Some people are taking proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) for heartburn. They don't realize it but generally speaking, they're not fixing the problem. They may end up in worse shape if they continue taking PPI drugs.
And why is this? Because proton pump inhibitors are very good at reducing stomach acid. And most cases of heartburn are due to too little stomach acid being produced, not too much.
If too little stomach acid produces the majority of cases of heartburn, what happens when even less stomach acid is produced? It's not going to bring you the relief you're looking for. And having too little stomach acid limits your protection from any food-borne infection, which puts you at greater risk for food poisoning.
Going off proton pump inhibitors must be done by gradually decreasing your dosage. Don't go cold turkey or your health may suffer.
One of the first things you’ll want to do is to make sure you’re consuming enough probiotics. This will help balance your bowel flora, which can help eliminate helicobacter bacteria naturally. It will also aid in proper digestion and assimilation of your food.
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/06/05/natural-ways-to-relieve-heartburn-symptoms.aspx