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.
Reader Theories
Posted by Joyce (Nashville, TN) on 09/27/2007
Acid reflux/PUD (peptic ulcer disease)
As far back as I can remember, my entire family played the eat and race to the baking soda to counteract the acid problem. I finally stumbled upon the cause of my constant heartburn, indigestion, and nausea, and flatulence (gas) in my thirty's. Elimination of all bleached flour from my diet worked wonders for my stomach problems. My PUD has only hit me once since I discovered this. I devoured a bunch of raw broccoli with dip over 2 days. I finally had to realize that the dip probably contained bleached flour. which caused the problem, since I have eaten raw broccoli since then with no problem. I now have what some call a cast iron stomach. I can eat hot salsa, black coffee, have my occaasional liquor on the rocks with no problem.
About 15 years later, I was researching PUD for a term paper. I learned that PUD became a problem in the uppersocioeconomic group about 11 years after someone came up with bleaching flour. It was so expensive only the wealthy could afford it. Some years later it became cheap enough that the middle socioeconomic group could afford it. Yep, PUD moved into this group about the same num of years later. Then somebody in (Minnesoto, I think) came with a process of bleaching it that made it so everyone could afford it. You guessed it-after approximately the same number of years later, PUD moved into this group also. My AHA! conclusion -SOMETHING IN BLEACHING PROCESS CAUSES UPSET STOMACH WHICH PROGRESSES TO PUD.
Now I still have a question. Can anyone explain why drinking,eating acid foods (tomatos, citrus juices, etc) from metal cans causes upset stomach or why eating bananas be they ripen enough to get brown speckles on peeling does the same.
Whatever, my advice to everyone is to eat your food as close to the way God grows it, if you want to be healthier.
Reader Theories
Posted by Danielle (Hiram, GA) on 09/27/2007
I love this website and natural remedies are my first line of defense when it comes to ailments, but i had to go the pharmacuetical path when it came to my Acid reflux. I was diagnosed with a peptic ulcer when i was 12yrs old, and from that point i was on prescription acid reducers. My stomach pain would be so bad that i would have to throw-up to relieve the pressure. I tried ACV, baking soda, mustard, you name it. Everything was a temporary fix. And i knew I didn't want to pop pills the rest of my life. I'm 32 now and 3 yrs ago a fear of problems developing in my esophugus and stomach, from years of acid reflux lead me to go to a Gastro-specialist, who diagnosed me with a bacteria in my stomach that caused the problem. After a week of Prayer and many antibiotics i was finally freed from that curse. I haven't had any problems, Praise GOD in 3yrs. If you are a long term suffer of acid reflux as i was, please look into the possibility of a stomach bacteria, but if you suffer only occasionally, the natural remedies mentioned on this website will work just great.
Hydrogen Peroxide Inhalation
Posted by Jonna (Los Angeles, CA) on 09/15/2007
★★★★★
Lately I have been having a hell of a time with digestive issues. Not sure what is going on -- it may be that I am eating way too much hormone injected chicken and turkey now that I moved in with my partner, who has to eat meat at least once a day or he gets sick. On the other hand, I ate a Trader Joe's garlic naan last week at home with a homemade curry and woke up to extreme abdominal pain and brain fog. Second time that happened with the naan, will have to check the ingredients next time I go. So perhaps I am allergic to wheat now. I don't know. At any rate, after a week of snail's pace recovery with Apple Cider Vinegar and Baking Soda, molasses, etc., I decided to a) eat vegetarian and b) do Bill Munro's h202 inhalation therapy. I started the peroxide therapy yesterday at about noon. By 8pm the brain fog that I have had for a week disappeared. This morning, exactly 24 hours later, my digestive tract finally feels back to normal. No more abdominal pain. I did 6 pumps of 3% h202 (drugstore brand) every 2- 3 hours. I think eating only rice and vegetables the last few days was helpful too.
