Natural Cures for GERD

Ok folks here we go. I got rid of my GERDin about 7-10 days doing everything I was told not to do. I refused to take PPI's and the aluminum packed ant-acid pushed on my by doctors.

1. I started with the traditional tsp. baking soda in small amount of water morning and night. It helped.

2. I ate a thick slice of raw organic ginger root with every eating. It has natural antibacterial and huge amounts of digestive enzymes. And it really helped.

3. I ate lots of dill pickle spears. Felt good.

4. Soak in a glass jar, steel cut organic oats in pickled juice / water over night in fridge and ate by spoonful as needed. Lasted several days. Was filling and stopped acid. This was working but I felt this overwhelming hunger to rinse my stomach with beer. Previous to this it had been about 10 years since I drank alcohol.

5. One evening I drank 6 lights beers. It felt SO GOOD RINSING MY STOMACH WITH THE SUDS.

6. The next morning (with a little headache) I felt a need for grapefruit. I bought a bag of 9 grapefruit and ate EVERY ONE of them. And it felt so good. Citrus is supposed to be a no-no.

7. I started eating about two big salads of whatever MIXED GREENS DAILY. With 2-3oz fish protein, canned salmon or shrimp. THIS DID MORE FOR ME THAN ANYTHING.

Today, although I am not thrilled with drinking beer, I drink a light beer on the days I feel the need. BEER WITH CORN STILL HURTS MY STOMACH. BEER WITHOUT CORN SOOTHES MY STOMACH.

No more butt burning acid gas, hoarse sore throat or upper stomach pain.

Here is the biggest thing I learned from this. Have you ever watched a dog sniff food before it eats. If it sniffs good he scarfs it down, if it sniffs bad he walks away. SNIFF FOOD BEFORE YOU EAT. YOU WILL KNOW IMMEDIATELY IF IT IS GOING TO HEAL YOUR STOMACH OR HURT YOUR STOMACH. For instance, any kind of apple does not smell good to me, and if I eat it my GERD will flare up.

CONCLUSION: For me eating lots and lots of mixed green leaves is the number one thing that keeps GERD away. A daily grapefruit is refreshing and soothing. An occasional corn free beer. A few dried cranberries WITHOUT SUGAR is good.

Experiment with small amount to see what your body wants and does not want.

Grapefruit hack: Stop trying to spoon out a grapefruit half, that is just plain silly. Cut the grapefruit into six wedges; then eat it holding like a watermelon or easily pull out of the peel to eat in one piece.

I was on the purple pills for years. Had GERD type problems on and off 2004-2012, only got worse as time went on. Tried many of the remedies here, and some did help, some didn't. Learned not to eat Tomatoes.

Long story short, I have no problems anymore, eventually developed a strange combination thus:

I take 1/4 cut lemon juice and mix in two capsules worth of powdered "grape seed extract", after it's mixed I add a packet of the vitamin c powder.

I drink this slowly on empty stomach, at first twice a day, now occasionally. I would like to say why it works, bla bla bla biofilms etc., but I do not really know myself. General theory:

The plenol compounds in the grape seed won't mix with water but will with the lemon juice. Lemon juice by itself did seem to help but also kinda burns!!! But if acidity is tamed with the vit C powder it does not burn.

Hope it helps others as it did for me!!

Was diagnosed with ulcer and acid reflux 3 months ago. The doctor prescribed nexium and triple antibiotics that caused me terrible side effects. Stopped using the drugs and went on to research natural remedies and found cabbbage and carrot juice to cure the ulcer while apple cider vinegar mixed with honey to be very effective for acid reflux. Thanks guys for all the positves. May God help us all.

