Apple Cider Vinegar and Baking Soda Tonic for Acid Reflux

Dear Mr. Ted,

i am now trying the ACV for my acid reflux. 1 tblspoon 8oz water, 3 times a day. Already been on it for 3 days now. doesn't seem to give me much difference.

However, I am really intrigued with the ted's apple cider and baking soda recipe, and as far as my logic goes, i feel that it makes sense. however, i read from some other websites, that the prolong used of baking soda will kill good bacteria in your digestive tract, in addition, i quote this from another website

"if you take too much baking soda, or any antacid medication, then the stomach acid itself can be neutralized. The result is that the stomach cells produces more acid to compensate. You then end up taking more baking soda or antacid to neutralize the excess acid. Eventually you can exhaust the stomach cells and the level of stomach acid can decline. Great for your heartburn perhaps, but not so good for your digestion. The level of stomach acid can fall so much that it impairs digestion and food cannot be broken down properly. The result of this can be allergies and inflammation in other areas of the body.

Is this side effect true? Will there be any significant difference if I use the baking soda recipe? because the apple cider vinegar only does not seem to give me much relief, at least yet.

also, i'm south east asian (from indonesia), if that is of importance.

please reply mr.Ted, i am really desperate. if i healed, i'll donate for sure.

thank you.

fajar perdana.

i am now trying the ACV for my acid reflux. 1 tsp 8ox water, 3 times a day. I am really intrigued with the ted's baking soda recipe, and as far as my logic goes, i feel that it makes sense. however, i read from some other websites, that the prolong used of baking soda will kill good bacteria in your digestive tract, in addition,

i quote this from another website "if you take too much baking soda, or any antacid medication, then the stomach acid itself can be neutralized. The result is that the stomach cells produces more acid to compensate. You then end up taking more baking soda or antacid to neutralize the excess acid. Eventually you can exhaust the stomach cells and the level of stomach acid can decline. Great for your heartburn perhaps, but not so good for your digestion. The level of stomach acid can fall so much that it impairs digestion and food cannot be broken down properly. The result of this can be allergies and inflammation in other areas of the body."

please reply mr.Ted, i am really desperate.

thank you.

My opinion is that the phlegm is a result of the acid reflux, not dairy intake. The acids come up the esophogus and spill onto the vocal folds, which react violently and produce phlegm. I do not know of any singers who avoid milk, but almost ALL of my singing colleagues are being treated for acid reflux because of the damage this condition has on their vocal folds and the phlegm that accompanies the situation.

I believe that potassium is the "sister" of sodium. Does anyone know if there is such a compound as potassium bicarbonate, or something similar that would work with potassium instead of sodium. That replacement might help the persons concerned about sodium and high blood pressure. It might also help with fluid retention?
thanks

I have been having problems with what I think is GERD too. It has mostly gone away by always going to bed with an empty stomach. So if you eat at night, try to not eat before 5pm or so. Make sure your tummy is completely empty.

I still had a terrible flare up for about a week after drinking a half gallon of poor quality orange juice (another brand doesn't hurt me, it seems). But that only lasted a week, and I am getting better again.

Empty stomach at bedtime is crucial.

I had suffered acid reflux for around 6 months and after having xrays and an endoscopy the doctor found no obvious cause and said to keep on with Somac, which wasn't really helping at all. In desperation several weeks ago I was on the net looking for an answer and came across your site. I went out and bought apple cider vinegar and began taking it with bicarb soda. I slept better than I had in months and my symptoms started to improve. I took 2 tablespoons in 1/2 a glass of water with 1/4 tsp of bicarb soda before breakfast and dinner. The acid reflux caused a very sore throat, burnt the roof of my mouth, sinuses were painful, nausea, a lump in my stomach etc, etc. All in all I was miserable. I stopped taking ACV and only take when I feel the symptoms (very mild) start to surface. Thank you for sharing many helpful remedies and improving peoples lives. If only doctors were more open to alternative remedies.