OTC
Posted by Sharon (Vineland, Nj) on 12/10/2009
Yes be careful with OTC. I suffer from 2 stomach conditions(one GERD). Purple pill just quit working and within a short time going off I got much much worse. It has turned into severe indigestion, horrible nausea and vomiting off and on. Sometimes it gets so bad I have to dart out of a store because I get so sick to my stomach. Been getting upper stomach pains paid with it sometimes too. Please try natural stuff 1st don't use this garbage. My slippery elm doesn't seem to work anymore so now I am starting apple cider, severe problems start with 2 teasp, or table?
Cayenne
Posted by Bruce (Lake City , Florida USA) on 07/04/2007
★★★★★
On the subject of acid reflux and heartburn, I have all but eliminated it after 20 or so years of suffering. I used to keep a large bottle of Tums with me at all times. The acid reflux was horrible, waking me up in bed with searing pain in my throat and gasping for air, not knowing if this would be the end. The choking went on for half an hour or more. Milk, more Tums, water, juice, nothing gave instant relief. Like magic, after about three months, I had lost almost all of the symtoms of the acid reflux and heartburn. You can cure yourself easily if you are determined. It will take perseverence and patience and will gradually go from bad to good in three months or so. Cayenne Pepper is the answer! Now on a regular basis I take from one to two heaping tablespoons of granulated cayenne with my meals. Not on any cereal though! Usually if you can start off with a litle and work up to a large dose like I did, it will become easy and things after a while will not seem to taste right without it. I am so happy I don't use Tums anymore and I don't have stomach problems. I would encourage anyone to read about "cayenne pepper healing effects." Do a Google search and you will be surprised at what you read about its healing effects. I get my cayenne from a wholesale club in bulk containers. I use Tone's ground cayenne pepper and it is about $4.00 for a 1 LB container. That should last you about six months or more. Good luck and remember, you will have to get used to the heat or it won't work. In addition to taking the cayenne pepper, don't go to sleep on a full stomach. Give it 3 or 4 hours before you go to sleep. Bruce N. Strnad
Mastic Gum
Posted by Ken (Torrance, CA) on 06/29/2007
★★★★★
I had severe acid reflux and ulcers.I took mastic gum by Now co.There are other companies too. I took capsules. It WILL cure both ailments,but you must keep taking it until you get symptons vanish -of course! It has been shown to fight prostate cancer.See net for tests and research. Great substanceif one stays with it. A million times better than baking soda!
Mastic Gum
Posted by Holyfoods (Saint John, Nb, Canada) on 12/04/2009
★★★★★
I've had gastritis, reflux, pain in stomach (possible ulcerations), indigestion, and hiatal hernia for some time. After 2 weeks of using Mastic Gum I've noticed a dramatic reduction in all of these symptoms. It took exactly two weeks of taking 1000mg morning and night to notice this change though. For awhile, I thought I was getting worse, which was probably the "herxheimer" reaction. Anyways, I'm glad to say it's working. Aloe Vera juice really helps with the inflammation caused by the h. pylori bacteria (or any bacteria) as well.
Acidophilus
Posted by Max (Greene, NY) on 05/20/2007
★★★★★
I have been suffering from acid reflux for many years; I came across your website and tried the pure cherry juice as well as the acidophilus pills. I ran out of the cherry juice and can't comment on how well it worked but I can tell you that the acidophilus has been working; I was taking it at night after my meal and was sleeping without a problem. I'd recently taken a few generic pain relievers and coincidentally or not my acid reflux returned; I'm going to carefully monitor when I take it and how I feel from now on.
Banana
Posted by Selena (Chula, Ga) on 10/16/2009
My husband had the same problem before we married. I put him on a yeast free diet and within a month he was 90% better (the remaining 10% is diet and bad habit related that could be fixed by eliminating things from his diet but so much better he can put up with it not to have to give up those things.) Google yeast free diet. I had a book but can't remember the name or author. Basically you have to eliminate all refined sugars, white flour products, refined vinegar products (mustard, mayo. ketchup.) all fungus foods (mushrooms, alcohol), and dairy. He stuck to this diet Mon-Fri and splurged on the weekends and still had great results. He now treats his heartburn with baking soda and water when it occurs. It works wonders for him and does the job. Good luck and congratulations on deciding to take your health into your own hands and fix the problem instead of cover it up.
