Over the last couple of years, I noticed that as the weather gets colder, my digestive tract gets irritated. Yes, my allergies change and I also get acid reflux. I have no idea why this happens, but the first year it was very painful. In fact, it woke me up in the middle of the night it was so uncomfortable. Since I prefer to try to heal myself before I go to the doctor, I did a lot of research.

Of course, my first line of attack was to remove the cause. I looked at my lifestyle and tried to identify any changes. Why was my esophagus getting irritated? Why was my stomach acid backing up into my esophagus? Truthfully, I couldn’t come up with a solid answer. However, after several years, I have concluded it has to do with the changing of the season, because it starts to happen every autumn and rarely any other time of the year.

Then, I look at remedies. Most of the allopathic (conventional) remedies reduce the acid in the stomach so it does not irritate the digestive tract anymore. Most people need to take it for the rest of their lives. I understand the logic but I need (as we all do) the acids in my digestive system, I need them to do their job ~ digest my food, allowing my body to absorb nutrients from it. I need those nutrients to maintain a healthy body.

Dried Marshmallow Root

There are lots of remedies and theories out there, for example, when and what to eat. But what I really needed to do was heal the irritation in my digestive system so it could work properly and I could be comfortable again. Luckily, I found marshmallow root (Althaea officinalis).  It is very soothing and mucilaginous. It coats, protects and heals all inflammatory digestive disorders and enhances the immune system.  All I do is simply drink a cup of cold infusion after each meal and feel the discomfort melt away. Depending on the severity of the heartburn, relief happens instantly or may take a couple of days.  You can find marshmallow root in the bulk section of most health food stores. One thing I really love about marshmallow root is that after my system is healed, I can stop using it. I have found that the infusion tastes better if I keep it in the refrigerator.  One important thing to know about marshmallow root is that it can inhibit the absorption of some medication. So, if you are taking any medication, be sure to take it at least an hour or more before or after you drink the marshmallow root infusion.  Here’s to relief from heartburn!

All information is shared for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or treat any condition.

If you are having a difficult time finding marshmallow root locally, Mountain Rose Herbs is a great company to order from.