Acid Reflux or GERD (Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease) is a condition in which stomach contents flows back into the esophagus or refluxes, due to problem with lower esophageal sphincter (which act as valve between stomach and esophagus). This condition may occur two or three times per week, having same features of acidity.

Causes:

  • Over eating, irregular eating habits, Day sleep, staying awake late in the night.
  • Excessive consumption of oily deep-fried, junk spicy foods, citrus fruits, tomato, garlic, chocolate.
  • Alcohol, smoking, drugs like NSAID’S,
  • Aerated drinks, having tea or coffee in empty stomach act as a gastric irritant.
  • Anxiety, stress.
  • Hiatal hernia.

Symptoms:

  • Heartburn – burning sensation or pain in the chest region.
  • Sour belching or regurgitation backing up into the mouth.
  • Nausea
  • Flatulence or bloating.
  • Discomfort in the chest region.

Home Remedies:

The remedies consist of measures which neutralizes excessive acid and prevent damage to the stomach and esophageal lining.

  1. Black resins(Dry grapes): 15 to 20 counts of resins chew twice a day, morning and evening for the cure of heartburn.
  2. Coriander seeds: Tea prepared out of boiling 1 teaspoon of coriander seeds powder in 200 ml of water along with sugar relieves heartburn, burning sensation of the body, tiredness, excessive sweating etc.
  3. Ginger juice: Intake of 1 teaspoon of ginger juice along with 1 teaspoon of honey in the early morning.
  4. Saunf: Soak 1 teaspoon of saunf in 200 ml of hot water and leave over night, drink this water twice daily after food.
  5. Cinnamon: Tea prepared out of boiling half teaspoon of Cinnamon powder in 200 ml of water along with sugar, drink this water twice daily after food relieves acidity and indigestion.
  6. Mint Leaves: Have 1 teaspoon of mint leave juice along with 1 teaspoon of honey twice a day relieves acidity, flatulence & improve digestion.
  7. Cardamom & Jaggery: After each meal chew 1 cardamom and suck a small piece of jaggery gives relief from chest burn, exhaustion etc.

Herbal Remedies:

  1. Amla and licorice: Half teaspoon of amla powder (indian gossbarry) and half teaspoon of licorice powder soak in 200 ml of water overnight, consume 100 ml early morning empty stomach and remaining 100ml night after food.
  2. Black resin and Haritaki powder: Black resins 10 counts, haritaki powder (Terminalia Chebula) half teaspoon along with honey at bedtime, very efficacious medicine for acidity.
  3. Tender coconut pith juice: About 50 ml of Tender coconut pith juice early morning in the empty stomach for 3 days relieves acidity.

Diet for Acid reflux:

Food tips: Keep 3 hrs gap between each meal allow previous meals to get digest, excessive intake of water in empty stomach for a long period may hamper the digestion. have sip of hot water between meals,  take easily digestible and fresh food.

DO’S:

Cereals: Barely, wheat, rice. Pulses: Green gram, masur dal. Vegetables: Cucumber, bitter gourd, snake gourd, pumpkin. Fruits: Poamgranet, sweet grapes, apple, chikku, banana. Dairy: Butter, butter milk processed with ginger juice and salt, milk.

Dn’ts:

Pulses: Black gram, horse gram, peas, ground nut. Vegetables: Brinjal, tomato, potato, sweet potato. Fruits: all citrus sour fruits except amla. Dairy: curd Food & beverages:  Junk fried oily food, spicy sour & salty food, cold beverages, processed, fermented food, alcohol, smoking, tobacco chewing, refrigerated & over cooked food.