Natural Remedy For Heartburn.

Millions of Americans take antacids for heartburn. Ac-cording to alternative practitioners, they're all making a big mistake.
"One of the worst things you can do for your health is take an antacid," says Pamela Sky Jeanne, N.D., a naturopathic doctor in Gresham, Oregon. "That's because, in order to break down proteins into amino acids that are usable by the body, you must have sufficient hydrochloric acid in your stomach.

"If you take antacids, you interfere with this natural digestive process. You also interfere with digestion in the small intestine and the entire length of the digestive tract. In short, an antacid destroys your ability to absorb nutrients. And that can destroy your health."

It's not a mystery why Americans take antacids: Heartburn hurts. Doctors call this problem gastro esophageal reflux, and it occurs when a valve at the bottom of the esophagus, the tube that leads to the stomach, weakens. This allows stomach acid to reflux, or flow back into the esophagus, causing the intense burning of heartburn.

If you have gastroesophageal reflux disease, you may also have symptoms such as sore throat, hoarseness, a persistent cough, or difficulty swallowing. You may also have digestive symptoms such as queasiness, bloating, belching, and stomach pain.
Even though antacids make stomach acid less potent, they simply aren't healthy, says Richard Leigh, M.D., a retired physician in Fort Collins, Colorado. "Taking prescription or over-the-counter antacids for months on end for heartburn is cra/y," he says.
A much better approach is to use natural—and safe—remedies, Dr. Leigh says. In fact, he believes that in many cases, "acid indigestion" is really caused by not generating enough stomach acid to digest food properly.

HYDROCHLORIC ACID: More Can Be Better
"Most often, people think heartburn is due to excess acid," Dr. Jeanne says. "That may not be the case. There may be a deficiency of acid, particularly in people over 50, since stomach acid decreases with age."
In fact, the discomfort of having too little stomach acid is nearly identical to the discomfort of having too much, adds Llizabeth Lipski, a certified clinical nutritionist in Kauai, Hawaii. Because stomach acid begins the digestion process, having too little of it interferes with proper digestion, causing nausea, bloating, belching, and other symptoms of heartburn.
Dr. Leigh recommends that people with heartburn try taking a supplement containing hydrochloric acid, such as Gas-X Extra Strength liquid, right before meals, following the label directions. If your stomach is deficient in hydrochloric acid, you should get relief right away.

If, however, your stomach doesn't need the boost, you'll feel a mild (but not dangerous) burning sensation, which you can stop instantly by drinking either a glass of milk or a solution made by mixing ¼  to ½ teaspoon of baking soda in 1 cup of water, suggests Dr. Leigh.

LICORICE: A Natural Antacid
If your symptoms continue after taking hydrochloric acid supplements, there's a good chance that the problem is too much acid.
Rita Elkins, a master herbalist in Orem, Utah, recommends using a form of licorice called deglycyrrhizinated licorice, or DGL, which is a chewable form of the herb. It protects the lining of the esophagus, which may be at risk in cases of chronic heartburn. This form of licorice is thought to be more effective than regular licorice and may not cause high blood pressure, which is a possible side effect of other forms.

"Licorice may also be used to protect against the possible formation of some ulcers by hyperacidity," Elkins says.
When using licorice for heartburn, take one or two chewable tablets three times daily on an empty stomach, says Mark Stengler, N.D., a naturopathic physician in San Diego.

ALOE: Stops Symptoms Fast
"I suffer from acid indigestion, and drinking a cup of aloe gel whenever I develop symptoms stops them almost instantly," says James Balch, M.D., a physician in Trophy Club, Texas. The gel helps protect and heal the delicate lining of the esophagus, he explains. I le says that you can dilute the gel or not, depending on your taste. Re sure to check the label to see that you're getting the form intended for internal use.

SLIPPERY ELM: Heals the Mucous Membranes
"Slippery elm is a wonderful herb that helps relieve the symptoms of acid indigestion because it heals the mucous membranes that have been irritated or injured by acid reflux," Dr. Jeanne says. She recommends taking one capsule of the herb right before each meal.

MSM: Acid Protection
The nutritional supplement MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) strengthens the lining of the esophagus, protecting it from stomach acid, says Teresa Rispoli, Ph.D., a licensed nutritionist and acupuncturist in Agoura I Hills, California. She recommends taking one to three capsules twice1 a day with meals for as long as the symptoms continue.
 
SLEEP: The Right Way
Sometimes, the best remedy is the simplest.
"Remember, your stomach is on your left side," said Dr. Leigh, "so if you sleep on your left side or on your back, this encourages stomach contents to flow up into the esophagus." So when you settle down to get your zzz's, lie on your right side, he suggests.


12 Steps to Avoiding Heartburn
Natural remedies are very effective for treating heartburn, but it's often possible to prevent it entirely by avoiding the most common triggers, says David S. Utley, M.D., clinical instructor at Stanford University Medical Center. Here are 12 steps that he recommends.

1. Avoid high-fat foods. Dietary fat causes the body to produce a hormone that weakens the esophageal valve, thus letting acid into the esophagus.
2. Don't eat big meals. Eating a lot of food makes your body produce a lot of acid. Instead, eat five or six small meals a day.
3. Don't eat before bedtime. Lying down soon after eating makes it easier for stomach acid to flow into the esophagus. It's better to eat 3 to 4 hours before you go to bed, Dr. Utley says.
4. Cut out coffee and tea both caffeinated and decaffeinated. It's not the caffeine that causes increased stomach acid but some other, unknown ingredient in these beverages.
5. Cut down on carbonated beverages (especially cola and beer), citrus fruits, and tomatoes. These foods can trigger your stomach to produce extra acid.
6. Watch out for spices. Spicy foods are common causes of excess acid.
7. Chuck the chocolate. The fat and other ingredients in chocolate can open the acid faucet, causing painful heartburn.
8. Loosen your belt after eating. Tight clothing, such as belts, pants, and support hose, can create additional pressure and make heartburn much worse.
9. Skip the spearmint and peppermint. These normally healthful herbs, often enjoyed in tea or as a flavoring in after-dinner mints, loosen the esophageal valve.
10. Nix the nightcaps. If you have acid indigestion, drinking alcohol in the evening almost guarantees a late-night episode of heartburn.
11. Lose weight. While losing may be easier said than done, being 10 to 20 percent over your ideal body weight puts you at risk for heartburn.
12. Stop smoking. Smoking weakens your esophageal muscle, thus allowing acid to pour into the esophagus.