James (Houston, TX) on 01/18/2008
Hi I have occasional acid refulx and my wife has it severe at times. DO NOT TAKE ACV for Acid Reflux! It just doesn't make any sense. Acid Reflux is an Acid - you neutralize Acids with Bases (Alkaline).
pH less than 7 = Acidic, pH > 7 = Basic (Alkaline). Vinegar pH = 3ish
An antacid is any substance, generally a base, which counteracts stomach acidity. In other words, antacids are stomach acid neutralizers. I truly believe that adding an ACID to your stomach to reduce Stomach Acid is the wrong approach. You should add a BASE like baking soda. Rolaids & Tums are both Calcium Carbonate. Alka-Seltzer is Soduim BiCarbonate. Baking Soda = Sodium BiCarbonate. In the duodenum, gastric acid is neutralized by sodium bicarbonate. So Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda) is used internally by the body to naturally regulate stomach Acid. The equation is HCl NaHCO3 → NaCl H2CO3. HCL = HydroChloric (Stomach) acid
NaHC03 = Baking Soda.
Just add a little bit of baking soda to some water, swirl it around, and drink it. Within a few minutes you will belch. The belch is the gas released when the baking soda neutralizes your stomach acid (or if its crept into your throat it will neutralize it there). You will feel much better immediately. Baking Soda is completely safe.
Why would you ever want to add an acid (vinegar) to another acid (HCL) with the hopes of reducing acid? That doesn't make any sense.
Vinegar is acetic acid (CH3COOH). Some of these recipies recommend you add Baking Soda to ACV. When vinegar is added to sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), it produces a volatile mixture of carbonic acid rapidly decomposing into water and carbon dioxide bubbles, making the reaction "fizz". It is exemplified as the typical acid-base reaction in school science experiments. The salt that is formed is sodium acetate. Basically, this little experiment proves that its better to just take baking soda. The Vinegar is the acid and the Baking Soda is the base. The Baking Soda neutralizes the acid. Its the same way in your stomach, just add the Baking Soda and it will neutralize the acid. All you need is about a teaspoon of baking soda in an ounce or two of water. Problem solved immediately.
Good luck and I hope this helps.
Rachel (Chicago, IL) on 12/26/2007
I have some questions. I have acid reflux. I am also a singer so this is a curse. I have been trying the acv for nearly a week now (despite the awful taste) and hoping for a miracle. How long does it take to see results? I have been diluting it in cranberry juice and taking 2 TB 2x daily. If anyone has any ideas to improve the taste, by all means. It is really hard to swallow this stuff. I gag each time. Also, is adding the baking soda dangerous for people with high blood pressure? I have read pickle juice is also effective for people. Has anyone (particularily singers) had any luck with this? Are the health benefits the same for white vinegar and acv? Any info provided would be much appreciated.
Daniella (Palm Springs, CA) on 06/08/2007
I read that many people have used ACV for their acid reflex, but in my case I seem to get the worst acid after I eat vinegar or any acidic food. Right now I have a bad acid burn.I'm tired of all the digestive enzymes I buy --useless. Any help for my problem is appreciated. Thanks.
Don (Los Angeles, CA) on 03/03/2007
I have tried acv for about three weeks now with little success. I had a problem last night. When I use an extra pillow it seems to work but forgot to last night. I also have arthritis and acv mixed with raw honey has helped so much I have stopped taking syn-flex, a remedy with unknown side affects. I will try the acidophilus. Thanks
Tracia (Kentucky) on 08/03/2006
I tried ACV and it gave me the absolute worst heartburn and pain I've ever felt in my life. I began vomiting in a few minutes and now my heartburn is just SO awful. It is never this bad. I wish I had not done it.
Stephanie (NC) on 05/18/2006
i am currently trying to apple cider vinegar cure for acid reflux but haven't had the great results everyone else has. it has really upset my stomach and seems to make swallowing harder. i'm wondering if it has anything to do with the fact that i don't get heartburn i have the type that goes past the esophagus and pools in the root of the tongue? i'm going to continue to try it (2 tbl 3 times a day) unless someone has any advice. thanks, stephanie.
Pamela (Tyngsboro, MA) on 05/03/2006
I was so hopeful that it would work but, it didn't I am disappointed because I don't like to be on medications for long periods of time. For the 1st five yrs. I took pepcid, tums etc. I took Prilosec for 6 yrs. now I am taking Nexium for 6 yrs. What else is there out there?
Kayla (USA) on 04/05/2006
here's the thing I tried ACV and to be quite honest my acid reflux hasn't gone anywhere but worse, I even tried drinking different brands and still to no avail the heaviness in my chest is still there and I feel more nauseated than ever more power to the folks who seem to be feeling better after they drink ACV with a glass of water..... but I haven't see the benifits work for me.... I even tried taking ACV to even lose weight and still I see absolutely no results... besides wouldn't ACV burn the lining of your esophagus/stomach if you drink after awhile (even though one drings the organic gentle version of ACV)...just my opinion...thanks for listening.
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