Hiatal Hernia Relief: Top Natural Remedies Guide

I can't thank the person who posted this finger technique enough in 2011. Seriously. THANK YOU!

The last 2 weeks for me have been absolute hell.

I've been waking up with this strange feeling in my stomach/lower chest that I thought was a tumor everytime I try to take a deep breath. Felt like my insides were out of place. I haven't slept much at all in the past 2 weeks because of acid, constantly burping and tight chest that would make it difficult to breathe laying down. I usually sleep like a baby. It got so bad one night last week I went to the hospital(and if you know me, I don't step foot in those places or see doctors unless I think I'm dying) I was burping for 4 hours straight. When I say burping I mean belching like I've been drinking pop all day and never drink that garbage. I couldn't stop and it was affecting my breathing. The pain from this hernia was there when I was trying to breathe as well but I didn't know what it was. I thought my lungs were just inflamed. I have asthma that acts up sometimes depending on how much I vape but never requires a puffer or actually worries me.

In the past few days I've gone from thinking I have GERD, COPD, cancer/tumors and a bunch of other stuff.

Ive started taking glutathione, msm, Apple Cider Vinegar with baking soda in the last few days. I've had some minimal relief from those but the pain to breath wasn't going away and feeling like my insides are out of place has been constant.

I tried this finger technique quickly (not truly believing I even have a hernia) and that breathing pain is gone!!! Not sure even sure I did it properly. I'm shocked. I'm going to continue doing this a few times a day or as needed.

Thanks again and God Bless this site. I'm writing this in 2022 and it unfortunately seems like this beautiful site is dead. The pharmaceutical industry has ruined health and internet censorship has made finding natural cures nearly impossible. Thank you Earth Clinic!

I was diagnosed with a hiatal hernia and from time to time it acted up and caused a real problem swallowing. I found some advice online that mentioned jumping up and down hard to move the diaphragm back into place. That worked a little sometimes.

What HAS worked for me is to use a rebounder, a mini-trampoline, several times a week for 8 or 9 minutes while I listen to a short podcast. I also have been taking some prebiotic supplements to aid and heal the digestive tract. Using the rebounder often sends me to the bathroom afterwards. I have not had an incident with the hernia since I started using the rebounder.

So, it's been many years, but I actually used a home remedy that completely cured my hiatal hernia. I read about it in an alternative medicine textbook.

I used a juicer every day, & made homemade ginger juice, I drank a shot (from a shot glass, 1 oz.) of it, straight, on an empty stomach every morning for 14 days. I also had an inguinal hernia, diagnosed at the same time as the hiatal. My surgeon was supposed to repair both, but he told me after the surgery that the hiatal hernia had disappeared! Ginger did not just help the inguinal hernia, but cured the hiatal.

My hiatal hernia flares up from time to time. I have found relief by making a castor oil pack. I put castor oil onto a piece of soft flannel, folded, making several layers. I apply it just under my sternum. I secure it so it won't move when I go to bed. I apply some heat to it and it's very soothing. After doing this for a couple of nights in a row, the hernia doesn't bulge as much and my abdominal muscles are able to relax which gives me relief.

Update: 11/5/2019 –

What I learned from a mistake' It's been close to a month since I discovered a regimen that helps my hiatal hernia stay down and not slide up into my chest. BUT, I also found out no matter how good I'm doing I still cannot eat certain foods, it will flare up the hiatal hernia!

Here's what happened:

I made the mistake of adding one shake of red pepper flakes to my collard greens cooking pot. I also buy sausage from a local farmer who raises animals without chemicals and non GMO feed. His sausage has a slight heat to it, so I ate one sausage patty with a bowl of collard greens. Neither of these foods were very spicy, but it was enough to inflame the hiatal hernia. I thought I could handle this spicy food since I was doing so good…WRONG!! I suffered for about 6 days and today it finally calmed down! I learned a good lesson so not all is bad in this situation.

Just stay away from spicy foods, you're better off. Even though all seemed fine with my hiatal hernia, I still cannot forget it's there and the possibility of it getting inflamed again.

I wanted to post what is working for me for my hiatal hernia, acid reflux and low stomach acid.

