Easy Homemade Remedies for Heartburn

As soon as you eat a meal that burning and gnawing feelings starts and our old friend heartburn has made an appearance once again. What can we do about this? Is there anything besides taking prescription medications? There has to be other alternatives that we can do at home to combat this troublesome ailment. According to the authors of Natural Healing Newsletter half the people in the country have heartburn at least once a month. The main symptom of heartburn is that burning sensation in our chests that moves up, up, up. Our stomach is used to that acid, but the esophagus is not, which is why it burns. Follow the tips below to prevent and alleviate heartburn.

• Suck on hard sugarless candy; avoid peppermint which can cause heartburn.
• Do not use any tobacco products and stop smoking.
• No straining or heavy lifting.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Do not chew gum. This can cause you to swallow air which will make things worse.
• No belts or tight clothes.
• Medications can cause heartburn. Check with your doctor if you think your medications could be the culprit.
• If you have heartburn do not lay down. Being flat or leaning over will only make things worse.
• Sleep with your head elevated 6 inches to avoid your stomach contents from coming back up into the esophagus.
• Eat 2 to 3 hours before bed. Give your stomach contents a change to digest before sleep.
• Instead of 2-3 large meals eat 4-6 small ones.
• Put an egg in a glass full of water. What happens? The water overflows. Do not stuff yourself or the same thing happens. Your stomach acid will overflow causing heartburn.
• Eat slowly and take your time.
• Stay away from aggravating foods such as spicy, fried, coffee, alcohol, chocolate, tomatoes, onions, citrus, and soda. Not all of these things will cause you trouble but when you identify those that do you should try and avoid them.
• Seek medical advice if your heartburn persists. This is not a home remedy but if you are experiencing trouble that cannot be cured at home then going to a doctor is your best bet. Heartburn can be the result of an ulcer or heart trouble according to 1,001 Home Health Remedies. Having a doctor check your symptoms could ultimately save your life.