Herbal teas and herbal brews are excellent natural heartburn home remedies that can bring you relief almost instantly. Among the many non-medicinal and natural remedies for heartburn and acid reflux, herbal teas made by brewing natural ingredients are easy to get your hands on, are cheap to buy, and are good for your digestive system. And that is why herbal teas for heartburn are actually recommended alternate remedies. Try our 3 favorite herbal brews. Plus we tell you one common herbal tea to avoid.
Why are herbal teas good for heartburn and acid reflux relief?
For starters, herbal tea is not a true tea. True tea is made from the leaves of the camellia sinensis plant, most commonly known as the tea plant. Whilst true tea has many health benefits, it contains caffeine. Whilst some people with heartburn, acid reflux or GERD can drink caffeinated drinks with no side effects, many cannot.
If you’re trying to find your triggers for heartburn, try to eliminate caffeine for a while to see if you get relief from your symptoms.
Herbal teas, also known as herbal infusions or tisanes, do not contain caffeine. They are made from plants, seeds, flowers, roots, or fruits of all plants except camellia sinensis (the tea plant).
There are many such herbal teas that can be your ticket to heartburn and acid reflux relief. But we are focusing on three basic ones that you can get hold of easily and they can bring you relief almost instantly.
Natural herbal teas for heartburn relief
1. Chamomile Tea
Chamomile tea has long been used as a natural home remedy for heartburn, acid reflux, indigestion, and GERD. That uncomfortable burning feeling you get is caused by stomach acid moving back up the esophagus, which is due to your gastrointestinal lining becoming inflamed. Chamomile contains substances that help to soothe the lining of your esophagus and reduce inflammation. Chamomile also promotes healthy digestion.
It has been found that an extract of chamomile tea can reduce stomach acidity as effectively as over-the-counter antacids.
But that isn’t all – chamomile has many other perceived health benefits:
- reduce menstrual pain
- reduce anxiety
- lower blood pressure
- help with sleep and relaxation
- relieve cold symptoms
Dried chamomile flowers are used to make chamomile tea. If you have a green thumb, you might like to try growing your own chamomile.
LEARN MORE: Is chamomile tea the best for acid reflux?
2. Ginger Tea
Ginger is one of the most widely used herbs in Chinese medicine and is used to treat many ailments including the common cold, joint pain, and digestive problems. It is rich in antioxidants and has strong anti-inflammatory properties.
Ginger can reduce the likelihood of acid flowing from your stomach back into your esophagus. This means you’re likely to feel less of that burning sensation.
Ginger tea, with a little honey added as a sweetener, is the best way to consume ginger tea for a person with heartburn or acid reflux. Many people like to add lemon to their ginger tea. In our article, What Not To Eat With Acid Reflux: The Top Ten Triggers, we told you that citrus fruits should be avoided. Although lemon juice is very acidic, small amounts mixed with water can help neutralize the acid in your stomach when digested. So, if you like lemon in your ginger tea, feel free to try it. If you continue to have heartburn or acid reflux symptoms, try ginger tea without lemon next time.
How to make ginger tea for heartburn and acid reflux relief
Of course, you can buy ginger tea, but if you’re feeling adventurous or have some on hand, here’s a recipe for ginger root tea that includes only four ingredients, courtesy of Weston Outpatient Surgical Centre.
Ginger Root Tea Recipe
- Peel and mince a piece of one-inch ginger root.
- Boil 1 cup of water and add ginger pieces.
- Boil water and ginger together for 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat. Cover with lid and let steep for 20 minutes.
- Strain and stir in ½ teaspoon honey and lemon juice (optional) to taste.
You can enjoy a cup of ginger root tea up to two times per day to help relieve heartburn. Remember that ginger should be used occasionally as a natural treatment for heartburn relief and should not be a permanent solution.
LEARN MORE: Is Ginger Tea Good For Acid Reflux?
3. Marshmallow Tea
When we think of marshmallows we think of the fluffy white sweet most of us enjoy in hot chocolate or roasted at a campfire. But that’s not what this tea is made of. In fact, marshmallow here is actually a herb that shares its name with the sweet.
Whilst you can eat the flowers, root,s and leaves of the marshmallow plant, it’s the root that is used to make marshmallow tea. The medicinal properties of marshmallow root come from the mucilage, which is a sap-like substance produced by the plant that has antioxidants in it.
Research suggests that mucilage from the marshmallow root forms a coating over the digestive tract and stomach. This prevents acid from causing discomfort and “burning,” while also providing anti-inflammatory effects. So, when you purchase marshmallow tea, make sure it contains the root.
Marshmallow root, when brewed in hot water, makes for a highly beneficial herbal brew and is good for more than gastrointestinal issues.
Marshmallow is also used to treat:
- dry mouth
- coughs and colds
- bacterial infections
- repair gut lining
- reduces inflammation
- soothe skin problems
How to make marshmallow root tea for heartburn and acid reflux relief
Unlike most herbal teas, marshmallow root tea is best prepared using a cold infusion to preserve its mucilaginous properties (that’s the part that coats the lining of the digestive tract). This gives a sort of thick, slimy quality to the drink and is the component most helpful to soothe inflamed tissues, internally and externally. This makes an infusion the best way to use marshmallow root. Yes, it sounds gross, but think of the good it could do for you and your heartburn!
Marshmallow Root Infusion (recipe courtesy of rusticfarmlife.com)
- Add 3-5 grams of dried marshmallow root to a teacup or other steeping vessel.
- Pour 1 cup (8 oz) of cold water over the top and steep for 30 minutes up to several hours.
- Drink right away or store in a refrigerator for up to 3 days.
You can still drink marshmallow root as a warm tea, but don’t use boiling water.
Marshmallow root is best used 1-2 hours before or after other medications because it can affect absorption.
Herbal teas to avoid if you have heartburn, acid reflux or GERD
Peppermint Tea
Peppermint can stimulate bile production, thereby regulating digestion.
Whist peppermint tea may relieve digestive symptoms such as gas, bloating and indigestion it can have the opposite effect on some people. This is because the peppermint extract can cause further relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter, leading to worsening of heartburn symptoms.
If you have mild heartburn or acid reflux symptoms, you may want to give peppermint tea a try before dismissing it altogether.
Natural home remedies for heartburn, acid reflux or GERD
Natural herbal teas are simple remedies for heartburn, acid reflux, and GERD symptoms. Try out our suggested herbal brews the next time you have an attack of heartburn. Even better, switch to one of these teas (chamomile being the most recommended) for your regular tea time. That way you will get the benefits of the herbs you are brewing on a daily basis. In the long run, these herbal brews for heartburn will help to keep your heartburn in check.
Whilst herbal teas will give you quick relief from heartburn, you may need to try other diet and lifestyle strategies as well. Such as Also, check our list of the most common foods that can trigger heartburn and acid reflux symptoms as these are some easy wins for keeping heartburn symptoms at bay.