heartburn disease are found often as over the counter drugs. A person may be inclined to medicines only after an acid reflux home remedy by everyday changes have not produced the desired result with the symptoms still persisting.