I thank GOD I finally figured out my remedy and I thank all the people posting in here for all your input and knowledge. Within the last 3 months I read (I think) in Earth Clinic almost every post relating to hiatal hernia, low acid stomach, enzymes, digestion you name so I could get as much info as I could to figure out what to do. I even purchased Ted and Bill's book on Amazon and all the meters they recommended to test your own health. By the way, it's an awesome book and the meters work great they recommend! A little about me: I'm 62 years old, female, and was diagnosed 8 years ago with a hiatal hernia, acid reflux, and gastritis.

They also tested for H-pylori and it was negative. Docs wanted to put me on antacids, but I refused them knowing at that time they don't cure anything. You've got to get to the real problem, I learned that working in health food/vitamin stores for years. My digestion in the last 8 years has been on and off good and bad. I used some supplements and baking soda for acid reflux and some digestive enzymes, I got by on that. I also narrowed down what foods were giving me trouble and stopped eating them or cut back. I am also type 2 diabetic and have a ton of food sensitivities. My mom had Crohn's disease, sisters and brothers have digestive issues too. Gut problems run in my family. Within the last 3 month my digestive issues turned for the worse. The hiatal hernia would not stay down and it seemed like I couldn't digest anything!! I was jumping with the warm water in my stomach after every meal with pain in my chest almost all the time from the hiatal hernia. All this ‘really' got my attention to dig in on the post on Earth Clinic and read…read…read. After some trial and errors on trying different remedies, I finally figured out my unique remedy.

I used a combination of products mentioned in some of the post and made notes on what I ate, took, and if it helped or made it worse. Here's what I've been taking for the last 5 days that's WORKING. I've not had my hiatal hernia in my chest and no acid reflux.

Products I'm using: Ginger tea (made from fresh ginger), ACV mixed with water, eating foods that contain natural enzymes for digestion (I can post the list I created if you want to read it, let me know) and the one I'm most amazed with - Premier d- Limonene liquid drops made by Premier Research Labs.

Here's what I do:

Every morning first thing: I drink a cup of warm ginger tea. I make it at night and just warm up. I don't have coffee for about one hour after drinking it. The ginger tea gets the digestive system going (muscles). Before every meal: I drink AVC (I started with ¼ teaspoon and now use ½ teaspoon) in 8 oz. of water. While eating I drink the ginger tea. Not a lot, about one cup throughout the meal. It was suggested to drink with meals by someone, so that's why I do it this way. Apparently helps stimulate digestion. After every meal: I drink 2 drop of the Premier d-Limonene liquid in 8 oz. of water after I'm done eating. Do not take it without food in your tummy. It even says on the bottle not too. I forgot one day and took it without food. My tummy didn't like it.

This is all that I'm doing right now. I will post again to update everyone on my progress. I am so happy because I was so miserable. Thank you again everyone for all your posts.

This helped me too!

Yes, this the only thing that helps me!

I suggest you to start your day with 0.5 litre of tap water which you must fill in glass jur before going to bed and drink it when you stand up in the morning. Also you must have your food in standing position."eating when sitting" is strictly prohibited. All these must be your daily regime during month or two, even you feel improvment in 2 weeks. If you have a heartburn you will have a omeprazole 20mg once a day on empty stomack just 4-5 days to reduce it fast. Needs no more as tap water consuption will improve your stomack excess production. Thank me later, Nadine and good luck

Was diagnosed with this today. It is the most uncomfortable feeling ever. Life is not life with this. I will try the ACV also. If there's any other remedy out there, please inform me.

This is something my husband does for me. The chiropracticer showed him how to release the stomach from the diagram.

There are several good videos on Youtube about how to manually get your stomach to drop back down to where it belongs without using any meds. I've found them very helpful.

I think he means cayenne pepper. After the article's I've been reading I'm gonna give it a shot.

I, too, have been able to solve the hiatal hernia problem through natural approaches. This was almost 20 years ago and although I still at time feel mild discomfort in and around my diaphragm, I don't have redux or pain. I had that manual adjustment that some have mentioned, done at the time by my chiropractor/chinese medicine practitioner. In addition to the adjustment, he gave me unknown Chinese herbs to drink and -- I think this was the clincher -- asked me to juice fresh ginger. Keep in the fridge. Drink 2 tablespoons first thing every morning and wait a full hour before drinking or eating anything else. That stuff is intense, but I could just feel it restoring the area.

