5 Natural Remedies For Acid Reflux – Bible Gateway

Disclaimer: This 5 Natural Remedies For Acid Reflux post and information should not replace professional advice by a qualified medical or herbal practitioner. These are natural remedies I use for my family and I have seen great results in treating acid reflux. 

5 Natural Remedies For Acid Reflux

These are 5 natural remedies for acid reflux we use at home and work for us. I want to help other families with some ideas for natural remedies for this uncomfortable condition. If your family suffers from acid reflux, I highly recommend them. Remember that is a good idea to always check with your doctor first.

When my son was born with a rare birth defect called Esophageal Atresia my whole world changed. I didn’t know about this condition and what is worse, didn’t even have time to educate myself about it (my baby needed to have surgery to reconnect his esophagus right away). For the full story, you can see my post-My Story-Esophageal Atresia.

After three weeks in the NICU, we finally came home. We were also told he would probably suffer from reflux his entire life (more than half of esophageal atresia survivors battle with acid reflux).

When my son was about 6 months old is when we started to notice his reflux worsening. Spit-ups with every feed, even when he was sleeping. We inclined the bed, fed him smaller amounts, even put cereal in his milk (pediatrician’s recommendation at first, but after I researched about it, I discontinued it). It was exhausting! So I started looking into other alternatives because my son had to take anti-reflux meds (Prevacid) daily and according to the GI for life! I certainly didn’t want that for him if I could find natural alternatives.

Our experience with natural remedies for reflux

After days, weeks, and months of research,  I started learning about natural remedies to improve my son’s acid reflux problems. Decided to switch from using cans and boxes to cooking from scratch using fresh ingredients. Bought a Vitamix blender to make smoothies (blends everything in seconds with a super-smooth texture) and later on an Omega juicer. Two essential tools in our kitchen today!

When my son was about 1 year old and was able to tolerate all kinds of foods, I started giving him green smoothies. I will add natural remedies to help him with his reflux. Adding lots of raw vegetables also helps. Please see my Green Smoothie Recipe. I could see him sleeping better and spitting up less at night. When he turned 2 his reflux was less severe and improved every week! I also learned that apples and bananas help with reflux and are great for combining them with lots of veggies.

At his 2-year-old checkup, the GI  didn’t want to wean him off the meds even when I told him his symptoms were improving. So I went to see his pediatric surgeon and got approval from her to try taking away the medication. I did and made sure my son was taking probiotics, and natural remedies. The acid reflux symptoms disappeared and about a month after taking him completely off Prevacid he was doing great. He is being monitored by his pediatric surgeon and so far he is meds free! A great way to get him to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables was by making ice pops. Check out my post: Great Snack Idea: Ice Pops.

My Top 5 Natural Remedies For Acid Reflux

1. Aloe Vera

Aloe is a plant used to soothe burns, heal wounds, and help with the digestive system. Aloe Vera is also anti-inflammatory and helps with acid reflux by soothing the esophagus, studies show.  It contains vitamins and minerals that also are great for good digestion.  I mix it with smoothies and it works great. You can easily find Aloe Vera at a health food store like Whole Foods or buy 100% pure juice.

The only major downside is that it can interact with certain diabetes medications and lead to dangerously low blood sugar, according to Healthline. It’s also not safe for pregnant women. You really should talk to your doctor before you try any home remedy if you have a  medical condition or are on any medications. Even something as widely used as aloe can cause problems if you mix it with the wrong types of medications.

2. Ginger

A flowering plant that has been used for medicinal purposes for many generations, ginger is anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory.  It is commonly used to treat nausea and vomiting, symptoms that are common with acid reflux. Find ginger at a health food store, grate it and add it to your smoothie blends or as a spice in meals. Ginger tea is also great for morning sickness.

A word of warning, though- don’t overdo it. Stick to less than a teaspoon a day. If you go crazy with it and use more than that, ginger can actually have the opposite effect (it’ll give you heartburn).

3. Probiotics

One of my favorite natural cures for reflux and to help boost the immune system. I love probiotics and swear by them! Did you know that an estimated 70% of our immune system resides in our gut? Probiotics help improve digestive health.  My favorite probiotics are in raw form.

4. Turmeric

Used as a powerful anti-inflammatory medicine, turmeric helps reduce reflux symptoms. It is a plant in the ginger family and is used in many curry dishes. Turmeric helps with digestion and prevents acid buildup. Add a teaspoon of turmeric to your meals in powder form or buy it fresh and just grate it.

5. Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

I see a lot of people asking, “does coconut oil cause acid reflux?” Honestly, it depends on how you use it. If you’re overdoing it and eating a lot of high-fat foods in general, then yes, it could worsen your heartburn and reflux. However, if you use it in moderation, there’s absolutely no evidence that coconut oil causes acid reflux. In fact, it does quite the opposite!  It cleans the bacteria out of the esophagus because extra virgin Coconut Oil is antimicrobial.

It is also one of the best fats you can eat to support your health. A tablespoon of coconut oil each day is also a great way to help with acid reflux. It will can heal the damage in the esophagus too. Incorporate it in your smoothies and use it as your cooking oil as well.

Other ways to help with reflux symptoms and keep them under control

We try to maintain a healthy diet and constantly add our natural healers to keep his digestive system under control. Our favorite homemade recipes are: Broccoli Cauliflower Nuggets and Kid Friendly Raw Pesto Sauce.  I think those recipes are great ways to add more vegetables to a kid’s diet.  My husband and I also changed our eating habits to set the example and as a result, we make better choices and feel great too!

We also find it best to mix the natural remedies for reflux in morning smoothies. Taking them on an empty stomach for breakfast helps a lot. Try my Anti-Reflux Healing Smoothie recipe and find more tips and tricks for your natural remedies.

Taking medications is sometimes necessary, but if you can find natural ways, then you can avoid the long-term side effects. There is some trial and error when using natural remedies to find what works best to treat your acid reflux, but in the long run, it’s well worth it. Remember each acid reflux case is different and what may work for some, may not work for others.

If you have other natural ways to help with acid reflux, I would love to know.  Just leave a comment below with what works for you.

Last update on 2022-11-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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