natural remedy for gastric reflux?

[greenman3610]

anyone know of one?

[stellanoir]

1. I have no experience with this

but have heard of others using one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar a day. Apparantly the additional acidity can trigger gastric juices that compensate by creating a more alkaline conditions. I know it sounds strange but I know some who have had success with this method but it might not work if one is on conventional meds.

[cassiepriam]

2. Acupuncture has taken care of mine. nt

[Why Syzygy]

3. Have you tried peppermint?

Either the hard candies or tea.

[tanyev]

4. I had terrible heartburn--stomach pain, burping, etc,

and I have had wonderful results with undenatured whey protein. I use ImmunPlex, but there are several other brands.

http://www.immunesupport.com/immunplex.htm

[Sweet Freedom]

5. I suffered from reflux for about a year

as did my aunt (to the point that she developed asthma)

Turns out ours was mostly stress-related. Once our stressful situations ended, so did the reflux. So check your stress level :)

In the meantime, avoid tomatoes, alcohol, chocolate, caffeine and peppermint (my doctor specifically told me to avoid peppermint). A daily does of yogurt (and pepto-bismol) may be helpful.

Good luck!

[Why Syzygy]

6. Avoid peppermint?

That doesn't seem like sound medical advice.
Ever been to a restaurant where they have peppermints? Aids digestion.

http://www.wholehealthmd.com/refshelf/substances_view/1,1525,812,00.html

~snip~

• Ease nausea and vomiting. Nausea and motion sickness can subside with the use of peppermint tea or peppermint oil capsules, which both work to moderately anesthetize the stomach's sensitive mucous lining.(3,4)
• Control flatulence and diverticular disorders. Peppermint can be helpful for people who have digestive symptoms such as gas and intestinal cramps from time to time. It can also offer relief for those with such chronic gas-causing conditions as diverticulosis; the tea may prove especially effective in such cases. Among its other attributes, peppermint relaxes digestive spasms.(5)
• Improve digestion and reduce heartburn. The menthol in peppermint increases the beneficial flow of all digestive juices, including bile. It also calms digestive spasms.(6)
...
• Substitute for conventional drugs in medical procedures. The antispasmodic effects of peppermint oil make it a viable alternative to conventional medications used to calm the digestive system during medical procedures. Researchers in Japan have shown that peppermint oil is safe and affective in reducing digestive spasms during Upper Endoscopy and Double Contrast Barium Enema.(10,11)
...
• Fight stress. The aroma of peppermint oil when added to bath water may help release tension and dissipate fatigue.

[Sweet Freedom]

9. That's what my doctor said -- avoid all mint. /nt

[hvn_nbr_2]

11. Avoid peppermint is standard medical advice

Almost every source that I know of says that. Google: "acid reflux" peppermint
and the first page of results has numerous links that say the same thing. There are a few contrarians who say that the real problem is not enough stomach acid and things that cause production of more will help, and my impression is that in a few cases that is true, but I think it's a very minority opinion and a very minority situation where it works.

I've heard that orange peel extract is supposed to be very good for acid reflux. However, it didn't do a thing for me when I had it, but nothing else did much for it either. The suspected active ingredient is something called "limonene" (sometimes spelled "limonine"). The suspected modes of working never sounded very convincing to me either.

[Why Syzygy]

13. Okay. I stand corrected.

I'm not an expert on acid reflux. Was just extrapolating.

I've had friends who sometimes drank to excess and got some stomach problems from that. Peppermint helped them. Plus cutting down on the booze!

It is my standard upset stomach remedy for myself, but I've never had a real problem with ongoing acid reflux.

I defer to the experts :D

[hvn_nbr_2]

14. Peppermint and digestion

I think that, in general, peppermint is good for digestion. Except when there's acid reflux. It probably stimulates production of some digestive juices, including stomach acid, which is probably why it's generally good for digestion; but I'm just guessing. When doctors and websites started telling me that it was bad for acid reflux, it surprised me too. In fact, while I was having the reflux, I tried mint a couple times and it didn't seem to bother me. A lot of these things vary with the individual (no surprise).

[onecent]

19. My doctor also told me to avoid peppermint..and he was

adamant about it.

[mtnester]

7. Unfortunately, I take a presciption medicine for mine

I have had reflux since the day I started getting breasts (around 1972). Every day. No matter what I ate...it could be WATER.

