Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 2: Using foods and herbs
• Method 2 of 2: Make lifestyle changes
• Warnings

Hyperacidity (excessive stomach acid, heartburn, heartburn) is a term used to describe the passage of stomach acid from the stomach into the esophagus, causing it to become irritated. This can happen due to malfunction of the lower esophageal sphincter, which normally keeps stomach acid in the stomach. Hyperacidity is not a serious condition, except when it becomes chronic then it is called Gastroesophageal Reflux (GORD). If you don't treat GERD or hyperacidity, it can cause ulcers and internal bleeding, and it can also increase the risk of certain cancers. Fortunately, there are all kinds of things you can do to heal hyperacidity naturally. If the hyperacidity doesn't improve with these natural methods, see your doctor.

To step

Method 1 of 2: Using foods and herbs

1. Know the symptoms. Before diving into the hyperacidity remedies, make sure that's what you have. Symptoms of hyperacidity include:
   • Heartburn
   • A sour taste in the mouth
   • Bloated feeling
   • Dark or black stools (due to internal bleeding)
   • Persistent belching or hiccups
   • Nausea
   • Dry cough
   • Dysphagia (a narrowed esophagus that feels like a piece of food is stuck in your throat)
2. Consult with your doctor. In general, foods that can cure hyperacidity are safe to use, but check with your doctor to make sure you can have it.
   • If you are pregnant you should always consult your doctor before taking herbal supplements.
3. Drink aloe vera juice. Aloe juice reduces inflammation and neutralizes stomach acid.
   • Drink between 120 and 480 ml every day. Aloe juice can have a laxative effect, so be careful not to exceed this amount.
4. Take a probiotic supplement. These "good bacteria" - saccharomyces boulardii, lactobacillus, and / or bifidobacterium - can promote overall health and help you fight H.pylori infection.
   • Another way to get probiotics is to eat yogurt with probiotics.
5. Drink apple cider vinegar. Add a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to 180 ml of water and drink it.
   • Apple cider vinegar is usually more effective than other types of vinegar.
6. Eat an apple every day. Although it may seem like a cliché, an apple is really good for hyperacidity.
   • The pectin in apple peel acts as a natural antacid.
7. Drink ginger tea. Ginger has an anti-inflammatory effect and soothes the stomach.
   • You can buy ready-made ginger tea bags or you can grate a teaspoon of fresh ginger and boil it in water for 5 minutes.
   • Preferably drink ginger 20-30 minutes before a meal.
   • Ginger tea can be safely drunk by pregnant women.
8. Drink fennel tea. Fennel tea calms the stomach and lowers acid levels.
   • Crush a teaspoon of fennel seeds and steep them in a cup of hot water.
9. Use slippery elm. Slippery elm can be drunk or taken as a supplement.
   • It coats irritated tissue and is also safe for pregnant women.
10. Drink baking soda dissolved in water. Dissolve about a teaspoon of baking soda in 180 ml of water and drink it.
    • Baking soda is naturally alkaline; thus it balances your stomach. It also reduces irritation to the esophagus and makes it less painful.
    • Add a teaspoon of honey or sugar to the baking soda mixture for better flavor.
    • Don't take too much baking soda, as it can cause fluid retention, bloating and stomach cramps.
11. Eat or drink mustard. Mustard has an anti-inflammatory effect and neutralizes acids.
    • You can dissolve mustard (or mustard powder) in some water or just eat it like that.
12. Take licorice root without glycyrrhizic acid (DGL). DGL is available as a chewable tablet and it helps restore the stomach and control hyperacidity.
    • Follow the leaflet for the correct dosage.
    • You may have to get used to the taste.
13. Adjust the way you eat. Certain changes in how you eat can help with hyperacidity. This includes:
    • Eat less at the same time. This ensures that your stomach is under less pressure.
    • Do not eat 2-3 hours before going to bed. This will reduce the chance that food will still press against your lower esophageal sphincter while you sleep.
    • Eat slowly. This helps your stomach to digest food more easily, so less food remains in the stomach and therefore less pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter.
14. Change your clothes. Do not wear clothing that is too tight to the stomach.
    • Clothing that is too tight around the stomach or abdomen can increase the unpleasant feeling.
15. Raise the head of your bed. If possible, raise your bed slightly higher at the head end; the acid cannot flow into the esophagus as easily.
    • Do not increase the headboard by using more pillows; then your neck kinks, which can make the hyperacidity worse.

