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 Robin (Alamogordo, New Mexico, USA) on 03/28/2008
If you have reflux, get tested for celiac disease.
Raise the Bed
Posted by Bev (Seattle, WA) on 01/17/2009
★★★★★
I have put (2) 2X6 blocks under my bed for years and it really helps. Take a jar lid, turn it upside down and nail it to one of the blocks, then place the blocks/lid under the wheels of your bed frame. The cats slide down the bed, but they're used to it...besides, one of them has gerd too!!
Raise the Bed
Posted by Another Sufferer (Houston, Texas) on 05/05/2009
I'm a side sleeper, suffering from Gerd and find that sleeping on my right side always makes the reflux worse.
Aloe Vera
Posted by Diane (Scottsdale, Az) on 03/04/2011
Try the aloe vera capsules - available on line or at your health food store - work well and cheaper too.
OTC
Posted by Scott (Atlanta, GA) on 01/01/2008
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
I have had acid reflux for several years now. I was on a prescription for Prilosec before it was OTC. Usually only took a pill when I felt the reflux coming on strong. Over time, it has gotten worse with many reflux attacks daily. Two months ago, I started taking Prilosec OTC every day to see if I could fend it off. It worked great and I rarely felt any reflux all day long. Then, I had three violent episodes of Vertigo....which is similar to being spun around while you are violently seasick and stays like that for about 5 hours. Turns out this is rare but known side-effect of Prilosec. Needless to say, I'm off it now. I am relying on Pepsid AC now which works great but only last for a few hours and gets expensive. I'm planning to try the ACV next.
Reader Theories
Posted by HD (Bothell, WA) on 12/25/2007
I noticed many people are looking for a cure for their acid reflux. I used to have acid reflux, and my doctor gave me some kind of medication that I need to take before bed time. Since I do not like taking too much medication, I was very fortunate when a nurse, who was working with me as a coach in helping me improve me health and lifestyle, told me to ask my doctor to test my acid reflux for h. pilori. To make the story short, I had the h. pilori tested, and the result was positive. The test involved taking a breath test, take some medication to kill the h. pilori bateria. On the second trial, my doctor gave me a different kind of medication. After the second treatment, the result came out negative. I was very glad that I no longer need to take the medication every night. I no longer have acid reflux. With this in mind, and before starting to take ACV with baking soda, you might take the same route I did.
Reader Theories
Posted by Kaye (Edinburg, TX) on 04/20/2008
My son was diagnosed with acid reflux at the age of 7. He has been on and off prevacid for 6 years now. I am new to your site, but read an entry of 12-25-2007 by HD from Bothell, WA about testing his "acid reflux for h. pilori."
HD talks about a second trial and a new medication. Please let me know what that means and what the new medication is so that I can speak w/my son's doctor about it. Thank you so much!! Kaye.
Kombucha Tea
Posted by Michael (Wilsonville, OR) on 11/28/2007
★★★★★
I have been making Kombucha Tea for over 15 years and I have had two users of my tea who told me their acid reflux went away after a few days of drinking two 22oz. bottles of my Kombucha Tea. Made with Green, Black and herbal wild berry teas. Google "Kombucha Tea" for more info. Michael
Dietary Changes
Posted by Lee Ann (Mobile, Alabama) on 11/27/2007
★★★★★
Acid Reflux - Sinus Infection - Sore Throat - Acidophilus -- Based on personal experience the Polish Girl has it right, it's the diet. Dump the yeasty carbohydrate sugary stuff. After a sore throat that lasted a few months with several different diagnoses and antibiotics, health practitioner said most people really suffering from too much yeast in system which causes a huge variety of illnesses. Change the diet to starve/kill yeast in system now. Yeast thrives on sugar, sweets, fruits, carbs, and of course bread, pasta.
For 3 months my husband and I ate nothing but veggies and meat. Cut the wine and beer from diet too. Also took supplements that rid the body of fungus as well as very strong acidophilus.
