{"id":52224,"date":"2022-06-27T09:30:53","date_gmt":"2022-06-27T13:30:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=52224"},"modified":"2025-09-27T13:25:46","modified_gmt":"2025-09-27T17:25:46","slug":"home-remedies-for-heartburn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/home-remedies-for-heartburn\/","title":{"rendered":"12 home remedies for heartburn"},"content":{"rendered":"

Heartburn is uncomfortable, inconvenient, and often quite painful. Unfortunately, it\u2019s also very common. In fact, more than <\/span>60 million<\/span><\/a> Americans report experiencing heartburn at least once a month. Certain medicines, foods, and lifestyle factors can cause heartburn. Lifestyle changes like avoiding lying down for two hours after meals, eating smaller amounts of food, and avoiding fats, alcohol, caffeine, chocolate, and citrus can help manage heartburn symptoms. If symptoms don’t improve, prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications can offer relief.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here, learn 12 home remedies for heartburn, what to do when they don\u2019t work, and when to contact your healthcare provider for help.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

12 home remedies for heartburn<\/span><\/h2>\n

Heartburn is a painful burning feeling in your chest and throat that happens when stomach acid or other contents from your stomach back up in your esophagus, the tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach. It is thought that the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), which is located between your stomach and esophagus, may be weak or relax at inappropriate times, allowing acid reflux and heartburn to occur.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Occasional heartburn is relatively common. But if you\u2019re experiencing frequent or severe heartburn, a higher frequency of regurgitation, and a feeling that this condition is having a big effect on your everyday life, you may have <\/span>gastroesophageal reflux disease<\/span><\/a> (GERD). GERD happens when the lower esophageal sphincter at the end of your esophagus does not close properly, which allows the stomach contents to leak back (or reflux) into the esophagus and irritate it, according to the <\/span>National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease (NIDDK)<\/span><\/a>. If this is the case, you may need over-the-counter or prescription medication in addition to trying some of the natural remedies listed below. These home remedies may help reduce heartburn or prevent it from happening in the first place.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Reduce trigger foods\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Reducing trigger foods in your diet can prevent and help get rid of heartburn. These include acidic foods, spicy foods, and greasy foods.<\/span> F<\/span>ocus on <\/span>reducing these types of foods in addition to onions, garlic, chocolate, alcohol, carbonated drinks, and caffeine. \u201cCaffeine acts and relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter (the valve between the esophagus and the stomach) and effectively increases acid reflux,\u201d says <\/span>Omid Mehdizadeh, MD<\/span><\/a>, otolaryngologist and laryngologist at Providence Saint John\u2019s Health Center in Santa Monica, California.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>The best diet for acid reflux: 3 foods to eat\u2014and 10 heartburn triggers to avoid<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

2. Add aloe vera to your routine\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Dr. Mehdizadeh says taking aloe vera extract three times a day may act as an anti-inflammatory and acid suppressor. In addition, results from a <\/span>small study<\/span><\/a> found that aloe vera is safe, well-tolerated, and effective at reducing the frequency of heartburn. You can find aloe juice at most grocery stores. <\/span>Try <\/span>using one tablespoon of aloe vera mixed with water or juice.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>How much aloe vera juice should you drink?<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

3. Avoid tight clothing\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

The <\/span>Cleveland Clinic<\/span><\/a> recommends avoiding tight clothing and tight belts if you experience frequent heartburn and bloating. Anything that squeezes the belly area can push acid up into the esophagus, causing a painful burning sensation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Check your sleep position<\/span><\/h3>\n

Dr. Mehdizadeh recommends using a wedge pillow when you sleep because it helps to maintain an elevated sleeping position. You can also try sleeping on your left side. According to the <\/span>Cleveland Clinic<\/span><\/a>, this position is more likely to keep stomach contents where they belong rather than passing up through the lower esophageal sphincter into the esophagus, which reduces the chances of developing heartburn symptoms. Elevating the head of your bed is another trick to keep heartburn away. One of the best ways to accomplish this is by using risers or wood blocks under the headpost so the entire head of the bed is at an angle. People with more severe symptoms sometimes have to sleep in a recliner.<\/span><\/p>\n

5. Avoid lying down after eating<\/span><\/h3>\n

It might be tempting to kick your feet up right after a meal, but Dr. Mehdizadeh says it’s important to avoid lying down within two to three hours after eating. Therefore, plan accordingly and aim to get your last meal in a couple of hours before your normal bedtime.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

6. Eat smaller meals more slowly\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Be mindful of how much and how fast you\u2019re eating at mealtime. \u201cToo much food in your stomach can put pressure on the valve that keeps stomach acid from coming up your esophagus, thus making heartburn more likely,\u201d says <\/span>Janice Johnston, MD<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>the chief medical officer and co-founder of Redirect Health<\/span>. Also, eating too fast can trigger heartburn, so Dr. Johnston says chewing slowly or taking smaller bites can help slow down the process.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

7. Sip on water and baking soda<\/span><\/h3>\n

\u201cUtilizing a small amount of baking soda mixed with water could lower your stomach\u2019s acidity levels similar to an over-the-counter antacid due to the same active ingredients, sodium bicarbonate,\u201d Dr. Johnston says. This is one of the best at-home remedies to provide occasional, temporary relief from acid reflux.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

8. Try a ripe banana<\/span><\/h3>\n

Next time you experience heartburn, Dr. Johnston says to eat a ripe banana. \u201cThe high potassium content makes bananas an alkaline food that can help counteract stomach acid in your esophagus,\u201d she says. But make sure it is ripe. Dr. Johnston says an unripe banana will be less alkaline and, therefore, be less helpful.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

9. Chew gum\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Dr. Johnston says you can also try popping in a piece of sugar-free gum when you feel heartburn coming on. \u201cChewing gum increases saliva production, which will help you swallow more, helping dilute and clear acid reflux or lessening the chances of the acid coming up your throat,\u201d she says. Saliva also contains bicarbonate, which can buffer stomach acid.<\/span><\/p>\n

10. Drink alkaline water<\/span><\/h3>\n

Alkaline water buffers acid contents in the stomach, according to Dr. Mehdizadeh, so it may help reduce heartburn. <\/span>Research<\/span><\/a> found that consuming pH 8.8 alkaline water may have therapeutic health benefits for people with reflux disease.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

11. Maintain a healthy weight<\/span><\/h3>\n

If you have excess weight, especially around your belly, you may experience an increase in pressure that could push acid up into your esophagus, according to the <\/span>Mayo Clinic<\/span><\/a>. As is the case with so many ailments and health conditions, Dr. Mehdizadeh says weight loss is a critical component to helping alleviate episodes of heartburn. Sometimes, just a few pounds can make a significant difference.<\/span><\/p>\n

12. Experiment with herbal remedies\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Herbal remedies may help ease heartburn side effects for some people. Some specific ones to try include licorice, chamomile, and ginger tea, according to <\/span>Harvard Health<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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