This hand treatment for Hiatal Hernias originated more than 2,000 years ago in ancient Japan. It has been passed down into the traditional acupressure technique of Te-A-Te, for one. I studied it with a Japanese Master in the 1970's, and he, born in 1896, studied from his Master, and so on. Very effective for immediate relief and can be of lasting help when combined with dietary changes and herbs.

Most health food stores carry the Ph papers.

Liquid/gravity cure for temporary relief of hiatal hernia. Not sure if this has been reported, as I did not see mention of it; but I had found temporary relief of the painful swallowing when eating. I saw a site that suggested drinking one to two cups of water, and then dropping down quickly flat footed, from a raised calf-like position. This helps pull the muscle out of the diaphragm. It helped temporarily on a few occasions, but my best results so far have been from cutting out the carbonated soft drinks altogether. I am 3 weeks in and no more of the pain I would normally have, that would seem to only get better if I constantly raised my arms while swallowing. I am still having a condition of burping (especially with cucumbers, and bananas) but, have not had the heartburn that was almost nightly. I believe these other symptoms may subside as I get my body's chemistry back to more neutral (or alkaline). Btw, where would one get the PH paper I have seen talked about on here?

I hope my experiences/observations may help someone.

Long story short, seven years ago, I was diagnosed with a "medium sized hiatal hernia" via endoscope. I even once spent the night in the ER because I was sure I was having a heart attack because it was pushing on my heart that badly (all tests came out perfect for my heart! ) I am sure that I have had it for 15 or 20 years. I do not like surgery or drugs if I can avoid them, so here is what I have done to avoid ALL surgeries and ALL drugs in the past 7 years:

There is something you are eating and drinking that is keeping it aggravated. It is 100% a food allergy, or more likely, FOOD ALLERGIES!

Eating; for me it is all wheat and gluten, all dairy, all soy, all Allium plants (garlic, onions, etc), and I am finding Balsam of Peru and Balsam of Tolu hidden under "NATURAL FLAVOR". Keep a daily food journal and eat simple foods that you read the labels for and prepared yourself. Eat potatoes with nothing on them and wait 6 or 8 hours. Stomach feels good? Then it is probably ok. Then say, the next time you eat a potato with sour cream on it and it bothers you, you know that it wasnt the potato, but SOMETHING in the sour cream. Eventually you can narrow it down this way, might take years though. A skin prick test or patch test at a doctor can help somewhat narrow down food allergies, but they are not 100% reliable with foods, and many foods might show you are not allergic, when you actually are.

Drinking; DO NOT DRINK ANYTHING WITH MEALS OTHER THAN WATER, AND EVEN THEN ONLY SIPS! Do not drink much for the next 2 - 4 hours after eating other than sips here and there. NO carbonated beverages, EVER! If I have to have a soda, I get bottles of it and beat it on my hand or the table and slowly release the pressure and repeat until no more carbonation remains. Tastes flat, but has the flavor you crave if you have to have one. Unflavored unsweetened coffee and unflavored alcohols seem tolerable on an empty stomach, they can bother me a bit, but never drink them on a full stomach.

I always keep a bottle of water handy. If I can feel it bothering me, I drink a big mouthful or two and try to wiggle/stretch my chest around to get it to release while trying gently to burp. Then I repeat this until I start feeling better. Sometimes and rarely, I will sip like 1/8th teaspoon of sodium bicarbonate in a 16 oz glass of water (pint) and try to burp. If you can get the trapped air to release, it wont push on your heart and cause you to feel like you are dying.

I discovered that OFTEN you can actually little by little swallow MORE air into your stomach and get it to pull down the stomach and then you can burp out the swallowed air plus what was previously trapped. But this is trick is hard to learn when to do it, and when it will make things worse. I only mention it because often it works for me to help things out.

Drinking a 16 oz glass of water (pint) and immediately rebounding on a trampoline on an empty stomach daily can help train it to stay down where it should be, especially if you are avoiding the foods it does not like and drinks it does not like.

Breathing exercises, like the one where you suck in through a tiny straw or breathe out through the same straw can help strengthen your diaphragm.

Sleep with a bed wedge under your bed, or bricks under headboard. DO NOT eat a big meal within 4-6 hours of going to bed! I can do small snacks that do not bother me, but I generally avoid even them within 2 hours of bed time if I can.

