Good tea for heartburn, 5 great teas!

Good tea for heartburn

 

If you’re just waking up and wondering if you want tea or coffee today, I would say to try tea first off because there are so many benefits of drinking tea in the morning. so, let’s read about Good tea for heartburn

But, If you have heartburn and it’s not getting better, then skip both drinks and go right to water. I can’t even believe I just told you that, lol. But water will help you feel better so you can drink tea and coffee again.

Heartburn and acid reflux, also called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), can be very irritating and in the worst case, they can make your life almost impossible.

I wrote this article to explain what are heartburn and acid reflux, what is causing them, and what are the best herbal teas and other remedies for these conditions.

Here is a summary of the best herbal teas to relieve symptoms of acid reflux and heartburn:

• Ginger Tea: Can aid with digestion and relieve nausea.
• Chamomile Tea: Helps reduce gastric acidity and inflammation of the esophagus.
• Licorice Tea: Can increase the mucus layer of the esophageal lining and help to protect it from stomach acid.
• Slippery Elm Tea: Aids in forming a protective coating in the gastrointestinal tract.
• Marshmallow Root Tea: Creates a soothing and protecting layer on the surface of the esophagus.

As for most diseases and conditions, you often have a genetic tendency for them and then there is a triggering factor (or factors) causing the onset of the condition. I have inherited a sensitive stomach that is often causing me problems.

All of the above-mentioned habits contributed to increasing occasions of heartburn and other digestive problems, and finally having quite a serious acid reflux.

Let me first explain briefly what are acid reflux and heartburn, what is causing them, and what are the things you should avoid if you are experiencing these problems.

I will also tell you what are the best herbal teas for treating them. And finally, I will give my best tips for avoiding and treating them based on both my own experience and research.

Acid Reflux and Heartburn Explained

As many as 20% of the US population suffers from heartburn about once per week. So it is quite normal to have heartburn every once in a while. But having it often for a long period of time can make your life very uncomfortable and cause serious health problems.

When it becomes a long-term problem it is called acid reflux or GERD, which will be discussed a bit later in this article.

What is Heartburn?

Heartburn is irritation of the tube that connects your throat and stomach (esophagus). It is a burning sensation caused by stomach acid that has gotten into the esophagus.

Heartburn is often related to a malfunction of a muscle called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). LES is supposed to open only to let food into the stomach.

When LES stays open for too long or doesn’t close completely, the stomach acid is let into the esophagus.

A common trigger to heartburn is overeating, especially when you eat greasy and fried foods. Also, stress and lack of sleep can lead to heartburn.

Pregnant and obese people suffer from it most often, because their condition puts extra pressure on the stomach, causing the stomach acid to move upwards.

Symptoms of Heartburn

The length of heartburn symptoms can last only for a few minutes, or it can last for several hours.

The symptoms include the following:

• Burning sensation in the esophagus/upper stomach and in your throat.
• Bad taste in your throat and mouth. The taste is usually acidic and sour, even close to vomit.
• Sore throat, chest pain, and cough.

What is Acid Reflux (GERD)?

Having acid reflux disease means that your stomach acid is constantly moving up to the esophagus and you suffer from heartburn at least twice a week for a prolonged time.

Hiatal hernia is one of the most common causes of acid reflux.

Having a hiatal hernia means that the upper part of your stomach and LES have bulged through an opening in your diaphragm.

Symptoms of Acid Reflux

The most common symptoms of acid reflux are:

• Heartburn and the related symptoms (above)
• Constant burping and/or hiccups
• Nausea
• Bloating

What to Avoid

There are certain foods, drinks, and other habits that should be avoided if you are suffering from acid reflux and heartburn.

List of foods and drinks that should be avoided, or at least used carefully:

• Spicy, fatty, and fried foods, especially in large amounts
• Citrus fruit, tomato sauce, and vinegar
• Garlic and onions, especially raw
• Coffee and chocolate
• Alcohol and carbonated drinks
• Peppermint tea. Even it is usually considered as a digestive aid, however, too much of it can promote relaxing of stomach muscles, including LES.

