Natural Remedies for Acid Reflux Relief

Apple Cider Vinegar, Baking Soda

Posted by Roger (Philadelphia PA) on 08/15/2023
★★★★★

I have used the ACV & Baking Soda tonic for Acid Reflux for about 20 years. I use the raw organic version, with 'the mother'. It works really well, and feel it has other benefits. One caution is if you are monitoring your sodium intake as baking soda does have a fair amount.

Acidophilus

Posted by Mary Anne Haskins (Northern IL) on 04/24/2024

Looking to get the amounts of fennel, raisins, and water for this recipe please. Thank you.

Zinc

Posted by Mike (NYC) on 09/12/2025
★★★★☆

I have found it actually surprising that ZINC is considered a reasonable solution both by research and reviews

I am trying the one by solgar (zinc-picolinate) now for a week and while its not gone, its much better

Apple Cider Vinegar, Lemon

Posted by Lilli (Kenmore, Wa, Usa) on 02/13/2013 13 posts
★★★★★

I've found that ACV works the best for my acid reflux. However, I had to tweak the formula a bit.

I cannot stand the taste of straight ACV so I added fresh lemon juice in equal amounts to the ACV. I used to drink a tall glass of water but found that too much water triggered the AR, especially before bedtime.

Now I use apx. 6 ounces of filtered water and add 1 tbs. ACV, and 1 tbs. Lemon juice. If this mixture is too sour, just add a squirt of good quality honey. Some have mentioned adding baking soda. I never have, but if the acidity bothers you, it is worth a try.

I drink the mixture throughout the day and never before bedtime. I've even tried drinking it with my meals in place of other drinks.

Another thing that has helped tremendously is not eating or drinking after the evening meal and at least 4 hours before bedtime. I also limit my intake of liquids while I am eating to aid digestion. I've added more raw fruits and vegetables. Apples work really well.

I find that these things work best whenever I feel the first twinge or feel the acid coming up in my throat.

Baking Soda in Orange Juice

Posted by Drmikedo (Northumberland, Pa, Usa) on 10/22/2012
★★★★★

Awesome acupressure post for reflux. I know this technique as the diaphramatic release. My understanding is that this works because diaphragm spasm (or tightness) causes it to be ineffective at supporting the LES (lower esophageal sphincter). If this is a component to your reflux, it will definitely help.

For the acid part, my favorite is Sodium citrate. Works by neutralizing and then buffering the stomach's acidity. Does not cause the rebound effect of calcium containing solutions (calcium stimulates the body to secrete more acid, as acid is required for its absorption). Can easily be made by combining 4oz of orange juice with 1/2 tsp of baking soda.

Apple Cider Vinegar, Baking Soda

Posted by Marie (Ny) on 08/07/2017

Yes, but I have read that first you put the Apple Cider Vinegar in the glass, then add the baking soda, let it foam up and when it's done foaming THEN add the water and drink. I add a little bit of stevia too to sweeten it. I had forgotten all about this remedy and now I have a stricture in my esophagus and I need it to be stretched. I am on second day of the PPI, but am going to quit and take the aloe vera as the drug can cause seizures, harm the kidneys, pnuemonia, fractures, oh and even Lupis!

Kefir

Posted by Tina (Houston, Usa) on 05/08/2012
★★★★★

Happy to report that home-made Kefir and Kombucha has resolved long standing acid reflux. I now can sleep uninterrupted in the night, and do not suffer from painful acid reflux.

Google to find easy ways to make these at home.

Papaya

Posted by Sara (Knoxville, Tennessee) on 02/19/2012
★★★★★

i have had acid reflux since I was in grade school trying one perscription then the next all working for a while then not at all. my heartburn comes with headache, nausa, and aching in my arms and legs.

i am 32 now and I was walking through the mall in knoxville, tn and ran across a store called vitamin world. this was my lucky day. the person behind the counter suggested papaya enzyme tablets. they taste good, not chalky like tums

and best of all they really work. I suggest you try these.

