It can be frustrating to try to control acid reflux. Prescription medications are said to be no better than the over-the-counter versions in many cases, and worse yet, these medicines tend to lose effectiveness over time. Therefore, it’s no wonder that people are looking for a better solution.
Fortunately, there are a number of natural herbs that help control acid reflux. One of the most popular acid reflux herbs is ginger. While taking too much ginger at once can actually cause reflux, smaller doses help to eliminate it. One popular way to take the proper amount is to drink ginger tea with meals. If the taste of ginger isn’t welcome, taking capsules can allow you to get the ginger you need without adding its flavor to your mealtime experience. It is suggested that daily ginger intake be limited to 4g per day.
Those with acid reflux often find that acid backup is accompanied by spasms of the stomach. Taking fennel seeds can help eliminate these unwanted spasms. Fennel relaxes the stomach and intestinal muscles, which helps to keep acid from being forced higher into the throat. Like ginger, fennel can be eaten plain with meals, taken in capsules, or made into tea. One thing to be careful of is fennel oil. The oil can be so concentrated that it irritates the stomach instead of relieving it. Therefore, fennel seeds are the best bet for helping control acid reflux.
Licorice is another herb that can help stop acid reflux. Unlike the candy version often sold as “licorice” in North America, the herb variety is taken as a powder or tea. Health-food stores are most likely to have real licorice rather than the candy that is merely flavored to taste somewhat like it.
Slippery elm isn’t just slippery to the touch – it adds a coating to the stomach. It also helps neutralize acid that the stomach has already produced. This makes it great for taking when you already feel the presence of acid. It also helps to soothe inflammation that has been caused by prior bouts of acid reflux. Like most herbs, it can be taken as a powder, in capsules, or as tea. The one caveat about slippery elm is that it can interfere with the absorption of prescription drugs. Therefore, it is good to take such drugs at a different time than the elm.
These are just a few herbal options for preventing or treating acid reflux. Like with other medicines and herbs, it may take a few tries to find the one that works for you. Fortunately, most herbs are well-tolerated by the body, making bad side-effects unlikely. They’re also fairly easy to obtain. Therefore, it’s definitely worth testing them until you find the perfect herb or combination to eliminate acid reflux from your life.
Another benefit of herbal treatment is that most herbs have more than one positive aspect. Ginger, for instance, also helps prevent motion sickness and cramps. Fennel promotes regularity; eliminating both constipation and diarrhea. Other herbs also have “side benefits” that make them good components of the diet rather than simple single-purpose substances. This puts them far above traditional medicines, which are often made to only have a single positive effect. Give acid reflux herbs a try today and see how much better you can feel.