Home Remedies to Control Heartburn and Gastritis
The stomach maintains the health of the body but is often afflicted by heartburn and gastritis so we should know how to control them. Among these are common heartburn and gastritis, which generate a burning sensation in the upper abdomen, usually accompanied with inflammation, pain and irritation.
In fact, both can develop due to multiple factors, although the most common ones have to do with stress, excessive consumption of some types of food or the ingestion of overly irritating foods. Bacterial infections, intake of anti-inflammatory drugs and excessive alcohol consumption are also common causes.
9 remedies to relieve heartburn and gastritis
There’s a wide variety of home remedies for heartburn and gastritis that, unlike drugs, can soothe the symptoms in a short time without causing unwanted side effects. Are you interested in learning about them?
1. Apple cider vinegar
Organic apple cider vinegar is an alkaline remedy that balances your stomach’s production of acids to speed your recovery from gastritis and allow ulcers to heal. Its acidic compounds regulate the pH of your stomach and decrease that uncomfortable reflux that can happen after you eat.
However, there’s no scientific evidence to support such claims. On the contrary, apple cider vinegar may increase stomach acid secretion and worsen the symptoms of gastritis in some cases. If you, nevertheless, wish to try the remedy, follow the steps below:
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp. of apple cider vinegar (10 ml.)
- 1 c. of water (200 ml.)
What should you do?
- Dilute the apple cider vinegar in water and drink it at the first signs of gastritis
- Avoid drinking more than three cups of this a day
2. Organic aloe vera-honey
Aloe vera is a natural antacid that, thanks to its properties, can help calm an upset stomach and fight diarrhea and other symptoms of gastrointestinal illness, like ulcerative colitis and gastritis.
The transparent gel contained within its leaves helps promote healthy bowel movements and supports the digestive process. Furthermore, you can combine it with a little bit of honey to decrease the symptoms of stomach irritation and heartburn.
A recent study published in the journal Pharmaceutical Biology demonstrated that a low molecular weight fraction of aloe vera has a gastroprotective effect. It is believed that the plant has the ability to inhibit a specific enzyme, which relieves acute gastric lesions and decreases the symptoms of heartburn.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp. of aloe vera (30 g.)
- 1 tbsp. of honey (25 g.)
- 1/2 glass of water (100 ml.)
What should you do?
- Place all the ingredients in a blender and process them for a few minutes
- Once you get a homogeneous mixture, serve and consume immediately
- Avoid taking this more than two times a day because it can have a mild laxative effect
3. Baking soda
The quintessential natural alkaline ingredient, baking soda is an organic substance that calms symptoms of gastritis and other digestive problems. Since it is an alkaline substance, baking soda will be able to neutralize stomach acids, so you will see an almost immediate relief of the symptoms of gastritis and heartburn.
Experts advise against its use in case of having high blood pressure or maintaining a low sodium diet. Despite its usefulness, this remedy should be used with extreme caution. This is because a study published in the Journal of Medical Toxicology states that people may develop metabolic alkalosis and electrolyte disorders such as hypokalemia.
Ingredients
- 1 tsp. of baking soda (5 g.)
- 1 glass of water (200 g.)
What should you do?
- Mix the baking soda with the water and drink it before it begins to bubble.
- Drink this twice a day, max.
4. Rice
Rice water is a natural tonic that soothes excess stomach acidity and helps you recover from ulcers and lesions. In fact, many cultures use it as a remedy against diarrhea, although it’s also useful to relieve the symptoms of heartburn, gastritis, gas, and abdominal pain.
A recent study published in the Chonnam Medical Journal showed that rice water has gastroprotective effects. The product increases gastric mucin and blocks gastric mucus depletion. However, this was an animal study, so more research is needed.
Ingredients
- 1/2 c. of rice (100 g.)
- 1 qt. of water
What should you do?
- Boil the liter of water with half a cup of rice, let it cool, and then strain the liquid through a cloth
- Drink this once or twice a day at the first sign of discomfort
We also recommend you read Rice Cakes: The Benefits of this Snack
5. Flaxseed
Did you know that the fatty acids in flaxseed and its natural gels are a great support for the treatment of digestive problems? According to Nutrients magazine, flaxseed is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which have potent anti-inflammatory activity. In this respect, flaxseed water can help reduce inflammation of the gastric mucosa and its symptoms.
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp. of ground flaxseed (10 g.)
- 1 glass of water (200 ml.)
What should you do?
- Pour the tablespoon of ground flaxseed in a cup of water and then let it sit for 12 hours
- Finally, strain off the gelatinous liquid and drink it on an empty stomach
6. Chamomile tea
Chamomile is one of the best remedies to relieve stomach inflammation and gastritis symptoms. The plant is rich in flavonoids, substances with multiple health properties, among which are its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capacity.