Celery

Posted by Ruth (Glendora, California, Usa) on 01/21/2012
★★★★★

EAT CELERY! It is like a miracle food for acid reflux!

Ginger

Posted by Lisa (Barto, Pa, Us) on 01/13/2012
★★★★★

I do agree with the Ginger Candy for acid reflux. It is very good and I also eat it after my meal. I try to suck on it and it can turn into a very small piece of ginger root and I chew on it for about a half hour or so. If I can't get a piece sucked down I also chew ginger gum for about an hour helps a lot.

Cabbage

Posted by Richard (Pago Pago, American Samoa) on 01/07/2012
★★★★★

RED CABBAGE!!!

Greatest cure for acid and indigestion I have found that really chewing a chunk of raw red(purple) cabbage, quickly balances my system quicker than anything.

It seems to work instantly!! Been a life saver for me.

Papaya

Posted by Aileen (Makati, Philippines) on 09/15/2011
★★★★★

I had a very bad time last night bcoz of my acid reflux. I was sitting the whole night and couldn't sleep. And then I remember reading here about digestive enzymes and it just so happened that I have papaya fruit. After eating it, my pain was gone in less than 30 mins. I was able to sleep. Just sharing it so that it might help others too. Thanks to this wonderful site, you're really helping a lot of people. Keep up the good work guys!

Apples

Posted by Jo (Derby, Uk) on 07/03/2011
★★★★★

Having recently found out that I am too a sufferer of acid reflux I am sooooooo glad I found this site!! After reading these comments about apples I thought I would give it a go as I'd far prefer to do this than take medication for the rest of my life! No joke, within half an hour of me eating my first apple that awful burning in my throat started to ease up. 24 hours later after having a few apple slices after every meal the burning has gone completely. I am still taking my medication but when I report this to my doctor when I see him next week maybe he will allow me to stop.... You know what they say, "An apple a day"... (I don't need to say the rest!!! 3 cheers for the good old apple!!

Aloe Vera

Posted by Kate (Kingston, Ny) on 06/28/2011
★★★★★

I've found aloe juice to help with digestive issues and read that it works by lowering the acidity of the gastric juices found in the stomach. Aloe vera is also a powerful anti-inflammatory (think sunburns), offering relief for sore throat symptoms as well. Hope it helps!!

Milk

Posted by Hiram (Charleston, Sc) on 06/26/2011
★★★★☆

I've had reflux for a few years now and I've been taking 40 mg Protonix mostly to control it, and it did for the most part, but the burning always woke me up in the mornings and my sleep/rest time suffered. I discovered recently that drinking a few ounces of milk before go to sleep helps a great deal, eliminating about 95% of that burning sensation. Now I can sleep in more often than I have for years. I hope this helps you.

I'm thinking about trying to get off the meds altogether by taking the ACV.

Digestive Enzymes

Posted by Audrey (Fort Pierce, Fl) on 07/29/2011
★★★★★

hi, I take 2 TwinLabs Super Enzyme caps and 1 Swanson Acidophilus before each meal. When I first started, now I take it once a day and if I should have a problem I take them as soon as I notice....... and it works for me

I buy my products from www.swansonvitamins.com and have useed them for at least 25 years

Digestive Enzymes

Posted by Karen (Cumming, Ga) on 05/12/2012

I have taken Digestive Enzymes with Probiotics for 8 years. My worst symptom was a constant cough for 10 years for which I was prescribed various inhalers for asthma. After a tongue biopsy which diagnosed candidiasis (probably caused by the inhalers), I began doing my own research online and decided to try Probiotics. I wanted the best one I could take and consulted a friend who sold "high quality supplements". As it turned out, she sent me the above mentioned product and my cough was gone in three days. It was nothing short of miraculous!!! Since then I have learned much and believe what I suffered from was GERD (not asthma), with no "typical" acid reflux symptoms. I had an endoscopy and the DR diagnosed Barrett's Esophogus (caused by GERD).The enzymes are all plant based, and since it is a powder that you mix with water and drink (with or without a meal), it is 100% bioavailable. Fully absorbed by the body - no waste, and no need to digest a pill in order for it to work. Just be careful if you take a timed release medication as this product contains cellulase, which will break down the cellulose in some timed release medications too quickly. Ask your pharmacist if the medication you are taking is timed release and if it is bound with cellulose, then use accordingly - ie: taken several hours apart. Enzymes and Probiotics are live and should not be heated. Be aware: Ordering them online in the summer is risky since the product could sit in a hot truck or your mailbox for hours on end rendering them ineffective. So order and store them appropriately.

