Can Aloe Vera Or Manuka Honey Help With Your Reflux Symptoms
Many patients will take medication for reflux, such as proton pump inhibitors , for long periods of time without understanding the risks.
Yet, official advice says PPIs shouldnt be taken for more than three 14-day treatment courses in one year.
In our blog series on natural remedies, we look at alternatives people often use for relief from their reflux symptoms, such as heartburn and indigestion, and investigate whether there is any scientific evidence supporting the claims.
Here we look at Aloe Vera and Manuka honey.
Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is a short-stemmed plant with thick and fleshy green leaves.
Gel obtained from the plants leaves has long been used in foods, cosmetics, supplements and herbal remedies Cleopatra was even said to have used Aloe Vera to keep her skin soft!
Why is it used?
Traditionally, the clear gel from the Aloe plant is rubbed on the skin as an ointment to treat wounds and burns.
But the aloe vera food and supplement market has grown rapidly in recent years and some swear by drinking Aloe juice to help with their reflux symptoms.
It is claimed that Aloe Vera can decrease inflammation and stimulate production of hydrochloric acid, pancreatic enzymes and bile.
Aloe Vera preparations are often promoted for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders and to aid digestion. Health stores offer Aloe juice and advise you to take one tablespoon one to three times daily either directly or mixed with water or juice to aide with digestion.
Is it safe?
Manuka Honey Kills Bad Bacteria
One of the most notable and interesting aspects about Manuka honey is that it promotes the growth of good probiotic bacteria, while simultaneously eradicating harmful bacteria and viruses that invade our digestive system.
Recent research evidences that Manuka honey is effective at killing over 50 species of harmful bacteria. Many of these specifically attack our digestive system:
- Helicobacter pylori
- Salmonella typhimurium
- Staphylococcus aureus
These bacteria can cause issues like stomach ulcers, colitis and even contribute to improper digestion. However, ingesting Manuka honey as part of your diet gives you a great natural remedy to treat these issues.
Mixture Of Honey And Cinnamon
Besides honey for acid reflux, cinnamon has been also considered to be an effective treatment for this digestive problem. With the antibiotic and antifungal properties, cinnamon reduces the stomach acids and facilitates the digestion. It is a certain ingredient in some health food recipes and this combination of honey and cinnamon is for acid reflux condition.
- Stir 1 teaspoon cinnamon in 2 cups of currently boiled water
- Lower the heat and simmer 5 minutes
- Take the solution out of the heat then stir 1 teaspoon honey in
- Consume the drink daily.
- Alternatively, mix 3/4teaspoon cinnamon powder with1 tablespoon honey and eat the mixture after each meal to stimulate the digestion. You can also use cinnamon powder and honey to coat a bakery of apple and pumpkin slices.
Read more: Health and beauty benefits of cinnamon
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Honey Stirs Up The Bodys Natural Antioxidant Levels
In a 2013 study, honey has been found to restore glutathione levels. Glutathione is an antioxidant that prevents damage to cells. Digestive diseases, such as GERD, are known to lower glutathione levels in the body.
Additionally, honey also helps in:
- Activating enzymes so they can carry out the usual protective functions of your cells
- Breaking down toxins and free-radicals and excrete them from the body
- Recycling other antioxidants so your body can absorb vitamins and minerals more efficiently from the food you eat
Manuka Honey Benefits That Will Seriously Surprise You
Just think about when youre sick and have a sore throatwe bet you drink tea with honey or at least suck on some honey-flavored lozenges. But have you ever heard specifically of manuka honey benefits? Surprisingly enough, manuka honeya specific type that comes from bees that pollinate a New Zealand bush of the same nameboasts way more than just cold-remedying properties. In fact, the healing nature of regular honey is no secret: The substance was used as a remedy in ancient times, but it wasnt until the 19th century that experts realized why it worked .
The thing is, all honey is not made the same, and manuka honey has even more health benefits than the type you have stored in your kitchen cupboard. The extra antibacterial boost is believed to stem from the abundance of a compound called methylglyoxal. MG actually exists in other types of honey, too, but in much smaller quantities. And even all forms of manuka honey differ when it comes to their potencywhich is why honey producers assign each a label with a UMF rating . You want to look for a minimum of 10 UMF, if possible. Read on to see all of the health conditions that manuka honey can treat . We guarantee youll be impressed.
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It May Help Your Seasonal Allergies
Allergy season can be a real struggle. If youre someone who suffers from seasonal allergies, it can be a difficult thing to keep under control with daily medications to help relieve its symptoms. Thats why natural remedies could be a good way to go.
However, since Manuka honey is raw and unpasteurized flower honey, it acts as a natural antihistamine and when taken on a regular basis can reduce the need for over the counter allergy medications.
Alliance Images / Shutterstock
Acid Reflux And Stomach Acid
Most conditions that plague your stomachincluding small bacterial intestine overgrowth, acid reflux, and low stomach acidcan be mitigated with manuka honey. Why is that? Well, the substance is able to balance out the acid in your body. One study even found that the honey may be able to fight off the dangerous stomach bacteria clostridium difficile.
