Herbal Remedies for Heartburn
Every person experiences Heartburn sometime or the other in life. It is a condition that affects almost everyone...
Understanding Heartburn
Every person experiences Heartburn sometime or the other in life. It is a condition that affects almost everyone. The pain or the burning sensation one experiences causes a great deal of discomfort. The burning sensation usually occurs behind the breast bone also known as the sternum. This sensation is known as heartburn because it occurs in the region where the heart is located. Sometimes, one can also feel the pain and the burning sensation in the middle of the one's back or higher up extending as far as the neck. But this pain is generally not related in any way to any malfunction or defect of the heart. It is generally a result of bad posture or maybe a digestive problem. Heartburn can also be the result of the acids from the stomach flowing back into the gullet or the esophagus, (the esophagus being a tube-like structure connecting the mouth and the stomach). Heartburn is generally known to occur after meals or while sleeping or lying down, another name for heartburn is acid reflux. The medical term is Pyrosis. Heartburn and pain can be relieved by using many available over the counter remedies, but a better and safer way is to take herbal remedies or diet control.
Controlling heartburn
Dietary control does not mean reduction of quantity in the daily consumption of food. It means avoiding as much as possible the intake of those ingredients in food which may be the cause of heartburn for the individual. At the same time it has been observed that people who eat very fast and also those who do not chew well also experience heartburn. However it is better to consult a healthcare practitioner before making any major changes in one's diet. In short, it is better to stay away from foods that you are allergic to or that you know might cause you indigestion and heartburn. In case you feel that milk products give you heartburn, try and take lactase digestive enzymes before eating this type of food.
Herbal remedies for heartburn
Most of us want to get rid of heartburn problems as soon as possible. They opt for some quick fix which gives temporary relief. Plus there are always chances of side effects by using such short cut treatments. There are herbal remedies for heartburn which can provide a more secure way of curing the ailment. Herbal remedies can be divided into three categories. 1. Bitters (digestive stimulants) such as Barberry, Bitter melon, bitter orange, Prickly ash, Wormwood and so on. 2. Carminatives (gas relieving agents) such as Cardamom, Cinnamon, Cloves, Coriander, Ginger, Lavender, Lemon Balm, Turmeric, Peppermint etc. and 3. Demulcents (soothing herbs) such as Liquorice, Slippery elm, Marshmallow etc. which can be used to relieve or avoid heartburn. Herbal remedies and natural home remedies have limited or no side effects. They work fast and you save money.
Heartburn generally does not pose great risk to life. But, in serious cases it sometimes results in injury to the lower part of the gullet and requires medical treatment. Many a time you can avoid heartburn just by keeping fit and avoiding obesity. Giving enough time for your food to digest before lying down, avoiding consumption of large meals, elevating your head rest four to six inches before sleeping, avoiding coffee and other food intake with acidic content are things that also help avoid heartburn. You can found detailed information on herbal remedies on may government websites.
Try to find out the cause of heartburn; it could be the food, if so what type of food or beverage affects you. In case you are able to fairly assess the root of your trouble then try avoiding it and you could have partly solved your problem.
As a home remedy an apple is considered a good counter to heartburn. You need not eat a full apple but a slice or two sometimes suffices to take care of heartburn or acid reflux. It’s a home remedy that generally works, is cheap, easily available and has no side effects. The best thing about the apple is that it’s a delicious fruit and not a drug. It provides relief to people prone to heartburn.
Heartburn should not be considered lightly and should be given adequate treatment. And Mother Nature has already given us enough natural ways of getting rid of it for ever.
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