Natural Relief for Acid Reflux and Indigestion
Take Care of Your Indigestion Without Popping Antacids
Oct 1, 2008
It's about an hour before bedtime and your lying down, unwinding with David Letterman and a little anchovy pizza and beer, oh, and a few microwaved frozen cheese peppers followed big a big old piece of chocolate cake and a tall glass of cold milk. Ready for a good snooze? Not likely with the case of indigestion you just asked for and got.
What Causes Acid Reflux and Indigestion?
Acid reflex and indigestion are the result of acids found in your stomach backing up into your esophagus. These juices include hydrochloric acid, the corrosive substance used in industry to clean metal. What do you do?
What brought on the intense pain that Tums won't touch? Overdoing it and filling the belly too full is often the answer. Lying flat while eating is another. If trying to digest upright, gravity would have worked to help and the acids may have stayed down in the stomach where they belong. Finally this person washed the whole mess down with milk, which, contrary to popular opinion, is no friend of those with indigestion.
The fats, proteins, and calcium in milk stimulate the stomach to secrete acid despite the fact that the milk may feel good going down. Also, the person indulged in the worst dessert there is for the heartburn sufferer: chocolate. It has the double whammy of being nearly all fat and containing another nemesis of the indigestion-plagued: caffeine. Finally, the man made the atal mistake of eating too near bedtime. Never eat within 2 1/2 hours of bedtime for a pain-free night's sleep.
The Problem With Antacids
What's wrong with popping antacids like M & M's? They are safe and effective, and Americans pay billions of dollars a year for these medications. The highest marks go to the ones that are a mixture of magnesium hydroxide and aluminum hydroxide. (One constipates and one acts as a laxative. Together they counter the other's nasty side effects.) But it is not a good idea to stay on antacids for more than a month. or two, if you are stretching it. They are so effective they could be masking a more serious problem like an ulcer. By the way, experts agree that liquid antacids are more effective than tablets.
Herbal Remedies for Indigestion
Some of the indigestion remedies available at the local health food store are made from combinations or solely from the following herbs and supplements:
- Ginger root is considered by experts to be the most helpful. Although they are not exactly sure how it works, it does seem to absorb the acid with the secondary effect of calming the nerves. Take it in capsule form after a meal. Start with two capsules, and increase dosage as needed. When you start to taste ginger in your mouth that's enough for now.
- Bitters is a class of herbs used for many years in parts of Europe. Examples are gentian root, wormwood, and goldenseal. Bitters can be taken as a capsule or liquid extract just before you eat.
- Aromatics - Aromatic herbs such as catnip and fennel are also said to be good for heartburn, but the research on these is sporadic.
- Apple cider vinegar - Not in the herb family, but frequently cited as a remedy for heartburn. Use 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in 1/3 glass of water sipped during a meal.
- Pure raw honey is a marvelous digestive aid. Raw honey contains enzymes such as invertase, diastase, catalase and inulase, which are aids to digestion and assimilation.
Don't forget the simple relief methods like switching from a belt to suspenders. When lifting, always bend at the knees because bending from the stomach forces acid upwards. Check with the doctor or pharmacist about any regular prescription drugs that could be causing the problem. It's not always about spice. The culprits to look out for are greasy, fried and fatty foods and dairy products. Learn what to avoid and then avoid it.
In Conclusion
Forewarned is forearmed, so learn more about how to keep the stomach healthy, stop popping antacids, and let natural methods soothe the pain.
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