Best Herbal Tea for Acid Reflux

When you suffer from Heartburn and Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) or similar symptoms.

It’s advised that you cut-out caffeine and other compounds that can make your acid reflux worse.

Hence, you should stop drinking coffee (which you probably know).

But did you also know you should also cut-out tea including black and green tea. YES green tea is healthy in many way’s.

But like black tea it’s derived from the “Camellia sinensis” leaves and both contain caffeine. The caffeine content in coffee and tea can aggravate your acid reflux.

Top 5 Herbal Tea’s for Acid Reflux

Therefore a caffeine free herbal tea is a great natural alternative to soothe your acid reflux and heartburn. Furthermore some herbal teas have properties that can help alleviate the symptoms of GERD. GERD is a shortened version of gastroesophageal reflux disease or acid reflux. Today we show you what to drink for acid reflux. 

Chamomile Tea

Chamomile Tea is known for it’s relaxation properties and is great for treating insomnia. I personally drink a cup of chamomile ever-night before bed. Thus: I can testify too it’s charming calming relaxing properties.

It’s been used as a medicinal herb for centuries and for good reason. It’s versatility, not only does it help with sleep it also effective against flatulence and smooths the stomach. Conditions that accompany acid reflux.

The herbal tea is a anti-inflammatory and is believed to have compounds similar too NSAIDs. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen have analgesic and antipyretic effects(¹).

These effects would explain why chamomile tea is so good at calming the mind and body. The easing of indigestion problems makes this tea ideal for acid reflux.

Side effects: A small number of people may be allergic to chamomile. Also if your allergic to ragweed you may be allergic to chamomile.

Licorice Tea

The medicinal uses of licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) are long known, particularly in Europe where it’s been used to heal gastric ulcers. Over the centuries it’s also used for treating coughs, constipation and insomnia. Research has shown that licorice can reduce stomach acid.

Furthermore, licorice can boost cortisol a natural anti-inflammatory steroid. Hence, helps the body naturally reduce inflammation. The use of licorice root long term is not recommended because it can lead to high blood pressure.

However another type of licorice, called deglycyrrhizinated licorice or DGL does not have the same side effects. This is the best type of licorice to use for reflux (GERD). It’s also interesting to note that licorice is a “Mucilage”. This means it can coat the stomach and oesophagus. Which helps protect from stomach acid.

[pullquote align=”normal”]Mucilage Teas Mucilage is a edible substance found in many plants. In medicine it’s used to provide a protective film that helps to relieve irritation and as a cough remedy. Mucilage teas used in herbalism : Marshmallow root tea, Licorice root tea and Slippery elm tea. [/pullquote]

Ginger Tea

Ginger the super-herb best known for helping nausea and morning sickness. Also has the ability to soothe the gastrointestinal system. Thus reducing the symptoms of acid reflux. How ginger works to help acid reflux is not completely understood.

But one theory suggests ginger works by helping to emptying the stomachs contents faster than normal. Thus; the content in the stomach has less time to cause problems like acid reflux. This is known as gastric emptying.

Marshmallow Root Tea

Marshmallow root contains a substance called “mucilage”. This mucilage can coat the stomach and oesophagus with a protective coat or mucous. Hence can protect the stomach and oesophagus from stomach acids. This mucous is also slippy when wet which acts as a mild laxative.

Thus, can help bowel movement and loosen your stool. So like ginger tea it can help “gastric emptying”. Marshmallow root can be drank as a cold infusion or warm tea. To make the tea simply add two teaspoons of dried marshmallow root to boiling water, steep for 5 minutes. Best results drink slowly to feel the full effects.

The video below shows how to make a Marshmallow root cold infusion…

Marshmallow is generally considered a safe herb. However it could interact with some medications, so seek advice if your on conventional med’s.

Dandelion Tea

The herb Dandelion is classed as a bitter herb this means it aids digestion. Dandelion tea is also a rich source or fiber. This is a beneficial aid for digestive and intestinal health.

The fiber helps the movement of food thought the intestinal track. This tea also has the ability to stimulate the appetite and thus help digestion. Furthermore the tea can boost beneficial bacteria in the stomach.

Other useful herbal teas for acid reflux:

• Anise tea
• Caraway tea
• Fennel tea
• Fenugreek tea
• Cardamom tea

One Tea to Avoid

Mint tea is often used as a digestive aid. However it can also loosen the “oesophageal sphincter(²)”. This is a type of valve that stops the contents of the stomach from passing into the oesophagus. If the stomach contents leak into the esophagus then this would be bad for your acid reflux.

Conclusion

We are all individuals and acid reflux symptoms can be variably depending on your food intake. What helps you may not help someone else. So test which herbal tea is best for your circumstances. These herbal teas are also the best tea for heartburn.

By cutting out caffeine drinks and changing to herbal teas you have nothing to lose. Everything to gain, because the herbal tea may help your acid reflux symptoms for the better.