Heartburn

Reflux, heartburn, indigestion, whatever you call it, it can cause stomach pain, burning sensation in the esophagus, nausea, vomiting, etc. While it may seem like the problem is too much stomach acid, often the REAL problem is not enough stomach acid.

When there is not enough hydrochloric acid in the stomach, it can cause the lower esophageal sphincter to not close properly, allowing acid to reflux into the esophagus. Without enough stomach acid, protein is not properly digested and can lead to yeast overgrowth.

Your overall health can drastically improve, if you stop eating processed foods, high fructose corn syrup, seed oils (vegetable, canola, sunflower, etc.), and sugar. Choose an animal-based diet instead. For detailed information about the animal-based diet, check out the link on the left.

Possible Causes

Low hydrochloric acid, aka stomach acid (yes, you read that right), malfunctioning lower esophageal sphincter, use of antacids, use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), poorly digested food, weak gastric juices from a congested liver, weak pancreatic enzymes, congested gallbladder

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The Ultimate Guide to the Animal-Based Diet by Heart and Soil.

Do Your Own Research

Low stomach acid; Effects of stress on the body; Gut health; How probiotics affect overall health

Remedies

Digestive enzymes with amylase, lipase, and protease (pancreatic enzymes to break down carbohydrates/sugar), ox bile (to break down fats), hydrochloric acid (to break down proteins)
Apple cider vinegar-increases stomach acidity, which breaks food down for easier digestion
Probiotics (sauerkraut, kefir, kombucha, kimchi)-increases colonies of good bacteria, creating better gut health
Turmeric-can ease mild cases of heartburn; one to two teaspoons of mustard can extinguish the burning sensation in the esophagus; turmeric is a mild blood thinner and high doses can cause increased digestive distress
Bananas-may help neutralize stomach acid
Aloe vera juice-may reduce the frequency of digestive distress
Pineapple juice-contains bromelain, which is an enzyme that helps break down food
Pickle juice-fermented food, which helps to regulate stomach acid production
Chamomile-helps to soothe lining of stomach and esophagus
Licorice root-improves gastric and intestinal irritation better than antacids, according to studies
Ginger-reduces symptoms of stomach pain, nausea, and heartburn
Avoid caffeine
Avoid chocolate
Reduce stress

Resources

1) C Barrington, BCHHP. (n.d.). Stomach Acid-Too Much or Not Enough? Holistic Cindy. Retrieved August 20, 2025, from https://www.holisticcindy.com/post/stomach-acid-too-much-or-not-enough
2) 16 Proven Home Remedies for GERD & Remedies to Avoid - Annex Naturopathic Clinic. (n.d.). Annex Naturopathic Clinic. https://citynaturopathic.ca/home-remedies-for-gerd-acid-reflux/
3) Sharifi-Rad, J., Rayess, Y. E., Rizk, A. A., Sadaka, C., Zgheib, R., Zam, W., Sestito, S., Rapposelli, S., Neffe-Skocińska, K., Zielińska, D., Salehi, B., Setzer, W. N., Dosoky, N. S., Taheri, Y., Beyrouthy, M. E., Martorell, M., Ostrander, E. A., Suleria, H. a. R., Cho, W. C., . . . Martins, N. (2020). Turmeric and its major compound curcumin on Health: Bioactive effects and safety profiles for food, pharmaceutical, biotechnological and medicinal applications. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2020.01021
4) Setright, R. (2017). Prevention of symptoms of gastric irritation (GERD) using two herbal formulas: An observational study. Journal of the Australian Traditional-Medicine Society, 23(2), 68–71. https://search.informit.org/doi/10.3316/informit.950298610899394