Alternative Methods to Treat Acid Reflux
Acid reflux is quickly becoming one of the most commonly diagnosed syndromes in America. Due to our modern day diet, high stress levels, and overuse of stimulants such as caffeine, acid reflux is reaching epidemic proportions. With that over the counter antacids and prescription medications such as Prilosec and Nexium have become common household items. While these products can be extremely helpful in calming acid reflux and treating it, why not try some alternative therapies which can actually prevent acid reflux before it becomes a problem.
1. Understand gravity. As acid reflux is the result of stomach acid rising up into the esophagus, it makes sense not to lie down after eating. Try sleeping with your head propped up on pillows, or you can even raise the head of your bed by putting boards underneath.
2. Similarly, try not to eat for at least 3 hours before going to bed or lying down. Give your body time to digest and keep your stomach acid moving in the right direction.
3. Eat small more frequent meals. Eating more often keeps the stomach working and moving things down, not up. Big meals and overeating creates an overflow of food to digest in the stomach. This triggers the stomach to create even more acid to try to break down all that extra food.
4. Try ginger. Ginger has been known to calm an upset stomach. It can be taken in capsules or you can eat crystallized or fresh ginger.
5. Licorice has also been said to help coat the stomach and help prevent acid reflux. It too can be taken in capsule or natural form.
6. Papaya helps the stomach digest food quickly which can aid in calming down an upset stomach after overeating.
7. Meadowsweet, an herb that is available at most health food stores, is not only said to help calm acid reflux but also to help relieve the symptoms associated with it as well.
If all else fails, there’s no reason not to take a medication like Prevacid or Prilosec, both drugs proven to beat symptoms of acid reflux.
Tags: acid reflux treatment