Everyone suffers from heartburn from time to time. It may be the result of too much indulgence at the dinner table or it could be too much of that spicy food that you just can’t seem to put down. Regardless of the cause, it’s a pretty safe bet that you’re going to want relief when that dull and unpleasant pain begins to creep across your chest. Most people who experience heartburn will immediately reach for the antacids, popping them in a glass of water. However, there are more natural remedies for heartburn as well, which can work even better, while not giving you the ugly side effects or the cost that those drug store remedies may cause.
Chewing Gum
Not only will chewing gum help your breath stay minty fresh but the act of constant chewing increases the amount of saliva your mouth will produce. With each swallow, the saliva will wash away more acid and as a result improve your symptoms. Try chewing a piece of sugar-free gum for at least 30 minutes after each meal and you’ll see a noticeable difference in your bouts with heartburn.
Baking Soda
Basically, baking soda is pure sodium bicarbonate, which is a great way to get stomach acid to neutralize. Add just a teaspoon of baking soda to a full glass of water for your occasional heartburn. Be warned, however, that you should avoid this type of remedy if your heartburn issue is a frequent occurrence. Baking soda contains lots of sodium and could lead to other problems if taken too often. If your cases of heartburn happen with any type of regularity, it is best to try another of the many heartburn home remedies to get relief.
Aloe
Most people recognize aloe for a topical treatment in the case of burns, scrapes and other skin irritations and injuries. However, medical experts also recognize that its juice can work just as well internally. Aloe Vera juice is known for reducing inflammation in the esophagus and the stomach that may be caused by the excess acid. You only need to drink 1/2 cup before you eat and it will keep the irritation from rising up. Do not drink too much as the juice can also serve as a laxative that could make things unpleasant in an entirely different way.
Licorice
Another surprising home remedy is chewing on a stick of licorice to ease your heartburn. The properties in licorice can naturally heal the stomach. Doctors recommend chewing licorice tablets before you sit down to eat if you don’t have a few licorice sticks sitting around the house.
Heartburn pain can be a very uncomfortable experience for anyone and when that feeling strikes you may not want to have to head off to the drug store for relief. When you know some of the many heartburn home remedies that can give you relief, you could save yourself that trip or avoid having to spend the extra money to feel better. Remember that natural products do not often come with dangerous side effects that most medications have, and your body will usually respond better to these treatments than other medications.
