Cure Acid Reflux Naturally

Prescription medications have unwanted side effects, so many people look for natural cures for acid reflux. Most prescription medications were not designed to be taken for long periods of time. Herbal remedies for acid reflux are based on traditional medicine and traditional medicinal plants. Some of these are common food herbs which pose no danger for long-term use.

Stomach acid can damage the esophagus and lead to more serious conditions including cancer of the esophagus, so if you're seeing a doctor, continue to make sure your condition is not serious. If you're relying on natural cures for acid reflux and you become hoarse in the morning, develop a cough, or feel a need to clear your throat often, these may be symptoms of silent acid reflux. That's the term used to describe acid reflux that affects the voice box and the vocal cords, but doesn't cause heartburn symptoms.

Herbal remedies for acid reflux include chamomile, meadowsweet, slippery elm, fennel, catnip, angelica root, gentian root, ginger root and aloe. Slippery elm was used by native peoples to treat stomach upset, diarrhea, constipation, heartburn and other digestive complaints. Fennel and gingerroot were also common herbs used for the relief of indigestion. Modern herbalists have found that a combination of several of the herbs that had been used for indigestion could be effective for acid reflux. Natural “cures” for acid reflux is best accomplished by changes in lifestyle and eating habits.

Smoking must be stopped for real benefits. If you use herbal remedies for acid reflux and you don't stop using tobacco products, you may still have acid reflux and you're still at risk of developing esophageal cancer. The major risk factors include acid reflux, smoking and alcoholism.

Reduce or eliminate alcohol consumption. Alcohol increases stomach acid. Prescription and natural remedies for acid reflux are geared towards reducing or preventing excess stomach acid. It doesn't make sense to continue to drink alcohol when you've been diagnosed with acid reflux.

If you normally eat a large meal late in the evening, less than three hours before bedtime, then you're more likely to suffer from nighttime heartburn or other acid reflux symptoms like coughing. This is because acid is traveling up out of the stomach and into the throat. Raising the head of the bed will help acid reflux symptoms that occur at night. Gravity helps keep the acid in the stomach, but eating your last meal earlier and making it a smaller meal may prevent nighttime acid reflux altogether.

Weight loss should be mentioned as one of the natural cures for acid reflux. Overweight and obese people are much more likely to suffer from acid reflux, including nighttime acid reflux. Using herbal remedies for acid reflux control and making no effort to lose the extra pounds will be disappointing. Using prescription and/or natural remedies for acid reflux while you're trying to lose weight makes sense. Avoiding fried and fatty foods. If you avoid these and eat several small meals during the day then you may naturally lose weight and naturally cure acid reflux. Eating several small meals every couple of hours is much better for you and is often recommended by diet doctors, because it increases your metabolism and keeps blood sugar levels stable, so you don’t feel sleepy after a meal.