So, for many years, I drank a gazillion gallons of milk to cool my throat off, slept sitting up for decades (Malox and Chooz did not touch it).

If I was certain I could have the same results from a natual remedy as I do for Aciphex, I would take it. However, I suffered with this for so long, I would just bawl if I ever got it again.

[truthseeker1]

8. Baking soda

Mix about a teaspoon in a glass of water. Works better than any of the over the counter drugs. Also works for stomach gas.

[arikara]

10. Cayenne works for me

way better than losec. I managed to get off losec when I discovered this. I was taking it for something else when I realized that my acid reflux also went away. I take it once or twice a day and if I forget the reflux comes back after a day or 2.

You can get it in capsules and they are very cheap which is an added bonus. Just be sure to eat something and drink LOTS of water because if not it will cause a sensation of burning in your esophagus. (however the burning is different than the reflux and doesn't last if it does occur...)

I find that Peppermint gives me indigestion. Maybe I'm different.

edited for clarity

[DemExpat]

12. Peppermint doesn't help me at all with this....I find real licorice

is the best natural remedy for me.
Real licorice made from gum arabic.

I'll give the cayenne a try too when I'm not in the mood for licorice.

DemEx

[Why Syzygy]

15. I put cayenne on everything.

It's habit forming. Glad it helps you.

~snip~
Many herbalists believe that Cayenne is the most useful and valuable herb in the herb kingdom, not only for the entire digestive system, but also for the heart and circulatory system. It acts as a catalyst and increases the effectiveness of other herbs when used with them.
Cayenne is a medicinal and nutritional herb. It is a very high source of Vitamins A & C, has the complete B complexes, and is very rich in organic calcium and potassium, which is one of the reasons it is good for the heart.

Digestion

Cayenne can rebuild the tissue in the stomach and the peristaltic action in the intestines. It aids elimination and assimilation, and helps the body to create hydrochloric acid, which is so necessary for good digestion and assimilation, especially of proteins. All this becomes very significant when we realize that the digestive system plays the most important role in mental, emotional and physical health, as it is through the digestive system that the brain, glands, muscles and every other part of the body are fed.

http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/cayenne.htm

[onecent]

20. Are you talking cayenne pepper?? Hot stuff? just wondering...

I'd try anything...actually

[arikara]

21. That's the stuff... very hot

which is why I take it in capsule form, not on an empty stomach and with lots of water.

[Trillo]

16. One more antacid tool: apple's pectin is an antacid.

Antacid: Its content in pectins, as well as the influence of the glycine, that is a natural antiacid makes it very suitable to stop stomach acidity .
http://www.botanical-online.com/medicinalsmalusdomesticaangles.htm

[arikara]

18. Oddly enough, apples...

sometimes seem to cause reflux with me but I can eat them if I remember to take my cayenne capsules.

Apple cider vinegar is another cause of indigestion. So is white flour... but not all the time. Nothing seems to cause it all the time which makes it so hard to pin down.

The only things that help when it gets going is lots of water and cayenne.

[suziedemocrat]

17. Drink 1 Tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar + honey in cup of water each night

I drank a cup of water with 1-2 tablespoons of Apple Cider Vinergar and some Honey each night and my horrible heartburn went away. I stopped after about a month, but the heartburn did not come back. Occasionally it does come back and I make my "cocktail" and I'm fine in about 10 minutes. But this seems to be a sort of permanant cure to my stomach.

Make sure you buy organic Apple Cider Vinegar with the "mother", a web-like sediment in the vinegar.

[silverlib]

22. Aloe Vera Tea

I had a massage therapist tell me about this. Cut Aloe Vera into chunks and boil for about ten minutes. I mix this liquid with other herbal teas, although it doesn't taste too bad alone. This works wonders for me.

[marions ghost]

23. ginger helps me

tea made from fresh ginger with honey

[MsTryska]

24. Maybe reduce your carb intake? nt

nt

[Dora]

31. This helped me a lot when I was pregnant.

I never suffered from reflux until I was pregnant. I noticed that whenever I ate a lot of carbs toward the end of the day, whether it was starch or sugar, my heartburn was much worse in the evening.

It's worth a shot.

[MissWaverly]

25. I use my exercise bike in the evenings and

I use a neck roll pillow to cut down on teeth clenching which was causing irritated gums, etc. which irritated everything, I still get
heartburn but it's not like it was.

