Best Supplements for Acid Reflux: What’s Worth Trying
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No supplement on this page is as well supported as elevating the bed or changing when you eat. A couple are worth a try; several are sold on folklore. We’ve said which is which.
See the one we’d try first →The supplement shelf for heartburn is larger than the evidence behind it. That doesn’t make it all useless — a couple of these have small trials and a plausible mechanism, and several are cheap enough that a two-week trial costs less than a takeaway. But it’s worth going in knowing that none of them will out-perform the boring interventions, and that “natural” is not the same as “harmless”: licorice raises blood pressure, and melatonin interacts with more medication than people expect.
Here’s each one, what’s actually known, and who might reasonably try it.
The shortlist, rated honestly
| Supplement | The claim | What’s actually known | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|
| DGL licorice (deglycyrrhizinated) | Soothes and protects the lining of the oesophagus and stomach | The most plausible of the group, with some small studies behind it. DGL has the blood-pressure-raising compound removed, which matters. Chewed before meals. | Amazon |
| Slippery elm | Coats and soothes an irritated throat and oesophagus | Very little formal evidence for reflux specifically, but a genuine demulcent effect, and widely used for throat irritation. Low risk, modest expectations. | Amazon |
| Melatonin | Improves the tone of the valve at the top of the stomach | Some small studies are encouraging, but it is not standard treatment and it interacts with blood thinners, blood-pressure and diabetes medication, and some antidepressants. Ask before trying it. | Amazon |
| Marshmallow root | Same demulcent idea as slippery elm | Traditional use, minimal research. Harmless for most people, unlikely to be transformative. | Amazon |
| Digestive enzymes | Speeds digestion so there’s less sitting in the stomach | Little support for reflux in people without a diagnosed enzyme deficiency. Popular, but this is the one we’d skip first. | Amazon |
| Probiotics | Improves gut function and indirectly reduces reflux | Mixed and mostly indirect. Our full look at probiotics goes through what the studies actually measured. | Amazon |
We link to Amazon search results rather than single products, because formulations, doses and prices change constantly. Prices are approximate and correct only at the time of writing.
What we’d skip
Apple cider vinegar is the most searched home remedy for reflux and the one with the weakest case. The theory — that heartburn is caused by too little stomach acid — isn’t supported, and pouring acid onto an already irritated oesophagus can make symptoms worse. We went through it in detail in apple cider vinegar for reflux.
Baking soda works, briefly, as an antacid, but it’s a large sodium load and it’s easy to overdo. If you want something fast, a purpose-made antacid is safer — see what to actually buy in the antacid aisle.
A closer look at DGL licorice
DGL stands for deglycyrrhizinated licorice: licorice root with most of the compound glycyrrhizin removed, because glycyrrhizin in ordinary licorice can raise blood pressure and lower potassium. The reflux evidence for DGL is limited to small studies, and we did not find large trials, so treat it as a low-confidence option rather than a proven one. Quality varies between products and the label should say the glycyrrhizin has been removed; whole licorice products are not the same thing. Licorice of any kind is generally avoided in pregnancy, and people taking blood-pressure medicines, diuretics or heart medicines should ask a pharmacist first. We give no dosing advice. If what appeals to you is a warm drink rather than a tablet, see chamomile tea for acid reflux (no better evidence, but different cautions), and for the idea that reflux comes from “too little acid” and acid-adding supplements such as betaine HCl, read low stomach acid and reflux.
How to trial one without fooling yourself
- Change one thing at a time. Starting three supplements and a new diet in the same week tells you nothing about any of them.
- Give it two to four weeks, and write down symptoms before and during. Reflux fluctuates on its own, which is exactly how ineffective remedies build reputations.
- Keep the basics in place. A supplement layered on top of late dinners and a flat bed is being asked to do the impossible.
- Set a stopping rule. If it hasn’t helped in a month, stop. Recurring costs for a supplement you’re not sure about is how people end up spending more on reflux than on food.
Our honest opinion
If someone asked us to pick one from this list, it would be DGL licorice: plausible mechanism, a bit of evidence, cheap, and the chewable form is easy to test before meals. Slippery elm second, mainly if the dominant complaint is a raw throat rather than burning in the chest.
But we’d be doing you a disservice if we didn’t say the obvious thing: everything on this page is a smaller lever than eating your last meal three hours before bed and sleeping on an incline. Those two cost nothing and have more behind them than the entire supplement aisle. If you haven’t done them yet, start there — see sleeping position and wedge pillows — and treat supplements as the optional extra they are.
See The Acid Reflux Strategy →
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best supplement for acid reflux?
DGL licorice has the most plausible case of the commonly sold options, with some small studies and a sensible mechanism. It is still a modest effect compared with meal timing and sleeping on an incline.
Does DGL licorice really work for heartburn?
There is some supporting research, though it is limited. The deglycyrrhizinated form is the one to look for, because it removes the compound in ordinary licorice that raises blood pressure.
Is melatonin safe to take for acid reflux?
It has been studied for reflux with some encouraging small results, but it isn’t standard treatment and it interacts with several common medications. Check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it for this purpose.
Should I take digestive enzymes for reflux?
There is little evidence they help reflux in people without a diagnosed enzyme deficiency. Of everything on this list, it’s the one we’d deprioritise.
Affiliate & medical disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases; we may also earn from ClickBank links, at no extra cost to you. Educational content only, not medical advice. Supplements are not regulated like medicines; check with a pharmacist or doctor before starting one, especially alongside other medication. See our affiliate disclosure and medical disclaimer.
How we reviewed this (updated 20 October 2026): this page is a general overview. We have not used, tested or received any of the supplements mentioned. Where we describe evidence, it comes from public sources; where evidence is thin we say so. This is not medical advice, so ask a pharmacist or doctor before taking any supplement, especially if you take medicines or are pregnant. Prices and availability change, so check the current Amazon listing before you buy.