DO NOT bend over or lift ANYTHING with in 4-6 hours after eating! You cant always avoid it, but unless your stomach is empty, you are asking to make things worse, both immediately AND long term.

I feel confident that you can potentially live a fairly normal life if you do as I have done. You may never have a 100% normal diaphragm again, but the trampoline and breathing exercises can help strengthen it so that it will keep your stomach where it should be more normally, especially if you avoid your personal food allergens and avoid the drinking situations that I mentioned.

Where was your bloating?

My left side just under rib down to my hip has been very swollen or maybe bloated.... It's painful and pushes against my ribs and stomach. I had an MRI and CT but all they find is the hiatal hernia.

For some reason they say nothing about the swelling, though it's visible to the eye. I need answers and can't find any.

That's a Bowen move which is a form of body work. I am a Bowen practitioner.

Re:Ward (Atlanta) on 08/27/2015 Ward (Atlanta) on 08/27/2015

"I only ate brown bread and veggies with meat no gravy not much fruit but I did add peppers to all my food."

Hi! Ward from Atlanta replied on 08/31/2015

"I cut up peppers (chillies) into all my food".

I went online in search of chillies and so many came up. I am hoping that Ward reads my post and can kindly respond to which chillies in particular is he referring to sweet or hot?

I want to thank you for putting up this Info for I have been suffering for the past four years with Gall Bladder issues and bloating and chest pressure and pain, and I just had surgery to remove the bladder and that pain gone but when they filled me up with gas the Hiatal Hernia moved up and I was now suffering real bad with that chest pain . Doctor said he will make specialist appointment so I new I would be waiting for along time once again. So back onto the net to research and I came across this and immediately tried it and it was amazing, it worked and I am practicing this everyday for I now am feeling a lot better.

Merry Christmas! and Thank you again, Charlotte

Sliding Hiatal Hernia

Have similar symptoms. Been using DGL tablets, (licorice) which doesn't affect blood pressure. Also start the day with Endefen, wonderful for digestive tract, recommended by my alternative MD. What really helps is peppermint sugar free gum. It helps after meals to get the gastric juices flowing and reduce gas.

Don

Thank you to Martha from Orange, Texas for this info on the ACV, my husband has been dealing with this pain for 2 years, the meds that the doctors have given him hasn't done anything and basically one even told him he has to learn to live with the pain, but who suffers of hiatal hernia or family members that have seen the pain that they go through know the desperation of trying to ease the pain. My husband has been with the pain since yesterday night Thursday October 15/2015 and its 11:05pm of Friday October 16/2015 and still in pain.

I just read your article about the ACV and gave him 1 and 1/2 tblspn in 8oz of water and he finally fell a sleep feeling the pain go away. A million thanks to this article. I don't know how else to express this huge tip.

I cut up peppers (chillies) into all my food

in 1985 I was diagnosed with hiatal hernia and stomach ulcers.Tagament pills for ulcers and Galviscon for my hiatal my doctor wanted to book me in for surgery as I could not lie down without my stomach acid burning my throat. anything I ate gave me pain and heart burn.

I have always hated hospitals so I refused, I cured myself by not eating and drinking anything with acid eg: tomatoes lemon, oranges, beer, no white bread or pastries that was doughy. I only ate brown bread and veggies with meat no gravy not much fruit but I did add peppers to all my food.

After 6 months, my hiatal hernia was healed and my stomach ulcers gone.my doctor scratched his head. He had never known that one could heal hiatal hernia as the valve had been stretched open and surgery was the only option.

It is now 2015 and I do not suffer ulcers or hiatal hernia. Ulcers is sores in the stomach breeding on bacteria, kill the bacteria and the sore heals. I believe pepper did the trick.

I also had a severe episode of vomiting followed by five weeks of hiccups. Acid reflux, bloated feeling and generally not feeling well with no energy left me tired and loosing weight. An endoscopy revealed duodenitis, gastritis and hiatal hernia. Coming off medication and managing a diet with less fat, wheat, gluten and spices improved things. However a blood test revealed pernicious anemia indicating malabsorption of vitamin B. A course of six vitamin B 1ml injections over two weeks has cured all of that. Looking forward to the next shot in 3 months.

I tried this method and I was amazed that it really works. Anyone that suffers from a hiatal hernia should try this. I've tried everything and nothing worked but this truly does work.

