Introduction

Heartburn is a condition that causes discomfort in the chest and is often accompanied by a burning sensation in the throat. It is caused by stomach acid escaping into the esophagus due to an issue with the sphincter muscle that prevents it from doing so. Heartburn is a common phenomenon, with studies showing that it affects around 15-20% of adults at least once a week.

Although medication is usually the most straightforward solution, there are ways to relieve heartburn that don’t involve drugs. In this article, we’ll explore various natural ways to get rid of heartburn quickly.

Lifestyle Changes

One of the primary causes of heartburn is diet and lifestyle habits. Making some modifications to your habits can help prevent heartburn and manage its symptoms.

First, try to avoid large meals and eat smaller, more frequent meals instead. Eating large meals puts pressure on your stomach, causing it to produce more acid, which can trigger heartburn. Secondly, avoid eating right before bed as lying down can cause stomach acid to move up into the esophagus. Lastly, try wearing loose-fitting clothing, especially around the waist, to reduce pressure on your stomach.

Natural Remedies

Another effective way to relieve heartburn is by using natural remedies. Many of these remedies help neutralize stomach acid and provide quick relief from heartburn.

Chewing gum stimulates the salivary glands to increase saliva production that can neutralize acid. Drinking aloe vera juice is considered a natural remedy for heartburn and helps soothe stomach inflammation. Consuming apple cider vinegar is also known to relieve heartburn as it has alkalizing effects on the body.

Breathing Exercises

Stress and anxiety can trigger heartburn. Practicing deep breathing exercises like pranayama or mindfulness meditation can calm your mind and body. These practices help break the cycle of stress and anxiety that can lead to heartburn.

Increase Saliva Production

Saliva is a natural antacid that can help neutralize stomach acid. You can increase saliva production by chewing sugar-free gum. Chewing gum stimulates the salivary glands, and this increased saliva production helps to dilute and clear the acid in the esophagus. Certain foods like celery or apples can also help increase saliva production.

Herbal Teas

Herbal teas have anti-inflammatory properties that can help relieve heartburn. Drinking chamomile tea, peppermint tea, or ginger tea can soothe the stomach lining and reduce the symptoms of heartburn. Chamomile tea is known to help reduce inflammation, mints like peppermint and spearmint can help calm the muscles of the digestive tract, and ginger can help with nausea and digestion issues. All these factors combine to make herbal teas one of the most effective natural remedies for heartburn.

Sleeping Posture

Your sleeping posture can also affect heartburn symptoms. Lying flat can cause acid to move up into the esophagus, leading to heartburn. Sleeping on a slightly inclined surface helps prevent that from happening. You can elevate your head while sleeping by using an adjustable bed or propping a wedge pillow under your upper body.

Conclusion

Heartburn can be an uncomfortable and painful experience, but as we have seen, there are several natural ways to relieve heartburn. Lifestyle changes such as avoiding large meals and wearing loose-fitting clothing, natural remedies, breathing exercises, increasing saliva production, herbal teas, and paying attention to your sleeping posture can all help with the treatment of heartburn. It’s important to experiment with each of the techniques and find what works best for you. Try natural remedies before medication and consult with your doctor if your heartburn persists.