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.
Olives
Posted by Sandy (Covington, Georgia) on 11/23/2008
★★★★★
I was on Nexium for over 3 yrs and after loosing my insurance I cant afford that little purple pill anymore. I had heartburn so bad I felt like Puff The Magic Dragon. I came to this website looking for any relief considering that I have been trying to go to sleep for the past 5 hours, and couldnt due to the severe heartburn. I read about OLIVES....So I ate 10 of them, WOW, in less than a minute I can breath without melting my tounge off...Thank You, Thank You, I will be eating OLIVES everyday, and I am gonna consider the mustard. Great Website. GOOD NIGHT.
Betaine Hydrochloride
Posted by Dee (Middlesbrough, England) on 07/04/2008
★★★★★
Hi again everyone, I have had gastric reflux for six years for two of those years I lived on salmon and cous cous, that was all I could eat. Recently though my life has turned around, I realised through this website that I had low acid. The ACV worked but not enough to make a huge difference. I have also had accupuncture which I think has helped.
But one day I had indigestion as usual and I tried a clementine, within a few minutes I started to feel better. I started to eat them after main meals which prevented any symptoms from coming on. I would also take them to work and have one if any symptoms came on. Then I tried Betaine Hydrochloride which has made such a difference to what I can eat. You can only use Betaine Hydrochloride if you know for definate that its low acid and you shouldn't try if you think you may have an ulcer. If fruits like oranges or lemon alleviate your symptoms then it might help you.
I hope so. Dee
Sleep on Your Left Side
Posted by Gene (Fort Worth, TX) on 05/27/2008
★★★★★
I have always slept on my right side and the other night I read on the internet that acid reflux sufferers should sleep on their left side. I was looking for relief as I hadn't slept through the night in a long time so I gave it a try. It helped!. I've slept on my left side for two nights now and actually slept through the entire night both times. Second day, I also had less trouble during the day with the acid reflux.
Banana
Posted by Mike (Raleigh, NC) on 05/12/2008
★★★★★
For Acid Reflux: Bananas, folks. Eat them for breakfast and before bedtime. Works better than anything else I've tried and they're good for you, too.
Acidophilus
Posted by Toomba (Kuching, Malaysia) on 05/27/2007
★★★★★
66 percent of cases, a treatment consisting primarily of acidophilus and digestive enzymes will usually do the trick. In Dr. Spreen's words: "Acidophilus supplements (powder form, the liquid tastes awful) protect the oesophagus without killing acid (while killing the pain almost immediately). The hassle is, you have to keep it handy and take it often if you don't solve the whole problem, which involves tightening the gastro oesophageal sphincter. Dr. Spreen describes his treatment as "ridiculously simple and cheap." And while he feels confident that he can stop more than 2/3 of all heartburn and reflux cases.
Banana
Posted by Frank (Dublin Ireland, Southern Ireland) on 04/30/2007
★★★★★
having had reflux for five years, i started taking a banana a day. after about two weeks, i tried to do without my NEXIUM TABELT. which previously would only last for three nights. this time however, i have not had a NEXIUM TABLET after 15 days. frank
Cabbage
Posted by Antonio (Miami, FL) on 02/12/2007
★★★★★
I suffer from severe acid reflux, and I was starting to cough much at night and at times during the day. I read on your very useful web site, about some one suffering from severe coughing [her name jill A. posted on 5/2/2006]. Well what I think got me almost rid of the coughing was this remedy i got from a book: fresh purple cabbage juice [10-13fl. oz [300-400ml] --sip it daily on an empty stomach [you can toss it in the blender with 10-13 oz. of water to get the juice out]. The book said to add also a hand full of fresh basil, marjoram, and/or oregano, which I did. I also used the jelly of aloe vera leaves, before every meal and before going to bed [chew on a small portion or blended as a shake and drink it].
Now the other thing I was going to talk about was the metallic chemical taste in the mouth that Robin from Apalachicola--or something like that--Fl. [posted on 2/11/2006], felt once she took a PPI drug [nexium--i believe]. I also have felt that taste before after having tried one of those ppi's poisonous drugs. I think it may be caused by an allergic reaction. I did not get the black tongue she mentioned though. But those drugs i believe to be dangerous since my severe reflux was caused by nexium itself, believe or not, but that story I cannot get into yet.
Betaine Hydrochloride
Posted by Jonathan (Van Buren, Arkansas) on 06/15/2006
★★★★★
I took Betaine Hydrochloride which is basically stomach acid ingredients in pill form to add acid back to my stomach (which I was lacking apparently). I had been on Prilosec, Prevacid, etc. for a VERY long time. I was starting to suffer from the side effects; when I stumbled onto this site. I tried the Apple Cider Vinegar at first and it worked great (which told me I lacked acid in my stomach). I hated the taste of it though and wanted something I wouldn't have to force myself to take. So; I read remedy #5 and decided to try it. I went to the health food store and described what I wanted and they went and got it right away. I've been trying it for the past two days now and my stomach has been great!!!! I give a big YEA to the Betaine Hydrochloride.. it works!
