Apple cider vinegar … for heartburn?

I’ve always thought it sounded counterintuitive to use an acid to alleviate indigestion, but the number of times I’ve heard people treat their symptoms of heartburn with apple cider vinegar is too large to count. So, I decided to look into whether this strategy works, and to do some investigation about the idea behind its use. To my surprise, there is no research published in medical journals that addresses using raw apple cider vinegar to treat heartburn, despite widespread use and recommendations from blogs and websites. What is heartburn? Heartburn is most commonly caused by stomach acid contents traveling up into the esophagus, the pipe that connects the mouth to the stomach. Unlike the stomach, the esophagus is not used to the presence of acid. The stomach acid irritates the esophagus, leading to several symptoms including throat clearing, burning sensation in the chest and neck, sour sensation in the mouth, cough, and bloating. It is not a pleasant feeling. It’s what we call GERD, or gastroesophageal reflux disease. There are several reasons why gastric contents move up into the esophagus instead of going down to the bowel. The relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), a valve that sits between the esophagus and the stomach, is the most common culprit. The LES is usually closed, creating a contained system to digest food. But it opens from time to time, to let air out in the form of belching. Reflux mostly happens when the valve relaxes too much, or ...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Complementary and alternative medicine Digestive Disorders Folk remedies Health Source Type: blogs