The safest and most effective natural remedies to calm heartburn and acidity from gastroesophageal reflux.
The gastroesophageal reflux is one of the most common digestive disorders in the Western world.
Relfux, in addition to greatly worsening the quality of life, if not treated properly, over the years can become dangerous to the point of leading to Barrett’s esophagus, a precancerous disease which, in some circumstances, can degenerate into cancer of the esophagus .
Official Medicine provides for the use of antacid and gastroprotective drugs which in some cases manage to calm the symptoms, but not without side effects. In fact, there are several studies that have warned about the danger deriving from prolonged use of antacid drugs and pump inhibitors, given that long-term use is correlated with a serious increase in cardiovascular risk .
Reflux and nutrition
Since this is a disorder whose causes are mainly of a dietary nature, it should be well understood that a modification to one’s diet is the first essential step to heal from reflux .
I’ll give you some advice later that I’m sure will be useful to you.
Reflux and natural remedies
Nature provides us with an incredible number of medicinal plants and herbs that we can rely on to treat our ailments. Among these there are specific herbs for stomach ailments, such as gastroesophageal reflux and other often related diseases, such as gastritis, hiatal hernia, duodenal ulcer, etc.
We will talk about herbs and natural remedies for reflux shortly, but first let me spend a few words on what are the main causes of gastroesophageal reflux.
Causes of Reflux
Gastroesophageal reflux disease occurs when gastric juices come into contact with the wall of the esophagus, causing burning behind the breastbone and acid regurgitation.
This happens when the cardia – the valve that regulates the passage of food from the esophagus to the stomach, preventing it from returning back – does not close as it should, thus allowing gastric juices to go up into the esophagus.
Why does this happen?
This can happen for a variety of reasons. The main reason, as I mentioned earlier, is due to poor nutrition .
As Dr. Dario Polisano in the video below, the main culprits of gastroesophageal reflux are dairy products (milk, yogurt, cheese, butter, etc.) and foods with a high glycemic index such as starchy foods (bread, pasta, crackers, biscuits, etc.) but also corn, white rice, glucose syrup, sweeteners (especially those found in chewing gum and candy) and in general the sweets .
Beware of some drugs
Some more, some less, all drugs have side effects. Those most likely to cause acid, heartburn and reflux problems are blood pressure medications .
If you hire them, they may be responsible for your problem. If so, talk to your doctor.
Taking medications such as pain relievers, antihistamines, antidepressants, and calcium blockers can also cause reflux.
Symptoms of reflux
The clearest and most common symptom, which gives its name to this pathology, is acid regurgitation accompanied by burning in the chest and stomach. Other more or less common symptoms are: nausea and vomiting, cough, bad breath, sore throat and in some cases even tachycardia.
Natural remedies for gastroesophageal reflux
In nature there are several plants that can help you, perhaps not to heal, but at least to reduce the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux and therefore to get better.
So let’s see what are the most effective natural remedies for reflux .
1. Aloe
L ‘ Aloe is a succulent plant with fleshy leaves, inside which there is a transparent gelatinous consistency from the pulp. The juice obtained from the Aloe leaf and pulp is one of the remedies that is most used to naturally calm the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux.
In particular, Aloe acts on the stomach and esophagus as a film that adheres to the walls of the mucous membranes, protecting them from the erosive action of gastric juices . At the same time, thanks to the presence of acemannan, a polysaccharide present in the gel, Aloe acts by reducing the inflammatory state, consequently relieving the burning sensation .
Not only that, Aloe is a strong alkalizer , this allows to reduce the acidity of the tissues and gastric acidity.
Several interesting studies have already been published on the positive effects of Aloe on digestive disorders such as gastritis and reflux. If you like you can consult them here:
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26742306/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4103709/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4087681/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4277969/
Which Aloe to choose and how to take it?