Interested in trying Ted's formula ACV/Bs for acid reflux. I am in excruciation pain with Gerd but, need to know if I should start taking the formula at night or start in AM or does it matter? I remember my parents using this way back when but never knew how much or when they actually took it. Seemed they took it at night. Please help. thanks!

I have read on here that bicarbonate of soda does not increase bp, but i have also read on many other sites that it does............??? I have been taking it for GERD along with ACV - but i have hi bp so am a bit concerned............would welcome any comments please........

I discvoered this remedy not from your site, but from a fellow hives person. The ACV and baking soda seem to help with the indigestion that I incured from taking steroids for the hives. However, I am A+ blood type so according to Dr. D'Adamo (author, eating for your blood type) says that A's are suppose to stay away from apple cider vinegar and foods that produce acid. My PH is 7.0 consistently in the mornings or evenings. Am I harming my system by drinking the ACV? I'm not a doctor or a chemist. How in the world is a person to know the right thing for their body? I am using 2 Tbs of AVC and 1/4 tsp of baking soda 2X's a day.

Jean, do you even know what Baking Soda is? Let me tell you: It's SODIUM Bicarbonate. Therefore, you are basically asking for Sodium-Free Sodium Bicarbonate. I don't mean to be rude, but do the math.......

I tried this and yes it helped.

I had been drinking two tablespoons of ACV straight to control my acid reflux and it did remarkably well until I drank water or ate something and then it would come back. I started putting the two tablespoons of ACV into 8 oz. of water and adding 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda and drinking it three times a day on an empty stomach, and got AMAZING results. No matter what I ate, nor how much water I drank afterward, my reflux did not come back. When I lay down at night, I now have no discomfort from acid reflux. However, the question that I have is this. My Naturopath tells me that I am not digesting my foods properly, and I need more Hdyrocloric Acid in my stomach to do so. I don't understand how I can have acid reflux and not have enough acid to digest my food. So, I am taking HCL to enchance digestion. My question is this. Will taking ACV in water and adding baking soda inhibit my digestion process as it heals my acid reflux?

I have found through intensive studies that acid is neutralized by acid.In short, for the times you feel a need for a antacid, try this,take a samll bite of a pepperchini or other hot pepper. It should stop the "burn" feeling and it is healthy and has worked for many many people.

I originally found this site looking for a cure for acid reflux, heartburn, gas problems. Tried ACV, it only made it worse. The best was Ted's Lemon and Baking Soda with water formula and the Living Green Drink. Since taking this regularly, my stomach problems have settled completely. The key is definitely alkalising. Google acid/alkaline food charts and read up on it, it makes sense. For the Green Drink just whizz a handful of mixed salad leaves with water in a blender and drink. It doesn't taste bad, like a liquid salad. Make up a litre in the morning and sip throughout the day. It is not going to do any harm to try him on it. Good Luck, and many many thanks to the lady who submitted The Living Green Drink recipe. White bread and white sugar give me reflux and heartburn.

I sympathise with your dilema, it's hard having a parent that doesn't feel well and even harder when they cannot communicate certain things. I had severe acid reflux due to the sleeping pill I was taking. Apple cider did help during the time I took it. Stopping the pills made it go away. Oddly enough I also get acid from Omega three so stopping that also helped. Perhaps look over your dads medication and or diet to see what could be triggering it. If alkalzing is what helps with the acid reflux you could many try using barley powder or get alkalizing minerals that might be more gentle on the stomache.

Good luck

IT is intersting that acid reflux tends to also cause laboured breathing etc and anxiety.. I know many who get both together. I wanted to make a suggestion that perhaps the phlem you are getting is caused by dairy. Milk tends to cause alot of flem and that is one reason why singers don't drink it. Perhaps you have a food allergy which is causing the acid and in turn causing the asthma like symptoms. Just a thought

Good luck

I have found that the most troublesome foods for my acid reflux are flour, sugar, milk and the worst of all squash and pumpkin. I believe everyone has different triggers. Always eat fruit on an empty stomach. I have ended up in the hospital eating peaches as a dessert after a meal. A holistic DR. told me years ago that baking soda would help and that I should eat more vegetables. It seems strange that it is wheat that causes too much acid and not fruits and vegetables.

