Best Acid Reflux Remedies

Acid reflux is a problem that gets mentioned a lot, but many people don't know exactly what it is. Some people might eat a greasy meal that doesn't sit well, and refer to it as acid reflux. 

But acid reflux actually is a shorter name for an uncomfortable condition known as Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD.) With GERD, some of the contents of the stomach, including acid, gets pushed back up into the esophagus, possibly causing discomfort, pain, a burning sensation -- commonly called heartburn -- and nausea. 

Acid reflux typically occurs after meals -- especially when a large meal, greasy food or trigger foods such as citrus were eaten. Acid reflux also can occur quite often at night, causing discomfort and interrupting sleep.

For more information on the causes, symptom, treatments and possible complications of GERD, MedicineNet.com has a comprehensive guide.

People who truly have GERD or suspect they have GERD should seek diagnosis and treatment from a doctor.

A doctor can best evaluate the severity of a case of GERD and recommend appropriate treatment where necessary -- whether that is a prescription medication, an over-the-counter medication, a change in diet or something else.

Because complications can be associated with GERD, it's important to take it seriously if it's an ongoing problem. Complications of GERD can include inflammation of the esophagus, ulcers and other medical problems.

Though it is important to see a doctor for evaluation to treat the problem and avoid making your condition worse, many of the things a doctor might suggest actually are home remedies.

Common natural remedies for acid reflux include:

A change in diet. It is sometimes recommended that someone with acid reflux eat small, light meals to avoid overtaxing the digestive system -- and avoid eating right before bedtime, when acid reflux can get worse. It also is sometimes recommended that acid reflux sufferers avoid certain foods that have the potential to irritate the condition.

Some of these foods-to-be-avoided include: high-acid foods such as oranges, lemons, vinegar and pickles; alcoholic beverages such as wine and hard liquor; caffeinated beverages such as coffee and tea; raw onions, some deep fried meats such as chicken nuggets; and fatty sweets such as donuts.

Instead of greasy, sweet and unhealthy foods, it is recommended that people with acid reflux eat healthy foods not known to aggravate the condition. These might include: low-acid fruits such as apples and bananas; vegetables such as broccoli and peas; starches such as baked potatoes; lean meats such as skinless chicken breast or very lean ground beef. If sweets are consumed, they probably shouldn't be fatty sweets.

Making a diet change probably is the most important thing someone with acid reflux can do. But there are a few other very simple remedies for acid reflux, too. These are things that can be done at home and don't require any prescription drugs:

Chew gum after a meal. According to MedicineNet.com, the effectiveness of chewing gum after meals in helping to alleviate the symptoms of GERD has not been thoroughly studied. In some cases, though it has been reported to help ease symptoms. MedicineNet.com explains that chewing gum increases saliva production and rate of swallowing, which might help calm acid reflux.

Elevate yourself during sleep. In order to help prevent nighttime acid reflux, you can elevate the top half of your body using pillows, a wedge, or an adjustable bed. This is helpful because it's the lack of gravity when you are lying down that can cause GERD to get worse.

Try over-the-counter antacids. For mild cases of acid reflux, you can use non-prescription antacids, such as Mylanta, Tums and Rolaids. WEbMD has an article on using antacids to treat acid reflux, and recommends that you not use them for more than two weeks unless given the okay by your doctor.

For the most part, the above treatments, though they are home remedies, have the stamp of approval of the medical establishment. (That doesn't necessarily mean your doctor will say it's okay for you, though, so check with your doctor.)

However, there are a number of natural remedies for acid reflux, and some tend to go against the conventional medical wisdom or not be mainstream. For that reason, if you are interested in natural remedies, it is important to consult with a good holistic doctor about any remedy you intend to try.

That said, here are some of the folk remedies that sometimes get recommended by regular people with acid reflux (again, check with a doctor):

Cider vinegar. Believe it or not -- since vinegar was listed above on foods to avoid if you have acid reflux -- unpasteurized organic apple cider vinegar is listed as the top folk remedy on EarthClinic.com based on reader feedback.

Chamomile tea. Slowly drink a warm cup of chamomile tea (or fennel tea -- but chamomile is much more common and easy to find) and it might soothe your stomach and ease symptoms.

If you are unable to get your acid reflux under control with any natural acid reflux remedy, then you might have to resort to more heavy-hitting prescription drugs. But since all drugs have side effects, it might be good to try the home remedies first for mild cases.

Photo credit -- austrini, Flickr