Winthin one week, sore throat was gone.
2 Weeks - acid reflux disappeared completely (yay no more prilosec). Sore arthritic feeling knees stopped.
3 or 4 weeks - husband and i who suffer sinus infections frequently quit sneezing, coughing, etc. No more sinus infections for either of us.
3 years later - unfortunately I quit the diet because of pregnancy and dr. advised it would be bad for baby. Now sore knees and throat are back, and now have MRSA. With a lot of the cures here dealing with toxin cleansing etc. I wonder if yeast helps breed the MRSA?? Unfortunately, when I tell friends of my miracle cure when they are ill, their response is 'i could never change my diet that drastically' and they continue seeking that quick fix. Our forefathers had it right -- "You are what you eat".
Reader Theories
Posted by SJ (TENNESSEE) on 09/27/2021
I too have acid in my stomach, back, neck, arms and legs, it is very debilitating. Wish I knew what would help it.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Tracy (Lafayette, CO) on 10/21/2007
★★★★★
Many months ago I posted a comment about the ACV remedy for Acid Reflux. I suddenly got Acid Reflux last winter after taking a lot of Ibuprophen. The ACV remedy worked great, but after almost a year I was not cured. I felt that the ACV was helping me to manage the situaton but not really curing me. I was still having bouts once in a while and then I had reflux pretty severe for more than a week in early September, and the ACV wasn't really touching it. In order to feel better I really started eating very simply, mostly vegetables and some meat. After a few days of this I felt a lot better. But I continued my new simple diet for another couple weeks. Then I decided to add back in some cereals and immediately got Acid Reflux again. I new that I had a low level of gluten intolerance but after this I have come to the conclusion that I've have Celiacs, full blown. Who knows, maybe the ibuprophen weakend my stomach just enough to have the new level of Celiac symptoms. I have eliminated all grains except rice, corn and millet and I feel GREAT! I haven't even bothered with taking ACV for several weeks now. Symptoms of Celiacs or gluten intolerance range widely, so I'd recommend anyone with chronic acid reflux, mental fogginess, depression, anxiety, stomach upset, or skin rash, try eliminating gluten containting grains for a week and see what happens. Don't be afraid that you might be alergic to bread there are A LOT of great resources for Celiacs and gluten intolerant people now adays.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Mirella (Brisbane, Australia) on 10/07/2007
★★★★★
Hi, I had acid reflux for over 15 years and it was so bad that i would reflux if i bent down to pick something up or lay in a horizontal position such as in swimming. I found certain foods such as fried or fatty foods made it worse. Eventually i started seeing a medicinal herbalist who told me that acid reflux is triggered by coffee consumption. I had been a moderate - heavy coffee drinker most of my life. I gave up coffee and found that within 4-6 weeks my acid reflux went away completely. I have never had it since. I completely stopped coffee for about 2 years and replaced it with green tea. As soon as i have a coffee again, the reflux returns. Hope this helps.
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 Rose (Philadelphia, PA) on 09/12/2007
★★★★★
I have had esophageal spasms on and off for 7 years. Diag. with reflux and put on Nexium. Nexium caused many side effects including urinary tract infection due to change in pH (suppression of acid). No help from Nexium. Found OTC meds for asthma containing expectorant and ephedra. Taking only small amounts (1/4-1/2 pill) was enough to quiet spasms and reduce mucous production. Be careful of ephedra, however, since it can increase BP. The small amount doesn't seem to add to BP, though. The docs do give nitroglyerine for spasms, but this works just as well. (incidentally, that feeling of "choking" is the esophagus spasming.) Have heard digestive anzymes with Betaine HCl will help reflux (probably same mechanism as ACV). Hope these suggestions help others.
Digestive Enzymes
Posted by Kerry (Portland, OR) on 08/08/2007
★★★★★
papaya enzymes worked wonders for my acid reflux, heartburn, and indigestion. i can eat all the spicy, rich foods i want as long as i remember to take 3 chewable(yay!)tablets right after. i found them at my grocery store in the health food section. they cost a bit more than antacids, but they fix the problem not mask the symptoms.
