Herbal gerd remedies as well as home care tips

GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) indicates the increase in stomach acid into the esophagus, causing symptoms such as heartburn. The good news is that the symptoms of GERD can also be relieved by herbal remedies and lifestyle changes.

What are some natural medicine options that you can try? Let's look at the following recommendations.

A wide selection of herbal GERD drugs

GERD symptoms not only impede activity, they can get worse and lead to a series of complications if left untreated. If you have this, you need to get combination treatment with drugs and other medical procedures.

Before the emergence of medical drugs that had proven their effectiveness, natural ingredients were the mainstay of traditional medicine for GERD. The following are herbal ingredients as natural GERD drugs, as reported by the Harvard Medical School website.

1. Ginger

Ginger is quite famous as a herbal medicine for hundreds of years, one of which is in dealing with it heartburn. According to a study in 2011, participants who took ginger supplements for one month experienced a reduction in inflammation in their digestive system.

From this study, it is known that ginger is rich in antioxidants and phenolics which can relieve gastrointestinal irritation and reduce gastric muscle contractions. In fact, the active ingredients contained in ginger are actually also present in antacid drugs.

Thanks to these substances, ginger also has the potential to reduce the possibility of excess stomach acid flowing from the stomach into the esophagus. In addition, this traditional medicine can also relieve other symptoms of GERD, such as stomach nausea and heartburn.

You can process ginger as an herbal remedy for GERD in various ways. Here's an example.

Peeled and grated or thinly sliced to mix in cooking.
Peeled and eaten raw.
Sliced and boiled with water, then used as ginger water to drink.

2. Chamomile

Another natural ingredient that you can use as a herbal remedy to relieve symptoms of GERD is chamomile. This flowering plant has been used as a traditional medicine for a long time to treat stomach aches.

Just like ginger, chamomile contains anti-inflammatory substances whose properties are not much different from NSAID pain relievers such as aspirin. This is reported in a study published in the journal Molecular Medicine Reports.

The study states that chamomile can relieve many digestive disorders. This herbal ingredient helps counter the effects of acid reflux, inhibiting bacterial growth H. pylori, and reduce muscle spasms in the stomach.

All of these benefits suggest that chamomile can be used as a natural remedy for relief of GERD symptoms. You can get the properties of chamomile by serving it as chamomile tea.

3. Licorice

Maybe not many people are familiar with plants licorice. This plant actually has another name in Indonesia, namely licorice root. Licorice can protect the lining of the stomach and esophagus so as to prevent irritation by stomach acid.

Licorice works by increasing the production of mucus in the esophageal cells. The mucus that forms will protect the walls of the esophagus from irritation due to constant exposure to stomach acid.

You can find liquorice plant in pill or liquid form known as DGL-licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra). Chew or drink this licorice extract 1 or 2 hours before meals.

4. Peppermint oil

The oil from peppermint leaves has long been a traditional remedy for relieving colds, headaches, nausea, and indigestion. A number of studies have also stated that this natural oil can be a remedy for GERD symptoms due to increased stomach acid.

However, you must be careful when using peppermint oil. Do not use this oil with antacid drugs. The use of both at the same time can actually trigger the occurrence heartburn.

Before using natural GERD drugs, consult your doctor

Traditional medicine may be your choice to treat GERD symptoms. The reason is, medical drugs have the potential to affect the performance of the kidneys and liver. However, it needs to be reminded again that the use of natural remedies is not completely safe.

Everyone responds to treatment in different ways. This means that some have successfully used herbal remedies and some have not. The risk of side effects remains, especially in people who are allergic to drugs or are taking drugs in the wrong way.

So, if you want to use natural remedies to treat GERD, make sure that your doctor has given you the green light. Doctor's supervision is also needed during drug use, especially if you have other health problems.

Do this for natural GERD drugs to work effectively

Curing GERD doesn't only depend on the natural remedies you take, but also your habits and lifestyle. If you eat foods that trigger acid reflux, for example, GERD symptoms will still recur even if you take herbal medicines.

Here are some things you need to pay attention to so that you are free from the annoying symptoms of GERD.

1. Avoiding trigger foods

Spicy, sour, and fatty foods can trigger GERD symptoms. Therefore, you must limit these types of food. Instead, multiply healthy foods such as vegetables that do not contain a lot of gas or fruits that are not acidic.

2. Maintain ideal body weight

The efficacy of natural medicine in relieving GERD is certainly better if it is balanced with your efforts to maintain an ideal body weight. The reason is, being overweight (obesity) is one of the risk factors that cause GERD.

This is because excess weight puts a lot of pressure on the stomach so that the stomach produces more acid. Maintain your ideal body weight with at least 30 minutes of light exercise five days a week.

3. Stop smoking

Smoking habits can trigger excess stomach acid production. Quitting smoking is not only beneficial for relieving symptoms of GERD, but also makes the body healthier so it can avoid digestive problems related to GERD.

4. Elevating the body position when lying down

If you often experience heartburn while lying down, try to raise your body position. Stack a pillow or other support under your head, but make sure that it is about 15 cm high.

There are many ways that can be taken to treat GERD, one of which is by taking natural remedies. Lifestyle improvements such as maintaining diet, quitting smoking, and maintaining weight can also support treatment.

Even so, make sure you have discussed with your doctor before using any herbal ingredients. This aims to prevent side effects from using certain ingredients in the wrong way.