Home Remedies For Heartburn

The effectiveness of the various home remedies on soothing heartburn differs from person to person. Home remedies to relieve heartburn, also called acid reflux, include:

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR

"Apple cider vinegar works for some, but makes it worse for others," reports Rouzer. Swallowing a small amount (about a teaspoon) of unprocessed apple cider vinegar mixed with water may reduce the acidity level in the stomach. But there's no scientific evidence to back up those claims.

Bottom line: Apple cider vinegar is safe to try for acid reflux as long as you use a small amount and the cider vinegar's diluted.

PROBIOTICS

"I recommend probiotics for a variety of gastrointestinal issues – like diarrhea, bloating and gas – but not usually for acid reflux," says Rouzer. She cautions that it's important to purchase probiotics from a trusted supplement manufacturer. You want to be sure you're getting a quality product.

Bottom line: Test out probiotics for heartburn relief as long as they're from a reputable company.

CHEWING GUM

A small study found that chewing sugar-free gum for 30 minutes after lunch or dinner could reduce acid levels in the esophagus. But for some people, peppermint gum can worsen symptoms. (See information on peppermint, below.)

Bottom line: There's no harm in chewing gum after a meal to see if it soothes acid reflux. You may want to avoid peppermint or spearmint flavors if you can't tolerate them.

ALOE VERA JUICE

The gel from aloe vera leaves is known for soothing a sunburn – but what about a heartburn? Some people take aloe vera internally to reduce stomach acid and calm irritation. However, there's no research to indicate that aloe vera helps heartburn.

Bottom line: Try aloe vera juice as long as you buy it from a trusted source so you can be confident you're getting a pure and safe product.

BANANAS

Bananas are a bland, low-acid fruit that people often find to be gentle on the digestive system. "The vitamins in bananas help stop gastrointestinal spasms, but it's not clear whether they can affect acid reflux," says Rouzer.

Bottom line: If nothing else, bananas are a great snack food for most people. Testing whether bananas help your heartburn symptoms couldn't hurt.

PEPPERMINT

"Peppermint relaxes the stomach," says Rouzer. "You may feel better after taking it. However, peppermint can also increase acid reflux symptoms in some people – because it may loosen the muscle that keeps liquids from flowing back up into the esophagus."

Bottom line: Whether peppermint is useful depends on the individual. You can try sipping tea or taking a peppermint pill, but if this remedy instead increases your acid reflux, consider trying ginger. Ginger is calming and reduces inflammation in the stomach. Both peppermint and ginger can help with diarrhea, bloating and gas, too.

With the popularity of essential oils, some consider using peppermint or ginger essential oil as an aid for digestion. Speak with your healthcare provider before taking essential oils internally or topically. Essential oils can interact with medications, each person's body reacts differently to these oils, and because the oils are not regulated, there can be inconsistencies in what is the actual product purchased.

BAKING SODA

A little baking soda mixed with water can reduce your stomach's acidity level, says Rouzer. It works like an over-the-counter antacid, but unlike those fruity delights, a baking soda concoction doesn't taste as good.

Bottom line: If you've got baking soda in your pantry, try this home remedy when you're desperate for relief from acid reflux.