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.
Alkaline Acid Diet
Posted by Vanya (Frankfort, Indiana) on 11/08/2008
★★★★★
I have had Acid Reflux for 6 and 1/2 years. Tried every prescription and non prescription medicine on the market, they all stopped working after while. I am ACID FREE since September 22-08(for good) I stopped my Protonix (despite my doctor opinion)
I read about the alkalizing diet and started on it right away. I start my day with 2oz of Aloe Vera Gel, then I take enzyme pill and eat breakfast. I am taking enzymes right before every meal. Then I drink a cup of chamomile tea with honey or molasses instead of sugar. I eat an apple around 10 am. Sometimes a pear. After lunch I take B complex vitamin, don't forget the enzyme pill too (it helps to digest the food better) Sometimes I feel a little bit discomfort in my stomach and I become afraid of getting the acid back, at those moments I chew raw almonds ( I always have some in my purse) and I feel fine! And , at last but most important I take PROBIOTICS, 5 or 6 per day, just anytime during the day. The more cultures they contain the better you feel, because we all need to replenish the good bacteria in our intestines (we live in a very stressful and poisoned environment)
Thank you all for the valuable information on this website! God Bless You all...
Slippery Elm
Posted by Cris (Sydney, Australia) on 04/09/2008
★★★★★
Hi! I have tried different remedies to help me with my acid reflux due to my hiatus hernia and 1 tsp. of slippery elm powder mixed with water works for me. It coats the esophagus and helps with the burning behind the throat and acid tongue feeling. I can pretty much eat anything but when I take slippery elm but of course, I try to eat healthier foods most of the time.
Aloe Vera
Posted by Peggy (USA) on 01/25/2008
★★★★★
I've read many of your questions on Acid Reflux. I was diagnosed with Bleeding Stomach ulcers, and was on many Antibiotics and Prevacid, acidix,to my surprise helped towards my osterprosis. I was on this for several years. There is really something that works better then anything I have read. It is 99.9% Aloe Juice. Take a little before each meal and it helps the stomach and digestive tract. After using it for several weeks then u only need it for morning and evening. I just read all the things like mentioned in your blogs here,but thought I should pass along about Aloe Juice. Thank you Peggy
Alkaline Acid Diet
Posted by Cynthia (Bergen County, New Jersey) on 11/23/2007
★★★★★
All these remedies do not address what people are putting initially in their bodies! Everyone is consuming acid causing foods. The basic theory is that acidic foods (ex. orange) cause an alkaline tummy. Alkaline foods cause an acid stomache. If you eat a lot of bread, rice, grains, etc. you will have reflux or an acid stomache. If you balance your diet with fruits and vegetables you will greatly reduce your chance of an acidic stomache. Find an acid alkaline food chart on google. There are quite a few. This explains why some people found relief from apples. It is an alkalizing fruit! So are beets, broccoli, carrots, etc. But be careful! Some fruits and vegees are acidifying like corn, lentils, blueberries, cranberries, canned fruits, plums, prunes, etc. That is why the chart is so important. I was a candidate for nexium and anti-acid pills. However, I changed my life by maintaining the acid alkaline diet. Please consider this. I've changed a lot of people's lives by sharing this information. However, a couple of my friends and family who have NOT taken this advice are now on anti-acid pills. Oh, by the way, fennel seed tea is a miracle worker for after dinner tummy calming. It helps to maintain an alkaline tummy. I need 2 cups to be helpful (I'm 144 lbs). Find the right dose for you. Best of luck!! Here's to your health!
Slippery Elm
Posted by Kathleen (New York, NY) on 09/04/2007
★★★★★
Acid Reflux - Slippery Elm -- Cured my acid reflux after trying everything for a year. A herbalist in my neighborhood said get a bottle of water and put 2 Tablespoons of powered slippery elm in it and sip it all day long. Also, the Thayer's Slippery-Elm lozenges -- you can let one after the other dissolve and always at night when I go to bed (and during the night). Put more slippery elm powder in a little water and drink it straight, after meals -- it will be a little thick, but it absolutely works.
