Just Ask Terry

Terry is happy to provide his opinion on diet and nutrition, supplements and lifestyle choices. This information is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to replace the advice of your physician and is not to be considered medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Should you have any concerns please contact your physician directly.

Q. Hi Terry, “I have been taking medication for an ulcer, but it still bothers me. My doctor changed my medication several times, but nothing seems to heal my ulcer. Jack O., Syracuse, NY A. Dear Jack, Ulcers can be a serious medical condition. I would definitely consult your physician before you make any changes to your medication. You need to check if these supplements are right for your particular health circumstance. That said, there is some very good research on a special licorice extract known as DGL, for “deglycyrrhizinated licorice.” DGL is licorice that has a compound called glycyrrhetinic acid, which can cause problems with blood pressure when used at high dosage levels, removed. Personally, I think DGL stands for, “darn good licorice”! In clinical studies, DGL outperformed medications normally prescribed for ulcers, like cimetidine (Tagamet). I remember one lady telling me that she worked with her doctor for years with a bad case of ulcers, and after someone told her about DGL, she was back to normal within two weeks. These results may not be typical, but it has been my observation that DGL can really speed the healing of ulcers and inflammation of the lining of the stomach. You may not find this prescribed by your local physician, but integrative doctors and clinics are starting to incorporate these clinically studied supplements into their practice, and they are having excellent outcomes. Unfortunately, no drug company wants to promote DGL, because it is a natural product and cannot be patented, or its rights controlled by a single company. Here is a case of the natural plant extract outperforming any drug for ulcers.