Top 9 Homeopathic Remedies for Heartburn

When you feel a burning sensation in the middle of the chest, behind the breastbone, know that it is heartburn.

It is mostly due to intake of alcohol, coffee, smoking, fatty or spicy foods, and even chocolates. This condition is a direct result of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), a condition in which stomach acid flows back into the food pipe, causing burning and discomfort. This acid backflow typically occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES)—the ring of muscle at the junction of the stomach and oesophagus—becomes weak or closes improperly.

Many factors increase the risk of heartburn, such as if one is overweight, pregnant, and the presence of a hiatal hernia, a condition where the upper part of the stomach pushes through the diaphragm. Certain medications, such as aspirin and ibuprofen, may also cause heartburn. Symptoms may include a burning sensation in the throat, a sour taste or bitterness felt in the mouth, difficulty in swallowing the food, and coughing.

Homeopathic Approach For Treating Heartburn

Homeopathic medicines are the best remedial measures for those seeking a natural treatment to manage heartburn. Such an approach provides relief not only from the burning sensation but also from symptoms such as sour or acidic burps, headache, nausea, vomiting. While conventional treatment typically relies on antacids for short-term relief, homeopathy is considered as a complementary option that focuses on how the overall pattern of symptoms emerge and how to cure it from the root.

In homeopathic medicines, treatment for heartburn is generally carried out in two phases. The first phase aims to ease acute discomfort, while the second phase involves administering medicines that address the underlying symptoms to reduce recurrent symptoms. This is based on the unique characteristics and symptom patterns presented by each patient.

A thorough case history and thorough evaluation of it are essential for choosing the most indicated homeopathic remedies. Practitioners consider trigger-factors, worsening patterns, and accompanying symptoms such as headache, belching, or vomiting. Consultation with a homeopathic is recommended before any treatment begins. A proper homeopathic course is required for complete cure.

Homeopathic medicines are derived from natural substances and are traditionally believed by practitioners to work holistically. They are considered safe when used as directed, with almost no side effects.

Top 9 Most Used Homeopathic Medicines for Heartburn

The nine homeopathic medicines that practitioners often recommend for managing heartburn are Robinia, Nux Vomica, Natrum Phos, Iris Versicolor, Pulsatilla, Phosphorus, Arsenic Album, Carbo Vegetabilis and Lycopodium Clavatum.

1. Robinia – For Heartburn That Gets Worse On Lying Down At Night

Robinia is often administered when intense heartburn (burning symptom) is felt while lying down at night. Patients may experience acrid, bitter, or sour burps along with burning sensation in the chest and stomach. At times, it is so severe, that it may disturb ones sleep. Accompanying headache is another pattern associated for recommendation of this medicine. These homeopathic medicines are derived from natural substances and work holistically on the symptoms. They are generally considered safe when used as directed, with almost no side-effects.

When to use Robinia?

Heartburn that worsens while lying down, especially at night.

How to use Robinia?

Mostly ingested in 30C potency, taken two or three times daily though it can be used in both low and high potencies.

2. Nux Vomica – For Heartburn Due To Spicy Food, Alcohol, Coffee

Nux Vomica is often used when one feels heartburn due to spicy foods, alcohol, or coffee. Burning sensation in the chest and upper abdomen, acidic regurgitation, burning, nausea, and sour vomiting are common patterns. Some patients also suffer abdominal heaviness. History of constipation may be one reason for administering Nux Vomica.

When to use Nux Vomica?

Heartburn after alcohol, coffee, or spicy foods calls for recommedation of this remedy.

How to use Nux Vomica? 

Lower potencies like 30C may be administered two or three times daily.

Higher potencies such as 200C are usually taken once a day.

3. Natrum Phos – For Heartburn With Sour Belching Or Sour Vomiting

Natrum Phos is quite beneficial for heartburn accompanied by sour belching, sour vomiting, or burning sensation in the upper abdomen or chest. A yellow coating on the tongue is an important symptom for the use of this medicine. Also, acidic symptoms aggravated by excessive sugar intake is another reason for administering this medicine.

When to use Natrum Phos?

Heartburn along with sour burps or sour vomiting.

How to use Natrum Phos?

Commonly administered in 6X potency, taken two or three times daily.

4. Iris Versicolor – Burning Felt In Gastrointestinal Tract With Sour Vomiting

Iris Versicolor is administered when burning sensation is felt throughout the digestive tract—from mouth to anus—along with sour or bitter vomiting. Also, there is enhanced salivation, and persistent nausea.

When to use Iris Versicolor?

Heartburn with extensive burning sensation, nausea, and sour or bitter vomiting.

How to use Iris Versicolor?

Often recommended in 30C potency, it has to be administered two to three times a day depending on the severity of the symptoms.

5. Pulsatilla – For Heartburn Set off By Fatty And Fried Food

Pulsatilla is mostly advised when heartburn follows consumption of fatty or fried foods. It is also administered in case of nausea, acidic or bitter vomit (sometimes greenish), belching acid, stomach tightness, and a notable lack of thirst (key symptom to call for this remedy).

When to use Pulsatilla?

Heartburn after eating fatty or fried foods.

How to use Pulsatilla?

Pulsatilla 30C is administered once or two times a day.

6. Phosphorus – For Heartburn Relieved by Drinking Cold Drinks

Phosphorus is administered when cold drinks or cold water temporarily soothes burning sensation in the abdomen or the chest. Sour belching after meals and vomiting after consuming water — when it warms in the stomach—are typical patterns. If cold drinks or ice cream provides temporary relief it means phosphorus is the best remedy for heartburn cases.

