You will also receive emails from Mayo Clinic on the latest health news, research, and care. Explore Mayo Clinic studies testing new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition. No alternative medicine therapies have been proved to treat GERD or reverse damage to the esophagus. Some complementary and alternative therapies may provide some relief, when combined with your doctor's care. Talk to your doctor about what alternative GERD treatments may be safe for you.
The options might include:. In addition to the questions that you've prepared to ask your doctor, don't hesitate to ask questions during your appointment anytime you don't understand something.
Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions. Being ready to answer them may leave time to go over points you want to spend more time on. You may be asked:. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Diagnosis Endoscopy Open pop-up dialog box Close. Endoscopy An endoscopy procedure involves inserting a long, flexible tube endoscope down your throat and into your esophagus.
Substitute for esophageal sphincter Open pop-up dialog box Close. Substitute for esophageal sphincter The LINX device is an expandable ring of metal beads that keeps stomach acid from refluxing into the esophagus, but allows food to pass into the stomach.
Email address. First Name let us know your preferred name. Last Name. Thank you for subscribing Your in-depth digestive health guide will be in your inbox shortly. Sorry something went wrong with your subscription Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Kahrilas PJ. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux in adults.
Accessed Jan. Feldman M, et al. Gastroesophageal reflux disease. Philadelphia, Pa. Losing belly fat might relieve some of your symptoms. Growing evidence suggests that low-carb diets may relieve acid reflux symptoms.
Scientists suspect that undigested carbs may be causing bacterial overgrowth and elevated pressure inside the abdomen. Some even speculate this may be one of the most common causes of acid reflux. Having too many undigested carbs in your digestive system makes you gassy and bloated. It also tends to make you belch more often 11 , 12 , 13 , Supporting this idea, a few small studies indicate that low-carb diets improve reflux symptoms 15 , 16 , Additionally, an antibiotic treatment may significantly reduce acid reflux, possibly by decreasing the numbers of gas-producing bacteria 18 , In one study, researchers gave participants with GERD prebiotic fiber supplements that promoted the growth of gas-producing bacteria.
Acid reflux might be caused by poor carb digestion and bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine. Low-carb diets appear to be an effective treatment, but further studies are needed. Drinking alcohol may increase the severity of acid reflux and heartburn.
It aggravates symptoms by increasing stomach acid, relaxing the lower esophageal sphincter and impairing the ability of the esophagus to clear itself of acid 21 , Studies have shown that moderate alcohol intake may even cause reflux symptoms in healthy individuals 23 , Controlled studies also show that drinking wine or beer increases reflux symptoms, compared to drinking plain water 25 , Excessive alcohol intake can worsen acid reflux symptoms.
If you experience heartburn, limiting your alcohol intake might help ease some of your pain. Studies show that coffee temporarily weakens the lower esophageal sphincter, increasing the risk of acid reflux Some evidence points towards caffeine as a possible culprit.
Similar to coffee, caffeine weakens the lower esophageal sphincter Additionally, drinking decaffeinated coffee has been shown to reduce reflux compared to regular coffee 29 , However, one study that gave participants caffeine in water was unable to detect any effects of caffeine on reflux, even though coffee itself worsened the symptoms. The processing and preparation of coffee might also be involved Nevertheless, although several studies suggest that coffee may worsen acid reflux, the evidence is not entirely conclusive.
One study found no adverse effects when acid reflux patients consumed coffee right after meals, compared to an equal amount of warm water. However, coffee increased the duration of reflux episodes between meals Additionally, an analysis of observational studies found no significant effects of coffee intake on the self-reported symptoms of GERD.
Yet, when the signs of acid reflux were investigated with a small camera, coffee consumption was linked with greater acid damage in the esophagus Whether coffee intake worsens acid reflux may depend on the individual.
If coffee gives you heartburn, simply avoid it or limit your intake. Evidence suggests that coffee makes acid reflux and heartburn worse. If you feel like coffee increases your symptoms, you should consider limiting your intake.
A few studies show that chewing gum reduces acidity in the esophagus 33 , 34 , Gum that contains bicarbonate appears to be especially effective These findings indicate that chewing gum — and the associated increase in saliva production — may help clear the esophagus of acid. More frequent belching might suggest that more gas is being produced due to the high amounts of fermentable fiber in onions 20 , Whatever the reason, if you feel like eating raw onion makes your symptoms worse, you should avoid it.
One observational study found that carbonated soft drinks were associated with increased acid reflux symptoms Also, controlled studies show that drinking carbonated water or cola temporarily weakens the lower esophageal sphincter, compared to drinking plain water 40 , The main reason is the carbon dioxide gas in carbonated beverages, which causes people to belch more often — an effect that can increase the amount of acid escaping into the esophagus Carbonated beverages temporarily increase the frequency of belching, which may promote acid reflux.
If they worsen your symptoms, try drinking less or avoiding them altogether. Orange juice with a neutral pH also appears to aggravate symptoms Most patients with acid reflux report that drinking citrus juice makes their symptoms worse. Researchers believe citrus juice irritates the lining of the esophagus.
After 10 minutes, have a few spoonfuls, and save the rest in a glass container for whenever you experience a bout of acid reflux. Aloe vera is a natural anti-inflammatory that not only works on sunburns but also, when ingested, soothes an inflamed esophagus and stomach lining. Citrus fruits are a definite no for acid reflux, but the digestion-promoting pectin and pH-balancing tartaric and malic acid found in apples are a definite yes.
The papain in papaya that's an enzyme that dissolves carbs, speeds up the metabolism, decreases inflammation, and treats constipation is great for acid reflux, as well. So are bananas, which coat the lining of the stomach to soothe it and have a natural antacid effect. Try winding down with some ginger tea whenever your acid reflux strikes. Ginger is also a remedy for an upset stomach. Something that soothes my acid reflux every time is peppermint, which Trattner says is one of the most prescribed herbs for digestion.
Plus, peppermint tea cools that burning throat. Peppermint Throat Coat tea is my favorite, and Trattner is a fan of peppermint oil capsules. Sleeping totally flat my position of choice was definitely a primary cause of my personal acid reflux. Park suggests sleeping as upright as possible and on your left side. It's harder for your digestive system to break down larger meals.
If you fill up too much, your stomach acid will likely bubble back up the esophagus. And avoid eating right before bed, waiting at least two to three hours after dinner to lie down. Bottom line? If you're experiencing acid reflux, take a trip to the grocery store before the pharmacy. These natural remedies can have multiple healing and soothing effects and several are pretty tasty to boot.
I'm pleased to share that these tips worked for me, and experts are confident they may help you, too. Updated July, University of Chicago Medicine. Debunking the health benefits of apple cider vinegar. Updated August 23, Foeniculum vulgare mill: a review of its botany, phytochemistry, pharmacology, contemporary application, and toxicology.
Biomed Res Int. Efficacy and safety of aloe vera syrup for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease: a pilot randomized positive-controlled trial. J Tradit Chin Med. Neuro Endocrinol Lett. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Updated September, Newberry C, Lynch K. The role of diet in the development and management of gastroesophageal reflux disease: why we feel the burn. J Thorac Dis.
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