My Natural

They say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Finding a natural heartburn cure may be more about addressing the causes of acid indigestion heartburn and other digestive problems and making an effort to avoid them. Most people have heartburn or indigestion occasionally, even people with healthy diet and lifestyle. And, once you have heartburn, you want relief, no matter what the causes of acid indigestion heartburn were.

A natural heartburn cure may be as simple as taking an antacid. Most over the counter remedies have few side effects, but they do not work for everyone. Some people are allergic to acid reducing medications and some people simply prefer herbal remedies. Identifying the specific causes of acid indigestion heartburn in your case may require a little effort, but it is important. Chronic heartburn can lead to more serious conditions such as erosion of the esophagus and even cancer.

The physical causes of acid indigestion heartburn are known. It occurs when stomach acid flows back up into the esophagus, the tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach. It is not known why some people have heartburn and others do not. There are many causes of acid indigestion heartburn. Some are more serious than others. Changes in lifestyle may be necessary to achieve a natural heartburn cure. For example, smokers are more likely to have heartburn than non-smokers. Smoking dries out the mouth and esophagus. Nicotine relaxes the muscles which normally prevent acid from leaving the stomach and reaching the esophagus. Since smoking is one of the causes of acid indigestion heartburn, quitting may be your natural heartburn cure.

No matter the causes of acid indigestion heartburn, treatment is important. The lining of the esophagus is not as tough as the lining of the stomach, which is why chronic heartburn may lead to erosion of the lining of the esophagus. Preventing and treating heartburn will protect the esophagus from further damage, but sometimes medications are necessary to promote healing, when damage has already been done. Sometimes, a natural heartburn cure is not enough. Other symptoms, like sore throat, that may seem unrelated to heartburn may come up. It may be necessary to consult an ear, nose and throat specialist, even if you are no longer experiencing heartburn.

For those who experience symptoms occasionally, particularly when the causes of acid indigestion heartburn are related to eating spicy, fried or acidic foods, there are many herbs and botanicals that may be helpful. For example, some consider fennel a natural heartburn cure. You probably have some in your spice rack. You can make a soothing tea using one or two teaspoons of fennel seeds in eight ounces of water. Drinking the tea provides relief for some people. Another herb commonly recommended natural heartburn cure is peppermint. You will often see peppermint oil listed as an ingredient in over the counter medications. However, some doctors advise that eating peppermint or mints of any kind may bring on heartburn in some people. It is often helpful to keep a food diary for a few months, noting which foods seem to bring on heartburn and which remedies are helping. The causes of acid indigestion heartburn and the effective remedies seem to vary among individuals.

If you like rhubarb, chewing on a piece is considered a natural heartburn cure by some. Rhubarb, when in season is available in many grocery stores. It is fairly easy to grow, as well if you have a garden, but it does not keep well and has a very short season. You can chop it and freeze it, chewing on a chunk when needed. Rhubarb was used by Native Americans as a remedy for helping heartburn and indigestion.

Plant enzymes are becoming more popular for helping heartburn and other digestive complaints. The typical American diet is too high in fat and too low in plant foods. Eating more vegetables (except tomatoes which are highly acidic) may be a natural heartburn cure and preventative. Improper diet is believed to be one of the causes of acid indigestion heartburn. Dietary changes are usually recommended, even when taking medications designed to prevent heartburn.

Patsy Hamilton writes informational articles for the Digestive Disorders Guide. Visit us at http://www.digestive-disorders-guide.com.

For more information about heartburn and other common digestive complaints, visit www.digestive-disorders-guide.com.

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