Several things help indigestion, from simple diet changes and home remedies to over-the-counter medications that neutralize or reduce stomach acid. The right approach depends on how often your symptoms flare up and what’s triggering them. Roughly 8% of adults worldwide deal with recurring indigestion, but most episodes respond well to straightforward fixes you can start today.
Foods and Drinks to Cut Back On
Indigestion often traces back to what you ate or drank in the last few hours. The most common triggers are carbonated drinks, coffee, fatty or greasy foods, wheat-based products, and acidic fruits or fruit juices. These can irritate the stomach lining, slow digestion, or cause the muscular valve between your stomach and esophagus to relax, letting acid creep upward.
You don’t necessarily need to eliminate all of these permanently. Start by keeping a rough mental log of what you ate before each episode. Most people find that one or two categories are their main culprits. Cutting portion sizes and eating more slowly also helps, since a stomach that’s overfull pushes its contents upward.
Antacids for Quick Relief
If you need relief right now, antacids are the fastest option. Products containing calcium carbonate, magnesium hydroxide, or aluminum hydroxide work by directly neutralizing the acid already in your stomach. Liquid forms tend to work faster than chewable tablets. The tradeoff is that relief only lasts a few hours, so antacids are best suited for occasional flare-ups rather than a daily problem.
H2 Blockers and PPIs for Longer-Lasting Relief
When antacids aren’t cutting it, two stronger categories of medication are available over the counter. H2 blockers (sold under names like Pepcid AC) reduce acid production by blocking one of the chemical signals that tells your stomach to make acid. A single dose provides roughly eight hours of relief, making them a good choice for predictable symptoms, like indigestion that hits every night after dinner.
Proton pump inhibitors, or PPIs, go a step further. They shut down the acid-producing pumps in your stomach lining directly, reducing acid output for 15 to 21 hours per dose. PPIs are the strongest OTC option, but they’re designed for short courses of one to two weeks rather than indefinite daily use. If you find yourself reaching for them regularly, that’s a signal to talk with a healthcare provider about what’s going on.
Baking Soda: A Pantry Antacid
Plain baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) works as a simple antacid in a pinch. The typical dose is half a teaspoon dissolved in a full glass of cold water, taken after meals, and you can repeat every two hours if needed. It neutralizes stomach acid quickly, but it comes with a significant amount of sodium per dose. If you have high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney problems, or are on a sodium-restricted diet, this one isn’t a good fit. Even for healthy adults, it’s a temporary fix rather than something to rely on daily.
Ginger and Peppermint: What Works and What Backfires
Ginger is one of the better-studied natural remedies for digestive discomfort. Its active compounds, called gingerols, help prevent gas and bloating in the upper digestive tract. Ginger also slows certain receptor activity in the gut, which reduces nausea. Research on nausea relief in pregnancy suggests that around 1,500 milligrams of ginger root per day (split into two doses) is an effective amount. Fresh ginger in tea, ginger chews, or capsules can all deliver these compounds.
Peppermint is trickier. Its menthol relaxes the smooth muscles of the digestive tract, which can ease cramping and that uncomfortable “too full” feeling. But that same muscle-relaxing effect weakens the valve at the top of your stomach. If your indigestion involves acid reflux or heartburn, peppermint can actually make things worse by allowing more acid to wash into your esophagus. Use peppermint for bloating and fullness, but avoid it when heartburn is part of the picture.
Probiotics
Probiotic supplements, particularly strains from the Lactobacillus family, show some promise for improving upper digestive symptoms in people with recurring indigestion. The evidence is still modest, and probiotics tend to work gradually over weeks rather than providing immediate relief. They’re worth trying as part of a broader strategy, especially if you suspect your digestion has been off-balance after antibiotics or a period of poor diet, but they won’t replace an antacid on a rough night.
How You Sleep Matters
Indigestion that worsens at night often responds to two simple adjustments. First, elevate the head of your bed by 6 to 8 inches using blocks or a wedge under the mattress. This keeps gravity working in your favor, preventing acid from pooling in your esophagus while you’re horizontal. Stacking pillows doesn’t achieve the same effect because it bends your body at the waist rather than creating a true incline.
Second, sleep on your left side. Because of where the stomach sits relative to the esophagus, the left-side position uses gravity and anatomy together to reduce acid exposure overnight. The American Gastroenterological Association specifically recommends this position for people dealing with nighttime reflux.
Other Habits That Help
Eating your last meal at least two to three hours before lying down gives your stomach time to empty and dramatically reduces nighttime symptoms. Wearing loose clothing around your midsection removes physical pressure on the stomach. Stress is also a well-established trigger for functional indigestion, so anything that helps you decompress before or after meals, whether that’s a short walk, deep breathing, or simply eating without staring at your phone, can make a noticeable difference.
Indigestion During Pregnancy
Pregnancy-related indigestion is extremely common, especially in the second and third trimesters as the growing uterus pushes upward on the stomach. Calcium carbonate antacids are considered the safest first-line option. If those aren’t enough, an H2 blocker like famotidine is the typical next step. PPIs are sometimes used under a provider’s guidance when other options fail, but they’re not a first choice during pregnancy.
Signs That Need Medical Attention
Most indigestion is uncomfortable but harmless. However, certain symptoms signal something more serious. These include frequent vomiting, blood in vomit, black or tarry stools, unintentional weight loss, difficulty or pain when swallowing, and indigestion that comes with shortness of breath, sweating, or pain radiating to your jaw, neck, or arm (which can mimic a heart attack). Symptoms that persist for more than two weeks despite home treatment also warrant evaluation, as they may point to an ulcer, an infection with H. pylori bacteria, or another condition that needs targeted treatment.