Other Risk Factors

Other risk factors that can cause acid reflux and heartburn:

• Constant stress and/or lack of sleep
• Being pregnant
• Being overweight or obese
• Eating too much at one time
• Laying down after a meal
• Smoking cigarettes
• Medication such as muscle relaxants, tranquilizers, pain killers, and blood pressure medication

Best Herbal Teas for Acid Reflux and Heartburn

So,Good tea for heartburn could help you out.

Herbal teas can provide help with treating many different diseases and conditions, including digestive problems.

When I quit drinking coffee for a while and instead started to drink herbal teas after each meal, I immediately noticed that my symptoms were relieved.

Here are the best herbal teas for treating acid reflux and heartburn.

 

Ginger Tea

Ginger is one of the most important ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine, and it can be used to treat many illnesses from the common cold to joint pain and digestive problems. It is rich in antioxidants and other beneficial compounds and has strong anti-inflammatory capabilities.

In order to avoid acid reflux, it is important that your digestion is working properly.

If the food is staying in your stomach and intestines for too long, it can cause problems like increased gas production, which contributes to acid reflux.

Ginger stimulates the flow of digestive juices and helps with speeding up the gastric emptying, thus helping with achieving a normal digestive function. In addition, ginger tea is an effective remedy for nausea that is a common symptom of acid reflux.

Ginger tea contains phenolic compounds that can reduce gastric contractions, which reduces the change of stomach acid going upwards into the esophagus. It can also help with relieving gastrointestinal irritation and reducing the inflammation of the esophagus.

So ginger tea is definitely one of the best herbal teas for relieving your symptoms related to acid reflux and heartburn.

However, it should be used in moderation, as too much of it could even make the symptoms worse. I recommend starting with 2 cups of strong ginger tea after meals and increasing the dose carefully if needed.

You can use fresh ginger to make your ginger tea

Chamomile Tea

Chamomile is a flowering plant that belongs to the daisy family. Chamomile tea is usually made from either German chamomile or Roman chamomile and it has a high concentration of flavonoids and antioxidants.

Chamomile tea has been traditionally used for reducing anxiety, help with sleeping, and aiding with digestive issues.

Like ginger tea, also chamomile tea has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that may reduce the inflammation of the esophagus that is caused by stomach acid. Chamomile tea can also aid with reducing gastric acidity which can help with heartburn and acid reflux.

As mentioned earlier, stress and lack of sleep can often be triggers for acid reflux. As chamomile tea reduces stress and helps with sleeping, it can help with avoiding the onset of acid reflux.

If you are planning on buying chamomile tea,

Licorice Tea

The medicinal properties of licorice tea have been known for thousands of years, and it has been used mainly as a cough medicine, sedative, and digestive aid.

For acid reflux, the main benefit of licorice tea is that it can increase the mucus layer of the esophageal lining, which helps in protecting it from stomach acid.

You can find the best licorice tea in this article.

 

Slippery Elm Tea

Native Americans have used the inner bark slippery elm tree as medicine for centuries.

Similar to licorice tea, slippery elm can also create a protective coating in the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, it helps with stimulating mucus production in the intestines, which provides more protection against acidity.

 

Marshmallow Root Tea

Marshmallow root has a high concentration of mucilage, meaning that when you mix it water it becomes gooey. This goo can create a soothing and protecting layer on the surface of the irritated esophagus, thus reducing the symptoms of acid reflux.

How to Treat Acid Reflux and Heartburn

I am still sometimes getting the occasional heartburn, or even a period of one week when I feel like acid reflux is coming back. Fortunately, it’s nothing compared to what I had five years ago.

In the worst phase, I would wake up about 4 AM having a very uncomfortable and burning sensation in my throat and upper stomach. Then I would try to continue sleeping, but instead, end up rolling in the bed and feeling horrible until the alarm clock would ring.

Soon it would be time to go to work. I would feel tired and stressed because in that state even a simple task can seem overwhelming.

There is a Way to Recovery

Basically, you just start eliminating all the factors that you feel were making your condition worse.

Quit drinking coffee and alcohol for a while, started avoiding greasy and spicy foods, and tried to do more relaxing things like walking in nature.

