Natural Heartburn Relief

Heartburn, also referred as acid indigestion or pyrosis, is the burning sensation or pain in the esophagus, below the breast bone or the throat. It is basically one of the major symptoms of Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or acid reflux. This burning sensation may occur after eating or in the night and the pain may aggravate after bending or lying down. Thus, heartburn has nothing to do with the heart, and the name heartburn is because the pain is located in the area near the heart. In acid reflux the acidic food present in the stomach regurgitates back into the mouth through the food pipe (esophagus).

Causes of Heartburn

Some of the causes of heartburn include, pregnancy, certain foods, medications, alcohol consumption, etc. Occasional occurrence of heartburn may not be a cause of concern and the symptoms usually disappear soon. But frequent episodes of heartburn should not be neglected and immediate action should be taken since it may cause severe damage to the esophagus. Let us take a look at natural heartburn relief methods.

Natural Remedies for Heartburn

Though there are several medications and drugs available to treat heartburn, one should rely on natural remedies to avoid side effects of these medications. There are several ways by which you can relieve heartburn naturally and given below are some of these methods.

Dietary Changes:
Heartburn can be caused due to consumption of certain foods, thus, bringing a change in your diet can help to alleviate heartburn. One should avoid consumption of foods that trigger heartburn. Spicy foods, caffeine, fried foods, carbonated beverages, citric juices, alcohol, are some of the food products that can cause heartburn. The way you eat your food also plays an important role in heartburn.

Overeating is one of the common causes of heartburn, thus you should consume smaller and frequent meals and chew the food properly while eating. It is recommended that you should not eat anything at least 2 hours before going to bed. Avoid drinking any type of fluid, especially alcohol, after your meals.

Lifestyle Changes:
Not just the food that you eat, but certain habits can also produce the symptoms of heartburn. If you are overweight then you should follow a weight loss program, since overweight people are susceptible to heartburn. A regular exercise routine should be followed to maintain physical fitness. Smoking and alcohol consumption are some of the major triggering factors of heartburn. So, one should try to quit smoking completely and reduce the alcohol consumption. One should sleep in an elevated position to alleviate the occurrence of heartburn. Stress is one of the factors that causes indigestion and thus, heartburn. Reducing the stress levels can help to treat heartburn. One can go for certain natural remedies like aromatherapy to relieve stress.

Home Remedies:
Eating certain food items can help to reduce heartburn. One such heartburn relief home remedy is Aloe vera juice. Drinking Aloe vera juice helps to soothe the irritated esophageal lining. Try to drink ¼ cup of Aloe vera juice before each meal and ensure that you use the one that is specially made for internal use.

Marshmallow is one more herb that provides natural relief for heartburn. Consuming this herb helps to create a protective coat along the esophageal lining. Prepare marshmallow tea by preparing a mixture of one tablespoon of dried roots and eight ounces of boiling water. Drinking 3 cups of this tea on a daily basis helps to relieve heartburn. Fruits like papaya and pineapple contain enzymes that help to aid digestion. Consuming supplement forms of these fruits helps to treat heartburn. One more natural method for heartburn relief is to chew gum after meals. Chewing gum causes excess production of saliva which further helps in protection from acidic content.

Taking medications to relieve heartburn can cause long term side effects. Thus one should always go for the natural heartburn relief methods instead of relying on medications. So, adopt the changes in your diet and lifestyle that are mentioned above and these methods will surely help to reduce heartburn.