Pressure in the stomach and esophagus, often accompanied by a burning sensation: almost one in four Germans suffers from heartburn on a regular basis. Often shortly after eating. If left untreated, it can lead to serious secondary illnesses.

Heartburn and reflux: what is the difference?

When we talk about heartburn, we usually mean one of the typical symptoms is when too much acid builds up in the stomach, and you have to “burp” it. This often happens when you have eaten too much or eaten too much fat. The stomach contents then push upwards and cause discomfort.

Reflux literally means backflow. It describes a condition in which acid from the stomach rises into the esophagus or higher. The symptoms can vary from stomach pain and malaise to vomiting. The main causes are often poor nutrition or being overweight. 

Silent reflux – often accompanied by hoarseness.

Typical heartburn occurs in only 30 percent of cases of reflux. In rare cases, stomach acid can rise even further and irritate the throat and larynx. Patients often do not notice it for a long time because symptoms such as stomach pain and burning in the chest area are absent.

Instead, the so-called silent reflux manifests itself through constant throat clearing and a hoarse voice. The diagnosis is often made after an ENT doctor’s larynx examination. A stomach acid measurement can also provide important clues. For this, a probe is pushed through the nose into the stomach for several hours. It measures gases that rise into the throat after eating. The third option is to take medication for a while to reduce stomach acid. If the constant throat clearing improves after taking the medication, this can also be an important clue.

Quick help against heartburn: potato juice

Even our grandmothers knew that potatoes are very gentle on the stomach: both as a cooked vegetable and freshly squeezed as potato juice. The juice acts as an alkaline buffer. To do this, squeeze several raw potatoes vigorously.

Green spots should be removed as they contain toxins. Drink five milliliters of potato juice in small sips several times a day before a meal. If you don’t want to press it yourself, you can also buy the ready-made juice in a pharmacy or health food store.

Rollkur with chamomile – recipe for use

Another tried and tested naturopathic treatment is a rolling cure with chamomile tea.

To do this, brew a tablespoon of freshly brewed chamomile tea with 250 milliliters of water. Let the brew steep for ten minutes and drink it on an empty stomach. Then lie on your back for five minutes. Then roll onto your left and right side for five minutes each. Finally, lie on your stomach for another five minutes. The chamomile soothes the mucous membrane in the stomach.    

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