Abdominal Gas Could Mimic a Hiatal Hernia

I thought I had some of the symptoms of hiatal hernia but did not have any reflux so symptoms mystified. The pressure and pain against my diaphragm was intense every day. At least 4 months went by until I finally realized that my abdomen contained gas that was pressing against my diaphragm causing pain.

Once I squished the gas out of the abdomen area, the pressure let up and the hiatal hernia type symptoms went away. But the gas kept building up in my abdomen so had to continue squishing the gas out. I couldn't figure out why. It wasn't like the gas from eating food either.

I went to a long time practicing chinese doctor. she said it was a kidney infection. She gave me two things.

a) some type of bile salt for gall bladder and told me to take it with cranberry juice (i used one d-mannose tablet instead) in morning

b) I took an unknown herbal mixture at night to probably address infection.

After 2 weeks, the abdomen bloating or gas problem went away. My diaphragm still hurt from all that pressure but the pain went away after some healing. I could imagine that if I did not solve the bloating problem from my abdomen that it could have eventually led to a hiatal hernia. It was a very unusual bloating problem to have since it would occur even if I didn't eat much. It didn't seem connected directly to food nor did I have the reflux.

I seemed out a naturopath after severe burning in my throat, although the exercise didn't work for me, I hope it will help others. Why pay for the info when I can offer it lol. Drink 24 oz of warm water (first thing in the morning before coffee or breakfast) drink the water down as fast as you can. (You want your stomach to be full). Then stand up, and no shoes is usually best, or shoes with a thin bottom. As you want a hard drop. Stand, feet should be hip distance apart, then rise up on your tippy toes and drop your heels down hard. No controlled drop, the more momentum you have the better. The idea is the water in your stomach will be weight and as your drop it will pull your stomach down and remove the bulge from within the diaphragm, allowing your hernia to heal. I hope to for this helps someone, I fear mine is worse then what this can normally fix, good luck to you all.

Apple cider vinegar is an acid, and acts this way in the digestive system.It only becomes alkaline due to the way the body metabolises it, and so needs to be absorbed across the gastrointestinal tract into the bloodstream first.

Hiatal hernia/acid reflux

Not to cause confusion in this category but for the past 20 yrs. I have had hiatal hernias and acid reflux off and on. Reflux is a symptom of the hernia. Depending on severity, reflux is proportional to how long the hernia has been in place. In mild cases the hernia may pull back from the diaphram on its own. In severe cases or long durations, the stomach must be " pulled" down out of the diaphram. I go to a chiropractor that uses kinesiology, and has proven the technique works. And in most cases surgery is not needed.

To ease symptoms, as reflux during sleep you can lay on your left side which will reduce reflux especially after a large meal before bed.

I will add other info later

What I mean when I say technique ... look at this list.

http://www.nsirtech.com/technique_list.html

You have to research what exactly the name technique they are using. When you have the actual name of the technique, you are in a better position to find a chiropractor.

Another way I would approach this is look on internet for chiroproactors in the US and Canada who know something about hernia technique who you can email or phone and see if they can give you more specifics on how to track one down.

I like that you are pursuing many things with the glaucoma.

Here are a few links of other things

http://community.wddty.com/forums/post/6914.aspx

http://www.homemademedicine.com/home-remedies-glaucoma.html

Not saying it will resolve your situation but you want to think outside the box.

My view of saying this or that is genetic is really going down a dead end. The powers that be always claim this or that is genetic to push people away from the real causes and cures along with heralding genetic technology as the solution. The reality is that most cures that come about with advanced technology won't ever see the light of day until it filters down to the natural cure folks. Also many people have a misconception that once it is in your genes then you can't do anything about it. The expression of genes and which get turned on and off is determined by the environment. I wouldn't approach your glaucoma cure on basis of "genetics" even though some familiy member were affected.

Please be aware that when you are googling a search, google will limit what it finds by what it knows about you. It essentially compartmentalizes peoples thinking. So one can search one month and find nothing then later on new things come up on similar searches. Since you may be using public access type connections, this may handicap you.

The key to your success is your persistence in the face of all the obstacles and frustration. You can take a rest but don't give up.

