Is Peppermint an Effective Heartburn Treatment?
Millions of people suffer from the painful symptoms of heartburn at least once a week. Heartburn, and acid reflux, is typically the result of acid escaping from the stomach into the esophagus. Often this condition can occur more than once or twice a week. With so many people suffering needlessly, it is no wonder that people begin to search for an alternative heartburn treatment.
Heartburn home remedies have existed from the dawn of time. My grandmother had a natural, holistic cure for almost any condition. To cure heartburn, she always recommended taking peppermint. It is funny how close she actually was to a successful heartburn treatment.
In order for peppermint to be a viable treatment for heartburn, it must somehow pass through the stomach undigested, so that it can begin to work in the small intestine. Peppermint teas, or regular peppermint capsules, do not stand a chance of making it past the acidic juices of the stomach. In fact, these forms of peppermint actually promote acid reflux by reducing the tightness, or tone, or the lower esophageal sphincter.
Scientists have developed a special type of coating that helps certain medicines pass through the stomach undigested. This coating was developed in order to help deliver treatments for such diseases as typhoid fever to the small intestine where they would have the opportunity to help. Peppermint oil capsules are now available with this ‘enteric-coating’ property.
Enteric-coated peppermint has been demonstrated to help reduce the symptoms of heartburn and acid reflux. I wonder what else my grandmother knew?