Herbal Remedies for Acid Reflux

People suffered from acid reflux long before prescription drugs were available so it’s not surprising that they developed herbal remedies for acid reflux. Some of these have more evidence in favor of them than others, but most are safe and worth a try.

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However if you have any doubt at all double-check with a doctor (preferably one with some knowledge of natural healing.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Old time New England farmers drank apple cider vinegar in water as the warm-weather drink of choice. It was also used for medicinal purposes, especially for GI problems in general and for heartburn and reflux in particular.

Now, I have to admit that when I first heard of this, it didn’t make any sense since vinegar is an acid and adding acid to solve a problem caused by acid didn’t make seem reasonable.

I've read different explanations such as the acid in vinegar isn’t a s strong as the stomach’s hydrochloric acid, or that the vinegar causes the esophageal sphincter to tighten, but none of these seems particularly convincing.

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However there are tons of testimonials on the web saying it works. My reflux is pretty much under control, but I have tried it with a minor flare up and it did seem to help.

The usual recommendation is 1 -2 tablespoons in a glass of water. Some people add honey for taste and some say it works even better with ¼ tsp of baking soda in it.

Slippery Elm

Another herbal remedy for acid reflux is slippery elm. This herb provides a soothing coating.

Licorice

Licorice extract is more specific for stomach acid and acid reflux problems. It also seems to work by provided a protective coating, as well as reducing inflammation and stimulating the stomach to secrete additional mucosa. A compound in licorice ( glycyrrhizinic acid) can cause high blood pressure so it’s important to look for a licorice extrat labeled as “deglycyrrhizinated”.

This makes the point that just because something is a herb doesn’t automatically mean it’s safe.

Aloe

Aloe is commonly used to treat burns, so I guess it’s not surprising that people use aloe juice to treat reflux. It’s soothing and safe. Follow the instructions on the bottle if you want to give it a try.

Digestive Enzymes

Digestive enzymes, especially, papaya enzyme and bromelain, help with digestion in general. Some people also find regular use alleviates symptoms of reflux.

Chamomile Tea

Chamomile tea has long been known for its relaxing properties. People often use it to unwind at the end of the day. It also is helpful as a herbal treatment for acid reflux.

Use for this purpose, you should do it fairly strongly, let it cool to room temperature and then sip it slowly rather than go but down.

A Herb to Avoid If You Have
Acid Reflux

I've seen some people recommend peppermint tea for acid reflux, but this is likely to be counterproductive. Peppermint, especially concentrated oil of peppermint, is very soothing for many G.I. problems (hence the after dinner peppermint patties, project we have a trivial amount of peppermint and them).

However, peppermint works because it has a mild smooth muscle relaxing property. While this may help with gas, bloating and other types of indigestion it's likely to make reflux worse because it further relaxes the muscle in the lower esophagus that supposed to prevent reflux.

All of these herbal remedies for acid reflux are worth trying. They’re very likely to be effective for the occasional will mild episode.

However, if your heartburn and acid reflux problem is more severe you may want to look at the more complete natural method of treating heartburn offered by the program:

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