Also, start drinking herbal teas after each meal, and before going to bed, usually drink ginger, chamomile, or licorice tea, or a blend that contains one or more of those ingredients.

Based on research, the 5 herbal teas mentioned in this article are the ones that I recommend. However, you can also try other herbal teas.

For example, hibiscus tea can be a great digestive aid and help with treating acid reflux and heartburn. On the other hand, it is also quite acidic, so it could even make it worse.

We are all individuals, so experiment with different herbal teas to find the ones that are best for you.

I think that drinking herbal teas after eating really aided my digestion and lessened the symptoms.

Especially if you start feeling that the symptoms are coming back again, take it easy for a while.

I also noticed that drinking yerba mate tea is much better for my stomach than coffee. I drink mate tea almost every day, and it doesn’t seem to cause any problems.

 

8 Tips for Getting Better

If you are suffering from acid reflux and heartburn, my best tips for getting better are:

1. Avoid drinking coffee, tea, or any other drinks that contain caffeine. At least until you are free of any symptoms.
2. Start drinking the herbal teas mentioned in this article. Drink them after each meal. Try which ones feel best for you. You can start with ginger and chamomile tea.
3. Avoid eating greasy and spicy foods for a while. Eat something that is easy on your stomach. Here are some of my favorites: oatmeal, yogurt and granola, clear fish or chicken soup, steamed fish with ginger sauce, steamed vegetables, and chicken breast.
4. Avoid eating too much or too late in the evening, and don’t lay down after eating. You can go for a relaxing walk after eating, it’s good for digestion.
5. Quit drinking alcohol for a while. Especially hard liquors are bad for your already irritated esophagus.
6. Quit smoking cigarettes.
7. Try to get rid of stress and sleep well. I know this is not easy, but you can try some of these tips: stop working and using a computer and phone for at least one hour before going to bed. Instead, put on some relaxing music or meditate, and drink a cup of chamomile tea.
8. If your acid reflux is worst during the nighttime, you can try to sleep in a position where your upper body is elevated. A position kind of like between laying down and sitting up. This will help with preventing your stomach acid from flowing into the esophagus. You can achieve this if you have one of those beds that has a motor and can be adjusted. You can also just try to put something under the legs of your bed on the other end to lift it up a bit.

Acid Reflux and Heartburn FAQ

Why heartburn and acid reflux happen?

Heartburn is a burning sensation that happens when stomach acid gets up into the esophagus. It is often related to a malfunction of a muscle called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). Having acid reflux disease means that your stomach acid is constantly moving up to the esophagus and you suffer from heartburn at least twice a week for a prolonged time. Hiatal hernia is a common cause of acid reflux.

How to treat acid reflux and heartburn?

Avoid drinking coffee, tea, or any other drinks that contain caffeine. Instead, drink the herbal teas mentioned in this article. Avoid eating greasy and spicy foods for a while. Eat something that is easy on your stomach. Avoid eating too much or too late in the evening, and don’t lay down after eating. Quit drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes (at least until you get better). Try to avoid stress and sleep well.

What are the best herbal teas for acid reflux and heartburn?

Based on research and my personal experience, the best herbal teas for acid reflux and heartburn are 1. Ginger tea 2. Chamomile tea 3. Licorice tea 4. Slippery elm tea 5. Marshmallow root tea.

Is hibiscus tea good for acid reflux?

Hibiscus tea aids digestion and some people find it good for treating acid reflux and heartburn. Yet, it is also quite acidic, so it could even make it worse.

Does chai tea cause acid reflux?

The caffeine of black tea and the milk used for making chai tea can cause acid reflux symptoms to worsen. However, there is an easy solution for this: Leave the black tea out, use only a small amount, or replace it with rooibos tea and use plant-based milk (e.g. almond or soy milk) instead of dairy. Furthermore, chai includes ginger that is actually one of the best herbal remedies for acid reflux and heartburn.

I hope that you found this article useful, and if you are suffering from acid reflux and heartburn, I really hope you will get better soon!

If you have questions or comments, please post them below.

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