What are alternative treatments for heartburn?
Prevention, as outlined below, is a primary feature for heartburn management in alternative medicine and traditional medicine. Dietary adjustments can eliminate many causes of heartburn. Herbal remedies include bananas, aloe vera gel, chamomile (Matricaria recutita), ginger (Zingiber officinale), and citrus juices, but there is little agreement here. For example, ginger, which seems to help some people, is claimed by other practitioners to cause heartburn and is thought to relax the LES. There are also many recommendations to avoid citrus juices, which are themselves acidic. Licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis) can help relieve the symptoms of heartburn by reestablishing balance in the acid output of the stomach. Several homeopathic remedies are useful in treating heartburn symptoms. Among those most often recommended are Nux vomica, Carbo vegetabilis, and Arsenicum album. Acupressure and acupuncture may also be helpful in treating heartburn. Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) is an inexpens