Updated: 11/20/2011
DISCLAIMER
Our readers offer information and opinions on Earth Clinic, not as a substitute for professional medical prevention, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult with your physician, pharmacist, or health care provider before taking any home remedies or supplements or following any treatment suggested by anyone on this site. Only your health care provider, personal physician, or pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for your unique needs or diagnose your particular medical history.
MUSTARD
[YEA] 08/26/2009: Natalie from Mckinleyville, Ca writes: "Mustard Heartburn Remedy
I am 22 years old, and a while back I was experiencing absolutely horrible heartburn which seemed to come out of no where. I would get heartburn after practically everything I ate (whether acidic or not), which became very frustrating. I would finish an entire bottle of acid reducing pills within a little over a month, which I was sure couldn't be that healthy for my body. I went to this website and read about PLAIN YELLOW MUSTARD as a natural heartburn remedy, and decided to give it a try. Every time I was experiencing heartburn (slightly or severely) I would swallow probably a TABLESPOON worth of yellow mustard. I would feel almost instantaneous relief of the discomfort, and the heartburn would go completely away within probably 10-15 minutes. I kept up with this remedy, and am happy to say that I haven't taken a SINGLE acid reducing pill since!
SOME GOOD TIPS:
1) Try not to drink any liquids soon after you swallow the mustard, or you will just wash it all down. If you don't like the taste of mustard, just swish water in your mouth and spit. It should help reduce the taste.
2) GRAB INDIVIDUALLY WRAPPED MUSTARD PACKETS WHENEVER POSSIBLE!! If you are in a restaurant, gas station, grocery store, casino, etc. that has a condiments section somewhere, grab a bunch of mustard packets! You can keep them in a bag in your purse, car, backpack, etc. for when you experience heartburn while on the go! It's self contained, convenient and free! :)"
Replies09/25/2009: Leelannee from Sussex, Nj replies: "If you do pick up some mustard packets from a public place...please wash them!!! So many people handle them...they may get dropped on the floor...who knows!!! If you're sucking the mustard straight out of the packets rather than squeezing it out onto a spoon or something...I just shudder to think what you might be ingesting. Ick!"
[YEA] 11/16/2009: Junior from New York, Ny replies: "THIS WORKS!!!!! was suffering with heartburn for a few days, was desperate and looking for a natural remedy.. found this website and used the teaspoon of mustard.. My pain stopped within 5 minutes."
11/20/2011: Charli from Totnes, Devon replies: "Watch out for mustard packets from restaurants etc.. They are usually full of preservatives & sugar & low quality! All things that contribute to acid accumlation (heartburn)"[YEA] 05/23/2009: Sherry from Uniontown, Pennsylvania writes: "I tried a remedy for heartburn or gerd that I read on another website. Take 1 tsp. of yellow mustard followed by about a half glass of water and to my surprise.......immediate relief. I,ve been doing this for about 3 days now and I haven't had any heartburn. I really get it bad, too. I've gotten heartburn from a glass of water. I've been taking Prevacid for at least 10 years. I had to stop taking it because it interfered with a more important medication that I take. Doctor gave me Zantac instead. It does nothing so I decided to try mustard."[YEA] 05/22/2009: EldersGrownDown from Melbourne, Vic, Australia writes: "One Tablespoon Mustard, regular, not hot and not watered down version, just regular english or american mustard, have it before bed and don't drink any water. It'll burn a bit for a few seconds after having it. Have another half amount in the morning and you'll probably be cured for life, it's been 4 years for me and I've never had heartburn again. I got this natural remedy from another poster, thank you and I am spreading the news. It worked like a charm."[YEA] 03/15/2009: Jaynee from Bountiful, Utah USA writes: "I had the MOST horrible heartburn when I woke up this morning, and I had nothing for it. I found this website and the suggestion for mustard and I've got to say, I'm pleasantly surprised. I'd never heard of using mustard before, which is unfortunate as it would have been extrememly helpful during my past two pregnancies! But I used 1/2 tsp as one of the responses suggested and ended up needing to use more about 20 minutes later. So in total used about one and a half teaspoonsful, and at first, going down, it burns like crazy! But it's well worth the extra burn. It works really well at getting rid of heartburn and it's probably the least expensve option you'll find, not to mention if needed in the middle of the night, you don't have to spend 10-20 minutes mixing a concoction of different ingredients. Just a spoonful of mustard does the trick!"[YEA] 03/04/2009: Pamela from Los Angeles, Ca. USA writes: "Mustard is the best for heartburn. i just had dental surgery and was under alot of medications which i believed were the cause of my heartburn. well i forgot that when i was pregnant it worked, too. just a 1/2 teaspoon always seems to help."[YEA] 02/19/2009: Meg from Auckland, New Zealand writes: "Aloha, thanks for the great suggestions on here for heartburn. I tried the mustard and it worked really well.
