Heartburn & Acid Reflux - Medication, Treatment & Relief
Natural Remedies for Acid Reflux
While there’s no guarantee that they can relieve heartburn, you can try out some of these herbal natural remedies that you might have already in the house:
- Chamomile tea: chamomile tea has a soothing effect on your senses and also on your digestive tract, leading some to believe that it can help relieve heartburn.
- Ginger: snacking on candied ginger or sipping ginger tea is thought to help heartburn symptoms. Ginger is known to be a digestive aid and can reduce nausea.
- Deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL): this pill or liquid form of licorice is found to be effective at increasing the mucous lining of the esophagus, therefore helping shield your throat from the irritation of acid reflux.
Foods That Help Acid Reflux
It’s well-known that acidic foods like citrus fruits are not recommended if you suffer from frequent heartburn. But are there foods that can help prevent heartburn? Does milk help acid reflux?
Find out about what you can eat to get relief from acid reflux:
- Fibrous foods: high-fibre foods help you to feel fuller faster, meaning you’re less likely to overeat – which is a risk factor for heartburn. Work some fibrous foods into your daily diet, such as brown rice, oatmeal, sweet potatoes, carrots, green beans, and broccoli.
- Alkaline foods: foods with a high pH level (alkaline) can help counteract stomach acid, which has a low pH. Alkaline foods include nuts, bananas, cauliflower, and melon.
- Watery foods: eating foods with high water content can help dilute stomach acid. These include watermelon, lettuce, celery, broth-based soups and herbal tea.
- Non-fat milk: milk is often thought to help with heartburn, although fatty foods are known to exacerbate it. However, non-fat or skimmed milk can actually provide immediate relief from heartburn symptoms by acting as a buffer between the stomach lining and acids.
Acid Reflux & Heartburn Medication
Some medicines treat acid reflux at its source by blocking the production of stomach acid (PPIs) while others treat heartburn symptoms once they can be felt (antacids). The type you should choose depends on how often you suffer from heartburn and acid reflux and how severe your symptoms are.
Learn more about your options below:
- Antacids: antacid tablets or liquids work to neutralize your stomach acid, helping to prevent the pain and discomfort of heartburn. They don’t treat the source of the issue but offer fast relief making them good for those who suffer from heartburn occasionally.
- Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs): PPIs come in many compounds, including omeprazole, pantoprazole, lansoprazole, and esomeprazole which is used in Nexium 24HR. These medicines block proton pumps in the stomach from producing as much stomach acid, helping to reduce the likelihood of heartburn. They’re meant to be used every morning* before you eat to prevent heartburn rather than treat it.
Speak to your doctor about whether antacids or PPIs are right for you. PPIs like Nexium 24HR are best for people who experience heartburn 2 or more days a week or more.
*Nexium is meant to be used every day for 14 days.
