Helping to Heal Heartburn and Acid Reflux
Helping to Heal Heartburn and Acid Reflux
Heartburn, Acid reflux, and GERD can all be closely related. Even though heartburn can feel like it’s stemming from the pain associated with the heart, it actually has nothing to do with the heart. Acid reflux best describes what is actually going on because the reflux of acid flows up into the esophagus. Heartburn occurring occasionally after a high fat, greasy meal (hotdogs, fried chicken, etc...) can be non-threatening and might simply mean you ate too fast or ate too much at that particular meal. In this case, you have an uncomfortable flare-up, the body is signaling that it's on overload and after a bit, it completely goes away. However, if this sensation becomes more chronic, there might be an underlying issue that can eventually cause big problems if not cared for in a healthy manner.
Stomach acid (hydrochloric acid) is a very necessary part of digestion. Shutting it down isn’t a good way to resolve heartburn and can cause problems. Stomach acid tends to get a bad rap because it is considered to be the cause of many digestive symptoms. However, its purpose is to neutralize harmful pathogens and aid in digesting food. The idea shouldn’t be to shut down stomach acid but simply to soothe the digestive tract in a natural fashion so that the underlying issue is actually resolved. There are many healthy alternatives rather than over-the-counter or prescribed antacids that will actually support the body’s natural methods to help when heartburn is present. By helping the body to heal instead of hindering a much-needed process, you resolve the issue from where it started.
A clean diet and healthy lifestyle can heal acid reflux but here are some ways to help shutdown heartburn when it is active.
Peppermint Oil - Peppermint oil has anti-fungal and antibacterial properties and can aid in digestion. Add a few drops of quality essential oil to a carrier oil (such as coconut oil) and massage over your belly. You can also put a drop on your tongue or rub it on the back of your neck. However, it isn’t recommended for ingesting when chronic acid reflux is present.
Aloe Juice - Aloe increases digestion and can help neutralize stomach acid and inflammation. The best form is from the actual leaf that can be purchased in health food stores. You scrape the meat from inside the leaf and add it to smoothies or juice (to cover the gel-like consistency). Aloe is packed full of nutrients and digestive healing properties. You can also purchase an organic inner filet juice that is pre-prepared. As with all things that are processed, you do lose some of the benefits but organic juice remains a solid option.
Quality Digestive Enzymes - Look for ingredients such as ginger, turmeric, amylase, protease, and ox bile. The body naturally produces enzymes but when the diet has been compromised with processed foods, toxins, and too much processed sugar, the enzymatic function can slow down and need extra support. Adding some digestive enzymes to your diet can help stimulate your natural production when in conjunction with a healthy diet.
Ginger/Peppermint Tea - Ginger and/or Peppermint tea are well-known aids in Traditional Chinese Medicine to help alleviate heartburn and acid reflux. They soothe the digestive tract and cool the fire from the acid burn.
Next time you have a flare-up, try one of these natural remedies instead of reaching for traditional antacids. Our body needs acid to digest food. The goal shouldn’t be to shut down the acid but to repair the underlying issue that caused the flare-up in the first place.