Natural Cures for GERD

Apple Cider Vinegar

81 User Reviews
5 star (67) 
  83%
4 star (3) 
  4%
3 star (3) 
  4%
1 star (5) 
  6%
(3) 
  4%


Posted by Cara (Nashville, Tn) on 06/03/2011

I have suffered from reflux for most of my 40 years and am at my wit's end needing relief. I have taken a variety of PPIs over the years and they have "managed" my GERD to varying degrees of "success. " I put those terms in quotation marks because I am discovering that the relief I've received is at the expense of my health in other areas. I have pernicious anemia and even taking B12 shots do little to keep my levels at a normal number. I'm also experiencing iron-deficiency anemia and other malaborption problems that I am convinced are related to the medication I'm taking. I want to get off of it, but am hesitant because of the pain and disruption this causes. (It also aggravates my normally very mild asthma. ) I bought some HCl/enzyme capsules, but after 3 pills, my esophagus burned like it hasn't in a very long time. I think I'm going to try the ACV approach along with a papaya digestive enzyme and probiotics. I hope that reestablishing the healthy flora in my digestive system will help me achieve real success and restore my health on many levels.

If anyone has other suggestions I welcome them. Thanks!

Replied by Payitforward
(Tx, US)
10/26/2014

I personally would not use Apple Cider Vinegar or HCL at all for treating acid reflux. Those who have used it for years may have compromised their intestine lining. Treating AR is best by consuming low acid and low fat foods. The first several days of the diet you will find great relief. As you detox your system from being overly acidic. Also, calcium carbonate or sodium bicarbonate will help relieve symptoms at night.

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Osama (Khobar, Saudi Ar) on 05/31/2011

I suffer from GERD which disturb my life Im using nexium 40 daily it is good but I read on the net about the benifit of apple cidar , Im interisting in using it but I want to know 2 things

1- how to use

2- where I can find to buy

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Lauragrace (New York, Ny) on 05/24/2011
★★★★★

Well it's been 2 days since starting the standard ACV cocktail for GERD. I'm putting 2 teaspoons of organic ACV into a full glass of spring water and adding 2 teaspoons of raw organic honey. It's actually delicious, but most important of all is that I haven't had to take a Prilosec in two days!!!!!

I'm also following GERD guidelines re eating but that alone hasn't helped in the past. I've read a ton about ACV and its vitamins/minerals and all the positive benefits of this cocktail.

I stopped taking daily vitamins so I can really test the effectiveness of 2 ACV cocktails a day. Yesterday I had 3 but tasted and smelled the vinegar a little too much so cut back to 2 today and feeling great.

I was concerned about the effects of ACV on the liver and teeth and possible damage to the esophagus but further research hasn't turned up anything specific so I shall continue forging ahead! Thanks for this great site.

Replied by Bev
(Ohio)
12/16/2013

About 5 times a year I suffer with an attack that is either heartburn, acid reflux or gerd. For me it is very painful and I even get a fever sometimes. But I wanted to share what brings me the most relief during an attack and that is throwing up. Even if I have to induce it it helps so much with the pain. Instant relief.


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Erica (Redmond, Wa) on 04/22/2011

I have been trying the ACV with and without the baking soda off and on for three or four weeks. I keep going off of it because my teeth become so sensitive and my tongue burns even when I use the baking soda. I use pH testing strips to make sure it is at least 7.0 pH and I even use a straw. I have been diagnosed with silent gerd so I really don't know if the ACV is helping because I do not have any obvious symptoms. My worst symptom is the dry mouth from the dryness in my throat. It is so annoying and I really want the ACV formula to work.

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Russ (Perth Wa, Western Australia) on 04/08/2011
★★★★★

I suffer from acid reflux. I noticed apple cider vinegar is a known help so I tried 2 tablespoons in a glass of water with a few drops of organic honey each day for the past 2 months. Yes, it does burn my throat but I put up with that. After about 4 weeks I began to feel better, and suffered less gas. Now after nearly 2 months my overall health seems to be much improved, and I can eat meals like red meat that used to cause indigestion and reflux. A great remedy ACV in water with honey!


