Acid Reflux is what your grandmother used to call heartburn and what your doctor will call GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease).

Heartburn is that burning sensation which radiates up through your chest and into your throat and is most common after eating a heavy meal,  bending over, lifting and  lying down (especially laying down on your back).

According to Health Central:

Nearly three-quarters of patients with frequent GERD symptoms experience them at night. Patients with nighttime GERD also tend to experience more severe pain than those whose symptoms occur at other times. One study found that patients with night-time pain reported levels of severity that were similar to those reported in angina and congestive heart failure.

OUCH!  Heart burn so bad it feels like a heart attack!  That’s serious.

According to Healing Daily:

The so-called “proton pump inhibitors” such as “Prilosec” and “Prevacid”, and the H2 blocker agents such as “Zantac”, “Pepcid” and “Tagament”, are some of the worst drugs you could possible take.

Here’s why: these drugs dramatically reduce the amount of hydrochloric acid you have in your stomach, thereby diminishing drastically your ability to digest your food properly. This reduction in the amount of stomach acid also reduces a very important defense mechanism against food-borne infections and increases your likelihood of food poisoning. Not digesting your food properly also increases your risks for nearly every other chronic degenerative diseases. Two studies (2) with laboratory mice, conducted by Howard Hughes Medical Institute scientists at the University of Michigan Medical School, indicate that reducing the amount of hydrochloric acid you have in your stomach could be exactly the wrong thing to do.

So if drugs aren’t the answer, what is?

You can try these natural remedies for acid reflux from First Magazine (4/7/08)

  • Eating yogurt. According to a study at Emory University, eating 1/2 cup of yogurt can reduce the risk of heartburn by 75%.  Be sure to choose organic yogurt which contains more of the probiotics which  are responsible for fighting acid reflux.
  • Chewing sugarless gum. Mom was right.  Studies have shown that chewing gum increases saliva production which neutralizes excess stomach acid.
  • Sucking on candied ginger. Ginger is a well known remedy for stomach problems.  Ginger’s active compounds such as gingerols and feulic acide increase the production of bile which dulls the intensity of acid build up.

In addition to these tips, Healingdaily.com has a few of their own

  • Drinking plenty of water. Drinking plenty of water can help neutralize stomach acid and restore proper ph to your digestive system.
  • Wormwood herb Artemisia asiatica can help.
  • Eat more garlic.

Maybe you don’t need a pill after you try these natural remedies for acid reflux.