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Baking Soda for Acid Reflux

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Shotzie (Lynchburg, Va) on 04/05/2010:
5 out of 5 stars

Last night I had such an attack of gastric acid reflux I thought I was going to have a heart attack and die. I am not exaggerating. I tried everything ice, tums, milk.... Then I went on line and googled your site. I tried the baking soda 1/4 tsp in 8 oz of water and what a difference. WOW I am singing your praises today. Did sleep upright in the recliner finally got some sleep. THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! Why hasn't a doctor told me this before? Today I do have some chest congestion ( I think I got some acid in my lungs) but what a difference. I have bookmarked your site and will be here again. Thanks so much!!!

Shinyfun (Greenville, Sc) on 01/30/2010:
5 out of 5 stars

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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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.

Gina (Newport, United Kingdom) on 12/23/2007:
5 out of 5 stars

Thank you for this site. I had lump in throat, uncomfortable in the back discomfort in the chest area. ACID REFLUX was taking over. Now honestly I do not have any symptons I drank southern comfort last night for the first time in years. The cure for me was, 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in the morning and night, still taking omeprazole in the day. NO CHOCOLATE OR FAT WHAT SO EVER. Porridge for break fast. No more pain honest.

Marty (Lake Alfred, FL) on 05/05/2007:
5 out of 5 stars

I use baking soda in all my drinking water for better health in general. Use only enough too nuturalize the acid found in nearly all municipal water supplies and [unbeliveably] in bottlrd water too.I got relief from acid reflux, not nearly as much cold or sinus problem, and better joint condition.I did the PH test several times and found a pinch of baking soda about the size of the small finger nailin every glass or bottle of store bought water does the job. Most people have an acidic Body PH and the object is to keep the body PH above 7. 7.2 would be great. There are many other health benifits to this. 6 to 8 glasses per day recomended, the water taste better too. If you mix the soda with water and can taste the soda you are using too much. Be Healthy Be Happy!! Marty

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