If you regularly experience heartburn it causes a great deal of discomfort which can have lasting negative effects. Luckily there ways to naturally address it acutely and prevent future reoccurrence.
Homeopathic Cell Salts- Gently add minerals to the body to address deficiency, bringing the body into balance and reducing symptoms.
Homeopathic Natrum Phos 6x can be used acutely or taken regularly to help prevent heartburn in someone who regularly experiences it. This person feels very acidic with a burning feeling in the chest, throat or abdomen. They may get a flushed face during the indigestion. They may have an aggravation after milk, ice cream, fatty food, vinegar or sour foods, sugar or from drinking cold drinks. To use this take 4 tablets 2-3 times daily to prevent reoccurrence or take 4 tabs as needed for acute heartburn. For chronic heartburn take for up to one month then take a break and see if symptoms return to see if you still need to take it. If you want to try something and aren’t sure what is best, this is a great place to start.
If Nat Phos on its own doesn’t help some need to add the Cell Salt Natrum Sulphuricum 6x, this remedy can be alternated or taken with Nat phos.
Homeopathics
If you find a remedy below that matches your symptoms, if you rarely get heartburn and are in a flare-up you could try it acutely for up to 3 doses 15-30 minutes apart (usually 1 pellet). If you regularly have heartburn and were wanting to work on prevention the remedy could be tried 3 times spread through the day for a few days. Stop dosing with improvement resume dosing if symptoms return. If there is no change after taking the remedy for a few days select the next best matching remedy.
Homeopathic Arsenicum Album– Burning pains in the esophagus and stomach with regurgitation in a restless and anxious person. Worse from eating fruit, cold food or drinking cold drinks. Better from sipping room temperature drinks or warm tea. Often an aggravation between midnight – 2 am.
Homeopathic Carbo vegetabilis is used when there is heartburnplus bloating, belching and gas. They feel better from belching. There is burning pain from the stomach to the back. This person is worse from warmth and feels better fanning themselves.
Homeopathic Lycopodium is also helpful when there is gas, bloating and sour belching. Water brash in the afternoon (acid from stomach rises into mouth). They feel worse around 4-8 pm. They feel worse from beans, onions, garlic, cabbage and other cruciferous vegetables. They tend to have a ravenous appetite but oddly they may feel full after only a few bites. There may be rumbling in the abdomen.
Homeopathic Nux vomica can help address acute heartburn, GERD or water brash. Wants to burp but can’t. Feeling of spasm in esophagus. Foruse for symptoms after overindulgence. Aggravation from sour foods, fatty/ rich food, coffee, tobacco, stimulants and worse after anger. This person tends to be irritable, impatient, competitive, Type “A” personality. This person may also experience insomnia, constipation or hemorrhoids.
Homeopathic Phosphorous is helpful for regurgitation and belching accompanied by a sense of fullness, burning pains in the abdomen, bloating. This person has a very strong appetite and is very thirsty for cold drinks. This person is open, mild mannered, tends to be anxious, loves affection and company.
Homeopathic Pulsatilla tends to be a mild, emotional, affectionate person who cries easily. They may have an aggravation after rich fatty food, ice cream and pork. They tend to have slow digestion, may have rancid burps that taste like food. Burning feeling in the stomach with fullness after meals. This remedy is especially good for indigestion in young children especially girls. They tend to have a lack of thirst.
Homeopathic Robinia is used for a strong feeling of burning through the whole digestive tract. The heartburn is worse in bed or at night. There may be acrid belches and water brash. Also helpful for GERD and hiatal hernia.
Homeopathic Sanguinaria is also used for acrid belching, burning in the nose, uvula, mouth, throat and esophagus. Feeling of swelling in the throat. Also used for GERD, reflux and esophagitis. This is also a remedy for bursitis, shoulder pain and right side migraines and hay fever.
Homeopathic Sulphur is useful after overindulgence, burning pain in the esophagus and stomach, belches with an offensive taste. This person may be be lazy, philosophical, out-going, opinionated, critical or tend to get skin issues.
Natural remedies for Heartburn–
2 tsp- 1 Tbl apple cider vinegar in 1/2 – 1 cup water, 10 minutes before meals. Helps your body to make more stomach acid which helps to keep the esophageal flap closed and digest your food more effectively. Don’t do this if you currently have damage to the esophagus or currently have a raw, inflamed throat/ esophagus. Can also be bought in pill form.
Digestive bitters- Take 10 minutes before meals to stimulate stomach acid to help digestion and esophageal flap closure.
Betaine HCL tablets help if you have low stomach acid and the above doesn’t help. Don’t use these if you have a hiatal hernia. Read about other contraindications. Follow label directions.
Other soothing options include-
Throat coat tea or Aloe drinks for use if your throat feels raw.
DGL tablets used regularly heal the gastrointestinal lining, ulcers, and kill unwanted viruses, bacteria and parasites. They are chewed 30 minutes before meals or 2 hours after meals 6-8 times per day. Check for drug interactions if you are on meds.
Disclaimer- This information is for educational purposes, if you should decide to try a remedy this is your decision. Do research to make sure there are no contraindications. Seek medical advice when necessary.