Taking slippery elm for acid reflux is one of the best natural remedies to ease the burning sensation associated with acid reflux. Making a slippery elm tea for acid reflux is soothing for the mucosal lining and helps protect the throat from acid or coat a compromised stomach lining.
The burning symptoms of acid reflux in the chest or throat can be extremely uncomfortable and damaging to the GI lining. As someone who used to experience heartburn several times a week, I am glad I discovered slippery elm tea for acid reflux and DGL licorice lozenges.
Before optimizing my digestion by removing food sensitivities, kicking my candida, knocking down SIBO, and removing my trigger foods, acid reflux was one of the primary digestive symptoms that I used to experience. The foods that were most likely to cause me acid reflux was potatoes, corn chips, wheat, and bananas.
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As I addressed the root cause of my heartburn, I used slippery elm tea for acid reflux as it is one of the best home remedies to relieve heartburn symptoms. DGL licorice root lozenges were another supplement I used to get immediate relief from acid reflux in the throat.
The symptoms of acid reflux and heartburn are often not the results of too much stomach acid but instead a compromised mucus lining that needs soothing support.
The stomach is designed to have an acidic pH required for optimal digestion. At the same time, an intact mucous lining is necessary to prevent the stomach acid from irritating the stomach lining and causing abdominal pain or heartburn.
The mucus lining is also 98 percent water, so are you properly hydrated?
The lining of the esophagus (throat) is not designed to have any acid, unlike the stomach. Sipping on slippery elm tea for acid reflux or sucking on a DGL licorice lozenge helps protect and soothe both the lining of the esophagus and the stomach.
In North America, heartburn is a common condition. Yet, many people don’t know about the use of slippery elm for acid reflux, as most people are prescribed H2 blockers or proton pump inhibitors for their acid reflux symptoms. While these drugs are effective, they also have side effects such as osteoporosis, as sufficient stomach acid is required to absorb calcium for healthy bones.
The native Americans knew about the medicinal purposes of slippery elm as they used it as a herbal remedy for inflammatory bowel disease, coughing, diarrhea, and various digestive issues. Slippery elm, also known as Ulmus rubra, comes from the elm tree that is native to North America.
Below are my top 4 natural remedies for acid reflux, a common problem among the population today and people struggling with gut health problems.
#1 – Slippery elm powder – How to take slippery elm for acid reflux
Slippery elm comes from the slippery elm tree (also known as the red elm tree), where the inner bark is used to make slippery elm powder. Slippery elm is known as a demulcent with soothing properties for the gastrointestinal tract. The anti-inflammatory properties of slippery elm have been suggested as the mechanism for helping with inflammatory bowel disease.
The inner bark of slippery elm is used to produce slippery elm bark powder, which is commonly sold at health food stores for its ability to soothe digestive upset and acid reflux. You can also take slippery elm supplements to soothe mucous membranes, but for the purpose of acid reflux, it is best to mix a teaspoon of slippery elm powder in hot water to make tea.
When slippery elm is mixed with water, it forms a thicker gel-like substance, which helps coat and soothes the GI lining, such as the stomach and esophagus. The demulcent soothing properties of slippery elm make slipping elm my #1 at-home remedy for acid reflux and calming inflamed tissues in the digestive tract.
The best way to use slippery elm for acid reflux is by making a slippery elm tea to sip on before eating and between meals to soothe and coat the Gi lining. You can also use slippery elm powder in smoothies, oatmeal porridge, yogurt, apple sauce, or water.
If acid reflux or heartburn is quite persistent, make 2 cups of slippery elm tea and drink it between meals or anytime it is experienced to help relieve heartburn. It is one of the best herbal teas for gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Slippery Elm Tea for Acid Reflux
- 1 cup of water
- 1 tsp slippery elm powder
- ¼ cup almond milk
- ¼ tsp cinnamon
How to make slippery elm tea
To make the slippery elm tea bring one cup of water to a boil. Stir 1 tsp of slippery elm powder, almond milk, and cinnamon. Before drinking, wait 5 minutes until the slippery elm thickens into a gel-like consistency.
The addition of almond milk and cinnamon help to make the slippery elm tea more palatable and enjoyable.
#2 DGL licorice lozenges – how to use DGL licorice for acid reflux
My second natural remedy for acid reflux is DGL licorice lozenges from enzymedica. Sucking on a DGL licorice lozenge is especially helpful for anyone who has acid reflux in the throat.
