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Natural and herbal remedies for the treatment of heartburn.

Heartburn

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What is Heartburn?
What Causes Heartburn?
Help for Heartburn
More Information on Heartburn

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What is Heartburn?

Although it may sound like it, heartburn is a painful condition involving the upper digestive system, not the heart. The pain often radiates from the middle of the chest, and so symptoms are often confused with those of a heart attack. The fact is that heartburn is a condition linked to indigestion and excess stomach acid.

What Causes Heartburn?

Normally, the esophagus (the tube which leads from the mouth to the stomach) has a one-way valve that protects it from stomach acid coming up the esophagus and through the valve. When a small amount of stomach acid is forced up the unprotected esophagus, the resultant chemical burn causes moderate to severe pain known as heartburn.

If this sphincter becomes weak or overwhelmed, stomach contents can be forced back up the esophagus and cause burns. This condition is called GERD, short for gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Even if a heartburn sufferer does not have GERD, he or she may have a temporary condition called acid reflux. During the episode of heartburn, the entire esophagus from the vocal cords to the stomach may be affected by burning pain traveling from a person's chest up to the neck and throat. Stress, sleep disorders, smoking, or drinking alcohol also can make indigestion worse.

As heartburn can indicate a more serious disorder, it is recommended that you consult your doctor if symptoms persist.

Help for Heartburn

Many herbal and homeopathic remedies have been formulated with specific ingredients to soothe and calm fiery stomachs. Melissa officinalis is well known for its soothing and calming properties as well as being widely prescribed by herbalists for the relief of all complaints related to anxiety and stress, making it a great choice when treating gastrointestinal complaints.

Mentha Piperita is an herb from the mint family and has been used for many hundreds of years for relief of heartburn. It relaxes the muscles of the digestive tract and stimulates the flow of natural digestive juices and bile, thereby assisting healthy digestion. Nat. Sulph. Is a homeopathic remedy used to help prevent nausea as well as the bitter taste in the mouth often associated with acid reflux and regurgitation.

More Information on Heartburn

Tips to prevent heartburn

Eat smaller, more frequent meals, as a full stomach can put extra pressure on the esophageal valve, increasing the chance of acid reflux into the esophagus.
Watch what you eat. Some foods relax the esophageal valve making heartburn more likely – these foods include: alcohol; beverages containing caffeine, carbonated beverages; citrus fruits and juices; tomatoes and tomato sauces; chocolate; spicy and fatty foods.
Don't eat late at night or before going to bed. Lying down with a full stomach can cause stomach contents to press harder against the valve, increasing the chances of refluxed food. Try to rather elevate your head at night, so that gravity helps to keep stomach contents from pressing against the valve.
If you're overweight, try to lose weight naturally. Obesity increases abdominal pressure, which can then push stomach contents up into the esophagus.
Don't wear clothes that are too tight around the waist. This will squeeze the stomach, forcing food up against the esophageal valve, and increase the likelihood of food reflux.
Stop smoking naturally. The chemicals in cigarette smoke weaken the LES as they pass from the lungs into the blood.
Avoid alcohol. Alcohol not only relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter (allowing the reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus) but also increases the production of stomach acid.