Pure Encapsulations Heartburn Essentials - Dietary Supplement Helps Decrease Occurrences of Occasional Heartburn & Indigestion - with Slippery Elm Bark - 90 Capsules

This is without qualification the most effective product I have tried for digestive system issues, which have troubled me for some years. My issues seem to have started with the ingestion of products with Bioperine (Piperine), a pepper extract added to some supplements to enhance absorption by inhibiting an enzyme that blocks absorption of some substances; possibly a bad idea from the start since some substances probably should be blocked, so you may be incapacitating your own natural defense. I could feel the pepper fumes searing the back of my esophagus every time I took the offending supplements, finally stopped taking them, but the GI damage continued to haunt me. I have trouble swallowing, and have become too familiar with that sinking feeling when the food stops clearing my throat, and the pain starts setting in. At times I have found myself choking because the food just will not pass through, and vomiting is my best relief. Just as irritating, my lower GI tract developed an inflammatory condition that has slowed my peristaltic activity to almost complete paralysis. Using conventional laxatives fails to make my bowels move normally, though Milk of Magnesia has offered some limited and temporary relief; Kombucha and probiotics also help a little, also Reishi and chaga mushrooms; but usually when I do get some relief it results in thin irregular watery BM’s and explosive flatulation. Also my bowels feel hot and dry as the Sahara Desert - peppermint oil helps this to a degree. So when I found these and gave them a shot, I was elated that for the first time in years I was having big satisfying normal bowel movements, and some relief from my esophageal reflux. I recommend openinG the capsules and dumping the contents, a little at a time, in your mouth so the contents will have sustained contact with the lining of your throat when your swallow. Take your time and finish the capsule nice and slow. The Marshmallow and Slippery Elm protect the lining of your esophagus, stomach and intestines, and this is the only product containing curcumin (turmeric) that I have been able to take - I believe the curcumin is important to the benefits of this product. Normally I’m sensitive to curcumin, it gives me tinnitus, but not with this one, maybe because the dose is low and the stomach protectants create a mucilage that inhibits absorption, which in this case is just what the doctor ordered - I want to keep that anti-inflammatory action where I need it, in my gut, not where it can cause unwanted side effects. So in every way this product is the answer to my issues. I would give it 5 stars except for one thing: the licorice. I was experiencing blood pressure spikes and what felt like heart palpitations, and a general feeling of malaise, confusion, and difficulty handling stress. Licorice should not be taken chronically. If they made a version of this without the licorice I would feel more confident taking it. As it is, despite the success I’ve had with it, I may need to find something else, or create my own solution using some of the other components. Update: the negative effects of licorice may be mitigated by taking with a nice thick slippery elm tea - add one tablespoon slippery elm to a cup of boiling water; this will significantly limit the absorption, and any unwanted systemic effects. The benefit cab be enhanced by adding magnesium, l-glutamine, fresh ginger slices, and if desired stevia to sweeten; a little reishi mushroom extract powder and/or chaga mushroom extract can be added as well. This stuff is working better for me than anything I’ve tried.

Works well.

I learned about this product on Dr. Dawn Matika's website. She is a functional medicine specialist meaning that she considers Western medicine and alternative medicines if she finds that they help patients. I had struggled with heartburn for about four years. I had done the PPIs and Pepcid AC. They both helped, but I knew that neither was good for my health. Dr. Dawn recommended these Heartburn Essentials. You take one capsule a half hour before eating. I also use them if I have eaten something that made my stomach feel bad, and they take the burn away. They are all natural ingredients. Not only do they work once you have heartburn, but I also took them for about two weeks before every meal when I had heartburn constantly. They actually healed my stomach, and then I stopped taking them. Mostly, I don't take them now. But if I know I am going to be indulging in a food that causes heartburn, I just take on a half hour before I eat, or after I eat if I forget. Great product.

Recommend by my daughter. Paleo. Stopped taking my PPI. Took a few days but works fairly well. Expensive but I think worth the price. Obviously if you have reflux this is not a magic bullet.

So far so good. Nice natural product.

Best remedy I know.

These gave me a stomach ache, could not be returned.

This helped me with the heartburn but gave me a terrible headache. Not sure which ingredient in here did it but something did not agree with me.