Acid reflux, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), happens when stomach acid flows back into the esophagus, leading to symptoms like heartburn, chest discomfort, a sore throat, and bad breath. Fortunately, GERD can be naturally and effectively managed at home. Addressing GERD through natural remedies can help restore proper digestion and reduce discomfort.

Surprisingly, the true cause of heartburn is often a deficiency of stomach acid rather than an excess, as many people believe. This deficiency leads to the relaxation of the valve between the stomach and the esophagus, allowing acid to backflow into the esophagus and cause heartburn.

A common mistake is the over-reliance on antacid medications such as Zantac or Nexium. While they provide temporary relief, long-term use can lead to health problems, including malabsorption of vitamin B12, iron, and magnesium, which may exacerbate the issue in the long run.

Fortunately, there are natural and effective ways to alleviate heartburn at home, which we will explore in this article.

First: The Importance of Stomach Acid (Hydrochloric Acid)

Stomach acid (hydrochloric acid) plays a crucial role in digestive health by:

• Closing the Valve and Preventing Reflux: Stomach acid helps maintain a very low pH (high acidity) inside the stomach, ensuring that the valve between the stomach and esophagus closes tightly. In cases of acid deficiency, the valve relaxes, leading to heartburn and belching.

• Sterilizing Food: Stomach acid disinfects food from germs, viruses, and bacteria, acting as the first line of defense against infections and food poisoning. A deficiency of this acid may increase the risk of infections and lead to issues like bacterial overgrowth in the intestines (SIBO).

• Stimulating Digestive Juices: Stomach acid stimulates the production of other digestive juices, such as pepsin, which digests proteins, and aids in the secretion of bile and pancreatic juice, essential for digesting fats and carbohydrates. A deficiency leads to indigestion, bloating, and gas, particularly after consuming foods like meat and fish, resulting in constant belching and a persistent feeling of fullness and discomfort.

• Absorbing Vitamins and Minerals: Stomach acid plays a vital role in absorbing vitamin B12 and iron. A deficiency can lead to issues such as anemia, hair loss, and fatigue.

Overall, stomach acid is essential for healthy digestion, food sterilization, and effective nutrient absorption.

Causes of heartburn: 

Heartburn occurs when stomach acid and digestive juices flow back into the esophagus, often due to a relaxed esophageal sphincter. This can be triggered by certain foods that slow digestion, leaving food in the stomach longer. Factors such as diet, lifestyle, and underlying conditions can increase the risk of gastroesophageal reflux, leading to the familiar burning sensation.

• Certain foods: fried foods, spicy foods such as hot peppers, and excessive caffeine and carbonated beverages.
• Aging: Over time, the valve weakens, causing acid reflux.
• Chronic Stress and Anxiety: These negatively impact digestion.
• Deficiency of Certain Minerals: Such as sodium, potassium, and zinc, which are involved in the formation of stomach acid.
• Smoking and Obesity: Both increase stomach irritation and acid, causing relaxation of the valve and thus leading to the backflow of digestive juices into the esophagus.
• Consuming Large Meals Consistently: Especially before bedtime, it’s advisable to have light meals before sleeping and leave a gap of two to three hours between eating and sleeping.
• Continuous Use of Certain Medications: Such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and pain relievers can exacerbate the condition, as can chronic use of antacid medications.

Symptoms of Low Stomach Acid

Symptoms of low stomach acid may include:

• Heartburn and Acid Reflux: Particularly after consuming large or fatty meals.
• Indigestion: A feeling of heaviness after eating.
• Belching and Bloating: Often after meals.
• Iron and Vitamin B12 Deficiency: Leading to hair loss, fatigue, and tingling in the extremities.
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) or Bacterial Overgrowth: Due to weak acidity leading to overgrowth of harmful bacteria in the intestines.

How to treat low stomach acid naturally

To treat stomach acidity naturally and effectively, there are many methods that can help enhance stomach acid and alleviate symptoms. Here are the most important solutions:

Immediate Relief for Stomach Acidity: Discover Effective Home Remedies for Acid Reflux

Home remedies for acid reflux can provide fast and natural relief from symptoms. Certain foods are known to neutralize stomach acid immediately, offering quick comfort. These simple, effective remedies help manage acid reflux and promote digestive health.

