Natural Cures for Heartburn

As more an more people grow tired with the onslaught of new drugs and treatments, naturopathic remedies have been gaining popularity, and that includes natural cures for heartburn. One in three North Americans suffer some kind of indigestion, and with a startlingly high figure like that, the extra attention to treatment is obvious.

While antacids can provide short-term symptom relief, repeated use can be extremely unhealthy, since they interfere with the absorption of vitamins, minerals and other medications. Practicing prevention and carefully supporting the digestive system with nutrients is a far more successful long-term resolution.

Natural Cures for Heartburn

Prevention is surely the best of the natural cures for heartburn. A good heartburn prevention plan needs to be based on a wholesome, low-fat diet. High-fat foods can cause indigestion, since they take longer to digest. Losing weight has also been proven to provide heartburn relief.

Diets that crank up acid in the stomach (including coffee, tea, soft drinks and tomato-based foods) have to be avoided or at least cut-down on. That list also includes anything that your belly can’t handle. Obviously, if you know what foods give you heartburn, you probably should stop eating them. (Easier said than done right?) You probably will have to strike tobacco and alcohol off your diet too. Don’t sleep or lie down two hours after eating also, and when you go to sleep, try elevating your pillow 15-20 cm.

Another great option among natural cures for heartburn is a natural process of the human body: saliva.

Stimulating saliva production by chewing gum or sucking on a lozenge can relieve heartburn. Your saliva covers the esophagus and reduces the effects of acid that has refluxed up from the stomach and is one of the great natural cures for heartburn.

Also, licorice has been used commonly as one of the alternative, natural cures for heartburn, replacing anti-acids and acid-blocking drugs. Licorice has been demonstrated to encourage both the secretion of mucin and the development of new mucosal cells, most likely through its ability to increase blood flow to mucosal tissue.

Natural cures for heartburn are common and effective, so try them out and see what happens!