Just as the old saying goes, you should eat at least one apple a day. Apples are very good for you and help to calm acid reflux. The pectin in the apple skin acts as a natural antacid and may also provide other health benefits, such as lowering your risk of heart disease and promoting better gallbladder function.  If you don't like eating plain apples, try adding them to a salad or putting them in a smoothie. Stick to sweet red apples instead of more acidic green ones, since those could make your acid reflux symptoms worse. You could also try bananas as a low-acid, high-pectin alternative to apples. Ginger acts as an anti-inflammatory and a soothing agent for the stomach. It can also help with nausea and vomiting. To make your own ginger tea, cut up about 1 teaspoon (2 grams) of fresh ginger and add it to boiling water. Let the mixture steep for about 5 minutes. Pour it into a mug and drink.  Do this anytime during the day, but especially about 20-30 minutes before meals. You can buy ginger tea bags if you don't have any fresh ginger. You can make a few other varieties of tea to help with your acid reflux. Fennel helps settle the stomach and decreases the acid levels. To make fennel tea, crush about a teaspoon (2 g) of fennel seeds and add it to 1 cup (240 mL) of boiled water. Add honey or stevia to taste and drink 2–3 cups (470–710 mL) a day about 20 minutes before meals.  You can also use mustard seeds or powder to make a tea. Mustard acts as an anti-inflammatory and as an acid neutralizer. You can dissolve it in water to make a tea. If you are up to it, you can take 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) of mustard by mouth. You can also try chamomile tea to calm the stomach and act as an anti-inflammatory agent. You can buy chamomile tea in bags or as loose leaf tea. There are a few other herbs that you can take to help your acid reflux. Deglycyrrhizinated licorice root (DGL) may help heal the stomach and control hyperacidity. It comes as chewable tablets, but bear in mind that the taste might take some getting used to. The standard dose of DGL is 2-3 tablets every 4-6 hours.  Always opt for DGL instead of regular licorice root, since licorice that has not been deglycyrrhizinated can raise your blood pressure. Try some slippery elm, which you can have either as a 3–4 fluid ounces (89–118 mL) drink or as a tablet. It coats and soothes irritated tissues. Slippery elm is considered safe in pregnancy when you take the inner bark orally and stick to the amounts that you would use in food.  Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Aloe vera is not just good for the outside of your body. Aloe vera juice has many healing qualities as well. Buy organic aloe vera juice. Pour 1⁄2 cup (120 mL) of aloe juice into a glass and drink it. You can sip this multiple times throughout the day, but since aloe vera can act as a laxative, you may want to limit it to a total of 1–2 cups (240–470 mL) a day. Some studies show that aloe juice is a safe and effective treatment for common acid reflux symptoms. Although it may seem counterintuitive, you can use apple cider vinegar to help with acid reflux. Add 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of organic apple cider vinegar to 6 fluid ounces (180 mL) of water. Stir it together well and drink. The vinegar doesn’t have to be organic, but only use apple cider vinegar. There’s not a lot of evidence that apple cider vinegar can actually help with acid reflux, and drinking too much of it could make the problem worse. Use this remedy cautiously, and stop if it’s not helping or seems to aggravate your symptoms. Baking soda is a base, which means it helps counteract the effects of acid. This holds true for the acid in your stomach. To make this drink, dissolve 1 teaspoon (about 5 g) of baking soda in about 6 fluid ounces (180 mL) of water. Stir the mixture well and drink it. It is very effective in neutralizing the acid. Make sure you get baking soda and not baking powder. Baking powder is not nearly as effective.
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One-sentence summary -- Consume apples because the skin is a natural antacid. Drink ginger tea to calm your stomach. Try other types of tea that may help your stomach. Take DGL or slippery elm to help control stomach acid. Sip aloe vera juice for possible relief. Try apple cider vinegar that’s diluted with water. Make a baking soda drink to neutralize the acid.


Altering your position periodically as you sleep sitting up helps to reduce soreness and encourages better sleep. If you wake up while trying to sleep, stretch your legs a bit and shift position slightly (for example, turn your head or shift your body slightly to one side). Keeping your head in a comfortable position is important for staying asleep. If your head slips to one side, move your support (pillow, blanket, etc.) to the side to give your head more support. If you head keeps drooping, you can also wrap a scarf around it and the back of your support (chair, post, etc.), if possible. This helps to hold your head in place while you get more sleep. Sleeping sitting up can be fine for a short nap, or when you don't have any other choice. However, it can be hard to get the “active,” REM sleep your body needs while sitting up. As soon as you are able, get deeper sleep in a more comfortable place, such as a bed, couch, or hammock.
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One-sentence summary -- Shift as needed to stay comfortable. Give your head extra support if necessary. Get better rest as soon as you can.


Any irritation of your scalp will burn when the relaxer is applied and shampooing your hair could leave tiny micro-abrasions on your scalp. You can still comb your hair, just make sure not to comb too close to your scalp. Relaxer is a powerful chemical that can cause damage to your hair if you don’t use it right. The instructions will have specific application methods and treatment times so that you don’t damage your hair. Consider going to a professional instead of doing it yourself. Wear a pair of rubber gloves to protect your skin from the caustic relaxer chemicals. Pour the chemicals together in the cup that’s provided until it’s well mixed and turns into a white paste. Section off hair in the back of your head wide-toothed comb. Start at the ends of your hair and move your way to your roots and edges. Once you have full coverage over that section of hair, take another section and repeat the process until you've applied the relaxer to all of your hair.  You may want to have someone help apply the relaxer to your hair. Your body heat near your edges will make the relaxer work quicker, so don’t apply the relaxer to your roots or edges first or your hair will get overly relaxed or damaged. The instructions should tell you the exact time you should leave the relaxer in your hair. If you notice any extreme burning or irritation, wash the relaxer out of your hair with clarifying shampoo. If your relaxer came with shampoo, use the one that came in the package. If not, then you need to use a neutralizing shampoo because it’s the only kind that will fully wash the relaxer out. Once you get out of the shower, comb your hair and it should be straight!  The relaxer should not stay in your hair for more than 10-15 minutes. On average, relaxer will keep your hair straight for 6-8 weeks. Follow up with conditioner and rinse it out with cold water.
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One-sentence summary --
Don’t shampoo your hair for 2-3 days leading up to the relaxing treatment. Read the instructions on the relaxer before using it. Mix the relaxer chemicals together. Apply the relaxer with the application brush. Leave the relaxer in your hair for 10-15 minutes. Shampoo your hair with clarifying shampoo.