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Deedee67 (Conshohocken, Pa) on 03/20/2011

I have been suffering from GERD for about 10 years and been taking Nexium that long. I feel like the Nexium is having bad effects on my body so I wanted to get off of it. After seeing this site, I ordered ACV. Started taking it today only to discover that I feel like vomitting after it goes down. I have a bad gag reflex and I am not sure I can tolerate it any more. Any suggestions?

Replied by Laurie
(Edgewater, Fl)
04/30/2016

I tried everything I could think of to get the ACV down but all it made me want to do was vomit. Then I discovered apple cinnamon tea. I put a couple teaspoons of ACV in a cup of apple cinnamon tea and it's like drinking apple pie. You can barely taste or smell the ACV in it.

Replied by Tina
(Virginia Beach)
05/11/2017

Try it with some organic honey. It makes a bit more palatable.

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Rosario (Virginia Beach, Va) on 11/06/2010
★★★★★

I can attest to the fact that the ACV has cured my GERD! I've been taking Nexium since May 2009 until Sept 2010. Initially, the Nexium helped ease my GERD but in recent months, my condition was back to square one with having acid reflux/heartburn each time I ate and difficulty sleeping at nights. Thank goodness I found this site! I decided to start drinking the organic ACV tonic at a low dosage of 2 capfuls in 4 oz. Water, plus 1 tbs of raw honey, three times a day. 6 weeks later, my upper GI endoscopy results showed normal esophagus/stomach with no signs of tissue damage... Plus, no hiatal hernia! A small one was discovered a year prior so maybe it shrunk?. My surgeon couldn't explain why it was no longer there, but he encouraged me to continue taking the ACV while it obviously worked for me. I'm now able to sleep at nights with one pillow versus four!

One day, I forgot to drink the tonic, realizing that the I didn't have any symptoms that usually trigger or remind me to take it. I'm now just adding two capfuls of ACV and honey in my cup of hot tea that I drink an hour before bedtime. In addition, my cholesterol levels improved dramatically to normal levels and my physician even took me off my high blood pressure medication. I'm just sooooo happy and thankful for finding this site. Now I'm not only able to share my experience here but by forwarding this site to other people I know that suffer from this disease.


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Joanne (Keller, Tx) on 05/21/2010
★★★★★

Please help me... I stopped taking a gerd med. I started drinking the unpurified apple cider vingegar. I got sick with a bug recently and had to go to an instant care...they gave me an anti naus. med. The specialist is upset with me for stopping the gerd meds he recommended. He says I shouldnt be drinking the unpurified vinegar as its acid and I have too much acid in my system. I have been drinking about one oz to 8oz of water a day...Sometimes, I do it twice a day..mostly once a day...when I have an attack or so, then I increase. I have been doing real good..stayed off the meds for months.

Please help me out...I read the site's new recommendations and will try the new dose...the gerd meds cause a number of problems as I have been reading.

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Gina (Philadelphia, Pa) on 04/29/2010
★★★★★

Right after having my gallbladder removed, I developed uncontrollable asthma. After years of misery, I was diagnosed with LPR (reflux of the larynx). No matter what I ate, I had heartburn and coughing/wheezing. I was on two reflux meds and 4 asthma meds. I started taking 1TB of ACV twice daily, and the LPR FINALLY responded. I now take no meds for asthma or reflux. It appears the ACV is doing the trick (it's been a year now). And a nice side effect has been my lower blood pressure! :-)


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Donna (Pacific Grove, Ca) on 03/11/2010

I was recently diagnosed with GERD. I have suffered with severe coughing for several months and was told it was first asthma. But, now my entire throat down to my esophagus is very inflammed. I want to try the ACV treatment but am concerned the acid on the way down will irritate my throat. Is the ACV remedy supposed to help heal the throat?


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Cyndi (Fort Walton Beach, Fl) on 12/26/2009
★★★★★

About a month ago out of no where, GERD showed up. I went to the hospital not knowing what I had. Pain in my stomach, lump in my throat, could not burp, terrible acid reflux. The doctor gave me Nexium and a few days later no change at all.

