Hyperacidity is known under several names: acidity, heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD or, from English, GERD). Essentially the problem is the same, but it reflects the difference between an occasional state of hyperacidity (for example following a large meal) and a chronic long-term problem. Whatever it is called, it is still an annoying ailment, but not too difficult to treat. Before deciding to use any natural cure, especially if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, ask your doctor for advice.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Change Your Diet and Lifestyle
Step 1. Change your way of eating
Reduce the amount of food you eat at each meal to relieve stomach stress and pressure. Do not eat anything during the last 2-3 hours of the day to reduce the risk of the meal putting pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter (or, from English, LES) while you sleep.
Eat slowly. This will help promote easier and faster digestion by the stomach. Having less food will prevent excessive pressure on the LES
Step 2. Avoid foods and drinks that cause stomach acid
You will need to learn about the elements that trigger or accentuate your ailment. Take note of what you drink and eat, then see how you feel after an hour. Ingredients that cause unwanted symptoms should be eliminated from your diet. Among the elements that most commonly cause hyperacidity we can include:
- Citrus fruits
- Beverages that contain caffeine
- Chocolate
- Tomatoes
- Garlic and onion
- Alcoholic
Step 3. Eat an apple a day
Just as the old saying suggests, apples are very healthy and can help you "keep the doctor away" when it comes to hyperacidity. No specific studies have been performed in this regard, but many people confirm that they have noticed a reduction in hyperacidity symptoms after eating an apple.
Step 4. Quit smoking and lose weight
The harmful effects of nicotine on the body are manifold and also affect the digestive system. Among other things, smoking also increases the amount of acids produced by the stomach. By losing weight you will favor a partial relief of the pressure exerted on the LES, avoiding acid reflux from the stomach.
Step 5. Make sure your stomach is not under excessive pressure
Compression causes an increase in disorders related to hyperacidity. The causes of excessive pressure can be attributed to several clinical and non-clinical conditions, including hiatal hernia (when the upper part of the stomach moves beyond the diaphragm), pregnancy, constipation, and being overweight.
Make sure your clothing doesn't put too much pressure on your stomach and abdomen
Step 6. Avoid stress
Whether it is emotional or psychological, stress can greatly increase gastric secretions and aggravate the symptoms of hyperacidity. Identify situations that you find stressful and exhausting and find ways to avoid them or to prepare yourself to better deal with them thanks to the practice of one or more relaxation techniques.
Start by incorporating meditation, yoga, or a simple nap into your daily routine. Alternatively, you can also experiment with some deep breathing techniques, acupuncture, massage, repeating a simple series of positive affirmations in front of the mirror, or soaking up a warm bath
Step 7. Do the heel drop exercise
In the morning, immediately after waking up, drink about 180-240ml of warm water. Stand up and keep your arms at your sides. Bend your elbows and join your palms in front of the pact. Rise up on your toes, then fall back on your heels. Repeat the movement 10 times. After the 10th run, keep your hands in front of your chest and take slow, quick, shallow breaths (as if you were panting) for 15 seconds.
Repeat the exercise every morning until you feel its beneficial effects. The goal of the practice is to realign the stomach and diaphragm, reducing the symptoms of acid reflux
Step 8. Keep your head elevated during sleep
If your bed allows it, raise the head part about 6 to 8 inches. Gravity will make sure that the acids remain in the stomach. Don't just use more than one pillow because the resulting position forces you to bend your neck and body in a way that increases the pressure on your stomach, thereby worsening the hyperacidity.
Method 2 of 3: Using Natural Remedies
Step 1. Drink aloe vera juice
120ml of juice is an ideal dose. You can drink it several times a day, but in this case never exceed 240-480ml daily. Aloe vera juice can have a laxative effect. Among the many benefits, it reduces inflammation and neutralizes stomach acid.
Step 2. Sip ginger tea
You can buy ready-made sachets or, better yet, grate about 1 teaspoon of fresh ginger and infuse it for 5 minutes in boiling water to then enjoy your herbal tea. You can repeat the preparation several times a day, especially about 20-30 minutes before meals.
Ginger is a natural anti-inflammatory and has a calming effect on the stomach. Additionally, it can help cure nausea and vomiting. Pregnant women can also take advantage of this powerful natural remedy
Step 3. Sip a fennel tea
Crush about a teaspoon of fennel seeds and pour them into 240ml of boiling water, then add honey to taste. Repeat the preparation 2-3 times a day, about 20 minutes before meals. Fennel promotes the well-being of the stomach and reduces its acidity.
