Q. My husband and I live aboard a sailboat and have been at sea for three weeks off the coast of Venezuela. We listen to podcasts of the People’s Pharmacy radio show, and I have a question about DGL licorice and reflux.
What is DGL licorice and how does it differ from regular licorice? I have some Dutch licorice that is not the sugary artificial-flavor stuff you can buy in the States. I don’t know the exact ingredients (they are in Dutch), but if I feel a tinge of reflux coming on I find that sucking on a piece of this licorice kills the reflux.
A. DGL, or deglycyrrhizinated licorice, has been treated to remove the compound in natural licorice that can raise blood pressure, lower potassium and lead to fluid retention. Licorice has long been used to reduce stomach acid.