Then I found this site and posts on Organic Apple Cider Vinegar. I rushed to the health food store to try anything!

After 2 weeks of sipping 2 tablespoons in a 1/2 cup of water 3 times a day with each meal, it is totally gone! All your feedback here I feel saved me from such misery.

I also cut out coffee and chocolate and watch more on what I eat.

For safe measures, I take a sip of ACV every evening now before bed mixed with some water.

I hope this helps someone like all the comments here helped me.


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Dylan (Phoenix, Az, United States) on 11/27/2009
★★★☆☆

Worked Temporarily
WORKED TEMPORARILY

Apple Cider Vinegar has sort of helped me: 2 tblspoons a day, 8 oz. of water, 3 times a day.

However, I'm wondering why a lot of posters in the "acid reflux" section do not mention whether they have a couple cases of acid reflux here and there, or GERD, which is chronic acid reflux. There is a big difference, especially when a person posts that ACV has "cured" their acid reflux. Perhaps it did for them, but they may not have had GERD, only mild acid reflux.

I personally have GERD, and I've found that everything, including the ACV, only helps temporarily. I'm getting fairly desperate and worried about my esophagitis (a disease that commonly occurs with GERD that I wish had a section of its own on the Earth Clinic website). I've made dietary changes (cut out coffee, any tea but herbal non-caffienated tea, no greasy foods, etc.) and I think I'm going to cut out most carbs also; see if that helps.

I've taken Zantac (worthless), Protonix (pathetic), and Prilosec (mostly worthwhile, but kind of nasty side effects). I've heard Prevacid and Aciphex are good, but I would also like to stay away from prescription medications if possible; especially since they only stop the problem for a period of time.

For those who'd like to talk to me about their GERD symptoms and what they've done to help themselves, please feel free to e-mail me at [email protected].

I'm only 24 years old, healthy (except for GERD), slim/close to thin, and feel like an old person. Any information is greatly appreciated.

Replied by Judith
(Toronto, On)
01/21/2013

Hi Maria, How are you? Did you find a good homeopathic docotor in Toronto? I am looking for one. I developed a bad acid reflux or GERD or hiatal hernia and my esophagus was inflammed which is much better now. The cause was probably lots of antibioitcs for 1 month (Penicillin, Amoxicillin -stopped it because of bad reaction, Clindamycin 2 rounds --this is a killer).

All because of a simple tooth extraction where the dentist pulled my cheek so much that the infection seemed to be so big then at the end the muscle was very inflammed which is kind of sorted now.

My very bad heartburn started after I stopped the Clinda. My chest was burning continuously for some days that it woke me up and my chest was sweating and burning so much, no fever though. I didn't know what it is. I had some pressure around my liver. Chest pain on the left side was checked by a cardiologist ( done 2 tests). Everything is normal.

Now a physician prescribed me Tecta antacid once a week. Day before I started felt better, but now I think I have very little acid which makes me constipated or the digestive enzymes I don`t know. I took it for 2 weeks and want to stop it as it also kills some good bacteria which I don`t have a lot fo them as I am trying to get them back after the antibiotics killed them all.

The mornings I feel better than in the evenings I mean my mouth is not dry. Taking probiotics: Sacc. Boulardii and Flora 50 billion.

Replied by Ed2010
(Oakville, Canada)
01/21/2013

Hi Judith, It is good you only took antacid only for couple of weeks. There are people who take antacid for life without knowing that they are doing damage to themselves.

Ok, now stop taking any antacid. You can even stop s. boulardi and flora. Now to heal your esophagus and GI and to cure GERD.

Take 1 bowl of Miso Soup two times a day. And after every meal take a cup of Home Made Milk Kefir. Use Red Miso, Miso is a great Probiotic food and rich in amino acids. Milk Kefir is the wearhouse of all the good bacteria and yeasts. You can get miso from Big Carrot in Danforth Ave.

Let us know how you improve,

Good Health.