Method 2 of 2: Make lifestyle changes

1. Consult your doctor. If you have chronic hyperacidity, are pregnant, or otherwise have concerns, see your doctor. If you have really tried to make lifestyle changes and if you have tried the natural remedies, but there has been no improvement after 2-3 weeks, see your doctor as well. Then you need medical help.
   • If you are taking any medications that can cause the hyperacidity, ask your doctor if you can adjust the dosage or if there is another one you can use.
   • Hyperacidity can also sometimes be caused by an infection of the Helicobacter pylori bacteria (H. pylori), which can also cause stomach ulcers. If you have H.pylori infection, you will need antibiotics.
   • Only the doctor can determine with a test whether the hyperacidity in you is caused by the H.pylori bacteria.
2. Stop smoking. Nicotine has many harmful effects on the body, including your digestive system.
   • Nicotine decreases the pancreas's bicarbonate secretion, causing more acid in the duodenum. This ultimately leads to a greater chance of a stomach ulcer.
   • Smoking also reduces the secretion of mucus in the stomach, making you more likely to get heartburn. In addition, it has all kinds of effects on blood flow, making your body less able to recover from, for example, a stomach ulcer.
   • Being a central nervous system stimulant, nicotine stimulates adrenaline production in the brain, causing the vagus nerve in the stomach to produce more acid.
3. Avoid foods that you cannot tolerate well. Eating certain foods to which you are allergic can cause hyperacidity. Many people are allergic to, for example:
   • Citrus fruits
   • Carbonated soft drink
   • Chocolate
   • Tomatoes
   • Garlic, onion
   • Alcohol
   • Keep a journal in your diary of what you ate and drank before you developed hyperacidity. Just write everything down and see how you feel for about an hour afterward. If the foods you ate an hour earlier bother you, cut that out of your diet.
4. Avoid fatty, sour and spicy foods. Eating a lot of this increases the risk of hyperacidity. Fortunately, it makes a big difference if you adjust your diet.
   • When you eat a lot of it, fatty and spicy foods are the hardest to digest, so your stomach will produce more stomach acid to process it.
   • Acidic foods such as citrus fruits or vinegar already have a certain amount of acid in them, so the concentration of acid in your stomach increases.
5. Make sure there is no pressure on your stomach. Pressure causes discomfort and hyperacidity.
   • You may feel excessive pressure from a diaphragm fracture (when the upper part of the stomach rises above the diaphragm), pregnancy, constipation, or being overweight.
6. Avoid certain medications such as aspirin, pain relievers, muscle relaxants, and blood pressure drugs.
   • Both aspirin and other pain killers damage the stomach lining by breaking down mucous membranes because they inhibit the enzyme cyclo-oxygenase, which can make you more likely to experience hyperacidity.
7. Avoid stress. Stress, be it emotional or psychological, can worsen digestive problems and amplify the symptoms of hyperacidity.
   • Identify situations that you find stressful and tiring. Find ways to avoid these situations or improve your ability to cope with relaxation techniques.
   • Take up meditation or yoga, or take a nap in between. Other ways to reduce stress include deep breathing, acupuncture, massage, taking a warm bath, or just saying some simple affirmations in front of the mirror.
   • Get plenty of rest. Lack of sleep makes your body more susceptible to stress.
8. Do the "heel exercise". This is a chiropractic approach to hernias, but it also works against hyperacidity. You ensure that your stomach and diaphragm are aligned again.
   • Drink a glass of lukewarm water just after getting up in the morning.
   • Bring your arms out to your sides while standing. Bend your elbows and bring your palms together in front of your chest.
   • Stand on your toes and then drop onto your heels. Repeat this 10 times.
   • If you've fallen on your heels 10 times, still keep your hands in front of you and breathe in and out quickly and shallowly for 15 seconds.
   • Repeat this every morning until you notice that things are getting better.

Warnings

• Untreated or long-term hyperacidity can lead to esophagitis, esophageal bleeding, stomach ulcers, and a condition called Barrett's esophagus, which can lead to an increased risk of esophageal cancer.