Medications, diet alterations, and lifestyle changes can all help get ahead of acid reflux fast. This H2 blocker prevents heartburn associated with acid indigestion and sour stomach brought on by eating or drinking certain foods or beverages. Just take one tablet with water 10 to 60 minutes before eating.

Maximum Strength PEPCID AC ® starts working within 15 to 30 minutes to stop heartburn fast. Making changes to your diet can help prevent heartburn. For an even bigger impact, change how and when you eat.

Eating dinner earlier in the evening makes heartburn less likely. Aim to avoid eating anything for at least three hours before you go to bed 7. Eating too much can also result in heartburn. Rather than eating three large meals, consume several small portions throughout the day.

Additionally, take your time while eating. Certain home remedies can also help you prevent heartburn symptoms. You may want to try 2 :. Try PEPCID ® — the 1 doctor-recommended, over the counter, acid reducer brand.

PEPCID ® products start working in minutes and can ease symptoms day or night. Our Products. PEPCID COMPLETE® PEPCID COMPLETE® ON-THE-GO. Original Strength PEPCID AC® Maximum Strength PEPCID AC®. Digestive Aids.

What is Pepcid®? Understanding Heartburn. Overview What Is Heartburn? Heartburn vs. Acid Reflux vs. GERD Common Heartburn Myths. Ginger is another natural remedy for indigestion because it can reduce stomach acid. In the same way, too little stomach acid causes indigestion, too much stomach acid has the same effect.

Drink a cup of ginger tea as needed to soothe your stomach and get rid of indigestion. Other options include sucking on ginger candy, drinking ginger ale, or making your own ginger water.

Boil one or two pieces of ginger root in four cups of water. Add flavor with lemon or honey before drinking. Limit your ginger consumption to 3 to 4 grams g per day. Consuming too much ginger can cause gas, throat burn, and heartburn.

This antispasmodic herb may also help remedy indigestion after a meal, as well as soothe other gastrointestinal problems like stomach cramping, nausea, and bloating. However, a lot of the research on fennel and digestion has been done on rats, so more human studies are necessary to verify its effects.

Drink fennel tea whenever you experience indigestion. Another option is to chew fennel seeds after meals if certain foods cause indigestion. Baking soda can quickly neutralize stomach acid and relieve indigestion, bloating, and gas after eating.

Sodium bicarbonate is generally safe and nontoxic. But drinking large amounts of baking soda can bring on a few unwelcome side effects, such as constipation, diarrhea, irritability, vomiting, and muscle spasms. The alkaline effect of lemon water also neutralizes stomach acid and improves digestion.

Mix a tablespoon of lemon juice in hot or warm water and drink a few minutes before eating. Along with easing indigestion, lemon water is also an excellent source of vitamin C. However, too much lemon water can wear down tooth enamel and cause increased urination. To protect your teeth, rinse your mouth with water after drinking lemon water.

Research shows that licorice root can calm muscle spasms and inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract, which can both trigger indigestion. Chew licorice root for relief or add licorice root to boiling water and drink the mixture. Although effective for indigestion, licorice root can cause sodium and potassium imbalances and high blood pressure in large doses.

Researchers recommend consuming about milligrams mg of glycyrrhizin, which is the primary active compound in licorice root. You can get this amount by consuming 60—70 g of licorice. Other studies recommend 0. Frequent indigestion is often a symptom of a chronic digestive problem like acid reflux, gastritis, and even stomach cancer.

Therefore, see a doctor if indigestion continues for more than two weeks or if you experience severe pain or other symptoms such as:. A sports drink can also help you avoid dehydration. by providing you with minerals and electrolytes.

Drinking water can help dilute the acid in your stomach, which can help reduce symptoms of indigestion. You can get indigestion from lifestyle factors such as drinking too much alcohol. It can also be triggered by stress. Medical conditions like gastroesophageal reflux disease GERD can also cause it, as well as certain medications.

Learn more about indigestion. See if these home remedies help but visit a doctor about any worrisome symptoms. The sooner you see a doctor, get a diagnosis, and begin treatment, the sooner you can feel better and enjoy a higher quality of life. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.

A cup of chamomile tea may have a soothing effect on the digestive tract. People with ragweed allergy may have reactions to chamomile. The root of the ginger plant is another well-known herbal digestive aid.

It has been used for centuries as a folk remedy for heartburn. Licorice has proved effective in several studies. Licorice is said to increase the mucous coating of the esophageal lining, helping it resist the irritating effects of stomach acid. Deglycyrrhizinated licorice, or DGL, is available in pill or liquid form.