How to use it: Mix it into a favorite meal or drink.
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Its Not The Bees That Make It Manuka
Initially many believe that the Manuka honey spurs from the Manuka bee. However, there is no such thing as Manuka bees at all.
Instead, its produced by a Manuka flower, found in New Zealand, which the bees use to produce the honey, is the differentiating factor between traditional honey, and Manuka honey. Its just regular honeybees using the nectar from the Manuka flower to make their honey and the result is, as weve learned, pretty darn special.
M Rutherford / Shutterstock
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Since successfully losing 100lbs by changing her relationship with food and her body, Sarah has taken her passion for food and balanced it between cucumbers and cupcakes. When she’s not bustling her way around a kitchen, you can find her working out or winding down at home with her 3 kids and pug. Follow Sarah’s journey on Instagram @TheBirdsPapaya.
How To Prevent Acid Reflux Naturally
Lifestyle and dietary changes can be a natural treatment of Acid reflux. Here are some natural prevention techniques you can try:
Avoid Trigger Foods: Certain foods and drinks can trigger acid reflux. Identifying and avoiding these trigger foods may help you find relief from symptoms. Common trigger foods and drinks include alcohol, caffeine, chocolate, spicy food, mint, citrus, tomato-based foods, and fried foods.
Maintain a Healthy Weight: Losing weight could help you reduce acid reflux symptoms.
Adopt a Low-Carb Diet: Evidence suggests diets low in carbohydrates may relieve acid reflux symptoms.
Chew Gum: Studies indicate that chewing gum may reduce the acidity in the esophagus, thus reducing reflux symptoms.
Eat Mindfully: Overeating and eating quickly can both lead to reflux symptoms. Mindful eating helps you slow down when eating and listen to your body for signs of fullness. Chewing slowly, eliminating distractions during meals, and eating smaller meals are all mindful eating habits.
Wait Before Lying Down: Lying down can induce heartburn. Ideally, wait three to four hours after eating before going to bed.
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Manuka Honey Is An Anti
Another reason why Manuka honey is so helpful to the digestive system is that it reduces inflammation. Inflammation can be an immune response triggered when foreign pathogens attack our bodies. It can occur in the stomach lining, intestines and other parts of the digestive tract. This type of inflammation can be extremely painful and cause harm throughout the entire body.
Honey has been used as an anti-inflammatory for centuries. Moreover, Manuka honeys high concentration of Methylglyoxal contributes an even greater effect on reducing inflammation, and eliminating the bacteria that caused it.
Research backs this up, revealing how Manuka honey can be used as an effective medication for treating inflammation.
Manuka Honey For Acid Reflux
Acid reflux is another very common occurrence amongst adults dealing with stomach pains and other digestive issues.
Acid reflux causes heartburn, sore throat, chest pain and sometimes can induce vomiting. Its very painful and can be an issue that people deal with throughout their whole lives.
Harm caused by acid reflux can actually cause damage to the esophagus over time. This is due to the erosion of this delicate organ caused by the harsh stomach acids.
Thankfully, Manuka honey is efficient at helping treat these symptoms through a variety of ways.
Manuka honeys anti-inflammatory capabilities help to soothe the throat and delicate tissues along your digestive tract. It also helps to protect the thin mucosal layer covering our esophagus, allowing for a strong barrier to develop. This stronger lining protects the esophageal cells and prevents opportunistic bacteria from causing infection.
Finally, Manuka honey has impressive antioxidant abilities. Oxidants can cause issues in the digestive tract relating to increased inflammation.
This combination of effective healing helps to reduce symptoms of acid reflux and can reduce its occurrence.
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Manuka Vs Regular Honey
The world of honey can be confusing considering there are so many types to choose from. In addition to more than 300 varieties of honey that are sold worldwide, consumers have the following options:
- Comb liquid or whipped
- Local or imported
What is the difference between Manuka and regular honey? With Manuka, the nutritional content is up to four times that of normal flower honeys. Another difference is the Unique Manuka Factor explained above.
Why is Manuka honey so expensive compared to regular honey? As a rule of thumb, you get what you pay for, and most honey products at conventional supermarkets are not much different from high fructose corn syrup.
What sets Manuka apart is higher concentrations of compounds such as methylglyoxal, or MGO, which allows for Manuka to have antimicrobial effects that other honeys dont have.
Celebrities Are Raving About It
When it comes to health and wellness, celebrities are usual the first to make the latest concepts a trend among the masses. Kourtney Kardashian is probably the most notable celebrity to really jump into the world of influencing the use of Manuka honey for beauty care needs.
Teaming up with a Manuka Honey Doctor she participated in ads and campaigns to help raise brand awareness, becoming an ambassador for the use of Manuka honey. Other celebrities such as Scarlett Johansson, Kylie Minogue, and Gwyneth Paltrow also swear by it.
Andrea Raffin / Shutterstock
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How Does Honey Help With Acid Reflux
When looking at how to help the body combat these attackers, antioxidant levels need to be high enough to overcome this oxidative stress. Honey is a powerful free radical scavenger with strong anti-inflammatory properties.