Dietary Changes
Posted by GH (BC, Canada) on 06/24/2025
A simple cure for acid reflux
I had AR for years until I finally stopped and considered the simple mechanics of digestion and modified my behaviour so that I was not interfering with that process. When we eat the stomach produces acid in the volume necessary to digest the food consumed. That acid is also at the necessary concentration to digest the food. When we drink just before or during meals, or just after meals, we dilute the stomach acids to the point where their function is greatly impaired. The body naturally detects this and produces more acid to restore the required acidic concentration. The result, depending on how much liquid is consumed, is a much greater quantity of acid than was needed to digest the food. This requires a commensurately larger quantity of bile to neutralize when the chyme enters the small intestine. When I stopped drinking before, during or until about 30 minutes after meals, my acid reflux ceased immediately and completely and has never returned except on rare occasions when I broke this rule on social occasions. Primitive man not only feasted and fasted, he ate and drank mostly at different times. Give it a try!
Turpentine
Posted by KS (Vienna, Austria) on 10/03/2021
★★★★★
Turpentine for Stubborn Acid Reflux (GERD)
This is how I cured my acid reflux which I suffered from for 17 years (nothing else had helped):
1 teaspoon daily of purified gum turpentine. (I took it in my mouth and washed it down with a glass of water. do not swallow without water as it can get into the windpipe.)
I paused for 1-3 days when side effects like diarrhea were too much. Side effects subside the cleaner your body gets. Turpentine kills of biofilms which cause the acid reflux.
DGL
Posted by Peter (California) on 02/08/2020
★★★★★
Chewable DGL Locorice extract works great for heart burn and it works immediately. I keep it on hand. The reason I use DGL is because it removes the substances in licorice that raises blood pressure.
Zinc
Posted by Evelyn (Thousand Oaks, Ca) on 05/13/2014
★★★★★
I've been suffering with acid reflux for a long time. I finally realized from research that a zinc deficiency can cause this, so I tried supplementing with zinc and it has helped tremendously even though I still have to be careful with the types of food I eat and not eating before bed time, etc.
Apples
Posted by Cool Woman (Bremerton, Washington) on 10/26/2011
★★★★★
Im 18 years old and studying in college, when 3 days ago I justs started feeling this sensation like acid was backing up in my throat. So the first day I ignored it, but it continued to grow worse so on the second day I started popping tums and they didn't help at all. So on the third day I decided not to eat anything at all in hopes that the sensation would go away. Well haha, halfway through the day it still persisted and I couldn't take it anymore so I got online, found this website, and out of desperation tried eating apples. To my surprise, within 30 minutes the sensation cleared right up and I feel much better. The weird feeling in my throat is not completly gone, but I feel like if I keep eating the apples and stay away from trigger foods, I will be fine :) thanks for this great tip
Apple Cider Vinegar, Baking Soda
Posted by Guaira (Seattle, Wa) on 08/23/2011
★★★★★
Works like a charm! Really!! I had an endoscopy scheduled because I was feeling terrible, with an acid reflux that nothing could stop. The Prevacid that I had been taking was useless. Since I had to wait about 1 month for my appointment, I stopped taking Prevacid and started taking the ACV baking soda remedy described here... I felt GREAT about 3 days into it, and PERFECT within 3 weeks. Got the endoscopy done: NOTHING!! Seriously, no inflamation anywhere, including the duodenum. Last time I had an endoscopy done I was diagnosed with a hiatal hernia: GONE! Go figure... I must warn you again though: BE VERY CAREFUL WITH THE BAKING SODA. Too much and you will end up in much worse shape. I used only 1/8 of a teaspoon, with ACV. Never measured the resulting pH, but preferred to err on the safe side. Good luck, and take care!
Dietary Changes
Posted by Connie (Slc, Ut) on 01/25/2011
★★★★☆
Hi Sheila; Yes, it is an "acid thing" to me too because I'm still trying to give it a figure. Whatever this thing is, It's been "Born Slippy" to my gripe. (possibility of a joke here). I'm still rummaging through my diet and supplements to find which acids trouble me at this time.
In Truth, these acids have nothing that's wrong about them, but I am not metabolizing them correctly for now. I cannot take aspirin or even White Willow Bark For now. (high in salicylic acid) Foods high in salicylates don't seem to be a problem.
Foods high in citric acid are troublesome now. I may have moderate amounts of naturally fermented foods. (lactic acid) Acetic acids are also troublesome now. Even Rose Hips tea caused a disturbance. (ascorbic acid and citric acid) I have trouble metabolizing sulfur. It is acidic, but moreover, the body conducts a very complex process with it in order to use it. (when I try to understand what all the liver does in this, I have to "roll out the fainting couch"). If sulfur isn't properly methylated, oxidized, etc., its unfinished business will be expressed to and from an unhappy colon.
