Omeprazole
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If you are looking for natural alternatives to omeprazole, lifestyle and dietary changes are a good place to start. These can include losing weight if you are overweight, eating smaller meals, avoiding foods or drinks that trigger your symptoms, and raising the head of your bed if reflux is worse at night.
Herbal remedies such as slippery elm and DGL are also sometimes used for digestive symptoms. However, the evidence varies between products and they do not work in the same way as omeprazole. They should not be used as a replacement for prescribed treatment when a PPI is needed for a specific medical reason.
That matters if you want to manage reflux without staying on omeprazole because of side effect concerns or because you prefer to use fewer medicines. The right approach depends on how often you have symptoms, how severe they are and why you were prescribed omeprazole in the first place.
Below, we look at lifestyle changes, supplements, pharmacy options such as alginates and antacids, how to reduce or stop omeprazole, and when it is better to speak to a healthcare professional.
The Honest Starting Point
There are three things worth knowing before you replace omeprazole with something else.
First, lifestyle changes can help reduce acid reflux symptoms. Smaller meals, avoiding your personal triggers, losing weight if you are overweight and avoiding food close to bedtime are among the measures recommended by the NHS.
Second, herbal remedies are not all supported by the same level of evidence. Some may help with symptoms, but this does not mean they reduce stomach acid or treat the underlying cause of reflux.
Third, if you already take omeprazole regularly, do not stop prescribed treatment without discussing it with your doctor or pharmacist. Some people develop temporary rebound symptoms after stopping a PPI, and some people need to stay on a PPI because of their medical history.
Natural does not automatically mean safer or more effective. Herbal products can vary and some can interact with medicines.
Lifestyle and Diet for Acid Reflux, the Real Natural Alternative
For many people, simple lifestyle changes are a useful first step.
- Lose weight if you are overweight. This can reduce pressure on the stomach and may improve reflux symptoms.
- Eat smaller meals and try not to eat for around three to four hours before going to bed.
- If reflux is worse at night, raising the head of your bed by around 10 to 20cm may help. Raising the bed is preferable to simply adding extra pillows, which can sometimes increase pressure around your stomach.
- Identify your own food and drink triggers. Common ones include coffee, alcohol, chocolate and fatty or spicy foods, but triggers vary from person to person.
- Stop smoking and avoid drinking too much alcohol.
- Avoid tight clothing around your waist.
- Try not to lie down soon after eating.
For some people with occasional heartburn, these changes may reduce symptoms. If your symptoms keep coming back or happen most days, speak to a pharmacist or GP rather than relying on lifestyle changes alone.
Herbal and Supplement Options, Honestly Assessed
Herbal products are often marketed as natural ways to support digestion, but the evidence for reflux is limited for many of them.
Turmeric is sometimes discussed because curcumin, one of its main compounds, has anti inflammatory and antioxidant properties. However, that does not mean turmeric treats acid reflux or repairs damage caused by stomach acid. Evidence for turmeric specifically in reflux remains limited.
If you take regular medicines, speak to a pharmacist before adding an herbal product. Supplements can interact with medicines, and their ingredients and strengths can vary between products.
DGL (deglycyrrhizinated liquorice)
DGL, or deglycyrrhizinated liquorice, is sometimes used for digestive symptoms. Some research has looked at liquorice products for heartburn and related symptoms, but there is not enough evidence to treat DGL as an established replacement for omeprazole.
DGL is different from ordinary liquorice because much of the glycyrrhizin has been removed. This matters because glycyrrhizin can cause problems such as increased blood pressure and low potassium, particularly when liquorice is consumed in larger amounts or for a long time.
If you are considering DGL, check the ingredients and follow the instructions for the specific product. Speak to a pharmacist first if you take other medicines or have a condition such as high blood pressure, heart disease or kidney problems.
Slippery Elm
Slippery elm is sometimes used as a soothing digestive remedy. When mixed with water, it forms a gel like substance, which is why some people use it for irritation in the mouth or digestive tract.
However, evidence that slippery elm treats acid reflux is limited. It does not work like omeprazole, which reduces the amount of acid produced by the stomach.
If you are asking about slippery elm versus omeprazole, they are not like for like treatments. Slippery elm may be used as a soothing supplement, while omeprazole is a medicine used to reduce stomach acid.
If you take other medicines, ask a pharmacist before using slippery elm. Products containing a lot of fibre may affect how some medicines are absorbed.
Other Soothing Options
Marshmallow root is traditionally used for its soothing properties, but there is limited clinical evidence for its use in acid reflux.
Chamomile and ginger tea are also popular home remedies. Ginger may help some types of nausea, but there is not enough evidence to say that it reliably treats acid reflux. It may also make symptoms worse for some people.
Aloe vera products are sometimes marketed for digestive symptoms, but evidence for reflux is limited and products can vary.
