Home Remedy to Slow Down the Acid Pump in the Stomach

An effective and natural method to decrease the amount of acid produced by the stomach is the ingestion of d-limonene. Increased acid production by the stomach can lead to many medical ailments, such as gastro-esophageal reflux disease, ulcers and even stomach and throat cancer. D-limonene is an orange peel extract and comes in capsule form. It is on the FDA's Generally Accepted as Safe List as a food additive and can be found in soft drinks, fruit juices, ice cream and pudding.

How to Take D-limonene

Take one 1000 mg capsule of d-limonene by mouth every other day for 20 days to decrease the discomfort associated with high stomach acid production. The recommended length of time to take d-limonene is 20 days, but it can provide relief long after you discontinue use. D-limonene is available in the 1000 mg dose from iHerb.com or LuckyVitamin.com for less than $6 per 60-capsule bottle.

Efficacy of D-limonene

The first phase of a two-part study using d-limonene to treat symptoms of excessive stomach acid showed that 89 percent of participants experienced relief within two weeks. During the second phase, a controlled double-blind study, 75 percent of participants taking d-limonene reported relief as opposed to 20 percent of participants taking a placebo. Those participants who reported relief remained symptom-free for two weeks after the study, and fully half of them reported remaining symptom-free for six months.

Safety of D-limonene

D-limonene is a very safe substance. Unlike most prescription and OTC medications, d-limonene has a very low toxicity, and no adverse reactions have been reported when taken as directed for high stomach acid production . Also, because it contains no fish or shellfish, no peanuts or tree nuts, no wheat, no gluten, no soybeans, no dairy and no egg, allergic reactions are very unlikely. Pregnant or nursing women and individuals with stomach ulcers should not take d-limonene. Always consult a health-care professional before you start, stop or change any medication or supplement.