Heartburn is a burning pain behind the breastbone and ribs that spreads upwards to the throat. It is caused by the acid from the stomach spilling into the esophagus and irritating the unprotected lining of the esophagus.

It is usually treated by regulating the diet, modifying the lifestyle and taking medications like antacids, H2 blockers and Proton Pump Inhibitors. Lifestyle changes like not eating until you are full, not lying down immediately after a meal, not lying down in a flat position, not eating spicy foods, not drinking beverages with caffeine, not taking alcohol, not smoking, exercising regularly and reducing weight can control heartburn to a large extent. There are a lot of home remedies and alternate therapies like acupuncture to tackle heartburn.

Drinking small quantities of water at regular intervals washes the acid back into the stomach and soothes the burn. One popular remedy is sucking on a hard candy, or chewing gum. They increase saliva production by eight to nine times, according to research by Medical College of Wisconsin. The copious saliva helps in two ways. It washes the acid back into the stomach and neutralizes any acid leftover in the esophagus. The candy or chewing gum should not contain mint, which relaxes the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES) muscle.

Chamomile tea and banana settle the stomach well and reduce reflux. Ginger root has a reputation of being a good remedy for heartburn. Nobody knows how it works, but some doctors are convinced that it does. It neutralizes the acid and calms the nerves. It is available in capsules.

Bitters like gentian root, wormwood and golden seal, and aromatics such as catnip and fennel, have their proponents. Aloe vera juice, papaya tablets, licorice, raw potato juice, apple-cider vinegar, celery and basil leaves have some believers as effective cure for heartburn.

As heartburn is one of the most widespread problems, most health food stores stock a wide variety of herbs and roots which are known to provide relief against heartburn.