What is ACIDITY?
The stomach normally secretes acid that is essential in the digestive process. This acid helps in breaking down the food during digestion. When there is excess production of acid by the gastric glands of the stomach, it results in the condition known as acidity. Dyspepsia, heartburn and the formation of ulcers are some of the symptoms. It is more common in highly emotional and nervous individuals.
The acid solution that splashes up into the esophagus causes inflammation, irritation and scarring, which can narrow the circumference of the esophagus. Symptoms include hoarseness, food getting stuck, burning, irritation, nausea, coughing, wheezing, asthma symptoms and eroded tooth enamel. It also increases your odds of esophageal cancer.
Here 14 Home Remedies To Cure Acidity and Gastrointestinal Discomfort
Folate or folic acid
As reported by clinical nutritionist Byron Richards, research suggests B vitamins can reduce your risk for acid reflux. Higher folic acid intake was found to reduce acid reflux by approximately 40 percent. Low vitamin B2 and B6 levels were also linked to an increased risk for acid reflux. The best way to raise your folate levels is by eating folate-rich whole foods, such as liver, asparagus, spinach, okra, and beans.
Basil
Basil or tulsi leaves as they are more popularly known as, are an excellent way to treat acidity. You can either chew on the leaves or boil them in water and then drink the mixture.
Baking soda
Baking soda is a great remedy, it will make you burp and fart a lot, but it is instant relief.. I just put the baking soda in a teaspoon take it, and drink a glass of water. Although mixing it with water is an easy way to take it as well. Just don’t take to much, you will burp all night!
Gingerroot Tea
Gingerroot can help ease up a number of stomach woes, from nausea to acid reflux. Sipping a cup of fresh tea about 20 minutes before a meal can help calm down your tummy and act as an acid buffer.
Chew gum
The Journal of Dental Research conducted a study that showed people with symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or chronic heartburn, experienced relief when they chewed a piece of sugar-free gum for 30 minutes after a meal. This is because chewing gum stimulates the salivary glands, and increases the flow of saliva. Any acid that has built up in the gut is diluted and washed away or cleared out more quickly. The clearance of acid then improves the symptoms of GERD. It is possible that the same school of thought could be applied to occasional heartburn as well. It’s our regular saliva that we swallow that actually makes normal bouts of reflux here and there completely painless.
Coriander seeds
Coriander seeds have been used in Chinese cooking and medicine for many years. They also are used in Indian and European medicine as a tea to help soothe upset stomachs, treat indigestion and relieve acid reflux. Put 1 tsp of coriander seeds in a tea strainer and let it sit for 20 minutes. Strain and pour.
Vegetable juice
I did vegetable juicing twice a day for one month using Kale, carrots, celery, cucumbers, beets, radish and spinach. The acid reflux is gone and I am free of that horrible cough that I had the slimy saliva and occasional vomiting. I stopped taking Omeprazole. I also drink lots of water, I eliminated all pops and processed juices and eat very little bread. I’m very happy with the juicing, my skin looks great and I lost weight too!
Aloe vera
Aloe is a plant used to soothe burns, and people often think of using it to help something like sunburn, but it can do more than that. It may be able to help with heartburn too because it reduces inflammation. This means when your tummy starts getting irritated and inflamed, or your esophagus is getting eaten away at, a nice glass of aloe vera juice may be just the thing to help calm it down.
Ginger root
This root is known to improve digestion and aid in better absorption and assimilation of essential nutrients.It also protect your stomach against ulcers by promoting mucus secretion and reducing the effect of the acid on your stomach.
For relief from acidity, chew a small piece of ginger. If you find that too pungent, try boiling it in water and drinking the decoction. Another remedy is to crush ginger, mix it with a small piece of jaggery and keeping sucking on it allowing the juice to slowly reach the stomach.
Clove
When bitten into your taste buds react cloves pungent taste and secrete excess saliva, which in turn aids digestion and beats the symptoms of acidity. Has carmitive properties and helps improve peristalisis (the movement of food down the stomach).
Bite a clove once so that the juice is released and then keep it in the mouth. The slowly released juice will immediately lower acid reflux and give you some relief. Cloves can also help relieve a sore throat.
Cold Milk
Milk has a high amount of calcium that helps it prevent acid build up and absorbs the excess acid produced, thereby reducing the symptoms of acidity. The fact that it is cold also provides instant relief from the burning sensation one feels during acid reflux.
It is essential that you have the milk cold and without any additives like sugar. You could even mix it with a spoon of ghee to make the remedy even more effective.
Apple cider vinegar
As it contains acetic acid, apple cider vinegar is good for various stomach problems including acidity. If you don’t have apple cider vinegar, you can use white vinegar.
Simply mix one or two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar in half a cup of water and drink it.
Mix two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with one teaspoon of honey and drink it before eating a spicy meal to avoid this problem.
Cumin seeds
Cumin seeds can also be used to treat acidity as cumin works as a great acid neutralizer. Also, it aids in digestion and relieves stomach pain.
Slightly crush some roasted cumin seeds and stir it into a glass of water. Drink it after every meal.
You can also boil one teaspoon of cumin seeds in a cup of water, strain it and then drink the water after your meal.
Another option is to mix one teaspoon each of coriander seed powder, cumin seed powder, fennel seed powder and some sugar in one-half cup of water. Drink it on an empty stomach.
Warm water and fresh lemon
Start your day with a cup of warm water and fresh lemon juice. “By drinking this on an empty stomach 15 to 20 minutes before eating anything else, the body can naturally balance out its acid levels. It’s a great digestive aid and is safe for all users,” says Rebekah Fedrowitz, an applied holistic nutritionist.
Reference:
http://everydayroots.com Cumin seeds can also be used to treat acidity as cumin works as a great acid neutralizer
http://www.top10homeremedies.com cold also provides instant relief from the burning sensation one feels during acid reflux
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