Eating a bowl of your favorite stew has gotten grossly unpleasant. Youâre afraid to ingest food because of the chest pain to follow. Thereâs also this sour, acidic taste lurking in the back of your throat when you recline after a hectic day. Heartburn is unpleasant, and the sharp, intense pain below your breastbone (sometimes ribs) is a nuisance.
Contrary to what some people believe, heartburn isnât a burning sensation in the heart. Heartburn is a by-product of an acid reflux. It happens when the food you eat is pushed back up your esophagus and is caused by various factors.
Why Essential Oils Are Good For Heartburn
Acid indigestion, as heartburn is also called, plays on your esophagus natural ability to keep down what youâve consumed. It includes a build-up of acid in the stomach. The right amount of stomach acid is beneficial, but too much is harmful.
Essential oils are good for heartburn because of the soothing effect they may have on the stomach. Although these plant-based extracts arenât a âcureâ for acid indigestion, they provide symptomatic relief through appropriate administration.
In other words, essential oils provide relief for symptoms of heartburn, so that you can enjoy the foods you love, feel less pain, and sleep better.
Best Essential Oils For Heartburn
The essential oils recommended in this list have different effects on heartburn. Some oils help to prevent a heartburn by helping you regulate how much you consume. Other oils soothe chest discomfort after the fact.
1. Cardamom Essential Oil (Elettaria cardamomum)
This sweet-spicy oil stimulates the digestive system and soothes complaints. Cardamom was used by Romans as a dieting aid to prevent overeating. As overindulgence may cause the stomach to widen and prevent the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) from closing, acid may be able to seep through, causing heartburn.
By inhaling the aroma of cardamom, you can quell the desire to eat in large quantities. Using a sheet of cotton wool pad, add 2 drops of cardamom and take as much whiff as needed.
Best for: inhibiting over eating
2. German Chamomile Essential Oil (Matricaria recutica)
Chamomile is soothing and calming. Studies show that chamomile penetrates âbelow the skin surfaceâ to soothe the muscles and stomach. When your chest aches due to heartburn, chamomile helps to caress irritated tubes that transport food from the mouth to the stomach. Less irritation of the esophagus means less heartburn.
For relief, combine two drops of chamomile with a tablespoon of almond oil as a diluent. As needed, or during bouts of heartburn, massage the oil at the chest or breastbone area to relieve pain.
Best for: Soothing chest pains associated with heartburn
3. Peppermint Essential Oil (Piperita Mentha )
Bad breath, or halitosis, is an aftereffect of heartburn when ingested food is regurgitated. Peppermint eliminates bad breath after youâve had an episode of an acid reflux. A study conducted using peppermintâs effect on halitosis showed extraordinary results. When used a mouth rinse, the plant-based extract does reduce bad breath.
If you frequently have encounters with halitosis, peppermint is that close, protective friend. It also promotes better oral hygiene. Add two drops of peppermint to a teaspoon of glycerin. Add the mixture to a bit of water to make your own mouthwash. Use to gargle at least three times daily.
Best for: bad breath or halitosis
4. Ginger Essential Oil (Zingiber officinale)
Ginger has a calming essence on the digestive system. It quietens unsettled digestion that may have been induced as a result of an excessive indulgence in food. With a calm stomach, youâll lessen the likelihood of having acid moving back up the gullet. Ginger may also help with pregnancy-induced heartburn, but make sure to familiarize yourself with the safety aspects of using essential oils during pregnancy.
Clove calms indigestion and relieve heartburn. To use, add two drops of ginger into a teaspoon of carrier oil, preferably almond or castor. Gently rub the oil at the stomach and chest.
Best for: indigestion
5. Lavender Essential Oil (Lavandula angustifolia)
Stress not only has a psychological effect on your body, but a physical one. Extreme stress or anxiety could aggravate symptoms of heartburn. Lavender, based on what research uncovered, can be used as a tranquilizer of sorts. When applied in appropriate measures, it could relieve feelings of stress and anxiety.
Lavender is best used to relieve stress through diffusion and inhalation. Add 3 drops of lavender to a diffuser or oil burner and let it permeate the air in your room of choice. As you work to curb stress and anxiety, your encounters with heartburn may decrease.