Up to now, scientific studies have always focused on a single variety of Aloe, Aloe barbadensis, also known as Aloe vera. Most likely the reason is that it is the most commercialized variety. Juice made from Aloe Vera gel is an excellent remedy for reflux, however it is not the best choice .
As Father Romano Zago describes in his book “Aloe is not a medicine … and yet it heals”, the variety of Aloe with which the best results are obtained is undoubtedly Aloe arborescens . In particular, he recommends the juice obtained from the smoothie of the whole leaf, mixed with honey and a little grappa (or other distillate).
The friar recommends taking this juice, consistently every day, in the dosage of 3 soup spoons a day . Generally better results are obtained by taking it 20-30 minutes before meals, on an empty stomach, but I must say that there are people who are better off taking it after a meal.
Contraindications
Aloe is always contraindicated in pregnancy, while in breastfeeding the aloin-free formulation can be taken .
Considering that Aloe has laxative properties, the juice made with the whole leaf in some more sensitive subjects can cause some intestinal disorders. For those who have problems such as colitis, diverticulitis, Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, it is advisable to opt for the intake of Aloe Vera without aloin juice .
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2. Licorice decoction
Another very effective remedy for gastroesophageal reflux is licorice ( Glycyrrhiza glabra ). Obviously I’m not talking about the candy or the soft gum sold in supermarkets, but the root itself!
In fact, licorice root boasts anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, healing and protective properties of the gastric mucosa, licorice relieves heartburn and stomach acid and counteracts gastric reflux.
How do you assume
A decoction must be prepared with the licorice root .
To prepare the licorice decoction, add a teaspoon of root (chopped or powdered) to 250 ml of water, let the mixture simmer for 15 minutes without a lid, then filter. Drink up to 3 cups a day.
A cup after meals, or after you experience the burning symptoms of reflux.
Contraindications
Licorice is a safe product, but as it is known it tends to raise blood pressure and retain liquids, so it is contraindicated for those suffering from high blood pressure and those suffering from water retention .
It is also better not to use it for long periods (beyond a month).
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3. Cabbage Juice
A remedy that has its roots in tradition is cabbage juice ! The various types of cabbage ( cabbage, savoy cabbage, red cabbage, etc. ) have always been known in folk medicine for their incredible ability to speed up wound healing and healing.
In fact, cabbage, in addition to being a highly alkalizing food (therefore antacid), boasts restorative and emollient properties , which make it the ideal cure also for the treatment of gastroesophageal disorders, such as reflux, gastritis and gastric ulcers.
Some recent studies confirm the healing qualities of cabbage.
Through a double-blind clinical study against placebo, it was found that taking the cabbage centrifugate heals the lesions caused by the peptic ulcer in just 22 days.
How do you make cabbage juice?
You can use any variety of cabbage to get cabbage juice, but usually either savoy cabbage or cabbage is used.
To extract the juice you will need a juicer , or even better an extractor . The juice extractor is a household appliance that uses low-speed technology to extract juice from fruit and vegetables without compromising nutrients.
How do you assume
The cabbage juice taken about 20 minutes before a meal, the dosage of a bucchiere to three times a day . To obtain appreciable results, it is recommended to continue the administration for at least 15 days .
The taste is not the best, to mitigate it it is possible to add fennel and / or carrots to the extractor, both vegetables that have a good alkalizing action and therefore help against reflux.
Contraindications
Cabbage juice is contraindicated for those suffering from thyroid disease.
4. Herbal teas for reflux
In addition to the remedies mentioned above, there are several herbal teas which, by virtue of their antispastic and calming action, are particularly effective in alleviating the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux .
Among these we find:
Some naturopaths and herbalists also recommend ginger , but I have noticed that for many people this spice, whether used raw, or as an herbal tea, worsens the symptoms rather than appeasing them.
Most likely this is due to the fact that ginger, while having an anti-inflammatory action, also tends to increase gastric acidity.
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NB : All information published on this site is informative and should not be considered as advice, or medical prescriptions, or other.