Many people suffering from acid reflux disease or GERD (gastrointestinal reflux disease) find that persimmon tea, a tea made from persimmons, ginger and sugar, eases symptoms. In many Asian restaurants, a cup of persimmon tea served after the meal is traditional to offset symptoms caused by spicy cuisine. Today, people interested in natural remedies for acid reflux are often surprised to discover that this simple tea works wonders to calm the pain and discomfort of symptoms of acid reflux.
Persimmon Tea Ingredients for Acid Reflux
The basics of making persimmon tea are simple. Boil dried persimmons in water, add spices and sugar, cool and serve. Why should such a simple concoction help a complicated disorder like acid reflux disease?
The answer lies in the major spices used to flavor the tea: ginger and cinnamon. Ginger has a long history of use in herbal and traditional medicine as a digestive aid. It is said to calm indigestion, relieve nausea, and soothe many stomach problems. Cinnamon, which can also be used to flavor persimmon tea, offers many benefits including nausea relief and antimicrobial properties. Llynn Newman, an herbalist and nutritionist practicing in New York State, lists both herbs as useful for stomach ailments in her booklet, "Common Uses of Herbal Extracts," available in health food stores nationwide.
The People's Pharmacy, a website devoted to natural remedies, offers more perspective on the use of persimmon tea, as well as a simple recipe and contributor comments about the tea's effects.
How to Make Persimmon Tea
Persimmon tea is quite easy to make. You'll need a heavy sauce pan and a stove and the following ingredients:
- 1 cup of dried persimmons
- 2 tablespoon slices ginger root (use only fresh)
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 1 cup of sugar
- 2 quarts of water
Place the water, ginger and cinnamon sticks into a pot and simmer for 45 minutes. Add the dried persimmons and sugar and simmer for an addition 15 minutes. Remove the mixture from heat and let it sit for another hour. Strain, reserving the liquid and discarding the ginger slices and cinnamon sticks. Chill the liquid persimmon tea and enjoy a few tablespoons mixed into your favorite beverage such as juice or a smoothie, or sip it during the day.
Another recipe for persimmon tea may be found on Real Simple.
Using Persimmon Tea
Many people enjoy persimmon tea simply for its sweet, rich and spicy taste. Others sip it throughout the day to calm stomach problems. Combining persimmon tea with a diet to treat acid reflux disease and lifestyle changes such as losing weight can often calm acid reflux disease enough so that patients no longer need medication. But before stopping any medication, consult a physician and follow a physician's guidance.
Persimmon tea's simplicity and wonderful taste make it worthwhile to try for people plagued with stomach discomfort. It's simple to make, and unless a person is allergic to any of the ingredients, should be fairly safe since it relies upon common food ingredients rather than supplements or herbs for its effects.
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