Heartburn is one of the symptoms of acid reflux. It is like experiencing a burning sensation anywhere between the middle of your abdomen to the chest.
It happens because sometimes the stomach acids move back from stomach to esophagus. This digestive condition is called acid reflux. The esophagus is about an 8 inch long muscular tube connecting the throat (pharynx) with the stomach. The stomach acids in the esophagus irritate the lining causing heartburn. Other symptoms of acid reflux include chest pain, nausea, vomiting, cough and bad breath.
If acid reflux occurs more often then the condition is called Gastroesophageal Acid Reflux Disease (GERD). This damages the esophagus. You should contact your doctor to avoid major complications.
For occasional acid reflux and heartburn you can always use popular over the counter (OTC) antacids but home remedies like baking soda works better and are cost effective.
Table of Contents
- How Baking Soda Relieves Heartburn Symptoms?
- How to Use Baking Soda for Heartburn?
- Additional Remedies for Heartburn
- Other Tips and Precautions
How Baking Soda Relieves Heartburn Symptoms?
Baking Soda is chemically known as sodium bicarbonate. It is an alkaline product that helps to neutralize the stomach acids. It
- Balances pH in the body
- Neutralizes stomach acids to temporarily stop heartburn
- Gives relief from other digestive conditions such as indigestion
It is interesting to note that your pancreas naturally produces sodium bicarbonate to deal with stomach acids. Therefore, using baking soda to stop heartburn is an obvious remedy.
How to Use Baking Soda for Heartburn?
You can use baking soda for all sorts of digestive issues in many different ways. Following are three effective ways to use baking soda for heartburn and acid reflux.
Remember baking soda is for immediate relief from your heartburn. It is a temporary measure and not a permanent solution for this problem.
1. Baking Soda with Water
This is the simplest way to deal with your heartburn.
- Take a glass of slightly warm water
- Add ½ teaspoon of baking soda powder
- Stir well
- Slowly sip
- Do it every 2-3 hours throughout the day
This should give you relief from the heartburn.
2. Baking Soda and Honey
Honey and baking soda together work well to stop heartburn and acid reflux. Baking soda acts on stomach acids to neutralize them and honey reduces inflammation in esophagus lining.
- Poor slightly warm water in an clean empty glass
- Add ½ teaspoon of baking soda and mix well to dissolve it in water
- Add 1 teaspoon of honey and stir well
- Enjoy sipping the drink slowly
- Do it 3-4 times a day
You will like this drink better than the baking soda and water as honey adds some good taste to the drink.
3. Baking Soda Capsules for Heartburn
If you don't like the taste of baking soda and water mix then you can take baking soda capsules to get rid of your heartburn.
- Take one 500mg capsule of baking soda with water after food.
- Consume full glass of water as water also helps to subside the burning sensation
- Do it 3 times a day
Although you can take the baking soda capsule with a sip of water, drinking a full glass of water is more sensible.
Additional Remedies for Heartburn
Your posture, lifestyle and what you eat and drink can have a significant impact on dealing with heartburn. Following will help to stop your current heartburn problems as well as prevent future episodes.
- Stand straight
- Elevate your body
- Wear loose clothes
- Sip apple cider vinegar
- Drink ginger tea
- Take apple juice
- Avoid trigger foods and beverages such as spicy foods, chocolates, alcohol and carbonated drinks
- Eat smaller meals more often than eating big 2-3 meals
- Make lifestyle changes to sleep and exercise well
- Reduce stress
Other Tips and Precautions
- Do not consume more than 12-15 grams of baking soda daily as it can cause hypokalemia, or potassium blood deficiency.
- Avoid higher consumption as high blood sodium causes water retention
- Be careful as excess sodium causes high blood pressure
- Reduce maximum consumption to half if you are above 60
- Do not give to children
- Avoid if you have GERD as it will not work. Check with your doctor to treat GERD
- Contact your doctor if you have frequent episodes if heartburn during a week
Baking soda and other similar home remedies are only a temporary relief for heartburn due to acid reflux.