I have suffered with reflux for more than 10 years. At times it has been so bad, I have had to go to the emergency room at Kaiser. I also have phlegm which seems to increasee and decrease at different times. For years, hours after eating, small pieces of food will will come back out throughout the day. I carry tissues in case this happens and so I can spit it out. Taking long walks doesn't help and I recently started an all liquid diet hoping that would once and for all eliminate the problem but it didn't. After 3 days of drinking only carrot juice, I again experienced the tightening in the throat, labored breathing, and extreme anxiety. When anxious, I sometimes end up walking up and down the street at 2 or 3 in the morning hoping I will become so exhaused I will just pass out.

Last night I tried your receipe- 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda, 2 tablespoon of APC, and 1 teaspoon of honey. Though the phlegm persisted, the tightness in my throat alleviated enough to allow me to feel comfortable.

I am going to continue taking this solution, hoping that in time I will find full relief. I have prayed and prayed and hoped, having lost confidence in physicians who so easily prescribe things that are completely ineffective. I have taken Nexium, Prevacid, sprayed Flonaise in my nose, Bactrim, Ampacillin... all without have experienced the slightest improvement. Thank you for placing the receipe on the internet where many of us have been able to find and use it.

to D from Fort Wayne IN (4/29/09)- Please re-read TED'S RECIPE again at the top of this page.

He said to:
USE A TALL MUG- add 2 tablespoons (TB) of organic apple cider vinegar (ACV) (the best one is the one with the "mother" which is made up of chains of protein enzymes- very healing)
ADD-1/4 teaspoon (tsp) of baking soda (bicarbonate of soda)
stir until it stops bubbling
ADD- water to taste- 4 ounces (oz) to 8 ounces (oz)
(optional) add- 1 teaspoon (tsp) of organic honey OR agave syrup (which does not raise blood sugar)
Drink on an empty stomach 2 to 3 times a day, only 5 days per week. stop for 2 days.
Repeat weekly.

I just found out about this home remedy online and went out and bought organic apple cider vinegar and organic honey. I used 2 teaspoon or acv and 2 teaspoon of honey in 8 oz of water. I drank it 3 times today and i feel miserable ( like a fire breathing dragon). How long does it take to work and am I suppose to feel this way?

I have had a Hiatel Hernia and GERD since 1997. I am now 48. I have been on Prevacid, Nexium, Prilosec, Generic Omeprazole, Zantac, Tums, Rolaids, Maalox, Pepto Bismol, anything...With diminishing effectiveness of the drugs/antacids as time went on. With the prospect of a miserable surgery(which doesn't work half the time) imminent, I was drawn to the internet and this site for another solution. Wow! Started with 2 tsp ACV and 1/4 tsp Baking Soda in 8 0z. of water 4 times per day. Heartburn disappeared immediately! Stopped the Meds the next day. Been off now for 4 days-first time in 12 yrs. Heartburn has come back ociasionally during the day, mainly after meals. I eat Apple slices and drink more ACV/Baking soda. Still trying to "dial in" the dosage and timing- I think I need 2 TBS instead of 2 TSP as I am a Male, 6'-3", 220 lbs.

I have been praying for God to heal me and here it is.Now I'm wondering what happens from here...it would be interesting to see more posts from people that have been doing this for 5-10-15 years and how they are maintaining this regimen. Thank God and to all of you for the truth, which is in short supply these days.

Two omeprazoles daily helped my acid reflux somewhat (one did nothing), but marked improvement occurred when I added a probiotic (5b-8strains) to my diet and 1 tablespoon of liquid antacid at bedtime. I am optimistic about ACV--just beginning the recommended regiment. My acid reflux began after being on current popular drug for osteoporosis. I recommend anybody on these meds do some research as I've experienced other serious side-effects which numerous medical professionals didn't connect to this drug.

