Acidity is one of the most common complaints in India. Spicy food, irregular meal times, stress, and lying down after eating are major contributors. Most episodes respond well to simple .
Common Causes
- Spicy, oily, or fried foods
- Eating large meals or too quickly
- Lying down immediately after eating
- Coffee, tea, and carbonated drinks
- Alcohol and smoking
- Stress and
- Obesity — increases abdominal pressure
- Certain medications — , aspirin
- Pregnancy
- Hiatal hernia
Home Care and Relief
Cold milk
A glass of cold milk neutralises stomach acid and provides immediate relief. One of the most effective quick fixes for sudden heartburn.
Jeera (cumin) water
Boil 1 teaspoon of cumin seeds in a glass of water for 5 minutes. Strain and drink warm. Carminative properties reduce gas and acidity.
Fennel seeds (saunf)
Chew a teaspoon of saunf after meals. Reduces acidity, , and gas. Make fennel tea by boiling seeds in water.
Aloe vera juice
2–3 tablespoons of fresh aloe vera gel in water before meals soothes oesophageal inflammation.
Banana
Natural antacid that coats the stomach lining and reduces acid irritation.
Ginger tea
A small amount of fresh ginger in warm water helps settle the stomach and reduce acid.
Elevate the head of your bed
Raise bed head by 15–20cm for nighttime heartburn. Uses gravity to prevent acid flowing back up.
Eat smaller, more frequent meals
Large meals distend the stomach and promote reflux. Eat 4–5 small meals. Eat slowly.
Avoid eating within 3 hours of bedtime
Lying down with a full stomach is a major cause of nighttime heartburn.
Clinical guidance from NIH[1] stresses matching home care to symptom severity and seeking urgent review when red-flag signs appear.
When to See a Doctor
- Heartburn more than twice a week — possible GERD
- Difficulty swallowing
- Unexplained weight loss with acidity
- Black or tarry stools
- — always rule out cardiac causes first
- Not improving with home remedies after 2 weeks
Related Guides
For verification and deeper reading, NHS[2] offers independent, evidence-based information you can cross-check with your own clinician.
References & further reading
Sources cited in this guide. DIMH links to independent medical institutions for verification — not as a substitute for personal medical advice.
- NIH — Digestive diseaseshttps://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases
- NHS — Stomach ache and abdominal painhttps://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stomach-ache/
- NIH — Acid reflux (GER & GERD)https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/acid-reflux-ger-gerd-adults
- Mayo Clinic — Heartburnhttps://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heartburn/symptoms-causes/syc-20353627
- NHS — Heartburn and acid refluxhttps://www.nhs.uk/conditions/heartburn-and-acid-reflux/
- MedlinePlus — trusted health information (NIH)https://medlineplus.gov/
When home care is not enough: chest pain, trouble breathing, confusion, or symptoms that worsen quickly need urgent medical attention.