Home Remedies for Heartburn: These are The Best
These eight home remedies for heartburn help quickly – and most of them are already at home! From now on you can leave your medication in the cupboard.
8 home remedies for heartburn that really help
Burning in the esophagus, unpleasant feeling of pressure in the stomach, acidic belching – many of us have had heartburn once in our lives. And some of us unfortunately have to struggle with it regularly. You can do that with heartburn:
1. Water
Probably the easiest household remedy: drink lukewarm, still water. This dilutes the gastric juice on the one hand and leads it back into the stomach on the other.
2. Camomile tea
Camomile tea also dilutes and also has a calming, antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory effect.
3. Potato juice
The starch contained in potatoes binds excess gastric acid and soothes heartburn. The potato juice has an alkaline and deacidifying effect. Drink a small glass of it about twice a day before meals – no more, because the solanine from the potatoes is toxic in larger quantities. That’s the way to go: Press and drink raw, peeled (!) potatoes in a juicer. Or grate them with a grater and dilute with water.
4.Baking soda
Sodium bicarbonate (also: sodium hydrogen carbonate) neutralizes the stomach acid and helps to relieve the discomfort. That’s how it works: Put a teaspoon of the baking soda into a glass of water, mix it well and then drink the solution slowly.
5. Healing earth powder
Healing earth binds acid and helps to relieve acute complaints. To do this, take small sips of the finely ground powder dissolved in water: up to three times a day one to two teaspoons in half a glass of water.
6. Chewing gum
Chewing a (sugar-free chewing gum) produces more saliva, which in turn dilutes the ascending stomach acid and also neutralizes it.
7. Roll cure
A rolling cure is supposed to calm an irritated stomach lining. This is done by wetting the stomach all around with the soothing liquid. Camomile tea is particularly suitable for this and this is how you proceed: Take a few sips, lie on your back for a few minutes. Drink it again and lie on your right side for a few minutes. Do the whole thing again with your left side.
8. Raise your head
The stomach contents have a harder time getting to the top if the esophagus is higher. So if you are having trouble sleeping, a simple home remedy for heartburn is to put your head or upper body higher up. Either with an adjustable slatted frame or additional pillows.
Causes of heartburn
The stomach produces hydrochloric acid so that it can digest our food and kill pathogens. If the muscle at the end of the oesophagus does not close the stomach entrance properly, the acidic stomach contents will reflux into the oesophagus – and an unpleasant feeling will arise. It is also called reflux, when the gastric juice flows back into the oesophagus. Causes of heartburn:
- Acidification of the stomach by fatty food, sweets, coffee, alcohol and juices.
- Pregnancy, as the growing child puts more pressure on the stomach. But hormonal changes can also be a cause.
- Mental and physical stress, such as stress, anger or strenuous sport.
Reflux sickness: What is it?
If you have complaints more often, you could be affected by reflux disease, because heartburn is one of several symptoms. Other symptoms can include difficulty swallowing, pain in the upper abdomen, nausea and vomiting. A medical diagnosis will give you some clarification here.