I have been suffering from severe acid reflux lately, i have been on the rx omeprazole for quite sometime at the suggestion of my doctor, when I went to him with my latest problem, he increased the dosage to two per day! problems worsened, that is when I found your site, I work from 11pm to 7am, so I sleep during the day,(since my recent digestive problems not very well I'm afraid) I also tend to over eat and drink diet soda, my pain has been severe lately, so I have adapted my diet and cut out the soda completely, and am now drinking water, acidophilus milk, and weak decaf tea, the thing that seems to be helping the most is getting off the omeprazole, I have gone to chewable pepcid, this helped initally, along with acidophilus gel caps, however, I still have the burning iritated throat, and feel bad all over, so today I began mixing ACV, baking soda and honey, ANY SUGGESTIONS WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED, I feel awful and have no energy!!!!!!!!!

I am drinking ACV for my reflux and it has worked. However, I started following an alkaline diet on Saturday. I tested my urine to check my PH level. It was a 5.2 and Satrday night it was 5.5. On Sunday (this morning) I checked and it was still 5.5. I continued on the alkaline diet all day today and just checked my ph level and it is 6.0 (I also drank one glass of acv). Therefore, I am drinking acv, smart water, and following the alkaline diet. I hope to be at 7.0-7.5 in a few days, if not sooner. You cannot eat meat and other acid type foods when attempting to alkaline your body. Look up the acid-alkaline food charts.

I mix 1 teaspoon of tumeric,1 teaspoon fresh ground ginger,1/4 teaspoon of black pepper in 1/4 cup of water. This has helped me with reducing Acid Reflux and also with arthritic pains. It is also very relaxing. You may try the organic product, I just used the store self product.

I used organic acv..in a glass of water 2 tablespoon of acv with sod bicarbonate 1/3 of a teaspon. I used it for 3 weeks and had no results. I have weak les and main problem seems to be there.. acid content goes into esophagus. Am not sure if my body is making too much acid or too little.. but i would say makes too much.. cause when i use soda bicarbonate 1h after a meal i make a big burp.. i avoid fatty food and junk food, but it doesnt help much..only keeps it calmer. My biggest problem is that its making me breathing problems.. .i feel so tired and short of air. Can anyone give me some advice of what could work for me.
thank u

Am on teds remedies for 2 weeks now, in begining i kind of feel a relief, but now my stomach is very sensitible to foods that i eat, so aftervards it agravated. I also use papaya enzyme and probiotics, and used acv alone for 2 days wich i stopped cause i had even more acid wich i was feeling in my thorat.What am not sure about is, if this recepie is for ppl that have excesive acid or not enough acid? Right now am eating only rice with tuna or with chiken wich my stomach digests easy unlike other foods. I have gerd for 8 years and its making my life miserable.. cause of breathing problem that its giving me. .making very tired and unable to play sports wich i love so much.. So can should i continue on teds recepie for a few more week or so.. cause i dont notice anything new, its as it was before.

1 to 2 TBLS of Apple Cider Vinegar per cup of water depending on how much you can handle. You can add raw natural honey for taste. Honey adds minerals that are needed for healing. If you are taking ACV for acid reflux, nausea or gas then it is best to have it with just water. My entire family has done these remedies from chilhood on to cure the flu, common cold, broncitis, constipation and sinus problems.

I would like some help here, if possible. My elderly dad who cannot speak has been on Prilosec for a couple years now. there are lots of ugly side effects. I am going to try the ACV and baking soda because it seems to work for so many people BUT! Since he cannot tell me (until it is too late and he is in pain and throwing up) give me a clue as to what I can do here:

1. give the ACV / baking soda daily (sips all day)
2. after what duration of time can I stop the Prilosec to see if it is working or he is healed of this condition?
3. OR....do I just stop the Prilosec cold turkey and keep letting him sip the ACV / baking soda mixture all day and that should solve this problem?

We HAVE to get off the Prilosec (and meds like this that suppress the stomach acid) as the side effect for my dad has been continual bacterial pneumonia (almost every month now). !!!

So, please anyone have an idea how to proceed since he is unable to talk/tell me how he is feeling until it is too late. Help??

