Medication from doctors, such as antacids, didn’t work, and none of the remedies found online worked either. I tried almost everything from using aloe vera, mastic gum, and flaxseed to fucoidan, probiotics, and whatnot, but they all didn’t work for me… except this one last thing.
Sometime mid-last year, the doctor, a cardiologist, said I had heartburn or acid reflux after I reported severe burning pain in the chest. Breathing was difficult, and I thought I had a heart attack. The experience and the suffering following that incident for the next six months were nothing less than excruciatingly horrible.
Medication from doctors, such as antacids, didn’t work, and none of the remedies found online worked either. I tried almost everything from using aloe vera, mastic gum, and flaxseed to fucoidan, probiotics, and whatnot, but they all didn’t work for me.
Six months later, from the endless suffering caused by the heartburn and gastric pain, I finally found something that worked for me and helped speed up my recovery… and it wasn’t even expensive. And the best part is, I stopped taking it just after about a month of using it until today because I no longer needed it. I AM OFFICIALLY CURED! 🙂 Hope it will help you, too, if nothing else works for you as it was for me.
Long story short, besides making some lifestyle and dietary changes which I will share later below, my cure began when I started taking Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice (DGL) herbal root extract in its chewable tablet form produced explicitly by Natural Factors (you can use these DGL links I’ve provided to enjoy a discount).
I chose Natural Factors among the rest of the DGL supplement brands based on the most positive reviews and successful results shared by many other users on iHerb. iHerb is also where I’d recommend you get it from because you’ll be able to purchase it at the most affordable price compared to what is offered on other websites.
Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice (DGL)
Description
- Dietary Supplement
- Protects Stomach Lining & Intestinal Wall
- Suitable for Vegans/Vegetarians
- Purity & Potency Guaranteed
Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice (DGL) is a safe and effective licorice extract. It is specially processed to have glycyrrhizin removed to avoid potential side effects such as elevated blood pressure. DGL supports the integrity of the natural mucus lining of the stomach and intestinal wall. It stimulates the protective factors which guard against weaknesses in these linings.
Isura Certified (lab tested – clean & safe):
Non-GMO: Documentation ✔
Mass Spec: Lab Tested ✔
Suggested use
Chew 1 tablet 1-3 times per day 20 minutes before each meal or as directed by a health professional.
My initial personal use was to take 1 tablet 20 minutes before each meal and then again 20 minutes after each meal when I suffered a lot initially. A week later, I just had to take it before meals, as suggested by Natural Factors. I also took one or two when there was discomfort before sleep. That was my personal experience of using it before I recovered. It may work differently for you.
If you’re having high blood pressure, do monitor if it goes up after taking DGL. At times, it could be a coincidence. It won’t be fair to blame DGL if you had or will have foods with high sodium or an anxiety attack, for example.
Keep an eye to be safe and don’t overdose on it. Also, speak to your doctor if you’re under other medications that may interact with DGL, which is unlikely to occur, but better be safe than sorry.
Other ingredients
Xylitol, microcrystalline cellulose, stearic acid, silica, magnesium stearate (vegetable grade).
Some ingredients above may be synthetic. I did look everywhere for entirely natural ones, but unfortunately, this is the closest I could find. It’s still better than any drugs I know, and you’ll probably need it only for short-term use to get rid of your heartburn/acid reflux, and/or gastric.
Contains no artificial colors, preservatives, or sweeteners; no dairy, starch, sugar, wheat, gluten, yeast, soy, egg, fish, shellfish, animal products, salt, tree nuts, or GMOs.
Manufactured by Natural Factors to ensure safety and potency in accordance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) of the FDA and Health Canada.
Warnings
As with any supplement, consult your health professional before use if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or trying to conceive, or if you are taking medication, have a medical condition, or anticipate surgery. Keep out of reach of children.
Sealed for your protection. Do not use if the seal is broken. For freshness, store in a cool, dry place.
Lifestyle & Dietary Changes
Now, remember that no matter how the Darn Good Licorice (DGL) is, it’s still not some magic pill that will keep acid reflux away if you refuse to make some necessary lifestyle and dietary changes.
From the months of researching through the numerous medical articles, and videos watched in search of a cure, I’ve simplified them all as below in a way that worked for me in reducing my suffering until I was completely cured in the fastest time possible.
Food
Breakfast/Dinner
- Steel cut or rolled oatmeal with a banana and two tablespoons flaxseed + cup of water or oat milk
Lunch
- Whole-foods, plant-based diet only
- Parboiled white rice or brown rice
- Vegetables
- Vegetable soup
- No oil (not even olive oil or any form of oil for that matter) and no meat of any kind as well
Snacks
- Fruits (alkaline-based) only
No
- Spicy food
- Oily food
- Fried food (no processed mock meat either)
- Overeating
- Irregular eating habits
- Eating at odd times
- Caffeine
- Cigarettes
- Alcohol
- Stress
Yes
- Get enough sleep
- Lose excessive fat weight
- Walking exercise at moderate speed (5 times a week + 30 minutes each day)
- Whole food plant-based diet + Himalayan rock salt
- Vitamin D from sunlight at safe hours or Vitamin D3 + K2 supplementation (be sure to do a blood test first to see if you’re deficient before taking it – but most people are)
Well, that’s it! That’s how I did it, thanks to Dr. Michael T. Murray, ND, for DGL and, of course, from following other nutrition specialists’ and doctors’ advice to adopt a healthy diet and lifestyle.
If none of the above works for you after a month, you may still have to see a gastroenterologist specialist and check if you have Helicobacter Pylori (H. Pylori) bacteria infection or other reasons causing the problem.
However, if you do get cured, it doesn’t mean you can go back to eating and living your life the way it caused your acid reflux/heartburn/gastric or bacterial infection in the first place. You can’t eat/drink whatever, and then use DGL to neutralize the acid effects. Taking any medication or supplementation for too long may cause other problems later. So you want to get out of this as soon as possible.
Sure, go ahead with having your favorite cheat meals once in a while, maybe one or a couple of times a week, but keep doing your best to minimize/avoid those kinds of unhealthy food and lifestyle as much as possible.
Good luck, and I wish you all the best. 👍🏻
After know about DGL, I help a lot people get out from acid reflux, thanks for your research and experience.
That’s great! Thanks for helping out others too.