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Heartburn, indigestion,
stomach ache:
Even those of us with iron
stomachs occasionally get heartburn, but many of us get it more
often, and it can wreck not only an evening but a good night’s sleep.
And there are many good products over the counter that alleviate the
symptoms. Since several conditions can cause heartburn, and some of
those conditions like ulcers require the attention of a medical
professional. Our most effective remedy provided here is for light
heartburn or indigestion with the feeling, “I ate too much (or too much spicy/acidic)
food and I feel a little too much acid”. This remedy is for light
heartburn, when ginger ale or saltine crackers don’t seem to cut it.
Note that recurring heartburn can be a symptom of more serious conditions and should
be addressed by a medical professional.
Our favorite heartburn remedy is over the counter Tagamet. It now
comes in generic form, known as cimetidine. Alka-Seltzer and Pepto
Bismol are also effective at relieving the pain, however, we found that
Tagamet was not only the most effective for us, but it has been shown in some
studies to be a possible cancer preventive.
Warning: Cimetidine can slow
the metabolism of other drugs, which can increase the concentration of
prescription drugs in your bloodstream, so if you are taking prescription
drugs, it is important for you to discuss possible drug interactions with
your doctor, before taking Cimetidine.
Since everyone is
different, this remedy won’t work for everyone. So if this does not
work for you, other heartburn treatments include:
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Bitters
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Ginger (it comes in many
varieties, including pickled ginger (which comes with sushi), candied
ginger, ginger tea, powdered ginger in water or raw sliced in a cup of hot
water) This is good for mild cases of indigestion, or as a
preventative to avoid indigestion.
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Peppermint tea
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Fennel Tea
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Alka-Seltzer
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Pepto Bismol
A
supplement that has been shown to be beneficial for healing the digestive
system is the amino acid L-glutamine. Since glutamine serves as in important
fuel source for the rapidly dividing cells of the gastrointestinal tract, it
can be helpful in healing irritation. Eggs and whey protein are two good
sources of glutamine, but it can also be obtained in supplement form. One
study showed that glutamine was even more effective than antispasmodics and
antacids in treating stomach ulcers.
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