Once my Chiropractor told me that acid reflux or acid indigestion was a result of "not enough" acid rather than too much, I use this remedy that ALWAYS works: I go and eat a few pickles and have a sip of the pickle juice from the jar. It has produced near immediate (to half hour) results. If it doesn't then I have a few more and another sip. You might recall that your grandmother might have had a little dish of pickles on the table with every meal. Apparently there's a reason for it. Hope this helps.

ACID REFLUX: I have tried ACV+Baking soda for a week. I don't feel any better, I feel very sick. After the first dose (1/4 ts soda+ 2 tbs ACV in a cup of water), next morning I woke up very tired. I disregard my feelings; I thought that my body is getting rid of everything bad, I am cleaning so I continue with the same dose twice daily. I am getting worst- severe fatigue, headache, muscle pain, fever (up to 38), cough, very congested, sore throat. I believe that all diseases even cancer and AIDS can be treated with natural sources, and I believe that alkalizing the body is the key factor. But what is wrong with me now, shall I continue, is all this normal reactions?

I've read Ted's remedy for silent reflux. My ailment was gone after taking 2 tbsp of ACV and 1/2 tbsp of baking soda 3x a day with a dose of 500mg of magnesium once a day for 4 days. I already stopped taking over the counter drug(omeprazole) and will continue on until my reflux is totally gone. I'm very grateful to this website and i will truly recommend it to my family and friends for them to read and try natural remedies as such.

Frank, My daughter has suffered from heart burn for 3 years, since she was 13 yrs. old. The only thing that helps is healthy, whole food diet, PLUS large amounts of acidophilus, like 30 billion per day (we get ours from Puritan's Pride). Anything that is good for the total health helps, like regular meals, exercise, water in between meals, adequate sleep, chewing your food well, etc. She has also been taking milk thistle 1000mg per day, and one kelp tablet per day.

Frank, my husband had very similar symptoms. He had been fighting the night time chest pains for several years. It would wake him up anywhere from 1 to 5 hours after going to bed. He was tested for Gall Bladder which proved NEG. We began to think it could be Prinzmetals Variant Angina for which his symptoms mimicked very closely. Diagnosis for years was GERD. He found that if he kept a glass of cool water near his bed and when he had an attack he would drink the water and within 2-5 minutes his pains would completely subside. [Then he would go back to sleep and I'd be wide awake] He had many events which took him to the ER with thoughts of a MI [heart attack]. Tests for MI always proved NEG. On Memorial Day this year he had another incident that took him back to ER. This time he requested [after the hosp suggested an angiogram] a 64 slice CT scan [which is more accurate and non invasive]. The CT scan showed no heart ailment but DID show a "small sliding hiatal hernia". Looking up the symptoms of the sliding hiatal hernia, it verified his symptoms very accurately.

TO FRANK FROM ONTARIO: MAYBE YOU SHOULD GO HAVE A (GI- TRACK) SCOPE DONE. I DID AND FOUND I HAVE ULCER AND ULCER GROWING BAC IN MY TUMMY ALSO GERD MORE OR LESS VERY PAINFULL. DOC HAD ME CUT ALL GREASY AND BLEACHED FLOUR FROM MY DIET. AMY

You can take Apple Cider Vinegar capsules...I am not sure if they have the same strength as natural organic ACV but it will not hurt your teeth... Try this website. http://www.vitacost.com/NSI-Apple-Cider-Vinegar

I have read Tana's comment about Nattokinase.

05/13/2008: Tana from Berrien Springs, Michigan replies: "Apple Cider Vinegar/Baking Soda: I am commenting on Mary Buchanan's post regarding having two stints and having to take Plavix. I would like to tell everyone that there is a wonderful natural product which will eliminate the need for taking chemical blood thinners such as Coumadin, Plavix and even aspirin.

It is called Nattokinase which is a derivative of fermented soybeans. It will break up bloodclots within in hours with no bad side effects. It probably would be well to do this under an integrative physician's care, just to eliminate the rare case of loosening a clot into the bloodstream. I have not heard of this actually happening, but the possibility is there, nevertheless. Aside from that very rare occurrence, the use of Nattokinase should be recommended to anyone who has had heart surgery of any kind...."

