I started suffering from heartburn and acid reflux when I was 30 years old. I think a combination of work-related stress as well as drinking too much coffee and alcohol was what triggered them.
If you are suffering from these conditions, one option is to go and see a doctor. But there is no magic pill that can cure you.
Fortunately, I have now recovered and rarely have any symptoms of acid reflux. In this guide, I will explain what causes these debilitating conditions and how to recover from them. The information is based on both my personal experience as well as scientific research.
So how about ginger tea? Is it good for acid reflux?
Yes, it can definitely help. But it will be even more effective when combined with other herbal ingredients and some changes in your lifestyle.
To understand all of this better, let’s start by discussing what causes heartburn and acid reflux in the first place.
What Causes Acid Reflux and Heartburn?
It’s not uncommon to suffer from occasional heartburn. In fact, about 20% of Americans suffer from it every week.
Heartburn can be described as a burning sensation in the esophagus, the tube that connects your throat and stomach. It’s caused by stomach acid that has gotten into the esophagus.
This is often related to a poorly functioning lower esophageal sphincter (LES) muscle. LES is supposed to open only to let food into the stomach, and when it doesn’t close properly, stomach acid can flow upwards into the esophagus.
I recommend that you watch this short video that explains what causes heartburn and acid reflux:
Then what triggers heartburn?
Some of the most common triggers are stress, lack of sleep, and eating too much greasy food at once. Pregnant people also suffer from heartburn more often because of the extra pressure on their stomachs.
Heartburn can last anywhere from a few minutes to several hours.
How is acid reflux different from heartburn?
Acid reflux, also called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), means that the stomach acid is constantly moving up, and you suffer from heartburn frequently and for a prolonged time. One common reason for GERD is hiatal hernia.
Common symptoms of acid reflux include:
- Heartburn
- Constant burping and/or hiccups
- Nausea
- Bloating
Is Ginger Tea Good for Acid Reflux and Heartburn?
Ginger root is rich in beneficial plant molecules, including antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds.
The healing powers of ginger have been known to humans for thousands of years. In fact, it’s an ancient remedy that is one of the most important herbal ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine.
But does ginger tea really help with acid reflux?
Having a well-functioning digestive system is one of the keys to avoiding heartburn and acid reflux — and this is why ginger tea is such an effective remedy.
If you can’t digest food normally, you are likely to have problems like increased gas production, which can further aggregate acid reflux.
Ginger tea can help relieve acid reflux in many ways:
- It contains phenolic compounds that may improve the function of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES).
- Stimulates the flow of digestive juices and helps with having a normal digestive function.
- Can help reduce gastric contractions reducing the chance of stomach acid getting into the esophagus.
- May relieve gastrointestinal irritation and reduce the inflammation of the esophagus.
Ginger tea is also an effective remedy for nausea which is one of the most common symptoms of acid reflux.
So, all in all, ginger tea is definitely one of the best herbal teas for treating acid reflux!
How to Make Ginger Tea to Relieve Acid Reflux?
You can very well make tea with only fresh or dried ginger root to treat acid reflux. But I recommend combining it with other herbs to get the maximum benefit.
Chamomile helps reduce gastric acidity and inflammation of the esophagus, while licorice root can increase the protective mucus layer of the esophageal lining. In addition, chamomile tea helps with reducing stress and improving sleep, which is important in recovering from acid reflux.
Here is my recipe for a soothing herbal tea for acid reflux:
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon of grated fresh ginger or 1 teaspoon of dried ginger
- 1 teaspoon of dried chamomile flowers
- 1 teaspoon of dried licorice root
- 1 to 1 1/2 cups of water
Instructions:
- If you are using dried ingredients, simply steep them in hot water for about 10 minutes.
- If you are using fresh ginger root, brew it in simmering hot water for about 10 minutes, then turn off the heat, add the other ingredients, and steep for another 10 minutes.
To make things easy, you can also buy one of my recommended ginger teas.
How much ginger tea should you drink?
In this case, more is not better. Ginger tea should be used in moderation because too much can even make your acid reflux worse.
Start with drinking one cup of strong ginger tea two to three times a day. The best time to drink ginger tea for treating acid reflux is after each meal.
Is Lemon Ginger Tea Good for Acid Reflux?
Many people are wondering if adding lemon to your ginger tea will make it an even better remedy for acid reflux.
Well, the truth is that lemon might help you lose weight, which can help with reducing symptoms of acid reflux over time. Lemon may also aid in lowering blood pressure and contains plenty of vitamin C — a powerful antioxidant that can protect your body against cell damage caused by acid reflux.
However, some experts say that lemon and other citrus fruit can make the symptoms of acid reflux worse.
The best way to find out is to add a dash of lemon juice to your ginger tea and see how you feel after drinking it.
If you want to try another herbal tea with plenty of antioxidants, check out my recipe for elderflower tea.
What Else Can You Do to Treat Acid Reflux?
While ginger tea is an effective remedy for acid reflux, just drinking a few cups a day might not be enough to get rid of this condition.
In order to start recovering, it’s best to eliminate as many triggers as you can.
Here are my best tips for treating acid reflux naturally:
- As much as possible, avoid drinking coffee and other caffeinated drinks until your symptoms subside.
- Don’t drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes, or at least limit your consumption to a few mild drinks and a few sticks per day.
- Drink ginger tea after each meal. You can also add the other herbal ingredients mentioned in this guide.
- Don’t eat too much greasy and spicy foods. Instead, eat foods that are light and easy to digest (e.g. oatmeal, steamed fish, clear chicken soup).
- Avoid eating too much at one sitting and don’t eat right before going to bed.
- Try meditation, relaxing music, walking in nature, or whatever helps you with getting rid of stress and sleeping better.
Final Thoughts on Using Ginger Tea for Acid Reflux
Suffering from acid reflux can make life almost unbearable. It often makes you feel uncomfortable with a burning sensation in the esophagus and constant burping and nausea.
At one point, my acid reflux got so bad that I couldn’t even sleep more than a few hours each night. I would always wake up around 4 am with a burning sensation that was tormenting and painful.
The good news is that you can most likely recover — but it takes some effort and time. Combine ginger tea with the other tips in this guide, and you should slowly start feeling better.
I hope you found this guide useful and that it will help you live a normal and happy life free of acid reflux!
-Joonas
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