Index of Herbs

Concern guide

Herbs for Heartburn and Acid Reflux

Soothing herbs traditionally used for heartburn and reflux, from DGL licorice to slippery elm, with what the research shows.

5 herbs reviewed

Updated October 7, 2026

Heartburn is a burning feeling in the middle of the chest, behind the breastbone, that can rise toward the throat, sometimes with a sour taste as stomach contents wash back up. It happens when the valve at the bottom of the esophagus, the lower esophageal sphincter, relaxes when it should not. Occasional heartburn after a big or late meal is very common. When reflux happens more than twice a week, or starts to damage the lining of the esophagus, it is called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a long-lasting condition that deserves proper care.

Herbs can be a soothing part of looking after an irritated gut, especially for mild or occasional heartburn. They work best alongside the steps that help most: smaller meals, not lying down for two to three hours after eating, raising the head of the bed, losing weight if needed, stopping smoking, and noticing triggers such as alcohol, fatty or spicy foods, chocolate and caffeine. Over-the-counter antacids can ease mild symptoms, and acid-reducing medicines, especially proton pump inhibitors, remain the medical treatment of choice for GERD, so a gentle herbal remedy is best thought of as a companion to that care.

The herbs below are ordered by strength of evidence, then by how commonly they are used for heartburn. Ratings run from good clinical evidence to long traditional use, and for heartburn the best-supported option currently sits at mixed: research on herbs for reflux is still emerging, and the soothing demulcent herbs rest mainly on long use accepted by European regulators. Two herbs often suggested for digestion, peppermint and ginger, can actually bring on heartburn, so they appear in the safety notes and questions rather than the list. The full monographs cover doses, side effects and interactions.

02 The shortlist

The herbs, from best studied to time-honored

How to read the ratings

  • Good clinical evidence
  • Promising clinical evidence
  • Early or mixed evidence
  • Long traditional use

Ratings show how much research backs each herb for this particular concern. Every herb links to its full monograph, with preparations, safety notes, and sources.

  1. 01 Licorice

    Early or mixed evidence

    Glycyrrhiza glabra

    Licorice is the herb people most often reach for with heartburn, usually as DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice), chewable tablets taken before meals with most of the glycyrrhizin removed. EMA lists licorice root as a traditional remedy for digestive symptoms including a burning feeling and indigestion, and several small trials suggest DGL may ease indigestion, though they did not test reflux itself and NCCIH calls the effect still unclear. Whole licorice can raise blood pressure and lower potassium, so check that the label says DGL.

    Read the licorice monograph →

  2. 02 Slippery Elm

    Long traditional use

    Ulmus rubra

    Slippery elm is a North American inner bark that turns into a soft, slippery gel in water, and that coating, soothing effect is why so many people stir the powder into water for heartburn. It is widely recommended for reflux, and a seven-ingredient powder containing it eased heartburn and indigestion in a 16-week study, though without a placebo group; a 2019 review concluded that research has yet to catch up with experience. Take it half an hour to an hour apart from medicines.

    Read the slippery elm monograph →

  3. 03 Marshmallow Root

    Long traditional use

    Althaea officinalis

    Marshmallow root is the classic European mucilage herb, and EMA accepts it as a traditional demulcent for mild stomach and gut discomfort in adults and teenagers over 12, as well as for an irritated throat. The traditional preparation is a cold-water soak of the cut root, strained and gently warmed. Its stomach use rests on long tradition, as clinical trials have not yet been done. Like slippery elm, it may slow the absorption of medicines, so take it half an hour to an hour apart from them.

    Read the marshmallow root monograph →

  4. 04 Chamomile

    Long traditional use

    Matricaria chamomilla

    Chamomile tea is a gentle, familiar choice when the stomach feels unsettled, and EMA accepts German chamomile flower as a traditional remedy for minor digestive complaints such as cramping, bloating and belching. It has not been studied specifically for reflux, so it is best seen as a comforting part of an evening routine and a caffeine-free alternative to the coffee or mint tea that can aggravate heartburn. People allergic to ragweed, daisies or related plants can react, rarely severely.