I am currently on Warfarin 12mg because of a Portal vein clot received after an splenectomy. I do not want to be on this drug since it is the main ingredient in rat poison!!! Besides that I do not want to take any chemical drugs.

I am aware of Nattokinase and actually have been using it on and off for years just 1 pill every other day or so but now that I have developed this clot and are on Warfarin I have been doing research but nobody is mentioning the dosage to use and how often and will your INR still show if you are in the theraputic measurements etc.

Also my spleen was removed because it was enlarged because of Polycythemia Vera as a underlying source. I was diagnosed 16 years ago with the PV and was doing fine with just an occational phlebotamy but after the spenectomy my platelets are going haywire and have been up to 2.5 mil. The operation was in May of 2008 and I have been in the hospital 8 times since then because of no medication, wrong medication .....you name it - I even had cardiac arrest in July because my pottasium level was in the 8's and all because of dr's not knowing what to do.

Does anyboy have a clue what I could do naturally to help my condition with the PV (bone marrow is going crazy making platelets, so the energy needs to slow down there :).)

I came accross this website by reading up on ACV and BS in regards to a bladder infection I have at the moment and it helped within 24 hours....yippy .

Because of this I might just try to use the ACV and/or BS for my problem- it might help????

Also they have me on Hydroxyurea pills 2000 mg a day in order to control the platelets but also they have not found the right dosage yet - we are still trying to figure that out and needles to say that is a horrible drug to be on with the side effects etc. SOOOO please if somebody has some ideas you can email me directly at ingridmjr1(at)yahoo.com. I would appreciate all the help I can get!
I am a very active and normally before this considerate myself in great condition - I am 47 years old! Thanks a bunch in advance.

For acid refux and indigestion, a low carb took care of it. Give it a few days and it should clear right up.

Hi, Frank. I had the same feelings since my first pregnancy (25) years ago. I had stopped drinking milk when I was a teenager but was still eating all other dairy (butter, cream cheese, cheese, sour cream, parmesan cheese) My Mom was allergic to dairy products so she suggested that I go off all dairy (very strictly) for a month and then slowly add in one item at a time. I did and found that it was all the dairy that was causing my heart burn. Each dairy product caused something different (heartburn, diarrhea, itching) I still have problems once in a while when I ate something that I did not know was in the food. I read everything very carefully at the store and I question the waitress or waiter when I go out. I am also on Aciphex (prescription) which was the only one that helped me. I found a huge relief taking Aciphex. I will say that it helps me tremendously, along with watching food with dairy in it. I also have Barrett's esophagus, acid reflux and hiatal hernia. I get the same stabbing pains that you do, on occasion. They will be checking it again, along with my gallbladder to see if that is causing any of it. Hope this helps you.

The fellow who wanted info on meal planning with acid reflux. Go to Nexium.com and they have wonderful meals eliminating the triggers for acid reflux. I just found this site after taking prylosec, nexium, prevacid, and now over counter Pepsid AC which is not helping. Had an endoscopy which showed irritation. I will try the apple cider and baking soda tomorrow morning. This site also lists the trigger foods. I too was wondering what a bland diet was.

Frank, you might want to take a look at your diet and talk to your doctor. Recently, I had similar symptoms (acidic stomach, intense pain and lbm) and I was taking Nexium for 5 or 6 months, only to have to double my dosage. It seems to be that my problems were caused by low levels of b12. I had my levels checked and they were very low, once I started taking B vitamin supplements, my symptoms went away and haven't reappeared. At the time I experienced the problem I was maintaining a mostly vegetarian diet and wasn't taking any supplementary vitamins. I was also on oral contraceptives, which I've heard can leech your b vitamins over longer periods of time (but that's probably not an issue for you). Luckily, I don't have pernicious anemia and taking multi-vitamins has helped. Anyway, maybe this won't help you, but it probably wouldn't hurt to get it checked out..