The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Vinegar-Based Hot Sauce
Posted by Derrick (Nashville, Tn) on 12/06/2010
★★★★★
I have had acid reflux for years. I tried OTC stuff for over a year. But I learned there are many long-term side effects with these pills. I started taking Apple Cider Vinegar with water, which helped. But it was so hard to choke down. I wondered if I could get my vinegar elsewhere.
So.... I tried vinegar-based hot sauces like Texas Pete or generic cayenne hot sauce with vinegar, cayenne and salt as the ingredients. There are many hot sauces that are mild too, such as Crystal hot sauce. I don't go a day without hot sauce. Keep in mind that not all of them help. Some of them contain water and other ingredients. Whenever I get an irritation, I get a couple of crackers and a few drops of hot sauce and wash it down with some water and I feel better. Am I the only one that has tried vinegar-based hot sauce? Because it is a fantastic cure.
Onion
Posted by Wanda (Newcastle, Nsw Australia) on 10/02/2010
★★★★★
Zantac has been my close friend for a long time. Kept clear of most spicy stuff. Two weeks ago I had the desire for some raw onion on my avocado sandwich so, thinly sliced some (a fair bit) over the avo & cheese. I haven't had reflux since! What's that about? I've had onion (Purple) often since, and I seem to be fixed!
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Robert (Martinez, Ca) on 09/27/2010
Acid reflux usually is caused by poor diet which is the typical cooked food depleted of enzymes which also means the life is cooked out of the food. Lightly steamed vegies, carbs is better than boiling, overcooking. Meats should be marinated in vinegar to aid digestion & not overcooked which makes it more difficult to digest. Search out macrobiotic food prep & combining for tips & info. We loose our ability to digest the dead foods & also poor food combining such as mixing sugars, carbs with proteins, much like creating a compost pile. The experience of acid reflux & other digestive problems are the result of rotting foodstuffs. Treating the symptoms is a temporary soluton. Eat 1/4 to 1/2 cup of sauerkraut, kimchee, or other naturally fermented unpasteurized vegies with meals. Also sip 1/2 lemon juice & 1/4 tsp air dried nonprocessed sea salt in 6ozs water before, during, & after meals. Betaine hydrochloride will help after meals.
If you take digestive enzymes, they will be cancelled out if taken with the betaine HCL. Avoid sugars after meals as the simple sugars want to be digested more quickly than proteins causing a backup. The body needs to spend more time digesting more complex foods especially proteins & adding sugars 'stalls' the process. Robert
Milk
Posted by Cpn (Panther Land, Usa) on 03/04/2010
★★★★★
My wife also uses milk to relieve her heartburn. Works everytime for her. So I'll give milk a second YEA for heartburn!
Ginger
Posted by Darijan (Zagreb, Hr, Croatia) on 09/23/2009
★★★★★
I would like to add Yes for GINGER.
I suffered from Acid reflux for nine months, tried almost everything, was on NEXIUM too, I did not have chest pain but throat pain, and ginger tea was the most spectacular discovery! Now I drink several glasses of ginger tea daily and the pain is now much much weaker. Nothing I tried before ever made so much difference.
Therefore, strongly recommend ginger.
I buy a fresh one, peel it off, cut it in small pieces and just spill hot water over it, just like I would do with any other tea.
Anyway, that worked out for me. Pain is not completely gone yet (I drink it for three days only) but life became much more bearable since I started.
Good luck to all of you!
Green Tea
Posted by Rich Shepherd (Miami Beach, Florida) on 08/21/2009
★★★★★
I tried the baking soda with ACV with little or no success.
Then I remembered a little Chinese waitress who told me, if you want to have great sex eat no meat or after dinner drink several cups of green tea it neutralizes stomach acid.
After every meal I have had at least 3 cups of green tea as dark as possible.
I have also programmed my body for acid to be where God intended it to be. Told my acid: "You must stay where you should and no where else"
I sleep nicely and acid is no longer a problem. I keep a bottle with strong green tea on my night table.
Almonds
Posted by Jeremy (Bloomington, IL) on 05/05/2009
★☆☆☆☆
Almonds doesn't work for me. It seems to make the acid reflux worse. ACV is the way to go!!
Ginger
Posted by Roy (Brampton Ontario, Canada) on 04/05/2009
★★★★★
I simply would like to mention ginger tea made from raw shaved ginger root boiled in two cups of water then strained and perhaps with a little honey to enhance the flavor, to be drank as a wonderful cure for acid reflux.
Probiotics, Hlc
Posted by Chris (Jacksonville, Fl) on 03/25/2009
★★★★☆
I'm new to this site, it's awesome... I have been suffering from what the M.D. calls acid reflux and given the prilosec routine, however I was just given info from my acupuncturist that LACK OF ACID in the stomach doesn't allow the stomache valve to dump the acid, therefore whatever acid you have have ingested just comes right up....so the prilosec makes it even worse....her suggestions-massive doses of probiotics along with increasing my acid with HCL with pepsin. So far it's helping. I am going to start the ACV tonight.
