Hi All,

I was diagnosed with a "bad case" of acid reflux maybe 8 years ago and recently decided I wanted to get off my medication. I started taking DGL Extract (deglycyrrhizinated licorice) chewable wafers four months ago and it has done wonders for me. I stopped taking my expensive Aciphex Rx right away and took one tablet DGL with breakfast and one with dinner each day. My acid reflux has not been a problem since. I was able to reduce the amount of DGL I took after several weeks and now I hardly ever have to take it at all. I don't think I've taken in for a few weeks now. I'm thinking maybe my acid reflux has healed or cured. It is inexpensive and definitely worth a try. I think I read that it causes your stomach to produce the mucus that is necessary to protect the lining from acid.

Gail

Thanks for this post! I am back on Aciphex now, and it gives me a headache...plus I do not like being on medication. You mentioned your extract is in wafers??

Hi K2626,

They are called wafers on the bottle, but they are really chewable tablets. They don't taste bad at all.

I hope this will be the answer for you as it has been for me.

Best,
Gail

I just bought some today to try, keeps fingers crossed~

Hi Dreamweaver,

I hope it works for you! I'd love to hear how you are doing with it somewhere down the line.

I should have mentioned you can take it on an empty stomach any time of day if you want.

Best,
Gail

I could not find DGL but bought a licorice liquid extract that I am to mix with water...hope it helps!

Gail I have been eating maybe 8 a day (sucking on them), just while I'm trying to heal my raw throat. It seems to be helping a bit. I also bought something called Acid Ease at the health food store, I'm taking that in combination with the DGL.
I will let you know how it goes;)
THX-

I could not find DGL but bought a licorice liquid extract that I am to mix with water...hope it helps!

You to be careful and make sure this liquid has one ingredient removed that causes high blood pressure. Read up online and you will find what it is, and why!

I have been wanting to try DGL, but it says that it stimulate mucus secretion. But my problem is too much mucus/phlegm to begin with. So can this be used in laryngopharyngeal reflux or only in GERD ?

do u know how quickly it takes to work? i started it today and i feel i am losing my voice now, i still have the constant acid reflux, thanks for all your help

Hello,

Here are answers to your questions:

To res19bx: I stopped taking my prescription medication the same day I started taking DGL. It seems like it started working in only about three days. I imagine it would be different for everyone, though.

To stardust11: I regret I don't know the answer to your question.

Update to my first posting: After I posted my excellent results with DGL in this thread, I realized that several weeks after I started taking the DGL, I started a weight loss diet which requires me to eat much smaller portions. I also gave up sugar. Maybe this has also been a help to my acid reflux. The only thing that makes me still think the DGL is what helped is that it was working for me for weeks before I started the diet. I haven't had to take DGL or anything for my acid reflux for well over a month now and I'm not having any acid reflux symptoms at all. I hope this helps at least some people. Maybe it depends on the individual.

Gail

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Gail I have also found that eating much less is the best remedy for acid reflux, of course its hard to do:(
But I'm trying to do that now also, as the DGL has not healed my sore throat yet and its been a few weeks now. I still have a very raw spot that hurts all the time....
Eat much less, feel so much better- you would think it would be easy, smiles.....

Thank you for your 3 day suggestion. I am so happy to get a response, my first one! Does anyone know what to do for my raw throat and esophagus to soothe the acid burns and heal it? I am a teacher and I love to sing and would like to get back to feeling good. Thanks so much, Kelly :)

Hello Dreamweaver and Kelly,

Just a thought here about the throat and esophagus problems you are having. If you chew the DGL rather than suck on it (as I believe you have been doing, Dreamweaver), possibly it will help with your stomach acid and, in turn, help with the throat and esophagus problems. When I took the DGL, I always chewed it. I was surprised that improving the mucus production in the stomach by taking the DGL would really help with my esophagus problem (which was bad), because I had always heard acid reflux was caused by a problem with some valve leading from the stomach not working properly. Maybe they (the medical community) have it wrong and the real cause of acid reflux is that your stomach is not producing enough mucus. Chewing the DGL seems to get the stomach to produce more mucus and, in turn, relieve esophagus pain. Maybe it will be the same for throat problems caused by acid reflux. I hope this helps.

Gail

Chewing the DGL seems to get the stomach to produce more mucus and, in turn, relieve esophagus pain. Maybe it will be the same for throat problems caused by acid reflux. I hope this helps.

Gail

I have been sucking on the licorice. Is chewing better?

I chewed mine and that worked. It seems that people who suck them don't get results.

I am sucking mine because my problem is a ulcer in my upper throat, so I wanted to bathe it in the DGL as long as I could....

Hi Dreamweaver,

I wonder if it would help for you to chew some as well? Just a thought as I noticed in one of your posts that you have been sucking the DGL for several weeks without any results.

Gail

Hi Gail, I have also been chewing a few! I am much better - I did start taking Nexium so I'm not sure what exactly it is, I think it might be both! My throat is not totally healed but, it not extremely painful right now which is such a pleasure:)
XOXO
THX for caring-

Hi Dreamweaver,

I'm glad to hear you are feeling better.

Best,
Gail

I tried the DGL for weeks and it did not help. I am finding the alkaline diet helps but now I am gassy and going to the bathroom too much. I had chicken for lunch and got an acid attack. I wish there was a way to cure this without eliminating foods from a diet.