Heartburn affects around 60 million Americans regularly. If you are one of them, you know how irritating and painful the condition can be. There are plenty of over the counter medicines available; however there are also a surprisingly large number of free heartburn remedies available.
Many of these natural home remedies for heartburn have been used for generations and have been proven to be effective. Simply avoiding certain foods and drinks can be effective in reducing the chances of getting heartburn – chocolate, citrus fruits, coffee, soda, tomatoes and excessive alcohol can all bring on heartburn.
Baking soda makes an effective and natural antacid. A teaspoon of baking soda can be dissolved in a cup of water and drunk to minimize the effects of both heartburn and acid reflux. Drinking chamomile tea is also said to be effective in reducing heartburn; it also has the added benefit of supposedly reducing stress. Peppermint, anise and licorice are all said to help.
Aloe vera has been used for hundreds of years to help treat heartburn. A quarter cup of it should be taken about 20 minutes before eating; you should also make sure that any aloe vera you drink is specifically intended for consumption. And the intriguingly named slippery elm, widely available in health food stores, is also effective as it coats the throat and minimizes irritation.
Certain fruits and vegetables are effective in helping reduce heartburn. Pineapple, especially when fresh, can make digestion easier and reduce acid reflux; while bananas, especially if dried and powdered, are also a natural remedy. Also effective is papaya, a tropical fruit that can be found in some grocery stores. Some vegetables, when eaten raw, particularly white potatoes and carrots are also effective.
There are literally hundreds of other natural heartburn remedies out there. It’s simply a question of finding the one that works for you.