Water and Sea Salt
Posted by Karen (Randolph, New Jersey) on 02/23/2009
★★★★★
Acid reflux is sometimes a symptom of dehydration. The body turns on histamines in order to protect the BRAIN from dehydration; according to Dr. Batmanjelidh, "Dr. Batman" "The Water Cure", the histamine closes off water and function from different body parts in order to preserve all the available water for the protection and use of the brain.
In the stomach this can lead to sensations of burning - see www.watercure2.com. the actual explanation of the mechanism is found in the book - I don't remember exactly how it works.
I have avoided salt most of my adult life, thinking it was bad for you; I found it difficult to even swallow water except for when I used to jog when I was young.
After reading "The water cure"I forced myself to drink water with a little salt in it - no more fatigue, no more constipation, tons of energy. When I get a little heart burn I just drink water - 2 to 3 glasses and it's gone.
Yogurt, Apples
Posted by Lisa (Australia ) on 07/04/2016
hi I have bad acid reflux, sitting up straight helps, also every morning I drink a alkilizer, going to try turmeric, also had to cut my alcohol down to 2 drinks a week which helped a lot
Mango
Posted by Sherry (Moreno Valley, California) on 01/13/2009
★★★★★
hi, i have acid reflux for 4 years, and what help me is eating a mango a day or when i feel the acid reflux active. I do not take any medication for acid reflux at this time i use to take nexium, but the mango does just as good without the side effect.
Bran
Posted by Dave (Hyattsville, MD) on 11/30/2008
★★★★★
I found that adding 3 heaping tablespoons of Quaker Unprocessed Bran to yogurt in the morning or at night produces great regularity. The regularity relieved my acid reflux. I also an prescribed and take Prilosec 40mg daily at night. However, If I don't stick with the daily unprocessed bran, the reflux returns as well as anxiety. I try to remember to take an enema once a month just for extra cleansing but believe me if you make a habit of taking the unprocessed bran you will feel it literally scraping your insides as you eliminate and it improves your cholesterol profile while helping with reflux as well.
Peppermint
Posted by Gregory (Royal Oak, MI) on 11/30/2008
★★★☆☆WORKED TEMPORARILY
Peppermint! I have had Acid Reflux now for 6 years and tried medicine, which doesnt work, apple cider vinegar, which made me vomit, and all sorts of remedies. I tried a lifesaver peppermint and it temporarilly helps me stomach settle! Not a cure, and not sure if it will help you, but why not give it a try?
Directions: Simply eat one or two peppermints
Peppermint cured my burning throat pain for the night, however it doesn't end acid reflux either. I carry a bag of peppermints in my room when I get attacks.
Peppermint
Posted by Priya (Perth, Wa) on 03/01/2010
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
Hi, Just want to let you know that peppermint does give temporary relief BUT is a DEFINITE NO NO in the long run for all people who have reflux...it will surely make things worse after few months. It over-relaxes ur muscles and gives a temp. relief...but make things much worse. So do not consume on regular basis...
Reader Theories
Posted by Ali (Portland, OR USA) on 11/01/2008
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Su (Nairobi, Kenya) on 10/31/2008
★★★★★
I had serious acid reflux and went the whole whack endoscopy, colonoscopy, etc also had gastrointestinal bleeding. Hpylori was the culprit so I was put on the antibiotic treatment and nexium for a month after wards. I got a little better then lapsed again into same condition. I discovered apple cider vinegar and was pleasantly suprised to see it worked for others for the acid reflux. I also discovered soda water, simple and effective for the reflux as well as green apples, eaten as needed when acid build up began.............use soda water or green apples.
I'm intolerant to berries, any berries fresh and even in jams, chocolate, coffee, tea etc
Now tryin hydrogen peroxide, 20 drops in half a glass of water on an empty stomach in the morning and before I slepp. It seems to work. No acid reflux. Excersise helps alot too. I run and swim. 5 minutes into running and no more acid reflux.
I'm still experimenting. Deep breathing and relaxing also help..........I feel when I am stressed I crunch my torso and disrupt the normal space of my stomach as well as tense my jaw and neck. I;m not fat, slimmish . I used to be on my feet most of the day, my problems started when my job entailed I spent alot of time sitting behind a desk and driving..............I blame the change in posture and pressure on my stomach when sitting alot. I also tend to forget to eat and only notice when the acid builds up...........am trying now to listen to my do body more and eat drink and excersise before the acid reflux symptoms.........Sometimes I win and have no problems for days , then I forget and slip back into the vicious cycle again. Anyone know if the hydrogen peoxide is dangerous long term?
Papaya
Posted by Rocky Raccoon (Humboldt, AZ) on 09/30/2008
★★★☆☆WORKED TEMPORARILY
Comment is regarding acid reflux. I have horrible daily heartburn at least two times per day. It has become progressively worse since 2000. During that year I was consuming almost 10 TUMS per day if not more. An old Civil Engineer (Russell Taylor) told me that TUMS cause Alheimers Disease because it contains Aluminum. So immediately, I decided to try papaya pills that he hightly reccomended. They work but only last a few minutes to a couple of hours. Reading about ACV has inspired me to give ACV a try. Hopefully it will make a difference. I'll keep you informed of my progress.