Chewing sugar free gum after meals may help some people because chewing increases saliva production, which can help clear acid from the oesophagus.
What to Be Cautious With
Apple cider vinegar is often promoted online as a home remedy for reflux, but there is not good evidence that it improves acid reflux. Because it is acidic, it may also make symptoms worse for some people and can contribute to tooth enamel erosion.
Melatonin has been studied in relation to reflux, but it is not an over the counter reflux treatment in the UK. If you are considering it, speak to a pharmacist or doctor rather than treating it as a natural replacement for omeprazole.
Alkaline water has also been studied for reflux, but the evidence is limited. It should not replace established treatment if you have persistent symptoms or a condition that needs medical care.
Alginates and Antacids, Effective Non PPI Options
Not every alternative to a PPI needs to be a herbal remedy.
Antacids can neutralise stomach acid and provide short term relief from heartburn and indigestion. Alginates, including products such as Gaviscon, form a protective layer that can help reduce reflux into the oesophagus.
These medicines can be useful for occasional symptoms, but they do not treat the underlying cause of reflux and are not intended for regular long term use without medical advice.
If you are pregnant, taking other medicines or unsure which product is suitable, ask a pharmacist, midwife or doctor before using an antacid or alginate.
If you are getting heartburn regularly or pharmacy treatments are not helping, you may need a medical assessment rather than another over the counter remedy.
Natural Alternatives to Lansoprazole and Other PPIs
If you are looking for a natural alternative to lansoprazole or another PPI, the same basic principles apply.
Lansoprazole, pantoprazole, rabeprazole and esomeprazole are all proton pump inhibitors. They reduce stomach acid in a similar way to omeprazole.
There is no herbal product that works in exactly the same way as a PPI. Depending on your symptoms, alternatives may include lifestyle changes, an alginate or an antacid.
The right option depends on why you need treatment and how often your symptoms occur.
How to Reduce or Come Off a PPI Safely
This is particularly important if you have been taking omeprazole for a long time.
If you are taking a prescribed PPI regularly, speak to your prescriber before stopping it. NICE recommends reviewing long term PPI treatment and, where appropriate, using the lowest dose that controls symptoms or reducing treatment when it is suitable for the individual.
Some people experience rebound acid symptoms after reducing or stopping a PPI. This means reflux or heartburn can temporarily feel worse after the medicine is stopped. It does not necessarily mean that you need to stay on the same dose long term.
Your prescriber may suggest reducing treatment gradually, using it only when needed or using another option for occasional symptoms, depending on why you take the medicine.
Some people need longer term PPI treatment. This can include people with severe reflux oesophagitis and some people who need protection from stomach ulcers or bleeding because of other medicines or medical conditions. NICE recommends ongoing treatment in certain higher risk situations.
Long term PPI treatment can have potential risks, but the evidence is different for each reported risk. This is one reason regular treatment reviews are useful. The aim is to make sure you are taking an appropriate treatment at the lowest effective dose when possible.
Is There a "Safer" Alternative to Omeprazole?
It is worth being careful with the word "safer".
Natural does not automatically mean safer. Herbal products can have limited evidence, vary between brands and interact with other medicines. Some supplements also have different quality and regulatory requirements from licensed medicines.
Ordinary liquorice, for example, contains glycyrrhizin, which can raise blood pressure and affect potassium levels. This can be particularly important for people with high blood pressure, heart problems or kidney problems.
Omeprazole is a well established medicine that reduces stomach acid. The most suitable treatment depends on your symptoms, diagnosis, other medicines and overall health.
For occasional symptoms, lifestyle changes and pharmacy treatments such as alginates may be enough. If you need regular acid suppression, a PPI may still be appropriate.
When to See a Doctor
Some symptoms should not be managed with home remedies alone.
Speak to a GP if:
- You have difficulty or pain when swallowing.
- Food feels as though it is getting stuck.
- You are losing weight without trying.
- You are frequently being sick.
- You have black stools or vomit blood.
- You have heartburn most days.
- Lifestyle changes and pharmacy treatments are not helping.
- Your symptoms keep coming back after treatment.
The NHS advises seeing a GP when heartburn happens frequently or when symptoms such as difficulty swallowing, repeated vomiting or unexplained weight loss are present.
Medical Disclaimer
This page provides general information about natural approaches to managing acid reflux and alternatives to omeprazole. It is not a diagnosis or a substitute for advice from a GP, pharmacist or other qualified healthcare professional.
No dose or personal treatment plan is recommended on this page. The right treatment depends on your symptoms, diagnosis, other medicines and medical history.
If you take omeprazole regularly, speak to your prescriber before reducing or stopping it. If you have difficulty swallowing, unexplained weight loss, repeated vomiting, signs of bleeding or frequent symptoms, seek medical advice rather than relying on home remedies.
