Acid reflux occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter does not close completely or if it opens more than normal, allowing acid produced by the stomach to move up into the esophagus. This is the reason why you feel a burning pain in the chest which is called heartburn. It is not something that should be ignored nor is it something that gets better on its own. If left untreated, acid reflux can lead to erosion of the esophagus. While there are many medications available to help control or treat acid reflux, some people choose to take the natural route.
Aloe Vera for Acid Reflux?
If you want something that nature has to offer, why not try Aloe Vera for Acid Reflux?
Believe it or not, many people are finding relief from drinking aloe juice regularly. You probably know the many uses of Aloe Vera and the most popular of which is to treat burns and cuts. Well, it affects much more than that! So how can Aloe Vera help manage acid reflux?
Aloe vera juice contains enzymes that can soothe an irritated esophagus. While it is true that there is no scientific evidence to support it, the effectiveness of aloe can be traced back centuries. How do you think ancient people treated their diseases?
The gel is loaded with amino acids, vitamins, minerals, sterolins, aloin, and polysaccharides. It’s all good stuff, isn’t it? Most of us are familiar with its topical use as we often see it on the ingredients list of our favorite skincare products. This soothing and curative gift of nature can also help in healing the digestive system. In 1963 a group of scientists found that Aloe Vera gel when taken orally could heal duodenal ulcers.
They conducted a study involving 12 patients with duodenal ulcers. All of them were asked to receive aloe vera gel with mineral oil once a day and estimated that after one year all the patients were completely cured and none of them had a recurrence.
Aloe is also used to help improve the absorption of proteins and reduce the levels of bad bacteria in our digestive tracts. It effectively inhibits the secretion of hydrochloric acid to help reduce acid reflux.
Commercially prepared Aloe Vera comes in many forms – ready-to-drink juice, concentrate, powder, and capsule. The concentrate is Aloe Vera gel from which the water has already been removed. With concentrate, you have to mix it with water, while ready-to-drink juice can be consumed as a regular drink. On the other hand, if the taste is too strong for you, you can always mix it with water or your favorite juice.
Read More:
- Uncovering the Wonders of Aloe Vera: What Is It Good For?
- Benefits of Aloe Vera Gel and Bee Products for Our Overall Health
- 2023 Aloe Vera Benefits: on our Health and Prosperity
How to Use Aloe Vera for Acid Reflux
1.) Make sure you were properly diagnosed with acid reflux before going ahead with this remedy. You can also talk to your doctor about your preference for natural treatment.
2.) Take the Alo vera capsule two to three times a day with a glass of water. I would suggest taking the capsules with food but you can experiment and see how you react on an empty stomach.
3.) You can try drinking prepared juice as an alternative to aloe vera capsules. Some people find the taste bad (like me I guess) but if it’s going to cure you, I’m sure you won’t mind. You can always mix the juice or concentrate with your favorite flavored juice to tone down the taste a bit, try apple juice, grape juice, or cranberry juice. Some aloe juices already come in flavored variants so you might want to check that out.
While including Aloe juice in your daily diet is an effective way how to treat acid reflux it doesn’t mean that you can abuse your body and eat or drink anything you want. You always have to be very careful and keep a list of foods and drinks that can trigger heartburn such as the following:
-Vinegar
-Mint (spearmint, peppermint)
-Citrus Fruits
-Citrus Juice
-Chocolate
-Tomatoes
-Raw onions
-Garlic (a little garlic will not do any harm but this will still depend on the severity of your condition)
-Black Pepper
-Fatty Foods
-Anything Spicy
-Coffee
-Alcohol
-Carbonated Beverages