Garlic

Posted by Seanb (Port Mcnicoll, Ontario, Canada) on 04/26/2011
★★★★★

I have suffered from Acid Reflux for about 5 years. I have enjoyed many of the typical symptoms, Lump in throat sensation, burning behind breast bone, throat palpatations, excessive mucous etc. I have tried every remedy I could find including Ted's alkalizing forumla's primarily Apple Cider Vinegar and Baking soda. As with most remedies I have found nothing seems to work for long. I had the best success with ACV and Baking soda but it too stopped being as effective after about a year.

With all the remedies I have tried I think at best I could only describe the results as controlling my symptoms. This no longer seems to be the case, my acid reflux seems to be gone entirely. This is a direct result of taking Garlic supplements daily.

In researching this condition I found a few articles claiming that the active healing ingredient in garlic called Allicin is one of the only natural ways to kill the H pylori bacteria in the stomache. its widely believed that a high percentage of people with reflux have this bacteria.

Over Christmas I was having an exceptionally bad episode and out of desperation ate a couple raw cloves. After my mouth stopped burning I was amazed to note my symptoms had subsided. I have since been taking garlic and over the course of a couple months all of my symtopms have ceased. I quickly switched to galic supplements from Wall Mart as taking raw garlic was too poweful and was causing some social implications.

Garlic is one of the trigger foods we are supposed to avoid, I believed this to be true and would not have tried this if not out of desperation. It may well be responsible for the occaional heart burn I have had since but this has been minor and typically reiieved with a few almonds or some candied ginger. All of my other more concerning symptoms are gone.

reading up on Garlic you will find it has a lot of benefits including fighting some types of cancers. One of the other benefits is bowel regulation. I did not think I had a problem in this area but its now apparent that I did. I think its this issue that led to my acid reflux in the first place.

I hope others will try this and hopefully get the same benefit. Its my hope that if this works for others that we can spread the word and help others. I know this condition can really get you down over time and can seem hopeless but like the X-Files the truth is out there. Good luck to all of you

Apple Cider Vinegar, Baking Soda

Posted by Marie (Ny) on 08/07/2017

The problem with the acid blockers is that they shut down the acid producing pump in the stomach and when you suddenly stop taking these drugs the stomach pump tries to make up for the blockage and produces more acid so it's hard to get off these drugs., but not impossible. It would appear that reducing gradually would be better.

Calcium

Posted by Karen (Alpharetta, Ga.) on 06/12/2010
★★★★★

I take 500mg of Coral Calcium (magnesium and D are in the capsules) every night at bed time. I no longer have acid reflux. My husband always had acid reflux, nearly every day. Now he doesn't. He takes Calcium every night.

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!

Apples

Posted by Van (Sa, Tx) on 01/07/2010
★★★★★

Keeping this short so as not to repeat information -- I stopped taking my meds for a couple days till symptoms appeared. Tried the ACV, and it didn't really work (for the reflux). Tried the almonds, worked slightly. Ate the apple...worked almost immediately!!! I was amazed. Since then I have been eating on average 2 apples a day, drinking apple juice with my meals (which seems to work also). I still am experimenting with the ACV though...but for my sinus clogs and allergies...too early to tell but that seems to be working slowly as well.

Thanks to all who post here and to the site owners for helping people try to find more healthy ways to live. The part that really chaps my hide though is that doctors HAVE TO KNOW that these remedies exist and work and yet they still try and sell us on those prescription meds.