That sharp, burning pain… it shoots through your chest… it rises up your throat.

Is it Cancer? A heart attack? Nope, it’s heartburn.

Acid reflux and heartburn are an extremely common problem, 60% of adults in the U.S. will suffer this year alone. I used to be part of that statistic, I used to have that nasty taste in my mouth and constant burning in my throat.

I struggled for years with these pains. They always seemed to strike at the most inopportune times like right before job interviews, at family dinners, and on dates.

So, naturally the first thing I wanted is relief. But what kind… the natural, non-toxic kind? The prescription drug kind? The over-the-counter kind?

I don’t know if you can relate but I hated carrying Tums in my car, having them in my desk drawer and my medicine cabinet. And the last thing I wanted was to be stuck on PPIs.

So, I researched, tested and started using the following 4 very safe and natural methods. However, I think it’s worth mentioning why they actually work. I find that most people I talk with actually need to know WHY things work, before they actually stick to using them.

Why Do These Natural Methods Work?

The natural methods presented here are, in my opinion, actually better for you than PPIs, H2 blockers, or Antacids because most of them actually support your body in working properly. The unnatural options above actually stop your body from doing it’s job and contribute to ill health.

What do I mean? Well, acid reflux typically happens after eating right? Sometimes it happens right away or hours later when you lay down to sleep.

Why?

Most people think it has to do with too much acid… but turns out that’s a lie we’ve all been sold for a LONG time… and it’s the same lie that keeps us stuck on drugs to keep the symptoms at bay.

It’s Extremely RARE to Have High Acid Levels!

And yet tv ads, friends and even doctors tell us, “You have too much acid, so you need to stop all that acid production.”

They are making assumptions about the pain, rather than taking the time to think about the physiology of the body. Even if you had too much acid, it wouldn’t mean that you’d have reflux.

Jumping to conclusions like this is actually a big deal! Besides wasting your money, as I explained here, acid suppressing options could be making you even sicker.

You are probably thinking, “So you’re telling me you’re smarter than my doctor?” Who knows, but I’ve researched this topic for a long time and healed my own issues. What I am saying is that there are doctors out there, like Dr. Jonathan Wright, MD, who’ve spent a good portion of their lives understanding this issue and writing books on it. In this 10-minute video he explains…

“And we do the .”

What’s happening is that you have low stomach acid levels and the food you are eating is sitting around fermenting in your stomach. The by-products of fermentation are gases, which increase pressure inside the stomach and the easiest way for them to escape is up — right into your esophagus.

Now, the acid is in your esophagus burning it, causing tissue damage and sometimes even getting into your mouth.

For more on stomach acid tests, read this.

Instead of Taking More Drugs, Here Are 4 Natural Heartburn Remedies I’ve Used

Of course there’s no replacing working with your doctor and getting some tests done to actually figure out your acid levels and make sure that structurally your stomach and esophagus are working correctly.

But, let’s be honest, when the pain of heartburn strikes, we need a solution quickly. The first 3 remedies below are designed to support your body in digesting food. They will help increase the strength of the stomach acid and reduce the pressure in the stomach. I suggest you try these first. And if all else fails, if you’re in extreme pain, then I included the last option as a safe and non-toxic way to temporarily lower your acid levels.

#1 – Apple Cider Vinegar

Vinegar is an acid with a pH of around 5. Therefore it helps with heartburn by lowering the pH (making it more acidic) of the stomach contents to improve digestion and reduce the pressure build up we’re looking to avoid.

The pH of your entire stomach contents should be around 1-2 for proper digestion. Remember, this is a good thing, we want the acid levels stronger so that the food doesn’t ferment in your stomach.

Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) is the best vinegar choice, in my opinion. Because, when you get an unfiltered brand like Bragg’s you’ll get the added benefits of the probiotics it contains.