Replied by Judith
(Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
01/24/2013

Hi Ed2010, Thank you so much for your help. I will take miso and try to get kefir as well. Thanks for reminding of the miso. After stopping the PPI I started to do the following:

MORNING:

1-2 glasses of warm water then jump down from the bed while pushing down my stomach with my hands when I breath out ( for the possible sliding hiatal hernia) I feel the differencea I can breath better and don`t feel so full after meal.

QUESTION: What kind of supplement should I take to strengthen the muscle of my stomach to keep my stomach to its original place and to avoid sliding? I am doing some exercises and massage to hel with the hernia and as my stomach is pushed back to its original place I need to strenghten the muscles to keep it there, so the hernia will go away.

500 mg mastic gum 1 hour before breakfast

( as I might have an ulcer on the lfet side of the chest sometimes hurts when I drink or eat smthng cold) it started after I had a myocardial perfusion test done to get checked my heart , perhaps the radtion made the heartburn or ulcer worse as I felt the tracers like little bugs moving in my chest and when they went to the point on the left chest where I feel the pressure was very painful, it went away in 1 week)

put 1 teaspoon of manuka honey and royal jelly, yogurt, cinnamon, pureed apple, pear or peaches

LUNCH:

1 chewable papaya digestive enzyme during meal

2 hrs after probiotic ( still take it as my bowel movement is not ok , and the 2 roudns of Clindamycin and PPI can have after effects which can cause C. Difficile as killing the bowel flora)

DINNER:

DGL licorice root chewable 20 mins before dinner

My esophagus is good now ( I mean food goes down without any pain )but still avoid acidic food, eat very plain, puree fruits. I would like to eat some veggies too, but soft cooked carrots and broccoli made caused me more gas and made me bloated.

My stool is still not ok. I have one or 2 bowel movements per day that`s the same as before the anntibiotics. However the color is still yellow-brown green. It gets more brown now. I can still see partly digested food in my stool.

Do you think I should be worried about that?

Thanks in advance for your help, guys. This website is a blessing and people who really care and ready to help and first of all think as you spend more time by answering me than actually the doctor who checked me and didn`t care just gave me the antacids.

Thank you

Judit

Replied by Ed2010
(Oakville, Canada)
01/25/2013

Hello Judith, if you feel good I am glad about it. You can avoid store bought yoghurt, make your own yoghurt. Carrot juice is excellent for Liver and Intestines. You don't have to cook carrot.

Once your digestion and peristalisis is normalized the stools color will become brown. Stools shape, color, smell, consistency is a good indication of health. Also, prepare Ted's alkalizing formula and sip throught the day.

Good Health, Thanks.

Replied by Judit
(Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
01/25/2013

Hi Ed, Thanks again for your help. I didn` t think of juicing the carrott. It's a great idea. I will do it.

How do you make yogurt or kefir at home in simple way? Do you do your own?

I checked Ted's alkalizing formula. I will start to do it. The great thing is I can stop them whenever I want and NO SIDE EFFECTS. By the way it was 5 days ago when I stopped the antacid. The first day I was fine. The second day I felt more acid in my stomach which was burning a lot ( it still does, but less than before) , still have gas and bloating, very little burping.

The day when I ate carrot it was hard for my stomach, gas, burning in stomach and chest pressure which pushed up my stomach again and a bus ride was enough to slide up my hernia close to my chest. So now I exercise and try to push the hernia back. I believe if my stomach goes back to its original place and make the diaphgram strong, the GERD issues will go away.

I know it will take time, exercise, massage, being careful to avoid bending, lifting and carrying things. Any idea how to stregthen the diaphgram and stomach muscle in a natural way?

Thanks a lot and I am so grateful for this website it`s such a blessing.

Replied by Mmsg
(Somewhere, Europe)
01/26/2013

Judit, read up on deep abdominal breathing.

Replied by Ed2010
(Oakville, Canada)
01/26/2013

How do you conclude that you have Hiatal Hernia. Did you do a scan or x-ray. If you confirm that you have Hernia, then it is a mechanical problem. For which you have consult a blessed (yes blessed) Chiropractor, Kinesologist, Massage Therapist. Once the hiatal hernia is solved all your symptoms will vanish.

