How to Treat Acid Reflux Naturally (Without Dangerous Medicine)

Written by: Jon Mitchell, PA-C

It's normal to experience occasional acid reflux... maybe after eating foods like pizza and ice cream or drinking alcohol...

But when heartburn happens too much, it can lead to gastrointestinal reflux (GERD).

When GERD becomes a regular occurrence, the acid will start to damage the cells lining your esophagus...

And over an extended period of time, this could make those cells cancerous.

This is why doctors often prescribe antacids called proton pump inhibitors (PPI), such as omeprazole.

But these could be problematic as well:

The Dangers of Reflux Medications

PPI’s almost completely shut down the production of stomach acid.

This does help to relieve reflux symptoms... but these meds have a growing list of unintended consequences.

After all, you need adequate amounts of stomach acid to:

• Chemically breakdown your food

• Prevent infection from bacteria and yeast

• Or signal your pancreas to release digestive enzymes & absorb nutrients

Without proper stomach acid release, you could have increased risk for health issues.

For instance, without the antimicrobial effects of stomach acid, you are more likely to develop pneumonia or a condition called SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth).

Because your gut is not breaking down proteins properly, it could also interfere with your immune response and put you at an increased risk for allergies.

Some other side-effects of taking PPI’s include:

• Bone fractures

• Dementia

• Heart Disease

• Kidney Disease

• Stomach Cancer

• Or nutritional deficiencies (including B12, folate, calcium zinc, copper, iron, and magnesium)

It's clear that chronic heartburn can put you between a rock and a hard place... So, here are...

6 Natural Ways to Fight Acid Reflux and Get Off Meds:

1. Heart Rate Variability (HRV) Training

The majority of the cases of reflux I see have stress as a contributing factor...

By using HRV breathwork — breathing at something called your resonance frequency — you can increase the parasympathetic tone of your body for improved relaxation & digestion.

2. Identify and Remove "Trigger" Foods

Everybody is different, but foods that commonly present issues are fatty foods, coffee, chocolate, mint, sugar, onions, or alcohol.

You may need to keep a food journal or high-quality food sensitivity test in order to determine difficult-to-detect food triggers.

And finding nutritious alternatives doesn't have to be hard... you can find healthy foods at common places like Costco.

3. Strategic Supplements

Since low stomach acid can be a contributor to heartburn and lead to inadequate digestion and nutrient absorption...

Consider taking a supplement to boost stomach acid and digestive enzyme production.

A good first option: Digestive bitters.

These could help your body naturally release stomach acid.

If that's not quite enough, try taking a digestive enzyme supplement containing Betaine-HCl with meals (under the supervision of a medical provider).

4. Test for Gut Infections

Try getting assessed for the presence of H. Pylori, SIBO, or any other microbes that might be involved.

When coming up with a plan, knowledge is power.

5. Boost Melatonin

This one may sound strange...

But melatonin has been found to influence the lower esophageal sphincter — which stops food from refluxing back into your esophagus.

So, if you are doing things that impair melatonin production & secretion... such as getting too little sunlight or getting exposure to blue light before bed...

Then you may have challenges.

6. Baking Soda for Quick Relief

This is not a cure by any means...

But baking soda can soothe reflux symptoms in the moment.

I like to use 1 teaspoon of baking soda mixed in 6 ounces of water, which can be repeated every hour until symptoms resolve.

Conclusion

As always, it's important to consult with your doctor or healthcare provider before making decisions...

But now you know that there's hope to treat your acid reflux or GERD naturally — without resorting to potentially harmful medications like PPI's.

It's time to start enjoying your food again.

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