So, you can help your health and many times get rid of heartburn. The ACV trick for heartburn is used by many people. While there’s no research to back it up, there’s also not really a downside to using it. Here’s how to do it:

Add 2 tsp of Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar to ¼ cup of water and drink. Repeat every 5 minutes until heartburn subsides.

Many people will even take a shot of it before meals to pre-empt the acid reflux.

#2 – Lemon Juice

Lemon juice has a pH of around 2, making it an acid stronger than vinegar. It also contains an added boost in lots of nutrients, especially vitamin C. So, not only can it help with heartburn, but it contains more nutrients than ACV and therefore makes a great choice when in pain.

However, just like the ACV remedy, the first dose might not be enough. And you may end up drinking 2 or more glasses of lemon juice, which can be not only annoying but hard.

It’s still worth a shot. Here’s how to do it:

Juice one organic lemon into a glass. If you can drink it straight, do it. Otherwise, add in ¼ cup of water and take like a shot.

Due to the organic lemon juice being so acidic, some people worry it might harm the enamel on our teeth. Unless you’re doing this daily, I don’t see it being a big issue. And, let’s be honest, if you need daily heartburn relief you really need the help at the very bottom of this post.

#3 – Betaine HCL

Hydrochloric Acid (HCL) is the main component of stomach acid. It’s secreted from cells in the lining of your stomach in response to eating and drinking. And due to stress, nutrient deficiencies, getting older, infections and other things the stomach can stop making enough.

This then leads to the fermentation of food and heartburn pains.

This is, in my opinion, the best natural remedy to help anyone with acid reflux. This is how I got rid of my pain — before I fixed my root causes.

It’s best to use Betaine HCL ahead of time. In other words, you can use this supplement on a daily basis to help your stomach work properly and NEVER have heartburn again.

IMPORTANT: Betaine HCL supplementation is not an option for anyone currently taking H2 blockers, PPIs, or long-term use of NSAIDs. I wrote a whole article here that explains more risks, how to do it step-by-step and benefits. You’ll need to work with a practitioner to wean off of these drugs before testing out Betaine HCL as a solution.

The summary of this is: Betaine HCL is basically replacement acid for what’s missing in your stomach. It’s natural in the sense that it’s the exact chemical that your body makes. So, we’re just supplementing more of this chemical that your body actually needs.

If you’ve followed the directions in the article above and you have heartburn after a meal, you can take an extra Betaine HCL as soon as you feel it. Then, wait 20 minutes or so. If the pain is still there, try another pill.

If it’s still there, then it’s probably time to calm down the acid in your esophagus using the only natural remedy I approve of that lowers acid levels.

#4 – Baking Soda (Last Resort)

Baking soda is the home remedy for almost everything. And yes it can offer fast relief from heartburn as well. Baking soda is a base not an acid, meaning that drinking some of it will neutralize acid in your stomach or esophagus.

It’s non-toxic and actually can be helpful for some people as a supplement as it allows athletes to train harder and longer.

It’s not my preferred way of dealing with acid reflux, as it lowers acid levels. But in those extreme situations, where none of the above options have worked, it’s the perfect solution.

How to do it:

Mix ½ teaspoon of baking soda in ¼ cup of water. Drink it. Wait 5-7 minutes. If you still have pain, repeat until burning is gone.

Here’s the thing, if you actually fix the root issue causing your acid reflux, you can stop thinking about taking antacids or at-home remedies. You can get on with your life and enjoy better health.

Say Goodbye to Heartburn and Acid Reflux Forever

If you want to actually handle this annoying and serious health problem, the good news is that it’s not only possible but 1000s have already done it before you…

Meaning you can do it too!

All you need to do is figure out the root cause issues behind why your stomach acid isn’t working properly, fix them, repair any damage that’s been caused by low acid levels, and you can get on with your life.

And no, it’s not too good to be true. I’ve done it myself, and many of my 1-on-1 clients have also done it. Now it’s time to teach everyone how to do it themselves.

by Steven Wright