I recently was made aware of an article by Dr. Bruce West, M. D. , who said that it's very possible that "diaphragm strain" is the CAUSE of many cases of acid reflex, GERD, and hiatal hernia! To me, this is a landmark document and anyone interested in healing their stomach issues should definitely check into it. ARTICLE 2: Hiatal Hernia, Indigestion, Heartburn, Reflux, GERD And Esophagitis. If this is the cause of many cases of acid reflux and hiatal hernia, these could be fixed without surgery or drugs - just by contacting one of the specialists (chiropractor-kinesiologists) on a list Dr. West mentions in his article. Most doctors don't seem to know anything about this (no surprise here! ). I think the article does say you need to be a member of HealthAlerts to get access to the practitioner list, but a small price to pay if you find you have a hiatal hernia and want to avoid surgery, drugs, and working only with the symptoms for the rest of your life! It's worth a shot by anyone with symptoms of GERD, hiatal, hernia, etc. I go to my doc. NEXT Fri to find out if I have a hiatal hernia, since I did the barium xray series last Fri. If he says yes, the first thing I will do is locate one of those practitioners and see if I can get relief that way! In fact, even if he says no, I plan to check it out -- tests don't tell you everything always, and my symptoms are 100% of every symptom Dr. West mentions for this problem (yes, 100%- acid reflux, weakness in my body, fatigue, headaches (I never had headaches before I got the reflux), sore ribs, poor appetite, nausea- horrible nausea, and wt loss)! ).

Another thing-- I began fresh cabbage juice, undiluted (not bad tasting) and find it helps with increasing my appetite - even if not resolving the underlying problem of acid reflux, etc. (Just juice 3 days-worth of cabbage in a juicer or blender -- take 1 oz. 3 times a day for 3 days, meaning juice 9 oz. Of juice each time. Don't think you can keep in fridge longer than 3 days fresh, but maybe; then, before you drink your last 1 oz. of the 3 days' worth, juice 3 more days worth! Do this for 2 weeks- or more, if you find it's really helping. ). I have been on the cabbage juice for just 3 and a half days and I have had three-four bigger appetite "bonuses" since getting the reflux months ago! Having small meals is also a good idea and has helped me. My idea of a small meal is a reasonable-sized pc. (between the size of your palm to even the size of your palm plus fingers! ) of fish or a cube steak cooked in a little bit of sunflower oil (my favorite), salt, and perhaps pepper for flavor, and about 6 tbsps of corn or other veggie, and then frequent small meals after, whenever you get hungry (don't overeat at any of them--limit yourself, knowing it could cause a bad reaction AND knowing you can eat again in 2 hours! ). Have the cabbage juice on an empty stomach. What I do is have 1 oz cabbage juice when I get up, wait 2 hrs, then have a reasonable meal- 4-6 oz. Plain Seven Stars (Original, full fat) yogurt from health food store (more creamy and less sour than Dannons or others I've tried-- you can add stevia too, and it's quite nice! ) and fresh fruit, or a medium-sized Kyo-Green drink and some protein (like 1-2 slices Swiss cheese and/or yogurt) plus my vitamins, and then I wait 2 hrs more without food ( I might have water after a half hr after eating, or 1 oz. of aloe vera juice, diluted w/ water or not), then another 1 oz cabbage juice, wait another 2 hrs (most people can wait 4 hrs to eat, can't they?), and have another meal. I like fish or meat, with fresh or frozen veggies -my favorites are artichokes, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, corn, and if you feel like it , a small salad, and there is also rice! I have a last 1 oz. of cabbage juice before bed. It took away a queasy stomach last night! This appears to be improving my appetite and is also cutting down a lot on the nausea, my major gripe with all the symptoms! Reflux is less troublesome also, esp. at night. It seems to have improved my quality of life enough to keep me content until I can get a firm diagnosis, and hopefully fix the issues without conventional medical intervention!

Aloe vera juice is very helpful too- said to kill h. pylori in studies (http://www.mangosteen--juice.com/aloe-vera/aloe-vera-juice-research.php) -- cabbage juice does too, but there is a protocol by Dr. Shallenberger- think you have to get his newsletter -so will tell you the gist: it involves the use of 1 oz. of cabbage juice 3 times a day as I'm doing but adding 1 cayenne pepper cap with the cabbage juice 3 times a day, for 2 weeks- -- he says this kills the h. Pylori. The BIG caution I discovered is : you can ONLY use the cayenne pepper caps if you have ulcers but DON'T HAVE acid reflux or hiatal hernia! SO, DON'T USE the cayenne/capsicum if you HAVE acid reflux or a hernia! That's why I decided not to assume I had h. Pylori now-- I hope I don't. The ulcer protocol ALSO uses "mastic chewing gum" (find on Web) that kills h. Pylori in mouth and esophagus, AS WELL AS mastic gum capsules (I think mastic gum is OK to use with acid reflux/hiatal hernias, but pls check before buying). It also says to use a new toothbrush before you start as h. Pylori can exist on your toothbrush! Clean it with tea tree oil nightly to keep the h. Pylori down.