Digestive Enzymes
Posted by Angie (New York, New York) on 01/22/2009
★★★★★
I was just diagnosed w/ Gerd & Dysphasia. I was prescribed antidepressants and other medication for the acids in my stomach. I refused to take the antidepressants, since I am not depressed and decided to seek for a natural cure -I came across this page and followed the advice given to use "Papaya Enzymes" is a miraculous cure. I could not beleive the INSTANT releif I felt soon after chewing 6 tables. As part of my good eating habits I will continue using the "papaya enzymes".
Thank you soooo much for the valuable information. I am sharing this w/ everyone I come across. It's AMAZING. -Angie
Reader Theories
Posted by Aujah (Huntington Beach, CA) on 08/08/2007
I think it very important to mention that smoking marijuana will cause acid reflux in some people. Mostly girls. The problem (besides it being illegal) is it will take the pain of acid reflux away and then be the cause of it when the drug wears off. It is very easy to get caught up in that cause and affect.
Olives
Posted by Dawn (East Bay Area, California) on 07/25/2007
★★★★☆
I just read on this site that drinking some of the juice from a jar of pickles might help get rid of my acid reflux. I checked the fridge, and the closest thing I could find was a jar of Cocktail Olives (the green ones that are stuffed). I had a couple small sips of its juice. At first things felt like they were getting worse. I then had a sip of water, and in less than a minute I was feeling better. Not cured, but at least better.
Smoothie
Posted by Michael (Plainfield, Illinois) on 07/17/2007
★★★★★
I was fighting Acid Reflux for over 45 Years I've tried every pill and formula out there and read every book on the market. I have one remedy that works for me. I call it the Blaster I got it out of a juicing book and it will keep the fire from starting 90% of the time. I use a Vita-Mix blender and put in 2 glasses of filtered water - 1 Banana - 1 Mango - 1/2 Papaya - 1 large slice of pinapple- 1 orange - I blend it into a drink and drink a 8 oz glass 2 times per day - the mix is enough for roughly 3 days you don't want to make it for more time it loses it's effect and there are plenty of other healthy perks along with it - I keep it refrigerated in a stainless steel thermos.
Reader Theories
Posted by Neoma (Cartersville, USA) on 08/08/2007
In regard to Elissa from Asheville, I think you might be on to something. i didn't have acid reflux before moving to Georgia....and it seemed that everytime I drank some water it was so much worse, and my stomach would actually burn. I noticed that in the bathtub there were little flecks of black, and if you put your finger on them they would smear like grease. It took some scrubbing to get them off. They are coming from the water. So I am wondering what is in our water, and if it might contributte to the problem. I started buying bottled water...however it is kind of hard to tell if it is any better. Some seems to be as bad as the tab water for causing my acid reflux.
Digestive Enzymes
Posted by Lina (NY, NY) on 06/17/2007
★★★★★
I have never experienced acid reflux until 2 years ago and it was really interfiring with my life. I couldn't eat or sleep. I went to the doctor and he prescribed some pills that did nothing. A friend told me about this natural pills Pineapple and Papaya enzimes. She said they worked wonderful on her. I tried them and in just a couple of hours I started to feel the relief! I strongly recommend this pills. You can get them in any natural store and they taste really good. Good Luck!
Digestive Enzymes
Posted by Bouy (Winnipeg, Canada) on 06/12/2007
★★★★★
I am one of thousands that has acid reflex. I was provide a presciption from my doctor that said I would have to be on it forever. The drugs did not cure this condition, so I looked for a natural way of relieving this condition. I have tried the apple cider viniger, and it did work for me. But, I have also found that digestive enzymes have been my answer. I use a -complete- formula that helps digest all your food. I have tested them for two months with extreme success. I hope this info will help others. Good Luck and lets get natural.