Baking Soda and Water, Lose Weight
Posted by Todd (Salt Lake City, Utah) on 03/27/2007
★★★★★
I have found two things that take away my acid reflux. First is baking soda and water. I see some of the cures talks about combining vinegar with baking soda. I can't imagine this would help. Combine the two in a kitchen sink, its a mess. The second solution is loose 10 lbs. For some reason when I loose 10 lbs. and get down to what I should weigh I dont suffer from it half as much. Thats what has helped me.
Cayenne
Posted by Gunner (La Quinta, CA) on 03/16/2007
★★★★★
I had acid reflux for years. I started taking cayenne caps three a day and the acid reflux stopped. This is anecdotal evidence of course, but it worked for me.
Raw Honey
Posted by Michele (Los Angeles) on 02/26/2007
★★★★★
I tried the ACV with baking soda remedy. Didn't do me much good. What I have found helps more than anything is a teaspoon of raw honey after each meal and before bed. And drinking LOTS of water.
Yogurt
Posted by Michael (Buford, GA) on 01/11/2007
★★★★★
What helps acid reflux: 3 Yogurts a day, 5 small meals, plenty of water, and fiber. Also get up.... Sitting around or laying around will not help reflux what so ever. Walk around the block. Walk at the mall, stay somewhat active and upright. Don't know about curing, but seems to happen alot less, unless I do something stupid like eat spicy foods for a month and think I'm cured. It will always bites back if you bite first.
I agree with the woman about the yogurt. Although I am trying the AVC as of today. I also have had back surgery back in the mid 90's and could drink hot sauce out of the bottle at the time, but after tylenol, Ibuprofen, and pain killers I have joined the masses with reflux and stomach problems, and don't forget constipation. I do feel that at least three yogurts ad ay and as much fiber and water as you can get your hands on through the day helps, along with the staying somewhat active as possible and upright at least until the symptoms go away. Then just pay attention to your diet. America may be great but we eat like dogs, and I don't have the same stomach as a dog. Please just know this is my body and not yours, so your may need different attention.
Reader Theories
Posted by Kate (Stafford, UK) on 03/22/2009
Hi Mark from Lichfield..
I think your post was fantastic- it's what i suspected myself and i've been looking for some reassurance that my GERD will be cured when i've rid myself of candida.
I've been a victim of daily heartburn for over a year follwing a very long course of antibiotics, and i strongly agree with what you say- i;ve been trying to find this link between candida and GERD for such a long time to put my mind at rest!
I've been on theh candida diet for about two months, and have started to feel better, but not enough yet- i still get heartburn in the evening, and all the info i find tells me this is incurable and i need conventional medicine which i don't want! I'm only 20 years old, and i feel that PPIs could cause me some serious problems - I want to restore my body to the way it was without lifelong drug prescriptions or surgery!
So i'd just like to know, how long did it take you to get better? are you completely free of heartburn? was it a gradual process? can you get away with eating some carbs these days? Is it all back to normal??!!
I'd be most grateful if you could put my mind at rest and tell me this will eventually sort itself out if i maintain my willpower for long enough!
Thank you for your great post :)
Kate
Reader Theories
Posted by Johnny (London, Ontario, Canada) on 04/14/2009
read your comments re: hiatal hernia on another website . .. you were dead on regarding stressed diaphram & psoas & quadratus laborum being stressed . . found a chiro to massage these aeas & all acid indigestiong diappeared . . he was conviced all of this was primarily a back injury causing weakness in diaphram .. . he aleady knew all this but your website put me on the right track! you need a seasoned chiro: mine is 30 years of experience trained in applied kinesology so he found the site of weakness very quickly! thank you so much for this invaluable info.
