To stop indigestion without Gaviscon, you can use over-the-counter antacids (like Tums, Rolaids for quick relief) or acid reducers (H-2 blockers like Pepcid AC), drink baking soda mixed with water for temporary relief, try ginger or chamomile tea, chew fennel seeds, or make lifestyle changes like eating smaller meals and avoiding trigger foods. Stronger treatments like proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are also available but may require a prescription or doctor consultation for long-term use, notes Mayo Clinic.
Use antacids: Over-the-counter antacids can neutralize stomach acid and relieve occasional indigestion.
Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate or bicarbonate of soda)
Baking soda may be used as a remedy to help ease indigestion. In fact, sodium bicarbonate (another name for baking soda) is often used as an ingredient within antacids – medications specifically designed to help relieve heartburn and indigestion.
Stomach ulcers or gastritis (irritation of the stomach lining) can cause pain behind the left shoulder. The discomfort often changes after meals. You might notice burning, bloating, or indigestion. Therefore, tracking when the pain appears helps your doctor find the cause.
How Is Indigestion Treated?
Home Remedies for Managing Acidity in Children
Bananas: They are natural antacids and can help neutralize acidity. Ginger: Ginger has natural anti-inflammatory properties that can help soothe the digestive system. It can be consumed as ginger tea or added to meals.
Seven common symptoms of indigestion (dyspepsia) include upper abdominal pain/discomfort, a burning feeling (heartburn), bloating, burping, nausea, feeling full too soon, and uncomfortable fullness after eating, often involving the chest and upper belly. Other related signs can be gas, belching, and sometimes diarrhea or vomiting, though persistent severe symptoms warrant medical attention.
In some cases, pain between the shoulder blades is not directly caused by musculoskeletal issues but is instead referred from other areas of the body. Gas pain in the shoulder blade can be a sign of gallbladder disease or digestive problems.
This type of pain is known as referred pain. During heartburn episodes, people often change posture unconsciously, leaning forward or hunching to reduce chest discomfort. Over time, this added muscle tension in the upper back can contribute to pain and stiffness.
Other foods that can cause the same problem include:
Antacids for Heartburn
Ginger, for example, has long been used to soothe stomach aches, indigestion, and nausea. With natural anti-inflammatory properties4, ginger can be easily steeped in hot water to create ginger tea, or added to smoothies.
This involves incorporating a variety of nutrient-rich, fresh, and unprocessed foods into your meals. A good rule of thumb to follow is to avoid foods that exacerbate acid reflux. Common culprits include spicy foods, citrus fruits, tomatoes, chocolate, mint, garlic, onions, and caffeinated or carbonated beverages.
Red flag or alarm symptoms which should prompt consideration of a more serious condition or the need for urgent investigation include: Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia). Hoarse voice. Recurring or persistent cough.
In addition, although participants in Study 1 rated the willingness to prick their fingers with the needle, finger prick in Study 1 was a therapeutic way to treat indigestion rather than self-punishment.
The main symptom of acute pancreatitis is a severe, dull pain around the top of your stomach that develops suddenly. This aching pain often gets steadily worse and can travel along your back or below your left shoulder blade. Eating or drinking may also make you feel worse very quickly, especially fatty foods.
Upper back pain can occur when gas accumulates in the stomach or upper portions of the small intestine. This type of discomfort often feels like tension between your shoulder blades or along your upper spine. Side pain that extends into the back sometimes develops when gas becomes trapped in the curves of the colon.
Dosage Recommendations. Research published in the British Medical Journal suggests that consuming 5 ml (one teaspoon) of raw honey can reduce symptoms of heartburn. Mix honey with warm water, tea, or milk to enhance its soothing effect.
Unlike more serious abdominal pain, gas does not usually cause long-lasting discomfort. It is often felt as a dull ache, pressure, or mild cramp that improves when the gas is expelled. Paying attention to what you eat and how your symptoms change can help you recognize when gas is the likely culprit.
“The best position to sleep in when you have gas is on your left side with your knees drawn up to your chest, as this position anatomically compresses the abdomen but straightens the pelvis to allow passage of gas,” says Tau.
Pain between the shoulder blades often results from muscle strain, poor posture, or emotional stress. Temporary measures like heat therapy, gentle stretches, and self massage can provide pain relief quickly. Long-term strategies focus on posture correction, strengthening, and stress reduction.
Uncomfortable fullness that lasts longer than it should after a meal. Mild to severe pain in the upper abdomen, which is the area between the bottom of your breastbone and your belly button. Burning sensation in the upper abdomen. Bloating that feels like swelling or tightness in the upper abdomen.
Indigestion that lasts longer than one meal or that comes and goes may be caused by your lifestyle, a medical condition, or a medicine you take regularly. Sometimes, people have persistent indigestion that's not related to any of these factors. This type of indigestion is called functional or non-ulcer dyspepsia.
Heartburn-like pain is a common symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), but several other conditions can cause a burning feeling in your chest, including gallstones, stomach ulcer and esophageal cancer.