I suspect the reason the mustard, ACV and baking soda are the ones that work well for people is this: When I attended Natural Med.School - we were told that when someone has heartburn it is not because they have too much acid - but not enough. So taking mustard or apple cider vinegar or baking soda (all acidic) for the stomach and calm it down which stops the feeling of acid in the ribs and up. Thanks."
02/09/2009: Danielle from Huber Heights, OH writes: "I've been suffering with horrible heartburn and was browsing this website for some cures. I have an OTC heartburn medicine that I'm allowed to take but it hasn't helped this morning. The burning is killing me so I just tried the mustard cure. I took one teaspoon, and could barely stomach swallowing it even though I like mustard. After five minutes the pain has subsided some and I'm hoping within the next ten it'll be all gone. But even the little bit of help is better than nothing!"[YEA] 11/13/2008: Corina from Victoria, Newfoundland writes: "I have been having heartburn daily for the past 2 years ..almost everything i eat ...and i thought i would try the net for a cure ? and here you are !! about half hour ago i took a spoonfull of mustard and i could not believe it less then 5 mins and my heartburn is gone !!! i just want to say thank you for having this site and for helping me with this heartburn !!!"[YEA] 09/26/2008: ROBERT HENRY from TEN MILE , TN writes: "Last night, I awoke with severe heart burn or indigestion. I headed for the Tums when I remembered that someone on Earth Clinic said a teaspoon of simple mustard would work immediately. Hey,,,, it did.I'm working on my acne roseaca using your site's recommendations. These demodex mites are hell to get rid of. I refuse to treat them with antibiotics as I have for many years. My nose is not pretty, but my good bowel bacteria is alive and well.
Hurrah for our side."
[YEA] 09/17/2008: Susan Hickman from Marion, Indiana writes: "my son had ate too much peper. had heartburn, we looked up cures. we read mustard and after five minutes it was gone, amazing he used one tablespoon."Replies12/27/2010: Laurenann87 from Boston, Ma, Usa replies: "I see everyone saying Mustard, but does this mean like Yellow mustard? Brown Mustard? as in condiments? or like Mustard seed powder? Please clarify
Thanks"
[YEA] 01/20/2011: Chris from Semmes, Alabama replies: "yes, plain old yellow mustard. I was at my brothers earlier this evening, and I asked him if he had any tums, and he said no, but try a half teaspoon of mustard. I did and within ten minutes, my heartburn was gone. I cant beleive it. Been having a lot of heartburn lately, no more tums. im sticking with the mustard."
01/22/2011: Lemarque from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia replies: "Hi Chris, you may like to try slippery elm bark to treat your heartburn. The mustard is effective, however it is only for symptomatic relief. Slippery Elm Bark is well-recognised as an effective treatment for simple reflux (Heartburn). You can continue to use the mustard for symtomatic relief as required but I think you will find that you need it less and less. Good Luck"[YEA] 05/06/2008: Roderick Robinson from New Orleans, Louisiana writes: "mustard, one tablespoon of, can relieve from heartburn instantly AND acid reflux. i had a real bad case of heartburn one day so that i was holding my chest and a elderly woman ask whats wrong and i told her i had heart burn and she told about this remedy and it works for me. one tablespoon."[YEA] 09/16/2007: V. Gillespie from Saint Louis, USA writes: "Mustard, regular prepared mustard that goes on a hotdog or sandwich quickly and completely cured intolerable acid reflux and heartburn. My husband told me to try it, so I swallowed a good tablespoon each time the reflux and heartburn came for a few days. It has been well over 6 years since and' I have never had acid reflux or hearburn again. Mustard works amazingly."[YEA] 12/29/2006: Matt from Dothan, AL writes: "A teaspoon or two, or packet of mustard cures Heartburn. Burns like hell for a minute, but works wonders. Do not drink or eat anything for about 10 minutes or so. Zantac costs too much, chewable antacids give me a dry mouth, so I was turned on to trying mustard by a friend of mine. I don't know how it works, but it does."
