Home Remedies For Acid Reflux
Acid reflux is a condition where stomach acid flows back to the esophagus. As a result, the upward flow of acid will make you experience heartburn, regurgitation, and difficulty in swallowing. You may also experience chest pain, nausea, and excessive salivation.
Acid reflux is caused by a weakened or malfunctioning muscle called lower esophageal sphincter (LES), which lies at the bottom part of the esophagus and regulates the flow of food and water into the stomach. Besides the malfunctioning LES muscles, there are several other factors that can increase the chances of acid reflux. Some of the most common factors for acid reflux are:
1. Alcohol abuse
2. Stressful lifestyle
3. Cigarette smoking
4. Large meals
5. Fatty, spicy foods and carbonated beverages
6. Lying down immediately after eating a meal
7. Use of certain medications
Described here are some of the common home remedies for acid reflux.
Keep some antacids handy and chew on them whenever you need quick relief from heartburn. However, antacids can only provide temporary relief and not a complete cure. Moreover, you should not use antacids too much because prolonged use of antacids can lead to some side effects like diarrhea or constipation.
Another frequently used remedy for acid reflux is to drink a solution prepared by mixing baking soda in water. Baking soda, also known by its chemical name sodium bicarbonate, can provide temporary relief. However, this should not be practiced frequently because repeated use will further aggravate your problem. People with high blood pressure and heart patients should, however, avoid this treatment.
Other common remedies include chewing on fennel seeds and drinking herbal tea made with aniseed and lavender. Fennel seeds can be chewed after meals to get relief from acid reflux. For the herbal tea, you will need to boil aniseed and lavender in water, strain the tea in a glass, and add a few drops of honey to it. Drink this herbal tea two times a day.
Besides these home remedies you should also take care of your diet. Eat small multiple meals rather than one big meal as this will decrease the chances of acid reflux. Avoid fatty food, caffeinated drinks, and alcohol as they are known to aggravate acid reflux. Avoid fruits and vegetables that are acidic in nature, like oranges and tomatoes. Carbonated drinks and cigarette smoking should also be avoided.
Finally, if the symptoms of acid reflux occurs very frequently or stays for a long time, you should visit a doctor and get medical treatment.