Best for: stress relief
6. Myrrh Essential Oil (Commiphora myrrha)
Heartburn sufferers are susceptible to sore throats. Once acid passes up through the esophagus, it can enter the throat and voice box. This may cause sore throat and even hoarseness. Myrrh is a strong antimicrobial agent that can be used to treat sore throats and issues relating to the larynx.
Use myrrh as a throat gargle by adding 2 drops to water and toss around in the mouth. It can also be used as a throat rub to lessen tension and pain. Add 2 drops of myrrh to a teaspoon of almond oil and massage gently at the throat.
Best for: sore throat
7. Marjoram Essential Oil (Origanum majorana)
The flowering stems from which the oil is extracted gives marjoram its medicinal value. Marjoram extract constituents include terpinenes, terpinols, and carotenes. These substances contribute to the positive effect marjoram has on the stomach and digestion. As the oil aids digestion, you may encounter less reflux in the throat.
Marjoram is best used as a massage oil to tranquilize indigestion. Add 20 drops of marjoram in two tablespoons of sesame seed oil and store in a sealed bottle. To apply, add two drops from the bottle to your palm and massage at the abdomen or chest in a clockwise motion.
Best for: stomach digestion
8. Turmeric Rhizome Essential Oil (Curcuma longa)
Turmeric has a long history in Chinese medicine as a chest pain remedy. Itâs also used in Ayurvedic practices to improve digestion. Studies have signaled that turmeric may be used as an agent against pain and irritation. This indicates that chest pains associated with heartburn might be alleviated by applying the volatile oil.
To soothe pain and irritation of the chest, use turmeric as a salve. To make, add 5 drops of turmeric in a tablespoon of olive oil and mix to combine well. Apply the blend to the chest or breastbone area where the discomfort or pain is felt.
Best for: chest pain and discomfort
Best Essential Oils For Heartburn RecipesÂ
The blends highlighted in this section does not cure heartburn. However, they may provide relief from common symptoms and lessen the likelihood of indigestion leading to acid reflux.
Indigestion Buster Message Blend
You may experience heartburn directly after eating a meal, exercise, or simply for being pregnant. Once acid starts pushing back up, it can irritate the walls of your gullet, causing discomfort and pain. This indigestion buster massage blend helps to ease heartburn symptoms.
- This blend should make at least 30 ml.
- 5 drops of cardamom
- 3 drops of mandarin
- 2 drops of coriander.
- 2 tablespoons of almond oil.
Mix the recommended essential oils with the carrier oil in a container of choice.
Pour the mixture into a clean bottle, preferable a euro dropper.
Once ready to use, add 2 drops of the blend into your palm and rub at the chest and abdomen. The oil must be left to be absorbed into the skin.
Relaxing Inhalation Blend For Stress Management
Manage your level of stress and youâll likely encounter fewer moments with heartburn. The oils in this blend are reputed for the calming and relaxing effect they produce on the mind and body.
Youâll need:
- 2 drops of lavender
- 2 drops of German chamomile
- 1 drop of rose absolute
Add the suggested drop of oils one after the other to your diffuser or vaporizer.
Allow the scent to fill your heart and soul with vibrancy, joy, and an improved disposition.
Diffuse the oils at least twice daily. You can improve how regular you diffuse the oils depending on increased stressors and anxiety.
To Summarize
- Heartburn is not a condition affecting the heart. It typically occurs when acid is forced back through the tubes connecting the throat and stomach (Acid reflux). Symptoms of heartburn include chest pain, sore throat, and others.
- Plant-based oil extracts may not be able to cure heartburn, but may provide symptomatic relief.
- Essential oils such as cardamom, clove, ginger, myrrh, and others may provide relief against heartburn. This is owing to the effect the oils have on the digestive system.
- With the right essential oil blends used in a consistent manner, you may see changes in the regularity of heartburn.
Read more:
- Essential Oils For Cholesterol
- 10 Best Essential Oils For Stress Relief (+3 DIY Stress Blends & Recipes)