[NJCher]

26. great tips; thanks everybody

My favorite foods and drinks are acid causing: wine, chocolate (love those two together), anything mint and also garlic and onions! Coffee, too.

It's little wonder I have problems.

Cher

[youthere]

27. I don't know if you are a diet soda drinker,

but that's what was doing it to me. I quit the diet soda and the reflux went away. I also cut out ALL artificial sweeteners.

[hvn_nbr_2]

28. Carbonated beverages of any kind

are one of the things that they tell you to cut out if you have acid reflux.

[Mabus]

29. My husband had reflux problems

his sister recommended that he read "Stop Inflammation Now" by Dr. Richard Fleming. We took the information from Fleming's book and have moved to a mostly organic diet. We eat lots of fresh fruits, vegetables, fish and chicken. My husband's acid reflux has stopped, so did his sleep apnea and his snoring isn't keeping me awake at night. He also has fewer problems with ADHD and is able to focus more and for longer periods. The best part is that he lost almost 30 pounds (so far) and has a lot more energy. I cannot tell you how nice it is that he is mowing the lawn and helping out around the house. I'll even say that my stress level has gone down considerably (which also might be due to my getting full night rest).

Anyway, as others have suggested, try some changes to your diet. Don't eat anything for at least 2 -3 hours before you go to sleep and try to avoid processed foods as much as possible.


Here's a review of the book I got from amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0399151117/qid=1128618884/sr=2-2/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_2/002-4313879-8876804?v=glance&s=books):

From Publishers Weekly
The author, a nuclear cardiologist and founder of the Fleming Heart and Health Institute in Omaha, Neb., builds on his earlier work (How to Bypass Your Bypass: What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You About Cholesterol and Your Diet) to identify in this reader-friendly guide 12 risk factors for heart disease. According to Fleming, these factors-which include high blood cholesterol level (over 150), excess weight, elevated homocysteine (resulting from eating too much animal protein) and oxidants in the blood stream-trigger an inflammatory reaction that causes heart disease and may also be responsible for diabetes, arthritis and other serious conditions. Dismissing bypass surgery and angioplasty as short-term solutions, Fleming claims that his suggested diet, combined with regular exercise such as daily walking, will reverse heart disease without medication or surgery. He recommends that his diet be adopted in two phases: phase one is composed solely of fruit and vegetables; after consistent improvement in cardiac health has been accomplished, phase two, which adds whole grains, low-fat dairy and moderate servings of protein, may be undertaken. A variety of sample recipes and menus are provided. Fleming is opposed to the currently popular high-protein diets for losing weight. Although his exercise and eating plan certainly promotes health, the diet, which also eliminates caffeine, may discourage those who find it too restrictive.

[Angry Girl]

30. If chronic, you may benefit from a "liver flush"

http://curezone.com/dis/1.asp?C0=21

It's not the best-organized site but there's some very interesting info. Search the forums for acid reflux too, as there are many postings on that too.

[Mist]

32. Check out "Eat 4 Your Type" by Dr. Peter D'Adamo

This is a book about nutrition and diet according to blood type. Could help with a variety of problems.

[wackadoo wabbit]

33. This worked for me, and I had a terrible case of gastric reflux

My gastroenterologist had me on Prilosec for it, and it only seemed to be getting worse and worse. Then one day I stumbled across D'Adamo's book and realized that I was eating a lot of some of the worst foods for me. I cut them out, and my gastric reflux stopped almost immediately.

It's been five years now, and I've only had two minor recurrences in all that time - and each time it was because I'd eaten too much corn product (corn is a major avoid for an AB like myself).

Plus, I no longer need to see the gastroenterologist.

[renate]

34. the no-peppermint thing

is because peppermint relaxes the sphincter between your stomach and your esophagus and may let the acidic contents of your stomach wash up into your esophagus.

DGL/deglycyrrhizinated licorice tablets (chewed, not swallowed) should help with reflux and heartburn. And DGL doesn't cause increased blood pressure like regular licorice can if you take too much.

[arikara]

35. I tried that too

they didn't work for me either. Nobody could really figure out what was causing the problem and none of the usual herbal remedies worked with any great success, nor did the prescription for Losec. I finally determined that the condition was at least aggravated by wheat products such as bread, and I discovered the cayenne cure by accident because I was taking it for something else entirely.