Hiatal Hernia can mimic symptoms of many diseases.

However, what you are doing now is good like miso soup, Ted's formula, carrot juice, kefir, yoghurt. It is because these foods will prevent further damage that will be caused by Hernia.

Yes I make my own yoghurt and kefir, there are many videos in youtube that you can watch.

To make yoghurt, boil 300 ml milk then make it luke warm. Now add the teaspoon of culture. The culture is just a teaspoon of yoghurt from your previous batch. If you are doing for first time, then take a teaspoon of any store bought yoghurt and add it. Keep it in a warm place for 5-8hours till the milk turns to yoghurt. For warm place, I place it in my oven and switch on the light. Yoghurt will be ready in 5 hours.

Hope it helps. Good Health

Replied by Judith
(Toronto, Ontario)
01/31/2013

Hi Someone in Europe, Thanks. I do the abdominal breathing. The left side is ok, but still feel pressure on the rigth side just under the ribcage. MAybe my gallbladder or liver. I need to get it checked.

Replied by Judit
(Toronto, Ontario)
01/31/2013

Hi Ed from Oakville, Well, I am not sure if it`s the hernia.

I drink carrot juice and apple carrot puree at least twice a day, banana, avocado, salad without dressing. The miso soup is good but I feel a bit of discomfort in my esophagus. So I eat it 3 times a week. Wow! Thanks for the yogurt recipe. I didn`t know it`s so easy to make it. How long do you use the culture from your first hoem made yogurt?

It might be something else, yes , need to get it checked. I am just a bit sick of the doctors as they aalways prescribe me something. They sent me to do a barium x-ray, but as I have constipation I am not gonna do it especially of there is something wrong with my liver or gallbladder ( after taking so many antibiotics for maybe nothing if it was just the muscle, not really the infection). I can imagine my liver needs to work a lot. My stool was very greenish, yellowish, brownish , light which kind of changed. I was thinking lots of bile is leaving my body with stools. Sometimes hard tinypieces were in stool. Gallstones or indigested food (like chickpeas)?

Now the pressure is kind of gone under the left ribcage. However I feel more on the right side. Yes, I should get a CT scan or x-ray. It might be my gallbladder or liver.

I drank some kombucha grape juice, it was ok. Still digesting slowly a bit. Eating prunes for that it works. Eating much more fruits and veggies (80 %). However my tummy starts to make strange noise. I might need more acid too. I am getting the ACV today and coconut oil to start TEd`s formula. If everything goes well I would stop the licorice root for the reflux and maybe if I eat food which is not so easy to digest at the moment, like broccoli or cabbage I would take digestive enzyme. Than if I eat them again I would try it without the enzyme.

I plan to rub the coconut oil on my abdomen where I feel the pressure ( also lower right back pressure, slight pain).

I take the licorce root chewable tablet in the morning now. I feel ok, no reflux, but in the morning I feel like fluid moves in my intestines or goes around my ribcage on the left side if I lay down on that side. IF I do it on my rigth side nothing the fluid doesn`t go there. Do you know what it can be? I was thinking that`s the area where the diaphgram, gallbladder, liver and esophagus are. I need to get it checked for sure, but with homeopathic doctors. Byt the way do you know a good homeopathic doctor in the GTA or even in Bulington, Oakville?

Many thanks, Judit

Replied by Anon
(Anon)
02/02/2013

I know someone who went to the doctor who xrayed and said you have a weak spot in your intestine with some gas in it. But after resting the digestive tract it didn't go away. Then the doctor tested more and said your intestine twisted. After surgery it's ok now.

Replied by Judith
(Toronto, Ontario)
02/05/2013

Anon, I realized the fullness and bloated feeling on that part of the intestines were the beans what I ate or something else I don`t know. They might had been to heavy to digest for my intestines. 1 big kind of hairy stool came out. I have strange stools (food particles or dead bugs in it?) when I don`t take the digestive enzymes or don`t eat some arugula with olive oil. I take this before every meal to help digestion with a healthy bile flow.