Ice Cubes
Posted by Harout (San Fernando Valley, CA) on 06/04/2006
★★★★★
I have been told by my dad that swallowing bit and pieces of crushed ice does the cure as a natural home remedy for acid reflex and heart burn. Although my throat was burning like crazy, after being waken up twice in the middle of the night, I went to my refrigerator and filled up a cup of crushed ice. than I started to swallow a lot of crushed ice pieces. It took about 10 minutes and the acid in me was gone. I did not experience acid reflux that night again after swallowing a lot of crushed ice. Try it it will work. It cools down the burning and also makes the acid less concentrated in your body. Over-all the swallowing crushed ice method works. If anyone experiences heart burn or acid reflux, swallow crushed ice, it works! Attempt to swallow the ice at a reasonable size to avoid difficulty and discomfort of swallowing. But further more the best defense (in my opinion) is not to eat after 5 or 6 PM. The average person's metabolism slows down during night which can increase the chances of acid reflux or heartburn when you sleep. avoid late night eating, and boost up the metabolism by getting on some kind of exercise program. It can be as simple as walking around your neighborhood.
Papaya
Posted by Gary (West Monroe, LA)
★★★★★
Papaya enzymes cure acid reflux. Best remedy on the market. Take six first time. One later hour six more. Next day six a day. Then four a day until reflux is gone. I eat them like candy until pain is gone. You will thank me.
Hot Peppers
Posted by Tami (Burns, OR)
★★★★★
Cayenne pepper capsules and hot (tea hot) water. i take 2-4 of the capsule, 450mg each with the hot water, and the heartburn literally disappears. i had my friend try it who has been on aciphex for over 2 years, and she is now medication free!!
Spring Water
Posted by Baby Girl's Mom (Seoul, South Korea) on 02/19/2017
★★★★★
Actually, I was looking for a natural cure for acid reflux that also happened to address issues with women's infections. I had suspected that chlorine in drinking water was the culprit and went online to find information to support my theory. It seemed I hit the jackpot when I found an article written by Robert Reiling, who's knowledge of chemistry and experience working in the water treatment industry led him to conclude that because it is difficult to extract gaseous chlorine (used in water treatment facilities), even filtered or purified water consumed over long periods can lead to certain health problems. Heeding his advice of drinking only SPRING water (not bottled drinking water or "purified" water) my problem with acid reflux seemed to vanish after just one month. Fast forward a year and I have a new health issue with infection. I tried many of the suggestions here but wanted to tackle the root problem. I realized that while traveling I was drinking filtered water and my troubles started about the same time. So I went back to bottled SPRING water and after about 2 weeks I am happy to report the infection is gone. Sadly I don't live near a spring and I don't feel good about buying plastic bottles, so I make sure to recycle the bottles religiously. I am thrilled that I have found a cure dealing with the root problem and the cost is extremely low compared to the alternatives. One has nothing to lose by trying out bottled SPRING water for a good few months to see how many ailments can miraculously vanish :)
Don't Eat Before Bed
Posted by Lily (Nashville, TN) on 11/09/2014
★★★★★
Yes when I had reflux due to lack of acid Apple Cider Vinegar helped but so does changing the diet to more clean foods and not eating close to when you will sleep (elevate your head if you need to).
Remove Chlorine
Posted by Charlie Trig (Raleigh Nc) on 11/17/2013
★★★★★
Taking the chlorine out of your diet can have a drastic effect on your GERD, Acid Reflux and LPR. Chlorine gas in tap and bottled water changes the chemistry of your stomach acid, resulting in HCLO instead of HCL.
Severe Acid Reflux Remedies
Posted by Kara (London, Uk) on 05/24/2013
I have acid Reflux 30 yrs now. I have used different hospital medication but have not helped so far. I have had about 6 endoscopy in different countries but have found neither ulcer no any other problem. In 2002 I had an acid check a machine was inserted in my stomach through my nostril and was kept for 24 hours and found normal acid that was in St Thomas Hospital London, Then I went to India at Okhla hospital, Delhi and repeated various checking and found no ulcer, no hernia no kidney stone and not even appendicitis and recently I went to Chennai Apollo hospital and had several checkups but yet still no problem was found.
The problem now since I turned 40 yrs now I have developed more complications whenever I have an acid attack my pressure also increases, I have changed my diet but simply it doesn't help, I tried caustic soda actually it made me worse the pressure had risen and had palpitations as well. Should anybody can advise me what to do please.
Sugar Tea
Posted by George (Uk) on 09/21/2017
Funny I came across this comment. I recently developed acid reflux. This happened after I have stopped taking sugar completely in my morning tea. I used to use refined sugar about more than a year ago. Then I switched over to unrefined sugar. Now, about 10 months since, I do not use any sugar. Now I have GERD!! I shall try my good old sugar again and see what happens.