Acid Reflux Natural Remedies - Help or Hurt?

While it may seem that nearly everyone is seeking some sort of natural remedies for acid reflux, it is important to realize that it should be done with the knowledge of your physician. Some natural remedies have been shown in clinical studies to interact with antidepressant medication, for example, and others can decrease the effectiveness of certain drugs taken for cardiovascular disease.

In acid reflux, the first line of defense often is medical treatment. Think pills, potions, and prescriptions and you are thinking medical treatments. Medications can be altered by their dosage and have a transient effect without creating lasting change to the body. They can be changed when they do not work to expectation or added to achieve the desired result. The reason that surgical intervention is seen as a last resort is because such treatment involves anesthesia, cutting, pain, long healing times, possible complication, and greater costs, consequences that may possibly be avoided by simply swallowing a pill or more a day.

Like medications, acid reflux natural remedies usually have some intended action in the body, as you will discover below; some example, act as anti-inflammatory agents on a scorched esophageal mucosa while others are intended to soothe a nauseous tummy. Unlike medications, however, acid reflux natural remedies dosage and strength can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, from batch to batch, from bottle to bottle. As a result, your benefits may also vary.

Below are different herbs that may provide relief of certain symptoms:

Barley grass. Usually a concoction made from juice extracted from young barley grass, this substance is rich in amino acids and in chlorophyll. It has natural anti-inflammatory properties.

Chamomile and fennel seed teas. Given to babies in a weak tea to settle a case of colic, these acid reflux natural remedies, best prepared in the tea form, are soothing to the gastrointestinal system in that they reduce gas and cramping. Beware, however, some individuals find that they are sensitive to these properties and experience a worsening of their symptoms as the LES also relax. Be careful if you take sedatives or blood thinners since the herbs can magnify those effects.

Meadowsweet. With properties that are consistent with aspirin, one might think that these natural remedies for acid reflux are simply a pain reliever. However, teas and extracts made from the flowers of the plant have also been found to have anti-inflammatory and antacid qualities, making this herb a choice for some people with symptomatic acid reflux.