    Read the chamomile monograph →

  5. 05 Sage

    Long traditional use

    Salvia officinalis

    Sage is better known in the kitchen, but EMA accepts sage leaf as a traditional remedy for mild indigestion, including heartburn and bloating. A light infusion after a heavy meal follows a long European tradition, though clinical trials for heartburn have not yet been done, so its use rests on that history. Strong medicinal teas and extracts are best avoided in pregnancy, and sage essential oil, which is rich in thujone, should never be swallowed and is not for people with seizure disorders.

    Read the sage monograph →

03 Caution

Using these herbs safely

Most heartburn is a nuisance rather than a danger, but some symptoms need prompt medical care. Chest pain can be a heart attack rather than heartburn, especially if it feels crushing or like pressure, spreads to the arm, jaw or neck, or comes with shortness of breath; call 911 right away rather than reaching for a remedy. See a doctor promptly for trouble swallowing, pain on swallowing or food that feels stuck, persistent vomiting, vomit that contains blood or looks like coffee grounds, black, tarry or bloody stools, or weight loss without trying. Heartburn more than twice a week, symptoms that go on for weeks, or heartburn that does not settle with lifestyle changes and over-the-counter medicines also deserve a doctor’s assessment, because untreated GERD can inflame and narrow the esophagus and sometimes leads to Barrett’s esophagus.

Licorice deserves particular care. Glycyrrhizin, the sweet compound in ordinary licorice root, can raise blood pressure, lower potassium, cause fluid retention and, in severe cases, disturb heart rhythm, so EMA limits licorice medicines to four weeks, advises against them with high blood pressure, heart, kidney or liver disease, or low potassium, and warns against combining them with diuretics, digoxin, corticosteroids, stimulant laxatives or other licorice products. Glycyrrhizin can also work against blood pressure medicines and modestly lower levels of drugs handled by the enzyme CYP3A4, including omeprazole. DGL avoids most of these effects, which is why it is the usual choice. Slippery elm and marshmallow root coat the gut and may slow the absorption of medicines taken at the same time, so take them half an hour to an hour apart, especially from thyroid hormone, anticonvulsants, blood thinners and heart drugs.

Some popular digestive herbs can make reflux worse. Peppermint relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter, EMA advises people with reflux to avoid peppermint leaf preparations, and peppermint oil can flare heartburn or a hiatal hernia; ginger lists heartburn and indigestion among its common side effects, especially as strong tea or capsules; and cayenne often causes heartburn when swallowed in quantity. Blends sold for reflux may contain licorice or peppermint, so read the full ingredient list. Chamomile can add to the drowsiness of sedatives and alcohol. Never stop, reduce or swap a prescribed acid-reducing medicine for a herb without talking to the prescriber, and tell your pharmacist about every herbal product you use.

Heartburn is common in pregnancy, and a midwife, doctor or pharmacist can advise on safe options. EMA does not recommend licorice or marshmallow root in pregnancy or breastfeeding, slippery elm has no safety data, and medicinal-strength chamomile and sage are best avoided, though food amounts are a different matter. Children: EMA does not recommend licorice medicines under 18 or marshmallow root for stomach complaints under 12, and frequent reflux symptoms in a child need a pediatric assessment. Product quality varies, so it pays to choose carefully: check that licorice is clearly labeled DGL if you want to avoid glycyrrhizin, choose slippery elm from cultivated or responsibly harvested bark, since wild trees are under pressure, and look for marshmallow root made to pharmacopoeial standards.

04 Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

The most popular choice is DGL, a form of licorice with most of the glycyrrhizin removed, chewed before meals; EMA lists licorice as a traditional remedy for a burning feeling and indigestion, and small trials suggest DGL may help indigestion. Soothing demulcents such as slippery elm and marshmallow root coat the gut and are traditional choices for short-term comfort. Research on all of these is still emerging, so for frequent heartburn they work best alongside lifestyle changes and, when needed, acid-reducing medicines.

