That’s a good question, and in today’s post we’ll try to answer it –

Heartburn afflicts approximately 25 million American adults daily. The condition is caused when gastric acids in your stomach find their way up into your esophagus, which creates a burning sensation that can extend up to the throat. Sometimes it will be accompanied by what feels like a pressure in the middle of the chest.

Heartburn is often caused by eating certain types of foods. For example, spicy and fatty foods cause some people problems, as well as drinking beverages with caffeine, and even not drinking enough water. Other issues that can lead to heartburn include stress, alcohol, and smoking.

Traditional Treatments

The most well known method to treat heartburn is by taking antacids. These products usually contain aluminum hydroxide, which helps to neutralize over active stomach acids. Another ingredient in these medications is magnesium trisilicate. This compound helps to absorb acid in the stomach by increasing the pH of the gastric juices.

Unpleasant Side Effects

While these two compounds are effective in the treatment of heartburn, they can be somewhat harsh on the digestive tract. They often cause constipation and diarrhea. Also, the harsh nature of these compounds makes it advisable to not take them for more than a few days at a time. This can be a problem for people with persistent and chronic heartburn. They also can interfere with digestion.

Natural, Soothing Remedies

If you suffer from persistent heartburn, we recommend a number of natural treatments that can alleviate your condition. These are:

·         Consume a glass of room temperature water;

·         Drink tea that is made from slippery elm or ginger. Both of these natural herbs can coat and soothe your esophagus and digestive tract;

·         Take an herbal heartburn formula that is gentler on your stomach and can be taken over long periods without negative effects.

Natural Herbs for Heartburn

Licorice root (active ingredient: glycyrrhiza) has been used as a natural treatment for stomach disorders for thousands of years, and is found in many helpful natural remedies.  In China, licorice root frequently is found on dry and grassy plains, and on sunny mountainsides in the north of China. Licorice root is considered by the Chinese to be demulcent, that is, to be soothing to irritated stomach membranes. It also has been shown throughout history to have naturally anti-inflammatory elements.  It also has been shown to be helpful in the treatment of stomach ulcers. Some experts recommend taking licorice root regularly after large meals.

Chlorophyll is the green pigment that you see in plants and algae. Chlorophyll is found in greatest abundance in chlorella, a single-celled green algae, and is a very popular herbal ingredient in natural supplements for stomach disorders.  This substance is very rich in vitamins and minerals. Also, it is very effective at soothing a sour stomach. Taking chlorophyll will help to soothe your stomach while keeping it acidic (another problem with taking too many antacids is it can make your stomach too alkaline, which causes digestion problems).

Recommendations

If you have an occasional problem with heartburn, we think it is fine to take a regular over the counter antacid. However, if you have persistent problems with heartburn, our experience is that a natural, soothing combination of natural herbs is the best way to keep your digestive system in balance. An all-natural antacid product with the soothing ingredients of licorice root and chlorophyll in the proper dose can be found at Solsticemed.com. One of these products is Weisen-U Antacid, which we have found to be most helpful to help naturally with chronic heartburn.