AND for acid reflux, also remember Slippery Elm losenges. I suck on those at night if I get reflux after I've gone to bed and don't want to get up. I take as many as 4 over a hr or two, if I stay awake. They're safe! Good luck and hope this helps! I may not be back on this site but this should get you started if you want to try some of these things...

The following work most of the time for me. Sometimes I have to do all of them to finally get relief. I take an OTC acid reducer that just doesn't cut it so I frequently end up with painful GERD, even though I tend to healthy and organic.

*vinegar (distilled or ACV)
*pickle juice (not the sweet ones)
*juice from pickled hot peppers (capsaicin is an anti-inflammatory)
*juice from pickled ginger (another anti-inflammatory)
*1/4 tsp sodium bicarbonate, 1/2 tsp citric acid in 4 oz cold water (like Alka-Seltzer without the aspirin)
*12 oz club soda with lemon or lime and a dash of bitters, no ice, quickly consumed with a straw (helps to prevent the ingestion of too much air)

If your going to use ACV, please use RAW apple cider that contains enzymes to aid in digestion. But it's not a cure, as claimed here but therapeutic. Indeed, it worked well for me, but not a cure. I also tried 3 apples a day (6months), and that too was even less therapeutic. Some people mistakenly confuse Sleep Apnea/GERD/Celiac disease/H.pylori/Ulcers because the symptoms are all very similar. Find out what you have from a doctor. To my surprise, my doctor diagnosed me with GERD, me thinking Sleep Apnea.

For what ever reason(s), doing the following has helped me: Sleep on your back with head & shoulder at slight incline -pillows are fine, eating figs(high in manganese, pectin, calcium), eating papaya, and finally cabbage, has had a 95% episode reduction for me(i hope 100%; more time to know fully -3months so far). I used to suffer every night waking up gasping for breath, and now I never do. Also, I try to have at least 1 serving of the foods I've mentioned every day. Cultured cabbage is a great way to get natural probiotics. Eat whole foods, not synthetic over the counter pills or pharmaceutical pill that introduce side effects. BTW: Lots of oatmeal and grains seem to stimulate my acid reflux, but that indicates a gluten intolerance (mild Celiac disease?). I wanted to post this since this website had helped me during my quest for natural healing.

i've had acid reflux/gerdfor about 15 years. currently taking prevecid. wanted to try natural. went with acv with baking soda, aaloe vera,digestive enzymes,and papaya. even tried apples. my symptoms are very bad especially at nite. i eat very little and coffee and or alchohol doesn't seem to make much difference. ive been doing this for 10 days im about ready to start taking the pills again.i eat oatmeal for am and cereal for lunch then dinner no fast food or eating out ever. i put 2 tb acv into 1cup water with 1/4 tsp baking soda and some honey. the other capsules were as directed. the problem i have is i hate to pay my doc 75.00 just to write me a scrip. so im trying much more expensive natural approach. maybe it takes longer than 2 weeks. miserable and wanting my previcid JL

I am a big guy, and I have suffered from GERD/AR for a few years now. Nothing worse than waking up in the middle of the night with a sour and burning sensation in the throat. You know that this is just the beggining of what is yet to come. You can't go back to sleep, and you know that you have to get out of bed. Then the worst part comes, the painful acid starts to work, and you try to cough it up, and those coughs are very painful and will bring tears to your eyes. You will notice an orange or yellow color in your cough coming out of your lungs. You did your best not to eat anything greasy that night, and you did not eat any chocolate or smoke. You keep trying to figure out how to stop the insanity. I have been there over and over. You read so many articles about this, and you just don't want to drink vinegar, or have to go hungry all night before bed.

