Acid Reflux Home Remedies: 8 Natural Options

Acid reflux home remedies may help relieve symptoms such as heartburn, indigestion, and a burning sensation in the chest. Common options include chamomile tea, slippery elm tea, potato juice, ginger tea, baking soda, licorice tea, aloe vera juice, and fennel tea.

These acid reflux home remedies may help support digestion, soothe inflammation, or temporarily neutralize stomach acid. Because some remedies may not be appropriate for everyone, it is important to follow recommended precautions and seek medical advice when needed.

Acid reflux occurs when stomach contents flow back into the esophagus, causing irritation and discomfort. In addition to natural remedies, lifestyle changes such as eating smaller meals, avoiding large amounts of fluids during meals, and elevating the head during sleep may help reduce symptoms.

How to get rid of acid reflux

Some natural remedies that may help manage acid reflux include:

1. Chamomile tea

Chamomile tea may help with acid reflux because it has digestive and anti-inflammatory properties. It may help control stomach acid production and relieve symptoms such as indigestion, heartburn, and nausea.

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon dried chamomile flowers

• 1 cup water

How to prepare:

Bring the water to a boil in a saucepan. Turn off the heat, add the chamomile flowers, cover, and let steep for 5 minutes. Strain and drink up to 4 cups of this tea per day.

Precautions: This tea is not recommended for people who are allergic to chamomile or plants from the same family, such as daisies, ragweed, and chrysanthemums. It is also not recommended for babies under 6 months old.

Tea made with German chamomile (Matricaria recutita) may be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Roman chamomile tea should be avoided, as there are not enough studies confirming its safety in these populations.

2. Slippery elm tea

Slippery elm is an herb that contains mucilage, a gel-like substance that may help coat and protect the lining of the esophagus and stomach. Slippery elm tea may help relieve acid reflux symptoms such as indigestion and heartburn.

According to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, slippery elm bark has been used in traditional medicine for gastrointestinal disorders, sore throat, cough, and skin ulcers.

Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon slippery elm bark powder

• 1 cup water

How to prepare:

Heat the water until warm and stir in the slippery elm powder. Mix well and drink up to 3 cups per day, preferably 30 minutes before meals.

Precautions: People who are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking prescription medications, or allergic to slippery elm should speak with a healthcare provider before using it.

3. Potato juice

Potato juice may help neutralize stomach acidity. It may be used to relieve acid reflux symptoms such as heartburn, burning in the chest, and a feeling of a lump in the throat.

Ingredients:

• 1 raw russet potato

• 7 fl oz (200 mL) water

How to prepare:

Peel the potato and blend it with the water in a blender or food processor. Strain and drink without sweetening. This juice can be consumed once per day, preferably 30 minutes before a meal.

Precautions: Potatoes can raise blood sugar levels, especially in people with diabetes. People with diabetes should use this remedy in moderation.

4. Ginger tea

When consumed in small amounts, ginger tea may help relieve acid reflux symptoms. It has anti-nausea and anti-inflammatory properties that may help reduce nausea and indigestion.

Ingredients:

• 1 to 1.5 inches (2 to 3 cm) fresh grated ginger

• 1 cup water

How to prepare: Place the ingredients in a saucepan and boil for about 8 to 10 minutes. Turn off the heat, cover the pan, and let it cool slightly. Strain and drink right away. You can drink 1 cup of this tea per day.

Precautions: This tea is not recommended for children under 6 years old or people with gallstones, stomach irritation, or high blood pressure. It should also be avoided by people with bleeding disorders or those taking blood-thinning medications.

People who are pregnant or taking medication for high blood pressure or diabetes should only drink ginger tea if recommended by a healthcare provider.

5. Baking soda

Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) has an antacid effect. It can temporarily neutralize stomach acid and relieve acid reflux symptoms such as discomfort, indigestion, and heartburn.

Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 8 fl oz (250 mL) water

How to prepare: Dissolve the baking soda well in the water with a spoon and drink right away. You can drink up to 3 glasses of this mixture per day for up to 2 weeks, as excessive use may worsen heartburn and stomach burning.

Precautions: Baking soda is not recommended for people with alkalosis or hypocalcemia, children under 2 years old, people who are allergic to this substance, or people who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

6. Licorice tea

Licorice is a medicinal plant that contains compounds that may help protect the stomach lining. Licorice tea may help relieve acid reflux symptoms such as indigestion and heartburn.

Ingredients:

• 5 g licorice root

• 500 mL (2 cups) water

How to prepare:

Place the licorice root and water in a saucepan and boil for 10 minutes. Let it cool slightly, strain, and drink up to 2 cups of this tea per day.

Precautions: This tea is not recommended for people with high blood pressure, heart problems, kidney disease, or low potassium levels. Licorice tea should also be avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

7. Aloe vera juice

Aloe vera juice has digestive and anti-inflammatory properties that may help support digestion and neutralize stomach acids. This may help manage acid reflux and gastritis symptoms.

Ingredients:

• 1 aloe vera leaf

• 1 quart (1 liter) water

How to prepare:

Wash and dry the aloe vera leaf well. Cut the base of the leaf and leave it standing upright so the latex, which is the yellow and toxic part of the leaf, can drain.

Cut the sides of the leaf lengthwise. Lay the leaf flat and carefully lift the peel on one side to avoid contaminating the gel with any remaining latex. Remove the gel with a blunt object, such as a spoon, and discard any green or yellow parts.

Blend the aloe vera gel with water using a ratio of 100 g of gel to 1 liter of water. Drink up to 3 glasses of this juice per day.

Precautions: This juice is not recommended for children or people who are pregnant or breastfeeding. It is also not recommended for people with pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), hemorrhoids, anal fissures, bladder stones, kidney failure, appendicitis, prostatitis, cystitis, dysentery, or nephritis.

8. Fennel tea

Fennel tea may help relieve symptoms of acid reflux and gastritis. It contains compounds with digestive, anti-inflammatory, and mild antacid properties that may help reduce acidity, improve digestion, and relieve nausea and indigestion.

Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon dried fennel seeds

• 1 cup water

How to prepare:

Crush or lightly mash the fennel seeds. Bring the water to a boil in a saucepan. Turn off the heat, add the fennel seeds, cover, and let steep for 10 minutes. Strain and drink up to 3 cups of this tea per day for up to 2 consecutive weeks.

Precautions: This tea is not recommended for children under 12 or for people who are allergic to anise or anethole. It should also be avoided by people who are pregnant or breastfeeding, have hyperestrogenism or hormone-sensitive breast cancer, use hormone therapy, or take blood-thinning medications.

Additional tips

Other important tips for managing acid reflux include:

• Avoid drinking large amounts of fluids during meals

• Chew food well and eat slowly

• Wear loose clothing that does not tighten around the waist

• Eat smaller meals, especially at dinner

• Eat your last meal at least 2 hours before bedtime

• Avoid liquid meals at dinner, such as soups or broths

It is also recommended to sleep with the upper body elevated at a 45-degree angle by using a wedge pillow or raising the head of the bed. This can help reduce acid reflux at night.