MUSTARD, PICKLE JUICE
[YEA] 01/31/2010: Jl from Atlanta, Georgia writes: "I almost never have heartburn but had a terrible episode last night. Decided to check Earth Clinic for ideas and the mustard seemed like something I could keep down. The heartburn was so bad I thought I was going to start throwing up, so had to be careful what I ingested. Didn't think I could handle undiluted ACV, as many people apparently have used with success. I used about a teaspoon of mustard. No problem getting it down. As I was putting the mustard away I saw the pickle jar so thought I try that, too. I downed about a shot glass full of pickle juice. I guess the pickle juice and mustard work because they're made with vinegar, but far tastier than straight ACV. By the time I walked to my bedroom to go to sleep the heartburn was gone!"
PAPAYA ENZYMES
[YEA] 08/06/2007: Trav from Rice Lake, WI writes: "I tried papaya enzyme for heartburn and it works. I wouldn't make a habit of eating it all the time though. Maybe you can take a different heartburn remedy at a time."
PICKLE JUICE
[YEA] 02/08/2010: Mimi from Louisburg, Ks writes: "Thank you so much. I very rarely get heartburn but when I do it hurts so bad I could cry. I found your site and tried the teaspoon of mustard which subsided the pain for a few minutes. I then read about the pickle juice and the crackers. I tried them both and my heartburn is almost gone. Thank you so much. I had already taken a generic antacid tablet and 4 antacids to no avail. I will now first go to the pickle juice and crackers to help my heartburn. I am going to bed now without pain. Night Night."[YEA] 02/28/2009: Alan from Orem, UT writes: "So, every once in a while, I get some bad heartburn. My diet was horrible, Wendies and McDonalds because its cheap. I have since started eating better and cut back on the caffeine and that has been what has cured the heartburn. I even eat spicy foods with no problem. Before, though, when I did get the heartburn so badly that I couldn't sleep, I told my dad about it and he suggested pickle juice. My friends scoff, but it really does the trick. We always have pickles in the fridge so I tried it. Never fails. Everytime I get heartburn, I use it and it works everytime. Milk doesn't work or water. sometimes bread does the trick but fills you up and then its back with in an hour or so. Just a couple of swallows of pickle juice and its gone. I promise."
PINE NEEDLES
[YEA] 11/10/2008: Duane from Pensacola, fl writes: "Chewing green pine needles stops heart burn alot better than tums."Replies
11/12/2008: Lorraine from Charles Town, WV USA replies: "PLEASE remember that if there are pine trees in your yard and you choose to eat the needles for heartburn, WASH them. Pesticides and general residual debris could be a lot worse than heartburn!"
SALTINE CRACKERS
[YEA] 03/01/2009: Judy Parada from Abq, NM USA writes: "Hi everyone, and (CHAD from Rochester) try saltine crackers,sometimes I get heartburn in the middle of the night and I eat about 4 saltine crackers and my heartburn is gone within 5 minutes, my husband also, we never run out of crackers in this house and another item that works for my husband is the pickle juice. the doctor prescribed medicine for my husband for his heartburn years ago and they did not work, so I started him on crackers, he believes me now. Try the crackers Chad."
SEA SALT
[YEA] 05/03/2010: Bob from Elmhurst Twp., Pa. writes: "Stop heartburn instantly. Pinch of sea salt on tongue."