Reader Theories
Posted by Rosemary (Trenton, NJ) on 11/18/2006
I had acid reflux (see my posted message from March, 2006). I am finally getting back to you with what did finally cure me. The apple cider vinegar I tried did not work. What did work was eating a
good quality yogurt several times a day along with two acidophilus/bifodophilus capsules with a high bacterial count. I took the capsules 3 times a day with each meal. I did this for 3 weeks straight. That is how long it took for the symptoms of acid reflux to totally subside. The yogurt was very cooling and it contains a lot of good bacteria. I ate a cup in the morning, then I had a half a cup after lunch and after dinner. During the day, I would take a tablespoon full periodically to help cool the throat. I had good results after one week, but it did not totally subside until the end of the 3 weeks.
I came to the conclusion by putting together these two known facts.
(1) Stomach ulcers are caused by a bacteria and many people with stomach ulcers are aspirin users.
(2) Antibiotics cause diarrhea because it destroys the good bacteria in the intestines. All one needs to do is to take acidophilus during and after taking taking antibiotics to avoid diarrhea and loose bowel problems.
Armed with this information....the more I thought about the sudden problem I had developed with acid reflux, the more I thought it must be related to a bacteria problem (either not enough good or too much bad). Since I try to eat a healthy diet, I could not see why I would suddenly develop this "disease". Therefore, I banked on the idea that ibuprofen was probably destroying the good bacteria which allowed the bad bacteria to attack the esophagus. I have to say, I have stopped taking pain pills except on rare occasions. I started exercising (biking) and my knee is now 80% better than it was before. One other new fact that has just come out about ibuprofen is that it also inhibits muscles from strengthening. I heard about this through a friend - I believe one of the universities did a study with athletes and they discovered this about the athletes who took ibuprofen either before, during or after training.
Mint
Posted by Abigail (Ypsilanti, MI) on 11/15/2006
★★★★★
I spent 2 years fighting acid reflux. I ate antacids like candy til the doctor put me on Zantac, then I started taking those like candy. Finally, my pastor gave me some dried mint leaves and told me to steep 1 teaspoon in a cup of water and drink. One cup a day for a week. By the second day I hadn't had an attack. By the end of the week I threw away my Zantac. The tea was only used for a week as it was. After about 1 month the erosion was healed and it would be 4 years before I would have heartburn again. I drink the tea and have no more problems. I use vinegar once or twice a year if I get heartburn again but the tea did a total turn around. None of my doctors believe I used to have acid reflux. Note: the mint used can even be the kind you find on the spice rack at the local grocery store.
Blended Raw Potato
Posted by Mia (Chicago, IL) on 11/08/2006
★★★★★
I was suffering from a very, very bad sore throat. I was told to suck on ice in order to keep my throat muscles and glands from swelling, making it hard to breathe. Someone suggested I take ibuprofen (Advil (100 mg of Ibuprofen) to prevent my glands from swelling, I did. I took two every 6 hours, for a day and developed that "acidity/belching/sour, bitter" taste...it is horrible. I firmly believe that ibuprofen brought it on. My Mom had the same problem. Our remedy is, RED POTATO and ONE CUP MILK. Chop up RED potato, throw in blender, add cup of milk, blend until liquefied. Strain the mix and drink. Two times a day, for about 5 to 6 days will do the trick. NO DRUGS NECESSARY!
Pears
Posted by Joanne (Littleton, MA) on 09/02/2006
★★★★★
One night after being awaken by a throat full of "acid", I decided to try eating a pear to cool down my burning throat and discovered that eating just a few bits, I know longer felt any burning or pain.
Milk
Posted by Sam (Cleveland, OH) on 07/11/2006
★★★★★
If you get heart burn or Acidity, just grab the milk bottle from your refrigerator and drink little of it may be 1/4 of a glass instead of taking any antacid tables. you would get the relief from acidity immediately.
