Curing holiday heartburn

Nobody likes having indigestion, but the holiday season—with all its tempting treats at every turn—can be a prime instigator of the unwanted affliction, characterized by an uncomfortable feeling in one’s chest due to excess stomach acid.

WikiHow.com offers several useful home remedies to get rid of heartburn:

• A cup of chamomile or mint tea can help calm indigestion. Allow tea to steep for 10 minutes, and drink slowly.

• Mix together 1 teaspoon each of anise, caraway, dill and fennel seeds; slowly chew a half-teaspoon at a time to cure indigestion caused by excess gas.

• Eat candied ginger, which can be purchased at supermarkets and health-food stores. (Recommended as a good remedy for small children.)

• Drink a glass of warm water mixed with 1 teaspoon of baking soda and a squirt of lemon juice. (Baking soda may be damaging to the stomach for some people, so check with your doctor first before using this remedy.)