Still having digestive issues but I read the slipperyy elm can cause constipation, The advice is to drink a lots of water with it.

Thanks for your answer. I keep in mind in case if the same feeling comes back and get it checked so I will know they problems were not the beans.

Thanks again.

Replied by Judith
(Toronto, Ontario)
02/05/2013

Hi Anon, Thanks for the info. I hope it`s not the case with me.

I was taking so many antibiotics. They messed up the acid level in my stomach, plus the LES valve is weak. I guess my acidity was hight then after the antacids is low. Food was fermenting in my stomach (saw undigested food particles, constipation some days after finished the antacid).

Now digestion is still slower than usually, lump feeling in throat, sharp pain on the same left side of the chest (after I slept lying down conpletely, twice), the acid or something from the foods fermenting in my guts). So need to watch out for maybe candida (afetr stopped the antacid) or h-plyori or ulcer in esophagus (due to high stomach acid).

The esophagus is still raw, the sharp pain is lessened after I take slippery elm fennugreek lozenges, but the lump feeling in throat is still there. I am getting my blood, urine, stool tested as the underlying cause of all of my symtpoms might be many things : candida, B complex or Mg deficiency ( after the antibitoics and tooth extraction I was not able to eat well), weak LES valve, liver full of toxins so no bile congestion and therefore the reflux, H-plyori ( it was negative month ago , but who know now ).

I try to eat alkaline food as much as possible and eat more often and smaller portions, but in the morning when I drink water even that makes me burp. In the evening after dinner I feel lump in my thorat and burping is more difficult.

New symptoms back of the tongue now more parts of the tongue get a white coating. I can scrape it easily, it doesn`t hurt, but I can never get rid of it fully. What do you think with the burned/raw or ulcer on esophagus how do stop the too much or too little acid ( I don`t know which one I am having) and to do the baking soda and ACV water testing would be too risky to do as I don`t want to burn my esophagus.

Answer would be very much appreciated. Many thanks.

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Tab (Chebanse, Illinois) on 10/28/2009

I see that alot of people are having good results with apple cidar vinegar for gerds. Did all of you stop taking your medicine right away? I'm trying to help my elderly mother who has gerds and she wants to know if she can stop taking her medicine the same day that she starts this remedy? Thanks

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Jackie (Arizona, U.S.A.) on 10/27/2009
★★★★★

I have recently been diagnosed with GERD and was prescribed omeprazole. While this works in a limited way (with extreme dietary changes), I was searching for a natural alternative because I do not like taking prescription meds. I did a search and found this web-site. Because so many people recommended apple cider vinegar, I tried it yesterday and I did notice a difference in my acid after eating. I took 1 tbsp ACV with 8 oz of water and 1 tsp of honey. I think I will increase the honey a little to help disguise the taste. I think I will also be making salad dressing with the ACV. I have been belching a lot which is a good sign that the acid is being neutralized. I am going to continue on this because I understand that it will work better with time. I will write again and update my progress. This is great. Thank you all a million times over for your help!


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Becca (Oakland, California, Usa) on 09/08/2009
★★★★★

After going to the emergency room twice in one day due to EXACT symptoms of a heart attack and getting no help from Dr.'s, I turned to the internet and found that my GERD that I've had for about five years, was mimicking symptoms of a heart attack (back/jaw pain, headache, numbness/tingling in face and shooting left arm pains). The Dr.'s I spoke with at the hospital told me I was experiencing "complicated migaines". One went as far as to say I was having panic attacks due to marijuana smoking. Once I came home and searched online I discovered this cite and the ACV mixture. I tried it the next day, drinking a 12oz glass of water with 2 tsps.organic ACV 10 mins prior to meals. I had great success and haven't experienced any painful symptoms since. I've been drinking it every couple days and rarely experience heartburn and only after eating really spicy dishes. I was taking DGL (licorice) which wasn't helping much and tasted awful. Prior to that I was taking Pepcid Complete daily with little success and much more costly. I can't thank this cite enough for blessing me with such a simple cure for my horrible and frightening pain. Thanks to all, stay healthy, and God bless!



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