One thing Mercola recommends for acid reflux, try betaine hydrochloric acid

You'll want to take as many as you need to get the slightest burning sensation and then decrease by one capsule. This will help your body to better digest your food, and will also help kill the helicobacter and normalize your symptoms.

Thank you very much Prioris for taking the time to respond to me.

Re: the method to remedy the hernia - "Oftentimes there is a structural problem between the shoulder blades. The ribs atach to the spine in back and the sternum in front. When the ribs are out of place on the back it will cause problems with the sternum and the diaphrram on the front which creates prblems with the stomach. Easy to correct with an anterior thoracic adjustment. Almost immediate relief.

The above is just one method I found on the internet besides massage to pull back the stomach fromt the esophegus.

Re: Burning throat - Acid Reflux. What are the proportion for the mix of ACV with baking soda? I have tried taking ACV with a teaspoon of honey with supper but did not see any healing.

Re: Glaucoma - it is genetic and have been putting drops in my eyes for over 20 years now... I am taking astaxanthin, lutein, rutin, ginkoa, germanium, vitamin C, etc. for preventative measures. I am also doing the eye exercises and trying my best to relax my eyes by looking away from the screen (computer, tv) and remember to blink and not to stare.

I hope someone from Toronto reads this and if they had an opportunity to find a chiropractor who is well versed in the technique, I would be very grateful for their name.

I tried to register on this site some months ago but was not successful. I am not very well versed, have no computer access at home.

I shall try again at registering so perhaps someone can send me a name by PM without placing it on the public forum.

Thank you Piroris once again.

I knew someone who had some type of pain that was head ache like. He went to the chiropractors almost monthly. One time he had use another chiropractor and he found the treatment more effective. Upon further investigation, we found out that he was using a particular method - coxes lower back extension - and a special table. This worked like a charm so he may have to go every 6 months to a year. I am just using this as an example.

Chiropractors learn many methods but they are not be taught in all the methods or have all the equipment. Do you know the exact method they use to successfully to remedy hernia.

In regards to h pylori, the goal is not to get rid of them but bring the population down to a reasonable level. Most people have h pylori. The problem occurs when the population becomes too large.

Your burning throat sounds like acid reflux. When you lie down, it will get worse. Try the Acid Cider Vinegar, Baking Soda etc.

As an aside bronchitis, asthma and acid reflux can seem the same especially with coughing. Took me many years to figure it out. For a while I thought I had nocturnal asthma when it was really acid reflux.

It has been said that glaucoma is caused by high pressure in eye but people who have low and normal pressure also get it also. First I would look into taking anti-oxidants for the eye such as astaxanthin, lutein etc just as preventative measure. Second I would try the Bates Method of relaxing the eye since it is easy to do. Third. could you indicate what you have tried for the glaucoma.

I have sliding hiatal hernia. For the past 2-1/2 yrs I have tried to find a chiropractor, osteopath and massage therapist to fix it but to no avail. Instead I have spent hundreds of dollars on chiroprators (NUCCA and KST included) and Osteopaths who claim they can fix it by adjusting it but they do not know how to do it.

I have done an intensive search on the internet and have a document with testimonials from lots of sufferers who have had their hernias adjusted by either a chirorpractor or an osteopath or a massage therapist. I have presented those instructions to them yet they cannot fix it for me.

I have had h pylori for a few years, have tried to get rid of it by natural therapies but not sure if it has gone. I also have glaucoma in both eyes. I have floaters in my left eye and in the last year my vision has decreased in that eye.

Please help me, I do not want to have esophegal cancer, already I cannot swallow softgel pills, I have burning in my throat and cannot sleep at night despite elevating my bed. Now burning in my stomach has started.

I shall be very grateful if someone in the Toronto GTA or neary surburs have been fortunate to find a practitioner (massage therapist included-I have instructions on that as well) who have fixed hiatal hernias. Also, was the hernia fixed in one adjustment or did it require a few more visits?

Thank you so very much.

Sherry

Girlinterupted, losing weight makes sense that it would help, but "listen to your bones" and try to figure out what foods are good for you and what you should stay away from.

It is not weight loss per se, but regular exercise 20 mins a day (resistance training, aerobics, jogging or any forms of exercise that involves faster physical movement) will start to increase the metabolism, Burn the fat, stablize the tummy pressure, increase the stomach and digestive agni. This may internally align your organs and reduce the symptoms of hiatal hernia.