I did my medical graduation in 1977 . At that time, the commonest surgery in any operation theatre used to be for treatment of peptic ulcer pain. The nerve stimulating acid secretion was cut after opening the stomach area of abdomen-called selective vagotomy.
Since then we have seen introduction of endoscopy in 1981, leading to wonderful medicines which relieve pain of acidity easily. Still, in my practise, the commonest cause of seeking advice remain stomach aches.
As cousin2 above has written her review above, helicobacter pylori is an important cause of acidity, but it has been overemphasised in literature. Its association is high with acidity but it is also found in 70 percent of normal population.
I was a host in a health programme on local television for 4 episodes and acidity was one of the topics discussed. I researched some simple remedies and advised one of them to the viewers after confirming that it was an approved remedy by WHO and confirmed in international trials.
Since then I have regularly advised it to all my patients for the past 3 years and have been able to get more than half of them completely off antacids and laxatives.
Remedy is simple. As soon as you get up, on an empty stomach, have 1 glass of warm water, mixed with fresh lime(half to one as per taste) and 1 tsp honey.
It is an excellent cure for acidity and ensures a proper bowel movement too. There is no side effect. Though lemon is thought to be acidic, it is not. It relieves acidity and, for that reason is also recommended in pregnant females.
The lime can be taken even in the presence of common cold-it will help in making it better and not worsen it as thought by many.