Sucking on a DGL licorice lozenge (not chewing or swallowing) helps to stimulate saliva production. Continuous swallowing of saliva mixed with the DGL licorice helps coat and soothe the throat from acid reflux.
I recommend using a DGL licorice lozenge while cooking or preparing your meal. Ten minutes before eating, suck on a DGL licorice lozenge while breathing deeply.
Sucking on a DGL licorice lozenge prepares the body for digestion by stimulating saliva production.
Breathing stimulates a parasympathetic state that is conducive to digestion and the secretion of digestive juices.
At times I used to experience mild acid reflux at night. I found sucking on a DGL licorice lozenge extremely useful to help relieve acid reflux, as I could fall back asleep while sucking on the DGL licorice lozenge.
Sipping on slippery elm tea wasn’t as practical in the middle of the night so if you need an at-home for acid reflux at night, use a DGL licorice lozenge.
Eating a lighter and earlier dinner can also help to prevent acid reflux at night.
#3 Optimal GI Powder
Optimal Gi powder is a gut-healing supplement for the long-term maintenance of soothing and healing inflammation in the GI tract, as it contains 11 herbs and nutrients designed to soothe the Gi lining.
Optimal Gi contains slippery elm and DGL licorice root and other gut-healing nutrients such as aloe, marshmallow root, zinc carnosine, and l glutamine. These nutrients help heal leaky gut while soothing the gut lining simultaneously.
The addition of superoxide dismutase in this gut-healing powder is beneficial in reducing inflammation. Superoxide dismutase helps to break down reactive oxygen species, which contribute to inflammation.
Optimal Gi can be mixed in with the slippery elm tea for additional gut-healing nutrients to prevent and relieve heartburn or again mixed into smoothies, yogurt, oatmeal, or applesauce.
#4 Aloe vera juice
Drinking aloe vera juice is another great remedy to soothe and calm down inflammation in the digestive system. Food-grade aloe vera juice purchased from a local health food store can be combined with slippery elm tea for extra cooling and soothing support to heal the mucous lining and protect from excess acidity.
Slippery elm, DGL licorice, aloe vera, and Optimal Gi are my top 3 natural remedies for acid reflux and initial protocol.
Underlying causes of acid reflux
To fully resolve acid reflux, there needs to be more investigative work to uncover why heartburn has developed, such as insufficient secretion of digestive juices from the primary digestive organs, which are:
the stomach acid
enzymes from the pancreas
bile from the gallbladder
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth is an underlying cause of acid reflux that no one is talking about.
Having optimal bile production and flow is crucial for preventing SIBO.
Often it can be high-fiber foods, difficult-to-digest starches, and foods that cause acid reflux. Acid reflux is a common symptom of SIBO. Following the SIBO diet can help reduce symptoms while implementing a SIBO protocol. Acid reflux is common alongside IBS, suggesting a common underlying dysfunction that needs to be addressed.
Histamine is required to make stomach acid, but some people have too much histamine. Excess histamine production in the stomach or gut can lead to heartburn. Spicy foods and high histamine foods such as coffee are common triggers for acid reflux that may need to be avoided while healing from heartburn.
Histamine Block and Probiota HistaminX are two supplements that support the breakdown of histamine in the gut.
High histamine foods can be a trigger for some people as well. Identifying what your trigger foods are is crucial for preventing acid reflux.
If you are dealing with acid reflux and want to go beyond just managing symptoms, grab my free gut health guide where I walk you through how to support the primary digestive organs and identify what may be causing your symptoms.
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What is your opinion of also using apple cider vinegar for acid reflux symptoms? What amounts and timing of uses?
I havn’t specifically used apple cider vinegar for acid reflux but it does help to improve the acidity of the stomach and digestion thus taking with water right before meals is great. But many people may also be sensitive to the ACV if they have an inflamed intestinal lining. It is a great way to support digestion naturally though. I love ACV and sometimes take it before bed with water as I notice it helps improve my fasting blood sugar. For me the my acid reflux resolved when I knocked down my SIBO and supported my liver and gallbladder to optimize antimicrobial bile flow. Low stomach acid is an underlying cause of SIBO which can cause reflux so ACV could be a natural and helpful way to boost stomach acid but you may also need more support too.