How Do I Get Rid of Heartburn Fast?

Heartburn, Reflux & Indigestion: The Complete Guide

How Do I Get Rid of Heartburn Fast?

Quick Answer

When heartburn strikes, the fastest approaches involve neutralizing or diluting acid, reducing gastric pressure through positioning, or coating the esophageal and gastric lining to buffer it from acid contact. Longer-term approaches focus on supporting the underlying digestive environment — mucosal barrier integrity, gastric motility, and digestive balance — so that acute episodes become less frequent and less severe over time.

This page covers both: immediate approaches for in-the-moment relief, and the meaningful distinction between symptomatic relief and approaches that support the underlying upper GI environment.*

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products mentioned are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Quick Summary

  • Sit upright or stand — gravity helps keep stomach contents down immediately
  • Drink water — helps dilute and clear acid from the esophagus
  • Baking soda in water neutralizes acid quickly but is not suitable for regular use
  • Ginger tea supports gastric motility and has anti-inflammatory properties in the digestive tract
  • Slippery elm and MucoSave™ FG form a protective gel layer on the gastric mucosa, supporting upper GI comfort*
  • DGL licorice (GutGard®) supports the gastric mucosal lining through a different mechanism than acid suppression*
  • Chewing gum stimulates saliva production, which helps clear acid from the esophagus
  • Loose, comfortable clothing reduces intra-abdominal pressure

Immediate Approaches: In-the-Moment Relief

Sit upright or stand up

The fastest no-cost approach. Gravity works in your favor when you're upright — it keeps stomach contents pressing downward rather than toward the lower esophageal sphincter. If you were lying down or reclined when heartburn started, sitting up or standing is often enough to reduce symptoms within minutes. Avoid bending forward at the waist, which increases intra-abdominal pressure.

Drink water

Small sips of plain water help in two ways: they dilute stomach acid and they help wash acid that has entered the esophagus back down into the stomach. Chewing and swallowing also stimulates peristalsis — the wave-like esophageal contractions that clear refluxate. Drink slowly rather than gulping, which can distend the stomach and worsen pressure. Avoid carbonated water, which adds gas and increases gastric pressure.

Chew gum

Chewing gum stimulates saliva production. Saliva is mildly alkaline and plays a natural role in neutralizing esophageal acid — when you swallow, it helps clear and buffer refluxate that has entered the esophagus. Research supports saliva's role in esophageal acid clearance, and several studies have found that chewing gum after meals can reduce esophageal acid exposure time. Choose non-mint varieties, as peppermint and spearmint relax the lower esophageal sphincter and can worsen heartburn.

Loosen tight clothing

Tight waistbands, belts, or shapewear compress the abdomen and increase intra-abdominal pressure, pushing stomach contents toward the LES. Loosening or removing these immediately reduces that pressure and can bring noticeable relief quickly.

Baking soda in water

Sodium bicarbonate is a base that neutralizes stomach acid on contact — this is the same chemistry behind most over-the-counter antacids. Dissolving half a teaspoon in 4–8 ounces of water and drinking slowly can provide rapid acid neutralization. It works quickly but the effect is short-lived. Baking soda is high in sodium and should not be used regularly — it is appropriate for occasional urgent relief only. Avoid if you are on a sodium-restricted diet, are pregnant, or have kidney or heart conditions. The resulting gas from neutralization can also cause belching, which may temporarily worsen reflux in some people.

Ginger tea

Ginger has been used for centuries for upper digestive complaints and its mechanisms are well-documented. Ginger accelerates gastric emptying, which reduces the distension and pressure that drive reflux. It is naturally alkaline and contains anti-inflammatory compounds (gingerols and shogaols) that may help ease irritation in the digestive tract. Research published in PMC identifies ginger among natural products that support lower esophageal sphincter function and protect the esophageal lining through various mechanisms. Steep fresh or dried ginger in hot water for 5–10 minutes, strain, and sip slowly. Avoid adding peppermint.

Cold or room-temperature milk (low-fat or non-fat)

Low-fat or non-fat milk can act as a temporary buffer between the stomach lining and acidic contents, providing short-term comfort. This is why milk has been a home remedy for heartburn for generations. The caveat is that full-fat milk can worsen symptoms by stimulating acid secretion and relaxing the LES through its fat content. If you reach for milk, choose skim or low-fat.

Mucosal Barrier Support: A Different Mechanism

Most of the approaches above work by neutralizing or diluting acid, or by reducing the pressure that pushes acid into the esophagus. There is a second category of approaches that works differently — by supporting and reinforcing the mucosal barrier that lines the esophagus and stomach.

The esophageal and gastric mucosa is the first line of defense against acid. When this lining is well-supported, it is more resistant to irritation from acid contact. When it is compromised, even normal amounts of acid can produce significant discomfort. Supporting this lining is central to Silver Fern™ Brand's approach to upper GI comfort.*

Slippery elm

Slippery elm (Ulmus rubra) bark contains mucilage — a soluble fiber that absorbs water and forms a thick, gel-like substance. When consumed, this gel coats and soothes the mucosal surfaces of the esophagus and stomach, physically protecting them from acid contact. Research published in PMC identifies slippery elm's mucilage as creating a protective barrier across mucosal surfaces that safeguards the esophagus from acid-related irritation and inflammation, and notes that a 16-week clinical study of a formula containing slippery elm demonstrated significant improvements in GERD-related symptoms. The University of Wisconsin Integrative Medicine program includes slippery elm in its evidence-based GERD protocol, typically taken after meals and before bed.