As the esophagus is not designed to have stomach acid finding its way into its delicate lining, you can imagine the acid as a toxic, burning substance, which somewhat explains the discomfort youre experiencing.
Given the thick texture of honey, it acts to coat and protect the mucus membranes in your throat and provides much-needed relief from acid reflux. For this reason, honey is also highly effective in treating various painful throat conditions.
How To Cure Acid Reflux Quickly With Honey
When the lower esophageal sphincter does not contract properly, it allows gastric acids to flow backward, from the stomach into the esophagus, causing burning sensations in the chest and throat. This is whats known as acid reflux, or heartburn. Other symptoms include, bloating, burping, gas, and unpleasant taste in the mouth. Acid reflux is caused by poor diet, stress, smoking, over-eating, and lack of sleep, among other factors.
Plenty of antacids are available over the counter, but their effects are short-lived and they come with unwanted side effects. Honey, on the other hand, is a natural, affordable, effective way to get rid of heartburn for good.
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What Is Manuka Honey
Manuka honey is a honey produced from the nectar of the manuka tree, Leptospermumscoparium, native to Australia and New Zealand. The nectar is a result of the pollination of the flowers of the manuka trees by bees.
Manuka honey has a long history of use as medicine and food, and it is a great sugar substitute whose popularity has grown in recent years thanks to its numerous health benefits.
How To Take Manuka Honey For Acid Reflux
Here are some ways consuming manuka honey can help with acid reflux.
- Take a spoon of manuka honey at most four times a day, 20 minutes before mealtime and 20 minutes before going to sleep. Some suggest just taking one to two tablespoons a day, ¼ to one teaspoon after consuming a trigger food.
- Manuka can be added to apple cider vinegar. Though apple cider vinegar is acidic, adding a teaspoon or tablespoon of it to some water has been proven to be a good remedy for acid reflux, because it gives an alkalizing effect on the body. Thus, adding some manuka honey to apple cider vinegar in water can help with acid reflux.
- Manuka can also be added to ginger tea. Ginger contains bioactive compounds like gingerols, that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Ginger tea is a popular remedy for acid reflux and adding manuka honey to ginger tea, makes a great acid reflux remedy.
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Children With Acid Reflux
Acid reflux can affect children and infants, as well as adolescents and adults.
Infants with acid reflux may refuse to eat or be unable to gain weight. They may have breathing difficulties or pain after eating.
The cause may be spending long periods lying down or an underdeveloped esophagus. Also, some experts believe that the length of the esophagus, the condition of the muscles in the lower esophagus, and pinching of the fibers in the diaphragm may influence the development of this condition in children.
Children may also be sensitive to certain foods that affect the valve-like mechanism between the esophagus and the stomach.
When children have acid reflux, doctors may
Manuka Honey And Acid Reflux
Heartburn or acid reflux is caused by stomach acid getting backed up into the esophagus. It gives people a burning sensation in their chest after eating food.
Laying down can make acid reflux feel even worse.
So how does Manuka help?
Theres anecdotal evidence that Manuka Honey coats the stomach and esophagus. The acidity from the stomach acid creates sores or wounds in the lininings.
In theory, it makes sense that Maunka could help and some swear it works.
Manuka has both antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and can help speed up healing times of open sores.
While theres no evidence to support its efficacy for acid reflux specifically, it was tested on chemo patients. One response to a study about heartburn claims that it could be helpful in preventing acid reflux but more research is needed.
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Ways How To Take Honey For Acid Reflux Relief
Acid reflux is a very common digestive disorder in the humans which is caused by the flow back of the stomach acid and other contents into the esophagus. It is when the lower esophageal sphincter functions improperly and makes the acid come back with uncomfortable feeling. No one expects to suffer from this bad condition, but there also some certain cases in which acid reflux occurs. The digestive disorder is able to take effects on the members of the same family, which also means that the genes inherited from the parents with acid reflux are the chances of suffering from this condition.
Some common symptoms of acid reflux are known as the heartburn, the burning sensation in the chest and upper abdomen, hard swallowing, nausea, and bloating. And it is worth remembering that the risks of acid reflux condition can be increased when being overweight or obese, eating a lot of fatty foods, smoking, drinking alcohol and coffee, consuming some certain medicine, and during the pregnancy. People have been tried many ways to treat acid reflux especially medical methods but they are really harmful to your health when coming with possible side effects. Therefore, home remedies are highly appreciated and honey is recommended as an excellent one. With a high level of nutrients and other healthy properties, honey is really ideal for using to treat acid reflux in the humans.
Combination Of Honey And Clove
Clove has been believed to be good for the digestion.Therefore, it is revised to keep a clove in the mouth or add it to the tea which helps relieve acid reflux condition. In this way, clove is combined with honey for acid reflux relief which is easy to follow.
- Add 1 teaspoon honey to a pinch of clove powder then mix them well
- Stir the mixture in a warm water cup
- Consume the drink after each meal or whenever feeling the symptoms of heartburn.
Learn more: How to treat heartburn naturally at home without medicine
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