I Have Some Advice--Try Licorice--Not the Candy--The Root!

I have newly discovered that 'The Thing' which has been popping up--on occasion--in the SAME place in my mouth for the past decade, is a mucocele. For all of this time, I had mistaken it to be a canker sore and so used the purported natural remedy for that (as I am very 'into' natural/alternative medicine) which is licorice root which is a very healing bontanical when applied to sores, acne and other such eruptions. The little bugger (as this one that has been my uninvited guest at times over the years is a rather tiny thing) whould generally go away within a week and not come back for YEARS. All in all, I have had it recur, perhaps 4 or 5 times in the past 10 years and would always use licorice root with rapid success.

Now before, you all go 'bonker's over my idea--please do your research on licorice root as there are phytochemical constituents in it that can temporarily raise blood pressure and increase fluid retention and thus, it is NOT recommended for those with high blood pressure, heart conditions, edema, diabetes, kidney and liver diseases. It can potentially interact adversely with the drug, "Digitalis". Also avoid if you are nursing or pregnant. One can get chewable tablets with de-glycyrrhinised licorice root in them from health food stores and nutrition websites--but these have not been fully studied as to whether or not it is safe for folks with any of the above conditions to take them!

I doubt this method would work on an especially large and deeply-entrenched canker sore as well...

But if you are in relatively good health, have a smaller mucocele--why not go to your local health food store's bulk herb/spice section (or order online) some sticks or chopped pieces of licoroce root (preferably organic but inorganic will do)?

Now, I find it easier to use the pieces--otherwise you will have to break up or chew on one of the long, slender sticks and this is less convenient. I typically chew up a piece of licorice root and hold it in my mouth against the malicious mucocele and I do this a few times per day. Licorice root tastes immensely sweet by the way as it is contains a phytochemical compund which is 50 times sweeter than sugar. One you have chewed up and sucked at the piece of root until it is tasteless and shredded--spit it out and do not rinse out your mouth afterwards...For me I would do the treatment for a week and then stop since the thing would always be gone and stay gone for an inconclusive amount of time. Please note that it is not recommended to use the root beyond a few week's time of continued use.

I have had other things in my mouth of a small nature--on occasion--even on the roof of my mouth but they have generally gone away either by themselves or by doing the licorice root. It is my fault about the infrequent, but recurrent lower lip mucocele since I am a chronic lip biter and picker when I am really stressed (which is often). So somewhere along the way, I damaged my salivary duct I guess. I am trying HARD to stop this habit (which has been with me since I was aged 7!)!

I have not had the root fail me--ever--BUT I have recently developed that same ol' mucocele last week after what has been 3 or 4 years and it does not seem to be responding so much to the licorice root, except that it is smaller...However, my body has changed dramatically since being pregnant and giving birth--my hormones are mess and I am very 'run-down' (at the time of this writing, I have a couple of infections going on on top of the mucocele!).

I mainly joined this site to inform anyone 'out there' of the licorice root since I want to help anyone if it does help anyone, mind you.

If the root actually fails me this time--I will either try the evening primrose, the salt, or the alum and mouthwash because I feel surgery is a bit extreme for what seems to be a kind of oral zit really! If those methods should fail me--well, there is always Lourdes--eh?

Again, I hope this suggestion might benefit even ONE person! Good luck to you all!