Heartburn - Is There a Natural Remedy?

Heartburn is uncomfortable, but the over the counter medications and prescriptions have their share of side effects, some of which may be worse than the heartburn. And if you're pregnant and suffering from this condition, these may not even be an option. Safe and effective natural remedies do exist for heartburn. Some of these are listed below. They're available singly and in combinations at Native Remedies.

Mustard.  Strange as it may seem, the yellow stuff you put on the hotdog that causes your heartburn can also be used to stop it.  Just take a small amount (about half a teaspoon) when you experience symptoms.  Grey and yellow mustards both work, so you can choose your favorite brand.

Aloe Vera.  Try a juice or pill form.  Aloe Vera is a great way to prevent heartburn before it starts.  Just take capsules or drink half a cup of the juice twice a day to protect your esophagus from damage. Aloe is very healing to the intestinal tract generally.

Licorice.  The herb, not the candy (sorry!).  Look for deglycyrrhizinated licorice, or DGL (which can raise your blood pressure).  It eases inflammation, and coats and protects your esophagus.  It’s even used to treat ulcers, but works great on heartburn and acid reflux as well. Licorice is healing to the adrenals too, and can help with fatigue.

Slippery Elm.  Like many other treatments mentioned here, slippery elm cannot only treat heartburn, it also helps with other digestive problems.  It’s available in a powder, a tea, and even lozenges.  Slippery elm tea is quite pleasant tasting, and very healing to the stomach.

L-Glutamine.  This is a natural amino acid that can help ease your heartburn symptoms.  You can take a supplement, or simply get more glutamine naturally in your diet.  You can find it in foods like: beans, red meat, nuts, and fish.  You should take it as a preventative measure between meals instead of waiting till you’re in pain.

Marshmallow.  Again, the herb, not the candy.  Marshmallow root can be brewed into a tea and drank three times a day to prevent symptoms.  Like the other natural cures, this coats the esophagus to help aid digestion and ease heartburn pain.

Apple.  Instead of taking pills or herbs the next time you have heartburn, why not eat a few apple slices.  This will ease your heartburn after just a few bites.  It’s also a great, safe cure if you’re pregnant.

Yogurt.  The live cultures in yogurt have often been touted for helping digestion.  By aiding digestion, yogurt can also ease heartburn symptoms.  If you don’t eat yogurt, you can get pills with the same good bacteria that work just as well. Cultured veggies are also a good idea.

Remember that just because a heartburn remedy is natural doesn’t automatically mean that it’s safe.  You should consult a licensed health care provider before starting any kind of treatment, natural or otherwise (although, you probably already know if you can safely eat mustard, yogurt, and apples).