I have found a solution for myself. It works for me, and I do not always eat a green apple everynight (but that helps too, Granny Smith). I have read elsewhere that oatmeal causes acid, but this cure works for me. Before going to bed, I make myself some oatmeal. I fill a cup halfway with water, then scoop at least a half cup of oatmeal into it. I do add a little salt for flavor, and then I put it in the microwave to heat and cook. The oatmeal should be very thick and not at all watery. Tastes really good, and I really enjoy it with a few almonds. This works for me even after eating onions, spicy food, tomato sauce, and even something greasy. Can't explain why it works for me and maybe not others. I am sleeping great now. Also, I have great bowel movements the next day, an added plus. Give it a try. May not be good for diabetics given the carb count.

OKRA(lady's finger) cured my acid reflux... i also tried the purple pill like OMEPRON OMEPRAZOLE for more than a month and then other brands.

no medicines cures my reflux then i have complication coming from it ( PHARYNGITIS & LARYNGITIS )

ive been browsing sites to look for remedies or much better CURE and im very much lucky to bump on this site. i read that OKRA (lady's finger ) cures his GERD by eating OKRA for 2 mos.

I TRIED IT... by boiling for a minute, removed the seeds then eating 6 pieces a day... 2 pieces for every meal within 10 DAYS im cured already.

I know it has something to do with OKRA'S natural slimmy characterics that help cures the inflammation of my LOWER ESOPHAGEAL SPHINCTER the major reason of the reflux

the slimmy characteristic coats my LES as it gives time to heal it....i guess that's the most important part HEALING FIRST YOUR LOWER ESOPHAGEAL SPHINCTER before your GERD eradicated.

Now i can eat anything i want... my GERD it's just a nightmare for me and dont want to remember as it cost so much depression on me while sleeping in SITTING POSITON for more than a month.

THANKS TO YOUR SITE i read that information here.

I have been suffering from GERD for 5 months & had taken H2 blockers & proton pump inhibitors for 3 months which had only given me temporary relief. I also noticed that i developed other health problems after taking these meds for few weeks but nevertheless continued taking them as ordered by my doctor. I'm done taking those meds for 3 weeks now & I noticed that the other health problems i had developed are gone which make me think that they were all just the side effects of the meds. I'm so scared to take those meds again that's why I'm so glad to have found this website.. I want to try ACV + baking soda.. Should I take it before or after meal?? Any reply will be highly appreciated..

EC: More info about acv + baking soda here: https://www.earthclinic.com/remedies/acv_baking_soda_cures.html

I have chronic gerd and also am allergic to iodine. I use digest advantage for lactose intolerance an OTC in small amounts whenever my stomach acts up. I also take benadryl in very small amounts an hour or so after the digest advantage. It works miracles for me. I tried so many other meds that only worked temporarily and caused soo many discomforts. I am back to eating and drinking whatever I wish mostly.

I will forever be so thankful to this site. I've been feeling pretty crummy all morning with GERD symptoms starting about an hour ago and going from 0-100 real quick. So much pressure in my chest it feels like I'm dying. I tried ACV, digestive enzymes, prilosec & tums. Nothing. I just went to the fridge and drank about 1/2- 1 cup of pickle juice and I can breathe again! Great relief & easily on hand! THANK YOU EARTH CLINIC!

This is a total shock! I have been suffering from GERD symptoms for about two weeks. I realized I have been eating all the foods that trigger it from reading this forum. I tried ACV, baking soda, even drops of food grade hydrogen peroxide in water. Nothing worked. Out of desperation, I looked in the frig for pickle juice after reading all the comments and voila, the symptoms are dissipating. Amazing!

I am a healthy and fit 56 year old. As I've aged, I have learned to avoid eating later at night and to choose my foods wisely, selectively avoiding foods that cause heartburn. Both efforts have helped control GERD, which I ocassionally experience at night while horizontally resting or sleeping. When I do eat the wrong foods or eat late at night, I'll take OTC medication to prevent GERD. Late last night I ate several slices of pizza, a notoriously avoidable food for me, but I followed that with three garlic kosher dill pickle spears. Not an inkling of indigestion! Truly remarkable!

My girlfriend was having horrible stomach pains and was feeling really sick. She had eaten a lot of foods that were bad for her GERD all day long. I finally, after reading the site, talked her into drinking some pickle juice... It really helped... It started instantly and was kind of a slow process but is feeling better now... Thank You..!!!!!!