Acidity Problems? 14 Home Remedies That Can Help | (2024)

Acid Reflux, commonly known as Acidity is a condition in which bile or stomach acids flow back into our oesophagus or food pipe and cause irritation.

This results in a burning sensation in our chest which is the commonest symptom of acidity.

Symptoms of Acidity Are:

• Pain and burning sensation in the chest, stomach or throat
• Flatulence or Gas
• Indigestion
• Bad Breath
• Constipation
• Nausea or feeling of vomiting
• Heaviness in the stomach after eating
• Frequent burps
• Regurgitation of undigested food coming back in our mouth

Common Causes of Acidity:

• Over-eating
• Eating at odd times or skipping meals
• Unhealthy eating habits like having too much tea, coffee, cold- drinks, junk, spicy, oily food etc.
• Stomach ailments like Ulcers, Gastro-oesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), etc.
• A bad lifestyle like taking too much stress, sleeping less, smoking, drinking alcohol etc.

Acidity has been confused with other conditions, here is a quick guide to understanding these terms better:

Home Remedies for Acidity:

Whenever there are symptoms of acidity especially in elderly and middle age population,one should always visit a physician,I have witnessed few cases where people have ignored the persistent acidity symptoms which eventually turned out to be a case of coronary heart disease. A timely diagnosis can prevent mortality and morbidity in such patients.

Dr. Nikhil Yadav, MBBS MD, CCEBDM

1. Fennel or Saunf

Having around 1 teaspoon fennel powder with a glass of warm water relieves acidity and its symptoms like heartburn, bloating and improves digestion. [1]

2. Black Cumin Seeds

Chew cumin seeds directly or boil 1 teaspoon of them in a glass of water and drink it to relieve acidity.

Black cumin seeds are gastro-protective. They are effective in reducing and preventing acidity and its symptoms like heartburn, pain, nausea, bloating, constipation etc. [2]

Read More: 10 Health Benefits of Sabja Seeds

3. Cloves

Suck a piece of clove to get rid of acidity and its symptoms like flatulence, indigestion, nausea, gastric irritability etc. [3]

4. Lukewarm Water

Drinking a glass of lukewarm water empty stomach and before going to sleep at night, provides relief from acidity.

5. Watermelon Juice

A glass of watermelon juice is effective in relieving acidity and is good for digestion as well. [4]

6. Cardamom

Chewing 1 cardamom pod every day helps to prevent acidity, flatulence and improves digestion [5]

Also Read: Dietary Tips: Foods To Avoid With Acid Reflux

7. Apple Cider Vinegar

I recall a case of a gentleman who experienced symptoms resembling acidity. Unfortunately, instead of seeking medical advice, he relied on his regular acidity medication, which provided no substantial relief. Tragically, he suffered a fatal cardiac arrest merely two days later. In reality, he was suffering from angina, but continued to exert himself through lengthy walks in an attempt to alleviate his perceived acidity symptoms. The essential message I aim to convey is the importance of consulting a healthcare professional for an accurate diagnosis from the very beginning, as there are numerous instances where symptoms of heartburn and heart attacks are mistakenly interchanged.

Dr. Arpit Verma, MBBS, MD (Pharmacology)

Apple Cider Vinegar contains proteins, enzymes and pectin making it a highly nutritious addition to your diet. Some people claim that acid reflux may be caused by reduced amounts of stomach acid and this vinegar can introduce more acid into the system. However, further research is required. [14]

8. Almonds

Almonds are rich in nutrients and fibre, both of which may help to reduce the risk of heartburn and also absorb acid. Though there is no substantial clinical evidence for the same, the nutritional profile of almonds speaks for itself. In a broader sense, acidity issues are also linked with appetite and diet. Almonds can help regulate these factors due to their high nutritional value. [15]

9. Jaggery

Jaggery contains both potassium and magnesium, a lump of jaggery may just be what you need to calm your roiling tummy. Potassium is essential for maintaining pH balance and stimulating the production of mucus in the stomach lining. This prevents an acid overload and helps relieve your symptoms. Magnesium is required for keeping your digestive system strong and functioning normally, which reduces the risk of acidity and other digestive issues. [16]

10. Mint Leaves

Mint leaves not only aid in digestion but also bring a cooling effect to your entire system. For temporary relief as well as long term support against acid reflux, mint leaves are a simple yet elegant solution. [17]

11. Buttermilk

The lactic acid in buttermilk normalizes the acidity in the stomach and gives a soothing effect. A glass of buttermilk topped with black pepper and coriander helps in instantly easing our symptoms of acidity. [6]

Read More: 11 Health Benefits of Buttermilk

12. Ginger

Chewing raw ginger or drinking ginger tea helps prevent acidity and its symptoms. It also aids digestion. [7]

Also Read: 10 Health Benefits of Garlic

13. Banana

Consuming bananas neutralizes acidity and gives relief from heartburn. [8]

A mixture of milk and banana helps to suppress excess acid secretion.

14. Papaya

Papaya reduces gastric acid secretion and gives relief from acidity. [9]

This effect is due to the enzyme papain, present in papaya.

15. Ajwain

Consumption of ajwain gives relief from acidity and flatulence. It is very good for digestion and is an effective anti-acidic agent. [10]

16. Cold Milk

Drinking a glass of cold milk instantly relieves acidity. [11]

17. Baking Soda

Consuming 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda mixed in 1/2 cup of water gives quick relief from acidity and heartburn. [12]

18. Turmeric

Adding turmeric to our diet relieves acidity and heartburn caused by it. [13]

19. Sleeping on your left side

If the aforementioned food-related suggestions don’t help you out, you can always try out some non-food related ways like sleeping on your left side! Anatomy has got to do a great deal with this method of dealing with acidity. Since the oesophagus enters from the right side of the stomach, laying on our left side means the lower oesophagal sphincter lies above the level of stomach acid.

If you lie on your right side, the stomach acid covers this sphincter which increases the risk of acid reflux.

Read More: 13 Health Benefits of Turmeric

20. Chew on some gum

Some studies show that chewing on some gum may help reduce the acidity as the bicarbonate in it can help neutralise the acid to prevent reflux. More substantial research is required to support this finding but chewing gum can also create more saliva which can help in clearing the oesophagus.

21. Raise your head while sleeping

Changing the position in which your sleep by raising the bed’s head so that the symptoms of acid reflux can be reduced is another home remedy that may help. Studies show that people who used a wedge to support and elevate their upper body had lessened acid reflux than those who slept in a flat manner.

Also Read: Omee

In addition to the above, certain lifestyle changes can also help to prevent acidity. They are:

• Stay active and engage in any kind exercise, be it swimming, cycling, dancing or any of your favourite sport.
• Eat smaller meals, 4 to 5 times a day.
• Have your dinner early, at least 2 hours before you hit the bed.
• Don’t overeat and chew your food well while eating.
• Don’t lie down immediately after a meal.
• Lose weight if you are overweight or obese.
• Raise the head end of your bed while lying down.
• Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol.

Avoid Foods That Trigger Acidity like:

• Very spicy and oily food
• Tea, coffee, cold drinks
• Raw onions, garlic
• Citrus fruits like lemons, oranges, kiwis
• Tomatoes
• Junk food, etc.

Also Read: Pantoprazole Foods to Avoid

FAQs

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.
Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisem*nts of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation of the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisem*nts do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.

Recommended Topics