When To Use Phosphorus?

Heartburn that gets better after drinking cold drinks

How To Use Phosphorus?

This medicine can be used once a day in 30C power.

7. Arsenic Album – For heartburn that gets better after warm drink

Arsenic Album is a main remedy for burning sensation in the throat that is relieved by drinking beverages such as tea or warm water. Accompanying symptoms are nausea, belching and vomiting with pain as well as burning sensation in the stomach. Throat feels excoriated with gulping up of acid and bitter substances. Cold food, drinks worsen the stomach irritation leading to distress causing either vomiting or stool. Heartburn typically associated with anxiety and restlessness is a key symptom for selecting Arsenic album to treat heartburn.

When to use Arsenic Album?

It is the ideal medicine when warm drinks seem to provide relief from burning sensation in the chest and burning pains in the abdomen. Another key point for using Arsenic album is heartburn associated with anxiety and restlessness.

How to use Arsenic Album?

Arsenic album can be administered in 6C or 30C potency once a day.

8. Carbo vegetabilis – For Heartburn With Bloating And Fullness In Abdomen 

Carbo vegetabilis, a natural homoeopathic medicine prepared from vegetable charcoal, provides a lot of benefit in cases of heartburn and water brash when they are associated with heaviness and bloating in the abdomen. Stomach feels full and tense from flatulence. It is accompanied by foul smelly and sour belching even if one eats small portions of meals. Burning sensation in the throat and abdomen accompanied by fullness in the stomach is felt.

When To Use Carbo Vehetabilis?

It is the most prefered choice of medicine to manage the cases of heartburn associated with heaviness in abdomen and flatulence.

How To Use Carbo Vegetabilis?  

This medicines should be used in 30C potency once or twice a day for best results.

9. Lycopodium Clavatum – For Heartburn With Weak Digestion And Weakness  

Lycopodium is the best medicine for treating heartburn in patients where the whole digestive tract is weak. Sour eructations, belchings are usually associated with incarcerated flatulence. Acidity, sour belchings, sour taste in mouth with weakness of digestion. Complaints get worse from fermented and foods that contains starch.

When To Use Lycopodium Calavatum?

The use of Lycopodium is suggested when sour belchings and eructations are accompanied by excessively weak digestion leading to flatulence and bloating in the abdomen. There is feeling of fullness in the abdomen immediately after eating.

How To Use Lycopodium Clavatum?

Lycopodium can be used in lower potencies like 30C once or two times daily but use of higher potencies like 200C should be limited to once a day only.

Lifestyle and food-related tips to complement homeopathic treatment in cases of  heartburn 

Some lifestyle changes, along with homoeopathic treatment can be quite helpful in managing the cases of heartburn. Some of them are listed below:

— Take small frequent meals to avoid easy satiety and fullness of stomach

— Go for a short walk after your meal, avoid lying down immediately.

— Maintain your body weight. Excess weight may put pressure on abdomen and lower esophageal sphincter that may lead to acid reflux.

— Know the pattern of what in your diet triggers heartburn and avoid them. For example, fatty, spicy foods, highly caffeinated foods and drinks, citrus foods and alcohol.

— Improve your daily water intake but avoid drinking a lot of water after the meal.

FAQs

1) How does body  weight impact heartburn & acidity?

Excess body weight leads to direct pressure on the stomach and lower esophageal sphincter. This may lead to acid reflux and heartburn sensation.
Weight reduction not only reduces the frequency of heartburn sensation but also helps improve digestion.

2) How long does it take to cure hearburn using homeopathy? 

Severity of symptoms and the duration of the complaints usually determines the time period it takes to heal the symptoms. In acute cases, relief can be felt within few hours or a day after the medicine is administered. For chronic acid reflux, substantial improvement can be felt from a few weeks to a few months.

3) In such cases, what sets homeopathy apart from conventional treatment? 

Conventional treatments such as antacids, H2 blockers and proton pump inhibiters (PPIs) provide temporary relief but they generally do not address the root cause. Since homoeopathy aims at holistic and long term cure, these medicines try to remove the root cause of the disease making it a more viable treatment for treating chronic reflux disorders.

4) Can heartburn damage the foodpipe?

Yes, chronic heartburn or GERD can damage the lining of the esophagus due to constant flow back of the acid into the esophagus causing inflammation, ulcers or even narrowing of the passage. Therefore it is important to manage heartburn to prevent any damage in the long run.

5) How to I know which remedy is the best for me?

Ascertaining the right remedy for heartburn patients depends on the following factors:
The triggering factors (stress, alcohol, caffeine, food, etc)
Associating symptoms (nausea, vomiting, bloating, flatulence and headache).
One should consult a homoeopath for appropriate homoeopathic treatment, its frequency and potency.

6) Which foods should I avoid if I have acid reflux?

Foods that cause acid reflux and heartburn are – highly garnished food items, highly caffeinated foods and drinks, alcoholic drinks, fatty foods. However, the triggers can vary, so it is important to track down ones diet and know what sets off acid reflux and heart burn in your case.

7) Can homeopathy help if symptoms are due to emotional stress?

Yes, homoeopathy can help manage heartburn that is linked with emotional stress or anxiety. It helps not only in symptom management but also in complete cure. Medicines like Arsenic Album and Ignatia are best used in such cases.

8) Can homeopathy help manage heartburn issues of expecting mothers?

Because of hormonal changes and constant pressure of the fetus on the stomach, pregnant women often experience heartburn and homoeopathy. Homeopathy can help managing such symptoms during pregnancy. Also, since the medicines are obtained from natural substances, they are safe but should be taken after consulting a qualified homoeopath.