Other natural remedies. Many other "natural" remedies have been used to treat heartburn over the centuries, but there is little scientific evidence to confirm their effectiveness.

Catnip, fennel, marshmallow root, and papaya tea have all been said to aid in digestion and stop heartburn. Some people eat fresh papaya as a digestive aid.

Others swear by raw potato juice three times a day. Herbal remedies do not undergo testing for safety and effectiveness by the federal government. They are not approved by the FDA, and do not have to meet the same standards for manufacturing and packaging that drugs do.

To learn more about GERD and heartburn, read Harvard Medical School Guide: Cooling Heartburn. As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.

No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.

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Can watching sports be bad for your health? Beyond the usual suspects for healthy resolutions. July 18, Some people find herbs and other natural remedies to be helpful in treating heartburn symptoms. Here are some examples: Chamomile. Schedule an appointment today.

Whole grains are grains that retain all parts of the seed bran, germ, and endosperm. Whole grains can be consumed in their whole form or ground. Compared to other grains, they are better sources of fiber, B vitamins, iron, folate, selenium, potassium, magnesium, and other important nutrients.

Whole grains can be complete foods, like popcorn or quinoa, or ingredients in other foods, like whole-wheat flour in bread.

The amount of fiber found in whole-grain foods may help absorb stomach acid. Ginger has medicinal properties and anti-inflammatory properties that make it one of the best digestive aids.

It’s alkaline, which means that it falls on the opposite side of the pH scale than acidic foods. Ginger is on of the foods that can neutralize stomach acid immediately.

The low level of acid eases irritation in the gastrointestinal tract. Ginger has been used throughout history for digestive issues. Almost all fruits and vegetables reduce stomach acid. Root vegetables and green vegetables are high in fiber.

Foods that are fibrous make you feel full, cutting down on overeating that may contribute to heartburn. With a few exceptions, fruits and vegetables are some of the best foods for heartburn.

However, some fruits and vegetables can cause heartburn. Garlic can cause heartburn and upset stomach in those who don’t regularly experience gastrointestinal issues. Those who do may have increased symptoms when eating garlic. The pain typically starts behind your breastbone and moves up toward your throat.

Acid reflux happens when your stomach acid travels too high up in your digestive system. Usually, gravity and your digestive system work together to keep stomach acid down in your stomach where it belongs. But sometimes it can rise up into your esophagus and cause irritation, heartburn, or other symptoms.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease GERD is persistent acid reflux. But, like medications, home remedies and supplements can have risks. Some can interact with medications or cause other problems.

Baking soda can calm some episodes of heartburn by neutralizing your stomach acid. To do this, dissolve 1 teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water and drink it slowly.

To be safe, only use this baking soda remedy every once in a while, not frequently. Talk with your doctor about how to use baking soda safely. Licorice root is an old herbal remedy that may help with heartburn. A study showed that herbal formulas with licorice consistently provided heartburn relief even better than commonly used antacids.

Eating too much licorice may raise your blood pressure, lower your potassium levels, and interfere with certain medications. Always talk with your doctor before taking licorice or DGL supplements.

Apple cider vinegar is another home remedy that some people use to treat heartburn. Some believe that drinking apple cider vinegar could improve your digestive health.

No solid evidence supports this claim yet, but consuming small amounts of diluted apple cider vinegar is typically considered safe. Chewing gum stimulates saliva production and swallowing. This might help dilute and clear stomach acid from your esophagus.

In general, gum chewing may benefit some digestive conditions. But a small study shows it can worsen others. Check with your doctor to see whether this method is worth trying. Ginger has a long history of use in Chinese medicine. This herb can help relieve nausea, so some believe it may be worth trying for heartburn, too.

However, large doses of ginger may actually cause heartburn or other problems, so use it in small amounts. Plenty of OTC heartburn medications are available for use. These medications come in three types:. To prevent heartburn or stop it from starting, there are several methods you can try. You might be having an episode of heartburn because tight clothing is compressing your stomach.

Your posture can also contribute to heartburn. If needed, you can use cushions or supports to help you maintain a more upright position. A case study suggests that long-term posture problems could contribute to GERD. In the study, correcting poor posture eliminated reflux symptoms. But more research is needed to understand the connection.

Lying down can make heartburn worse. When it comes time for bed, adjust your sleeping surface to raise your upper body. Lifting your head with extra pillows may not be enough. To get relief, try elevating your body from the waist up.

In fact, the American College of Gastroenterology ACG says it can actually cause acid reflux. In some cases, your ongoing symptoms could be due to GERD and may require professional treatment. Heartburn and heart attack can have similar symptoms. The fastest-acting remedy for heartburn is likely to be an antacid.