Heartburn

Heartburn

Also see INDIGESTION

Heartburn is a form of indigestion felt as a burning sensation in the chest, caused by acid regurgitation into the esophagus.

FOODS TO EAT MORE OF

Fruits: bananas, papayas
Vegetables: beets, cabbage, carrots, celery, cucumbers, parsnips
Flax seeds, ginger, popcorn
Plenty of water (between meals)
Alfalfa Grass, Agar (sea vegetable), almond milk

FOODS TO AVOID OR MINIMIZE

Soda, coffee, alcohol, chocolate
Fried, fatty & spicy foods
Citrus fruits (clementines, grapefruit, lemons, limes, oranges, tangerines) & tomatoes
Pickled foods & refined flour/sugar
Red meat & dairy products

ESSENTIAL OILS

Lemon, peppermint, ginger (on stomach, throat, bottom of feet and/or add 1 drop to drinking water).

HERBAL

Calendula, cardamom, dandelion, dill, fennel, ginger, German chamomile, licorice, marshmallow root, meadowsweet, parsley, slippery elm bark powder (especially at night), wood betony, yarrow
Slippery Elm and marsh mallow, either combined in capsules or mixed as powders with a little water to form a paste, make a useful remedy and are safe to take during pregnancy.
Yarrow Tea: Cover 1/4 cup fresh (or 1/2-1 Tablespoon dried) herb with boiling water. Let steep for 5-15 minutes. Strain & drink. Sweeten with honey if desired.

NATURAL

Aloe Vera Juice: 1/2 cup juice 3 times daily between meals (should contain 98% aloe vera and no aloin or aloe-emodin).
Stir 1 cup water, 2 teaspoons baking soda and 1 teaspoon sugar. Add 6 drops of peppermint oil. Sip slowly. (Warning: this tastes horrible, but WORKS!)
Try laying on your left side while resting/sleeping.

YOGA / MEDITATION THERAPY

Yoga for Heartburn & Indigestion (15 minutes - Christina D'Arrigo Yoga - ChriskaYoga)
Yoga For Acid Reflux (13 minutes - Yoga with Adriene)

SUPPLEMENTS

Calcium Carbonate: 250-500 mg 3 times daily (chew-able tablets provide the quickest relief)
Choline: 500 mg 3 times daily (for chronic heartburn, use in combination with pantothenic acid and thiamin for 1 month to see if symptoms subside)
Gamma-Oryzanol: 150 mg 3 times daily on an empty stomach (also known as rice bran oil)
Licorice (DGL): 2 deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) wafers (380 mg) - take 3-4 times daily between meals as needed
Pantothenic Acid: 1,000 mg daily (for chronic heartburn, use in combination with choline and thiamin for 1 month to see if symptoms subside)
Thiamin: 500 mg daily, taken first thing in the morning (also called vitamin B1). For chronic heartburn, combine with pantothenic acid and choline for 1 month

HOMEOPATHIC

Abiesnigra: As directed

MIND-BODY CONNECTION

Can represent the holding on of fear and the inability to trust the process of life.

FOOD MEDICINE
Not all recipes are nutritionally perfect, but the options below are a great way to start incorporating beneficial foods into your diet in delicious ways. Always try to buy organic, and feel free to make substitutions to accommodate gluten-free, vegan, etc diets.

Abbreviation Definitions:
LC = Low Calorie (under 400 for breakfast, 600 for lunch/dinner, and 200 for beverages/sides/snacks)
GF = Gluten Free
KT = Keto / Low Carb
VG = Vegan
VT = Vegetarian