Common Household Remedies for Heartburn

Your granny always told you that household remedies made the best heartburn remedies.

This article will look at some common household remedies for heartburn. These remedies will fall into three categories, dietary, herbal and lifestyle.

Dietary Household Remedies for Heartburn

You've probably heard that milk helps line the stomach. It's true and that's why cold milk and yogurt are often recommended as household remedies for heartburn. Milk is a natural antacid, neutralizing the stomach acids that cause heartburn.

Meanwhile, yogurt contains both milk and beneficial bacteria that can aid in digestion. The coldness of frozen yogurt also helps soothe irritated stomach linings.

Other foods that can help fight heartburn include bananas, cooked rice and raw almonds.

All these foods help fight acidity in the stomach. Bananas and almond oil are naturally alkaline, while rice helps to absorb stomach acid.

Apple cider vinegar is another popular old timey cure for heartburn. Whilst this may seem counter intuitive due to the acidic nature of vinegar, it can actually help balance the pH of the digestive system.

Try adding 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar to a glass of water with some honey to take away the sour taste.

Herbal Household Remedies for Heartburn

Many common herbs and plants can be used in treating heartburn. Crystallized or powdered ginger helps relax the muscles in the esophagus, which can prevent the release of stomach acid into it – the root cause of heartburn.

Goldenseal contains berberine, an antibiotic that is known to kill the Helicobacter Pylori bacteria that can inflame the lining of the stomach and duodenum. It grows naturally in the United States and can be identified by a daisy like flower combined with a red fruit resembling a raspberry.

The root is used to make a bitter tincture by combining it with ethanol in a jar and leaving for 2 to 3 weeks. Some commercially prepared tinctures also add distilled water to dilute the alcohol.

Marshmallow root boiled in water to make an herb tea is another common household remedy for heartburn. If you drink it three times a day, it can help to coat the esophagus.

Other Household Remedies for Heartburn

Not every household remedy for heartburn revolves around what you put in your mouth. There are simple lifestyle changes that are just as useful. Alcohol, tobacco, coffee and chocolate can all exacerbate heartburn symptoms, so avoiding them is a simple way to prevent heartburn from occurring in the first place.

Ditto spicy or rich foods. It is best not to eat in the 2 or 3 hours before bedtime, as heartburn often occurs after you lie down. Raising the head of your bed a few inches can also help for the same reason.

Following these tips should help you enjoy a good night's sleep free of heartburn.