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James (Houston, TX) on 01/18/2008
5 out of 5 stars

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.

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Replied By John (Duluth, Minnesota) on 03/01/2008

I read a message from James from Houston who took issue with using acid (apple cider vinegar) to fight stomach acid (HCl). It should be noted that vinegar is classified as a "weak" acid whereas HCl is a strong acid. In spite of the fact that both are acids, a weak acid will still react with a strong acid and diminish the acidity. The final result may not rise above the pH of the weak acid, but it is a significant improvement over the pH of the strong acid.
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Replied By Echoe (Des Moines, Iowa) on 01/14/2009

I wanted to add on to Ted's feedback on the objection to Apple Cider Vinegar for acid reflux.

It must be understood what the cause of the reflux is. Depending on the cause, the response will be different.

For some, the cause of the reflux is a production of too much acid, in which case, lemon juice in water, baking soda, and if chosen, an antacid of some sort.

However, for others, the cause of the reflux is not that too much acid is made, but too LITTLE acid. You can tell if you have little or no burping when you use baking soda as your remedy. The reason for the reflux in this case is not acid, but fermentation of food that is just sitting in your stomach. This means the remedy called for would be MORE acid. In which case, vinegar is very helpful.

The reason for adding 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda to vinegar is to help stop the burning effect of vinegar as you drink it. However, if you can stand it, vinegar at full strength with no reduction is recommended in this case.

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Replied By DrJ (Bombay, India) on 03/28/2009

Dear James,
These is alot of science in that post but its not to accurate. ACV may be acid to taste but it forms an alkaline "ash" once digested. ACV is an excellent remedy on its own diluted in water (not mixed with bicarb etc) if sipped through out the day. It simulates digestive enzyme function. Using for low HCL reflux is best. For best results with high HCL reflux try the Lemon/bicarb formula or Citric acid/bicarb formula!

EC: Those formulas are found here: https://www.earthclinic.com/remedies/alkalizing_formulas.html

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Replied By Shinyfun (Greenville, Sc) on 01/30/2010

This worked great for my heart burn. But I was concerned that after one sip of 1/8th teaspoon baking soda to 1 cup water made me sneeze about 30 times and I felt like thowing up to the point I kept VERY close to the bathroom (in a 5 minute span)... but now that I'm done sneezing, my heart burn is gone.
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Replied By Taffy (Santa Cruz, Ca, Usa) on 10/20/2012

It didn't seem to make sense to take ACV for a tummy that felt so full of air plus the pain, but it worked! We started with 1t diluted with a bit of warm water. Immediate relief! A bit of pressure and distension left was cured by another teaspoon ( 1T warm water). Cool!

Love how EC keeps it simple and tries to get to causes. So, to the cause of the tummy blowing up... At raw food school, I learned about the different chemicals our bodies produce to digest food. To oversimplify, when we mix foods that require acid (protein) and foods that require enzymes (carbs), we are operating competing systems. This can cause the tummy to blow up and hurt. We may not know which system is winning. However, that said, it seems the vinegar cure works for me and my friend regularly... that is, whether there's too much acid or not enough.

I do eat some single food meals which was recommended to me for good digestion. And the paleo diet concept rings true for me. I imagine, as our bodies evolved for 200,000 years, we grazed and hunted and ate one food at a time.

Keepin' it simple!

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