MucoSave™ FG — prickly pear and olive leaf

MucoSave™ FG is a clinically studied blend of prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) polysaccharides and olive leaf (Olea europaea) polyphenols specifically developed for gastric mucosal support. The prickly pear polysaccharides form a protective gel-like coating on the gastric mucosa through a process called mucoadhesion — adhering directly to the mucosal surface and providing a physical barrier against acid. The olive leaf polyphenols add antioxidant protection to cells in the mucosal lining.

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 118 adults with frequent upper digestive discomfort (2–6 days per week) received either a MucoSave formulation or placebo for two months. The MucoSave group experienced statistically significant reductions in GERD quality-of-life scores of 56.5% and 59.1% respectively versus placebo, with heartburn and acid regurgitation episodes significantly reduced. A second randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 100 adults found that 400 mg of MucoSave™ FG daily for 8 weeks reduced heartburn occurrence from 58% of participants to approximately 11.7%, with improvements observed as early as four weeks.

MucoSave™ FG is the key ingredient in Silver Fern™ Brand's Reflux Pro™ and Reflux – Mucosal Support™. For a full breakdown of the clinical evidence, see the MucoSave™ FG clinical research summary.*

DGL licorice (GutGard®)

Deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) is a form of licorice root that has had the glycyrrhizin compound removed to eliminate its blood-pressure-raising effects. DGL supports upper GI comfort through a different mechanism than acid suppression — it stimulates mucus secretion in the stomach and supports the integrity of the gastric mucosal lining, providing a protective barrier against acid. Research published in PMC notes that licorice root supports mucosal protection and can decrease gastric acid secretion through its demulcent properties.

GutGard® is a clinically studied DGL licorice extract found in Silver Fern™ Brand's Upper GI Relief™.*

Approaches That Take Slightly Longer But Support the Underlying Environment

Aloe vera juice

Aloe vera gel contains polysaccharides and other compounds with soothing and anti-inflammatory properties. Some evidence suggests that aloe vera juice may help reduce the discomfort associated with acid reflux by soothing the esophageal and gastric lining. It is typically consumed before meals. Important caveats: choose pure inner leaf aloe vera juice that has been specifically processed to remove aloin (a latex compound with laxative effects). Many commercial aloe vera juices are not appropriately processed. For this reason, Silver Fern™ Brand notes that MucoSave™ FG provides similar mucosal-coating benefits via prickly pear polysaccharides without the aloe-associated laxative concerns.*

Chamomile tea

Chamomile has documented anti-inflammatory and soothing properties in the digestive tract. Research identifies chamomile extract as having therapeutic effects due to its ability to help alleviate esophageal irritation and promote mucosal support. It is not a rapid-acting approach but can be useful as part of a consistent evening routine, particularly when taken before bed to support a calmer upper GI environment overnight.

Digestive enzymes

Some episodes of post-meal heartburn and upper GI discomfort are related to incomplete digestion — when food sits in the stomach longer than it should, fermenting and producing gas that increases gastric pressure and drives reflux. Supporting complete digestion with high-quality digestive enzymes can reduce this post-meal pressure and the reflux episodes that follow. Silver Fern™ Brand's Digestive Enzyme is formulated with clinically studied enzymes including OPTIZIOME® Fructanase and Tolerase G® for comprehensive digestive support.*

The Key Distinction: Symptomatic Relief vs. Supporting the Underlying Environment

Understanding the difference between these two categories is important for anyone dealing with recurring heartburn:

Symptomatic approaches (baking soda, antacids, positioning) work quickly to address the immediate burning sensation by neutralizing acid, reducing pressure, or temporarily diluting and clearing it. They are valuable in the moment but do not address the underlying factors that caused the reflux episode — LES function, mucosal barrier integrity, gastric motility, or digestive efficiency.

Mucosal barrier and digestive support approaches (MucoSave™ FG, slippery elm, DGL licorice, digestive enzymes) work at the level of the underlying upper GI environment. They may take longer to produce noticeable effects but support the conditions that make heartburn episodes less likely and less severe over time. These are not replacements for medical care but represent a meaningful complement to dietary and lifestyle modifications.*

For many people, the most practical approach combines both — using positioning, water, or ginger tea for immediate comfort while consistently supporting mucosal integrity and digestive function over time.

Related articles:
→ What Are the Best Natural Remedies for Heartburn and Acid Reflux?
→ Why Do Antacids and PPIs Stop Working — and What Then?

Silver Fern™ Brand Upper GI Support Products

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Key Takeaways

  • The fastest in-the-moment approaches are positional (sit or stand upright), hydration (small sips of water), and avoiding increased abdominal pressure (loosen tight clothing)
  • Baking soda neutralizes acid quickly but is for occasional use only — not appropriate for regular or frequent use
  • Ginger tea accelerates gastric emptying, is anti-inflammatory, and is alkaline — a useful and evidence-based option
  • Chewing non-mint gum stimulates saliva production, which helps neutralize and clear esophageal acid
  • Mucosal barrier support approaches (MucoSave™ FG, slippery elm, DGL licorice) work differently from acid neutralization — they support the lining that protects against acid rather than suppressing acid itself*
  • MucoSave™ FG has been studied in two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials showing significant reductions in heartburn frequency and upper GI quality-of-life scores*
  • For recurring heartburn, combining in-the-moment relief with consistent mucosal and digestive support is more effective than relying on either alone*

Sources and References

This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. If you are experiencing frequent, severe, or unusual chest discomfort, or if heartburn is not responding to basic approaches, please consult a qualified healthcare professional. Chest pain that is severe, radiates to the arm or jaw, or is accompanied by shortness of breath requires immediate medical evaluation.

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