Usually not. Peppermint relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter, the valve that keeps stomach acid out of the esophagus, so it can bring on or worsen heartburn, and EMA advises people with reflux to avoid peppermint leaf preparations. Peppermint oil capsules for irritable bowel syndrome are enteric-coated to reduce this, but heartburn is still their most common side effect. If you enjoy an after-dinner tea, a non-mint option such as chamomile may suit you better.

Ginger is well known for easing nausea, but it is not a good fit for most people with reflux. EMA lists heartburn, indigestion and belching as common side effects of medicinal ginger, and people with reflux often feel worse with strong ginger tea or gram-level powders and capsules. A little ginger in cooking is a much smaller exposure that many people tolerate. If ginger brings on burning, cut back or stop rather than pushing through.

Often, with a little planning. Slippery elm and marshmallow root form a coating gel that may slow the absorption of medicines taken at the same time, so EMA advises leaving half an hour to an hour between marshmallow root and other medicines, and the same gap makes sense for slippery elm. DGL has most of the glycyrrhizin removed, while ordinary licorice can modestly lower omeprazole levels and interacts with blood pressure drugs, diuretics, digoxin and steroids. Ask a pharmacist to check your list, and do not stop a prescribed medicine without your prescriber.

It is not always possible to tell, which is why chest pain should never be brushed off. Heartburn is typically a burning feeling behind the breastbone that comes after meals or when lying down, often with a sour taste. Chest pain that feels crushing or like pressure, spreads to the arm, jaw or neck, or comes with shortness of breath could be a heart problem, so call 911 right away. If you are unsure, get checked rather than trying a remedy such as licorice, and see a doctor if heartburn happens more than twice a week.

05 References

Sources

These references support the claims in this guide. Each herb’s monograph carries its own full source list.

  1. Heartburn

    MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine (NIH), 2024

    Supports the advice that heartburn more than twice a week may be GERD and that crushing chest pain could be a heart attack needing immediate help.

  2. GERD

    MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine (NIH), 2025

    Source for the lifestyle steps, including smaller meals, not lying down for two to three hours after eating and raising the head of the bed, and the warning that chest pain with shortness of breath or jaw or arm pain can signal a heart problem.

  3. Symptoms & Causes of GER & GERD

    National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIH), 2020

    Source for the symptoms that need a doctor, including trouble or pain swallowing, persistent vomiting, vomit with blood or coffee-ground material, black or bloody stools and unexplained weight loss.

  4. ACG Clinical Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

    American Journal of Gastroenterology (PubMed 34807007), 2022

    The American College of Gastroenterology guideline stating that proton pump inhibitors remain the medical treatment of choice for GERD, alongside lifestyle measures.

  5. European Union herbal monograph on Glycyrrhiza glabra L.; Glycyrrhiza inflata Bat.; Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch., radix (Revision 1)

    European Medicines Agency (EMA/HMPC/108399/2024), 2026

    Traditional use of licorice root for a burning feeling and indigestion; four-week limit; warnings on blood pressure, potassium, heart rhythm and kidney, liver and heart disease; interactions with diuretics, digoxin, corticosteroids, blood pressure drugs and CYP3A4 drugs such as omeprazole; not for pregnancy, breastfeeding or under 18.

  6. Licorice Root

    National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH), 2025

    Supports the mixed rating, noting that the effect of licorice alone on digestive symptoms is unclear and that glycyrrhizin can cause serious heart effects, while DGL may be safe for up to four months.

  7. European Union herbal monograph on Althaea officinalis L., radix

    European Medicines Agency (EMA/HMPC/436679/2015), 2016

    Traditional use of marshmallow root for mild stomach and gut discomfort from age 12, and the advice to take it half an hour to an hour apart from other medicines, applied here to slippery elm too.

  8. Popular remedies for esophageal symptoms: a critical appraisal

    Current Gastroenterology Reports (PubMed 31289950), 2019

    Review of remedies including slippery elm that found a substantial gap between anecdotal experience and research evidence, supporting its traditional rating.

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