Belching, commonly called burping, refers to the act of air from the stomach getting released through the mouth. Belching may have no taste or they may be sour, bitter or metallic in taste. Belching is quite normal, we all face sour belching once in a while. It may simply be a result of overeating or dietary changes or consuming certain food products like spicy food, fried food, citrus fruits, caffeine, chocolate and alcohol. But recurrent sour belching may arise from some underlying gastric issue that needs to be diagnosed and treated to manage belching.
The most important gastric issue among others is GERD (gastro esophageal reflux disease). It refers to a condition in which there occurs back-flow of stomach acids into the food pipe due to the weakening of lower esophageal sphincter (LES). It can cause sour burps along with other symptoms like heartburn (burning in the middle of chest behind the breastbone), sour taste in the mouth, chest pain, lump in the throat sensation, bloating, and bad breath. Other reasons for sour belching may include hiatal hernia and H. pylori infection. Hiatus hernia is the protrusion of a portion of stomach into the chest cavity from one of the openings (esophageal hiatus) in the diaphragm. It may cause belching, heartburn, water brash, chest pain and difficulty in swallowing. H. pylori (Helicobacter pylori) infection is a bacterial infection that tends to cause stomach infection and leads to gastritis (stomach inflammation) or stomach ulcers. The symptoms of this infection include burning in the stomach, frequent burps, nausea, bloating, loss of appetite and weight loss. Gallbladder problems like its inflammation or gallstones can also lead to acid reflux-like symptoms including that of sour belching. Another cause can be delayed gastric emptying (Gastroparesis) which refers to a condition in which stomach takes more than usual time to empty its contents. The use of certain medicines like NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and some blood pressure medicines can also cause sour burps. Sour belching can be attended with some other signs and symptoms depending on the cause behind it. These include heartburn, bloating, nausea, vomiting, pain in the abdomen and bad smell from the mouth.
Homeopathic Management
Homeopathy offers a highly effective solution for cases of sour belching. Homeopathic medicines work by boosting the body’s natural healing mechanism to overcome health issues naturally. These medicines target the root cause behind burps to provide great relief with zero side effects. With the use of these medicines, the intensity and frequency of the complaint decrease gradually. Besides sour burps, any associated symptoms like heartburn, bloating, nausea, vomiting and pain in the abdomen are also dealt with quite effectively with these medicines. Homeopathic prescription varies from case to case of sour belching depending on the characteristic individual symptoms. It is advised to take homeopathic medicine under the supervision of a homeopathic physician and avoid self-medication.
Homeopathic Medicines To Relieve Sour Belching
1. Natrum Phos – Top Recommended Medicine
Natrum Phos is the leading medicine to help cases of sour belching. Persons needing it suffer from acidity with sour burps. They may have a complaint of water brash (excessive saliva mixed with the stomach acid rising to the mouth) too. They may suffer from additional complaint of heartburn as well. There is gas in the abdomen. Nausea and vomiting are other problems that could be affecting a person. Vomiting contains sour fluid. It may be as sour as vinegar. There may be stomach pain. Ulcers are present in the stomach in some cases. Sometimes there is attending loss of appetite.
2. Robinia – With Sour Vomiting
This medicine is highly beneficial for cases of sour belching with sour vomiting. The vomit contains intensely sour fluid. It may contain food that has just been eaten. One feels nausea, accompanied by heaviness and pain in the stomach. Stomach is also distended, besides acidity and heartburn. Acidity gets worse at night on lying down which disturbs a good sleep. There is a constant sensation of fullness in the stomach. One may experience burning pain in the stomach.
3. Iris Versicolor – With Heartburn
Iris Versicolor is very effective when sour belching is attended with heartburn. Heartburn is a burning sensation felt in the middle of the chest behind the breastbone (sternum). Burning may also be felt in the mouth and stomach, besides nausea. It gets worse from any sort of irregularity in diet. Thin watery sour fluid is expectorated through vomiting. The sour fluid may scrape and damage the throat. Before vomiting, pain may be felt in the stomach. Along with these gastric symptoms, a person may suffer from headache.
4. Carbo Veg – For Sour Burps After Eating Or Drinking
This medicine is very helpful in managing sour burps that occur after eating or drinking. The burps smell bad. Belching can be quite frequent and almost constant. It is attended with excessive gas and bloating of the abdomen especially in its upper part. It causes a feeling as if the stomach would burst. The trapped gas may cause stomach pain. Heaviness and fullness is felt in the stomach. Burning also occurs in the stomach. Even the simplest food causes gastric complaint, where this medicine is required.
5. Nux Vomica – For Sour Burps Worse In Morning
This medicine is helpful when sour burps get worse in the morning. Heartburn is felt along with water brash. It gets worse before breakfast. One feels nausea after eating. The vomit may contain sour mucus, food or any drink consumed or oily/greasy substance. Stomach feels distended and is sensitive to pressure. After eating, pressure is felt in the stomach with inability to bear tight clothing. One feels heat in the stomach. There is loss of appetite. This medicine is one of the best medicines to manage acidity and gastric issues that occur from taking coffee, spicy food and alcohol.
6. Lycopodium – With Excessive Gas In Abdomen
It works very well in cases of sour belching with excessive gas formation. Besides, bloating occurs immediately after eating even very little food. The gastric issues worsen from eating certain food like beans, cabbage, and food that cause excessive gas production. Besides, there is heartburn and water brash. Vomiting also occurs of sour substance. A constant pain is felt in the stomach. The pain can be burning, tearing or pressing type. Burning sensation may extend from the stomach up to the throat. After eating, there may occur a sensation as if everything eaten is rising up to the throat.
7. Sulphuric Acid – For Sour Offensive (Bad Smelling) Burps
This medicine is considered in cases of sour, bad smelling burps. Sour vomiting might occur especially after eating. There is heartburn and weakness is well marked along with the above symptoms. It proves very effective for sour burps that occur from excessive alcohol intake.
8. China – With Bloated Abdomen
This medicine is very useful for sour burps with bloated abdomen. The whole abdomen feels bloated in cases needing this medicine. It is due to the accumulation of excessive gas in the abdomen. Pain occurs in the stomach from trapped gas sometimes. A heated sensation is also felt in the abdomen. The stomach feels heavy even after eating a very small quantity of food. Gastric issues that occur after consuming milk or tea are best managed with this medicine.