Honey for Acid Reflux: Does it Really Work?

According to the American College of Gastroenterology, more than 15 million American’s suffer from heartburn every day. Heart burn is a symptom of acid reflux, a condition in which acid travels from the stomach back up into the esophagus and sometimes the throat, and it’s less than pleasant to deal with. Luckily, you can treat acid reflux naturally at home with honey.

In Ayurveda, the Indian sister science of yoga, honey has been used for a variety of digestive issues. According to research published in the Indian Journal of Medical Research, honey might be beneficial to use against acid reflux for a few reasons. For one, it’s loaded with antioxidants that fight damaging free-radicals that could be causing damage to cells in your digestive tract. Cell damage in the digestive system could be one of the reasons for your acid reflux. Additionally, honey coats the mucous membrane of the esophagus and also fights inflammation in the esophagus, making acid reflux less likely.

Some other evidence backs this up. Results from a study published in the British Medical Journal found that consuming one teaspoon of raw honey resulted in relief of acid reflux symptoms. The researchers suggest that the thick and sticky texture works to keep acid down.

As the study suggested, you can use honey to treat acid reflux by swallowing a teaspoon of it just as it is! If that doesn’t sound so appealing, not to worry. You can mix a teaspoon of honey with warm water or tea when symptoms arise.

Honey is generally safe to consume, but because it contains sugar, take caution if you have a blood sugar condition like diabetes. Children under 12 months of age should also not be given honey. If symptoms don’t subside, check with your doctor for other treatment options. And if you’re interested in preventing acid reflux and heartburn before it hits, check out this article!