Apigenin is one of the most abundant flavonoids in chamomile, making it one of its main active components. This flavonoid is responsible for its anti-gastritis effects. In fact, a study in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology demonstrated its ability to protect against atrophic gastritis.
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp. of chamomile flowers (10 g.)
- 1 c. of water (250 ml.)
What should you do?
- Bring the cup of water to a boil and then add the chamomile flowers.
- Finally, let it sit for 10 minutes before drinking it.
- Repeat this dose after each main meal.
7. Green tea
This tea is widely used in traditional medicine as a treatment for multiple conditions, including gastritis. In fact, a study conducted in Korea showed that the use of green tea extract provides a protective factor against alcohol-induced gastritis. In addition, this plant helps in the relief of Helicobacter pylori-induced gastritis.
Ingredients
- Water (250 ml)
- 1 tsp. of green tea (7 g.)
- 1 tbsp. of manuka honey (15 g.)
Procedure
- Place the green tea in a cup of boiling water
- Cover the beverage and let it steep for at least 10 minutes
- Filter the infusion with a strainer
- Add the teaspoon of manuka honey
- Drink twice a day, for at least three days a week
8. Ginger infusion
It is a plant with multiple applications in the world of health. It can be included in a wide variety of recipes and has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, as well as helping to improve digestion.
In this respect, ginger is another natural remedy that can be used to control gastritis and heartburn. In fact, a study in the journal Food and Function showed that the plant has a gastroprotective effect, improves gastritis and helps prevent the formation of ulcers.
Ingredients
- 1 c. of water
- 1 tbsp. of ginger
Procedure
- Wash the ginger and chop it into small pieces
- Bring the water to boil
- Once boiling, remove from the heat and add the ginger
- Let it stand at least 10 minutes and strain the infusion
- Drink it three times a day with the main meals
9. Garlic
Garlic has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that are beneficial to the body. In addition, a study published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology showed that garlic extract has activity against Helicobacter pylori, one of the bacteria capable of causing gastritis.
Ingredients
- Garlic extract or 1 clove of garlic.
Procedure
- You should take 1 or 2 capsules of garlic extract every day before breakfast
- If you use the garlic clove, swallow it whole along with peanut butter or a date to disguise the taste
Other measures to control gastritis and heartburn
While the remedies mentioned above can relieve heartburn and gastritis, it’s important to remember that this condition is closely linked to lifestyle. Thus, you must make certain changes in order to obtain long term relief and avoid relapses. Some of the recommended changes are:
- Avoid spicy and processed foods
- Reduce stress
- Reduce alcohol intake
- Don’t smoke
- Maintain a balanced diet
- Increase physical activity
- Decrease consumption of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Avoiding triggering foods
Multiple useful options for gastritis relief
As you can see, there are many natural alternatives that can help you control the symptoms of heartburn and gastritis. Choose some of the remedies listed above and see how useful they are in controlling the condition.
Some commercial products are useful for quick relief but it’s better to opt for natural alternatives. Keep in mind that none of these remedies can replace medical treatment prescribed by a specialist.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Song DU, Jang MS, Kim HW, Yoon HJ et al. Gastroprotective Effects of Glutinous Rice Extract against Ethanol-, Indomethacin-, and Stress-induced Ulcers in Rats. Chonnam Med J. 2014 Apr;50(1):6-14.
- Haniadka R, Saldanha E, Sunita V, Palatty PL et al. A review of the gastroprotective effects of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe). Food Funct. 2013 Jun;4(6):845-55.
- Kim YS, Jeong M, Han YM, Park JM et al. Combined Extracts of Artemisia and Green Tea, Mitigated Alcoholic Gastritis Via Enhanced Heat-shock Protein 27. Korean J Gastroenterol. 2018 Mar 25;71(3):132-142.
- Kuo CH, Weng BC, Wu CC, Yang SF et al. Apigenin has anti-atrophic gastritis and anti-gastric cancer progression effects in Helicobacter pylori-infected Mongolian gerbils. J Ethnopharmacol. 2014 Feb 12;151(3):1031-1039.
- Parikh M, Maddaford TG, Austria JA, Aliani M et al. Dietary Flaxseed as a Strategy for Improving Human Health. Nutrients. 2019 May 25;11(5):1171.
- Park CH, Son HU, Yoo CY, Lee SH. Low molecular-weight gel fraction of Aloe vera exhibits gastroprotection by inducing matrix metalloproteinase-9 inhibitory activity in alcohol-induced acute gastric lesion tissues. Pharm Biol. 2017 Dec;55(1):2110-2115.
- Wang YC. Medicinal plant activity on Helicobacter pylori related diseases. World J Gastroenterol. 2014 Aug 14;20(30):10368-82.