Alternatively, you can rely on the beneficial properties of chamomile, calming and natural anti-inflammatory for the stomach
Step 4. Trust the red elm
The bark of the red elm (ulmus rubra) can be taken as a drink or as a capsule supplement. In the liquid version, a dose of 90-120 ml is recommended; as regards the capsules, follow the instructions in the package leaflet. The red elm is known for its calming and protective properties on irritated tissues.
The red elm can also be taken by pregnant women
Step 5. Treat hyperacidity with mustard
You can buy it in powder form and dissolve it in water to make an herbal tea. Alternatively, you can eat 1 teaspoon of regular canned mustard (make sure it is of excellent quality).
Mustard acts as a natural anti-inflammatory and is also able to neutralize acids
Step 6. Take deglycerinized licorice root extract (or DGL)
You can buy it online in the form of chewable tablets. Getting used to the flavor may take some time, but it has great stomach soothing properties and helps keep hyperacidity in check.
Regarding the dosage, follow the directions on the package leaflet. It is generally advisable to take 2-3 tablets every 4-6 hours
Step 7. Dissolve the baking soda in the water and drink it to combat hyperacidity
Dissolve a teaspoon of baking soda in about 180ml of water, then drink the resulting solution. While not having a very pleasant taste, it is extremely effective in neutralizing acids.
Step 8. Take a probiotic supplement
Probiotics are a blend of "good" bacteria naturally found in the gut. Sometimes they may also include yeasts. Saccharomyces boulardii and some species of lactobacilli and / or bifidobacteria are naturally present in the intestine.
The simplest way to take probiotics is to eat yogurt with "active cultures"
Method 3 of 3: Understanding and Treating Hyperacidity with Medicines
Step 1. Learn to recognize the symptoms
Before you start taking a remedy for hyperacidity, make sure that your discomfort is attributable to this disorder. Symptoms of hyperacidity include:
- Stomach ache
- Sour taste in the mouth
- Swelling
- Dark or black stools (due to having blood in them)
- Incessant hiccups or burps
- Nausea
- Dry cough
- Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
Step 2. Consider taking medication
In case of chronic hyperacidity or if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or suffer from any medical condition, consult your doctor. If you have tried to treat hyperacidity with numerous natural remedies, but have not obtained a good degree of relief, you may decide to rely on medication. Thanks to some medicines you will be able to reduce the amount of acids present in the stomach. If left untreated or continued for a long time, hyperacidity can cause esophagitis, oesophageal bleeding, ulcers, and a condition known as Barrett's esophagus (or epithelium) which can put you at an increased risk of developing esophageal cancer.
If you use any medications that can induce hyperacidity, see your doctor to review your intake or dosage
Step 3. Take antacids
Antacids are over-the-counter medications that work to neutralize stomach acid, usually providing short-term relief. If after taking them for two weeks, you still feel you need them, talk to your doctor. Prolonged use of antacids can interfere with mineral balance and cause kidney damage and dysentery.
Follow the directions in the package insert and never overuse with doses. If taken in excessive quantities, antacids can cause further stomach upset
Step 4. Use H2 blocking drugs
Their purpose is to reduce the secretion of acids by the stomach. H2 blockers include cimetidine (Tagamet), famotidine (Pepcid) and ranitidine (Zantac). They are available in reduced dosages in the form of over-the-counter medications, but your doctor may prescribe larger amounts. In the first case, carefully follow the instructions contained in the package leaflet. Possible side effects caused by H2 blocking drugs include:
- Constipation
- Dysentery
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Urticaria
- Nausea or vomiting
- Problems urinating
Step 5. Try using proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)
They also inhibit the stomach's production of acids. Examples of PPIs are: esomeprazole (Nexium), lansoprazole (Prevacid), omeprazole (Antra), pantoprazole (Pantorc), rabeprazole (Aciphex), dexlansoprazole (Dexilant) and omeprazole / sodium bicarbonate (Zegerid). If you intend to use an over-the-counter PPI drug, carefully follow the directions in the package insert. Possible side effects caused by PPI drugs include:
- Headache
- Constipation
- Dysentery
- Abdominal pain
- Skin rashes
- Nausea
Advice
There are medicines aimed at strengthening the lower esophageal sphincter, they include: bethanechol (Urecholine) and metoclopramide (Reglan). Talk to your doctor
Warnings
- Long-term use of PPI drugs has been associated with an increased risk of osteoporosis-related hip, wrist and vertebrae fractures.
- If left untreated or continued for a long time, hyperacidity can cause esophagitis, oesophageal bleeding, ulcers, and a condition known as Barrett's esophagus (or epithelium), which can put you at an increased risk of developing esophageal cancer.
