Although there are many effective medications on the market for acid reflux, they often only make matters worse once the person stops taking them on a regular basis. Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPI), one type of acid reflux medications, cause the body to produce abnormally high levels of acid when they are no longer taken. Individuals who take PPI's should do their best to avoid a sudden stop in treatment so that the body does not respond with "rebound hypersecretion."

There are a variety of natural herbs that can be used to treat heartburn. After eating, tea made from coriander, chamomile, angelica, fennel, caraway seeds, anise, peppermint, or spearmint can help relax the stomach and reduce symptoms of acid reflux. Supplement capsules of caraway seeds and peppermint are also available and quite effective.

Other nutritional specialists choose to use roots. Taking in 500 milligrams of ginger root each day can do wonders for the symptoms related to acid reflux. Ginger is also an ingredient in Ayurveda.

It is also important to include healthy levels of fiber in your diet in order to combat acid reflux. If you don't like foods with fiber, you can get it from pills or powders. Fiber is essential because it keeps the digestive system regulated, absorbs excess acids, and prevents constipation.

Smoking is definitely not a good choice for acid reflux sufferers. The esophageal sphincter is relaxed by nicotine consumption, allowing acidic fluids to swish into the food pipe from the stomach. Stress and smoking are often related and both are known causes of acid refluxes. Hence, both should be reduced as much as possible.

No one likes to limit their diet, but some foods to be avoided to help treat acid reflux are chicken nuggets, cheese, liquor, wine, tea, coffee, salad dressing, citrus fruit, ground been, Buffalo wings, potatoes, spaghetti and ice cream.

Some alternative medications for acid reflux that have been well documented for their positive effect on the condition are licorice, chamomile, and marshmallow. Papain, a digestive enzyme, also supports healthy digestion. Meadowsweet is an anti-inflammatory antacid that shields digestive membranes from harm.

In order to have success in your battle against acid reflux you must put forth effort to control your weight, reduce stressors, stick to a diet, and make some serious lifestyle changes. Fortunately, doing so is well worth it.