What brought me to realize that my case was some "gross acidosis", was (I must admit this), 5 years of Hcl supplementation. I began it after a lifetime of digestive ills that peaked with a 3 month period of upper stomach pain, projectile vomiting, and dry heaves. (liver problems too) Scope showed no ulcer, no H. Pylori, but there was inflammation. After research, I began Hcl with Betaine (sounds like beet uh een). My results were great, and I could eat well. After a couple of years, I began to have negative symptoms that seemed unrelated to the Hcl. (no stomach pain). After 5 yrs., there was pain nearly everywhere but the stomach. I increased Hcl. Pain increased. Kidney pain increased exponentially. Ted's words, "acid kidney", came to mind.
I went for a scan. The results were; No stones, no obstructions in kidney, but a small liver lesion and a small hiatal hernia. I stopped Hcl. The pain began to subside. I now have somewhat low stomach acid, but I choose B-complex with an extra pinch of niacin to treat it. These are the acids that I may have.
The rewards for the practice of finding my troublesome acids are: no more kidney pain, minimized liver and stomach pain, much reduced bleeding, (purpura, gums), very few canker sores, (autoimmune), and very few shingles outbreaks, (herpes). I am now able to slowly reduce my meds. I have learned this practice from reading the brilliant posts here, and I am again grateful. Connie
Alkaline Acid Diet
Posted by Carolyn (Hobbs, Nm) on 04/25/2010
★★★★★
I have read so very much on this site about those of us with Acid Reflux. I have tried everything and nothing seemed to work until I discovered that acid problems are caused by eating too many or too much food that produces acid. Then I discovered the alkaline diet which has wonderful foods on it and it has changed my life. There are still wonderful foods on this diet. I make a green smoothie for breakfast with spinach, a banana, an apple, and a handful of greens such as spring mix or any of the other dark lettuces or kale,collards, etc. I also add a scoop of Whey Protein and 1 T. Chia seeds. Then I add 8 oz. water and a small glass of ice. I blend all of this in my Vitamix and drink this power house of nutrition. I'm not even hungry at noon many times. Then for lunch and dinner I eat from the alkaline side of the alkaline acid chart that you can download after you google acid alkaline food list. When I eat like this I never burn or have acid problems and don't need acid drugs of any kind. It has been wonderful for me. I love snacking on dates, figs, other dried fruits, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds, etc. And isn't this the way God intended for us to eat? I also take Michael James minerals and potassium capsules because they also help to keep you alkaline. Chlorella is also alkaline. It helps too. This protocol works for everyone.
God Bless and good luck,
Carolyn
Celery
Posted by Sammi (Flowery Branch, Ga) on 06/02/2009
★★★★★
I have learned a lot after reading all of your comments. This is the first time I have seen this web site and reading it mentioned in passing on Dr. Mercola's web site. My husband used to get acid reflux painfully bad, but after he gave up drinking quarts of tea a day (hey, he's a southern boy!), he very rarely gets it. He avoids bad eating, but sometimes (and it's usually some kind of fast food) he weakens and pays for it. He used to use baking soda, but found it was slow to work and sometimes didn't. Our son-in-law has BAD problems with it and found only eating celery (don't know if he knows about the other recommendations) could fix it. Hubby tried celery and has stuck with it as it works on the rare occasions now when he's affected. I can't get him to try the ACV. He thinks my son and I are crazy using it. Thanks for this site and all the fine input.
B12
Posted by Nate (New Orleans, LA) on 05/24/2009
★★★★☆
Hey, I tried everyting from this site. I was on Aciphex and Malox. This helped but did not cure anything. Then I saw these emails about apples and apple cider viniger. I have been taking apples for months before I read this. It did not help. Applecider vineger did not help. Probiotics did not help.
So what did? One guy posted here saying that Acid Reflux is a B12 deficiency. I had liquid B12 and put it under my tongue. Within 30 minutes I felt relief when I was previously having a bad reaction. I also had a nuropethy thing going on in my scalp that started after I got on blood pressure meds. My head tingled as my sinuses got bad. Even this partially but significantly went away. Not completely but a significant change. Much relief. 5 days later, I am feeling even better. I have to take B12 daily under my tongue but major results. Better than when I was on Aciphex. I feel that I will be cured in a few weeks as long as I stay on B12. I hope this helps some of you.
Aloe Vera
Posted by Katwoman (Bat Area) on 01/23/2016
★★★★★
Try Aloe vera liquid. So purified it taste like drinking water, does not have to be refrigerated. I even put it in my cats water and it's amazing what it does for their elimination as well. It makes your body more alkaline, help your skin and hair- about 2 ounces at least once a day for an adult.
