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Manage Heartburn Without Drugs

posted by Dr. Brent Nov 14, 2008 8:00 am
Manage Heartburn Without Drugs
53 comments

Q: I have been taking Prilosec OTC for my heartburn and acid reflux for a while now, but I’d like to get off of the medication. Is there a better way to manage my symptoms?

A: Any antacid can help neutralize stomach acid. When buying an antacid, look on the label for the amount of calcium or magnesium in the product. If you have a problem with constipation, choose a brand that lists magnesium first on the label. If diarrhea is a problem, choose one with calcium listed first.

If you want to avoid medications completely, try to eat small amounts of food throughout the day rather than a few larger meals. If you are a smoker, stop, and limit the amount of caffeine in your diet.

If you are having heartburn symptoms, you can control them by having a light snack to help absorb some of the excess stomach acid. Bland foods like bananas or graham crackers are good choices. Apple juice is also an excellent choice. Avoid orange juice or other acidic beverages.

Dr. Brent Ridge is the health expert for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. You can call and ask him a question live every Tuesday at 2 p.m. Eastern on Sirius Satellite Radio, Channel 112 (1.866.675.6675). You can also follow along as he learns to grow his own food and raise goats on his farm in upstate New York by visiting www.beekman1802.com.

Got a health question for Dr. Brent? E-mail him at drbrent@care2.com.

More on Ask Dr. Brent (122 articles available)
More from Dr. Brent (127 articles available)

53 comments

53 comments

add your comment »
53 comments add your comment
Vural K.

thanks...
Kabin

Konteyner

Lori Fruth

Peppermint and or Perrier work for me.

Donna Huffer

This problem could also be the gallbladder.Reason being I had went through all this stuff as well as vomiting.Food made me sick even to smell it.My gallbladder was deseased and they took that out .I remaind being sick with the reflux and all so they went back in and found there were 3 stones lodged in a duct.They removed those and noe I feel great.The antiacids did not do a thing for me nor did Aloe Vera juice and its good for stomach problems.You might want to have the gallbladder thing checked out.

Donna Huffer

I had all these problems and I ended up having a diseased gallbladder and had to have it out.Continued to be in pain and they went back in and took out 3 stones that was stuck in a duct.Never had been as sick as I was with this gallbladder and I had H Pylori and conpared to the gallbladder it was a piece of cake.

Lauren Swift

i don't think the doctor gave good advice. Taking antacids is not very green and has its own set of side effects...I know someone who developed a heart problem because of over-use. So much of our medical industry relies on these bandaid solutions that do not treat, but simply seem to aleiviate one symptom, and in turn cause a whole set of other problems. You can get serious calcium and magnesium deposits from using those things, as well as messing up your system's balance of good/bad acids, etc. when you take those instead of addressing the actual problem. Why does he just recommend a drug that doesn't even have a healthful content instead of trying to figure out what the actual problem is?...I agree with those who pointed that out.....and especially as advice to an online group? Low quality, in my opinion...

Sharon L.

I had awful heartburn, and now drink Organic Apple Cider Vinegar a couple of times a day (small shot or Tablespoon) and it is gone. No more nexium needed, or any other medication. OAC vinegar has so many other benefits as well... http://www.earthclinic.com/Remedies/acvinegar.html
Good luck!

Jackie Oneil

I remember years ago someone suggested to me the apple cider vinegar and honey, I tried it and know it wil work very well to eliminate acid reflux or heart burn, also have learned diet has a lot to do with it as well, small amounts a few times a day and definitely not before bedtime, I thankyou all for your wonderful comments and blessings to each with love. Jackie a 79 year old who is feeling chipper each day, what happened to old age?

Yos Eis
  • Yos Eis says
  • Nov 18, 2008 7:28 AM

1. First, you must have the H. Pylory test. (ask your doctor)
2. If you do not have this bacteria in your stomach and if yes, so after you finish the 3 month treatment, start drinking apple cider vinegar. 2 Tsp in a glass of water, 3 times a day before meal. Do not stop for 3 month.

Helenskaya Dente

I think the doctor should advise seeking the root cause of the problem, all symptoms are just a sign of a deeper underlying imbalance of the natural elements in our body. I think it best to ensure you don't suffer from a food allergy by using a natural method of diagnosis such as kinesiology or vega scan.
Primary advise would be to eat smaller meals, more regularly if necessary but not 4 hours before bed.
Heartburn is often a sign that our poor digestive tract is under par, & often that our stomach isn't producing enough hydrochloric acid. A simple way to stimulate the production of this is to take a teaspoon of diluted organic apple cider vinegar(which is an alkaline vinegar)half an hour before each meal.
Also look to soothing & cleansing the digestive tract with slippery elm powder. This isn't to everyone's taste due to its texture. I just pop it in my herbal tea as I am used to it but to administer it to friends with upset tums I mix the 1tsp powder directly with honey to make a very sweet paste.
Before bed soak a teaspoon of linseeds in a little water so that by morning they are a mild flavoured jelly to take with breakfast, & make this part of your daily routine...your intestines will thank you and so will your skin as they are very rich in omega 3's.
If these measures don't clear the problem, I advise a personal consultation with a medical herbalist that has also studied nutrition...don't feel ashamed to ask for proof of their credentials!!
Best of dig

Larry W.

Most of the reflux is caused by not having enough stomach acid. Try a drop or two of white vinegar it will disappear like magic.
I noticed in my case which was very bad, that antacids were all around me, people were on drugs they would never get off of.
It has something to do with what is in our milk now, I can drink cream or eat real iced cream but not milks. Right after I do I get reflux.

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