• For quick relief from acid reflux, some herbal teas, licorice root tea, and marshmallow root tea may provide quick soothing benefits. These natural remedies, along with drinks like aloe vera and arabic gum, are known for their calming properties, effectively easing digestive discomfort and offering fast heartburn relief. Also, they could help relieve throat irritations caused by acid reflux.

 

• Eating Bananas: Bananas are among the foods that help quickly neutralize stomach acid due to their high potassium content and their ability to calm acid. 
• Drinking ginger tea: Ginger improves digestion and boosts the secretion of digestive juices. It also possesses anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties. It can be consumed before meals for 10 to 14 days.

Effective Natural Solutions to Strengthen Stomach Acid and Treat Acidity and Reflux Permanently:

Permanent acid reflux solutions often focus on effective foods, herbs, and supplements for heartburn relief and natural treatments for acid reflux. By incorporating foods that help with acid reflux and following heartburn relief tips, managing GERD symptoms naturally becomes achievable for long-term digestive health.

• Organic Apple Cider Vinegar: You can take one tablespoon of organic apple cider vinegar dissolved in a glass of water, half an hour before main meals, three times a day. This helps improve digestion and increase acid production. It’s advisable to use it for two weeks, after which the course can be repeated once every month or two as needed for one week.
• Eating bitter green leafy vegetables, such as arugula and dandelion, before meals enhances stomach acid secretion.
• Herbs such as Gentian and Coptis Root: These herbs are known for their ability to enhance stomach acid production and stimulate the secretion of pancreatic and bile juices. They are particularly beneficial for those with digestive issues or those who have undergone gallbladder removal. It is advisable to drink a decoction of these herbs half an hour before meals, which can be flavored with lavender or mint to improve taste.
• Zinc Supplements: Zinc plays a vital role in the production of stomach acid. It can be obtained from food sources such as red meat and pumpkin seeds or through dietary supplements when necessary. The “zinc carnosine” supplement is an excellent choice for supporting digestive health.

Additional Tips for Alleviating Stomach Acid Symptoms:

• Avoid irritating foods such as spicy, fatty, or acidic foods.
• Eat small, frequent meals instead of large ones.
• Avoid lying down immediately after eating, and elevate your head slightly while sleeping.
• Stay away from smoking, alcohol, and caffeine.
• Avoid trans fats and spicy foods.
• Drink water away from meals: Drinking water during meals may weaken stomach acid; it’s better to drink it half an hour before or after meals.
• Consume fermented foods like sauerkraut and yogurt to promote gut health, or take probiotic supplements for a month.

The Final Solution

Strengthening the Esophageal and Stomach Linings: By consuming collagen or bone broth daily, you can support digestive health and protect the stomach and intestinal linings from acid damage.

By following these natural solutions, you can enhance stomach acid and permanently treat heartburn, improving your digestive health and strengthening the esophagus and stomach linings.

Essential Tips to Safeguard Your Digestive Health and Manage Acid Reflux: How to Safely Discontinue Antacid Medications Without Side Effects

Gradually stop taking antacid medications like Nexium or Zantac. If you suffer from heartburn and rely on these medications, you cannot stop them suddenly. Abrupt cessation may lead to severe reflux and burning.

The correct approach is to taper off gradually, giving your digestive system the time and ability to return to normal secretion of digestive juices and stomach acid. The plan is as follows:

• During the first ten days of starting your natural treatment steps, continue taking the medication as usual.
• For the next ten days, take the medication every other day.
• During the third ten days, take the medication every three days.
• In the fourth and final ten days, you can stop using these medications entirely.

By doing so, you will be able to gradually reduce your reliance on medications while following natural tips that help enhance digestive health.

For more detailed information about GERD or reflux, natural treatment, and root causes, watch the full episode on Dr. Fajer Al Jumairy’s YouTube channel. Click the link below:

https://youtu.be/U0Wj_9D8O9E?si=wg0tiP1rJF5TKfNS