7 reasons the mucus in your throat keeps coming back after you eat
If you've tried allergy tablets, nasal sprays, lozenges and tea with honey, and you're still clearing your throat, you didn't do anything wrong. They were all aimed at the top of the problem.
If you've had mucus in your throat for a while, you know how the day goes. You clear it before you can say good morning, you keep water and cough drops close, and after dinner it's back again.
In August and September, we asked nearly 1,400 RootSource customers to tell us about it in their own words: what it was like, how long they'd had it and what they'd tried that let them down.
Maybe you were told it's allergies, or something you'll just have to live with.
These 7 reasons explain why it keeps coming back, even after everything you've tried.
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Allergy tablets were made for allergies
A lot of people are told the mucus is an allergy. When we asked what had let people down before, almost 1 in 5 of those who listed something had taken allergy tablets. A few had even had allergy shots.
Allergy tablets calm the reaction your body has to things like pollen, dust and pet hair. If an allergy were behind the mucus, you'd expect the tablets to have settled it by now. For the people who listed them, they hadn't.
"I have constant mucus that cause issues. It's super thick and drives me crazy. I have tried everything thinking it was allergies."
Survey respondent -
Sprays and rinses work on your nose
Nasal sprays and rinses were close behind, at 1 in 6. They're made for the nose and sinuses, on the idea that the mucus is dripping down from there.
Plenty of people find their nose clears and their throat doesn't. Six of the people we asked had even had surgery on their sinuses, and the problem was still there.
"Mucus collection at the back of my throat that won't clear"
Survey respondent -
Lozenges, tea and honey only last while they're in your throat
About 1 in 5 had tried cough drops, lozenges, tea, honey or another home remedy. They feel good on a sticky throat, and there's nothing wrong with any of them.
They only work while they're there, though. Your throat keeps making mucus, so once they wear off, it's back.
"The constant clearing of my throat leaves it sore. I suck on lozenges, mints or anything else I can get a hold of. Hot tea or other beverages only work while I using them."
Survey respondent -
The mucus is your throat protecting itself
Your throat makes mucus when something irritates it. It's a defense, the same way your eyes water in a smoky room.
So clearing it or drying it up only deals with the mucus that's already there. As long as something keeps irritating your throat, it keeps making more.
That's why nothing so far has lasted.
Each of those things works on the mucus. None of them does anything about what's irritating your throat.
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What irritates it often comes up from the stomach
After you eat, your stomach makes acid and an enzyme called pepsin to break your food down.
When some of that pushes back up into your throat, even a little, your throat does what it always does and makes mucus to protect itself.
After a meal, some of what's in your stomach can push back up toward your throat. That's why the mucus so often shows up after a meal, and why it's waiting for you in the morning after a night lying flat.
The people we asked had noticed the same pattern. More than 100 of them brought up mornings, meals or night-time without being asked.
"Constant coughing especially after meals and laying down"
Survey respondent -
You don't need heartburn for this to happen
A lot of people rule this out because they never get heartburn. When we asked what was going on, fewer than 1 in 10 mentioned heartburn or reflux. Most described their throat.
What comes up can reach your throat without any burn in your chest on the way, so reflux is the last thing anyone thinks of. The tests go looking in your nose, your sinuses and your throat instead.
Nearly 1 in 5 of the people who listed what had let them down had already seen a doctor, an ENT or an allergist, or taken something on prescription.
"I have tried everything! Allergist,ENT and a throat specialist."
Survey respondent -
Acid tablets and cutting out coffee only change part of it
Acid tablets came up more than anything else when we asked what had let people down. Nearly 4 in 10 of those who listed something had taken them.
They lower the acid, which is what they're made to do. What comes up after a meal still comes up.
Cutting out certain foods and drinks was the most common change people had made. Of those who told us what they'd stopped or started avoiding, almost 4 in 10 had given up dairy, spicy food, coffee, alcohol or something else they liked. But you still have to eat, and every meal starts the same process again.
Some habits do help. Smaller dinners, finishing your last meal 3 hours before bed and raising the head of your bed a few inches are all worth keeping. None of them changes what happens in your stomach after you eat.
"I stopped drinking coffee but it didn't help"
Survey respondent
What these people tried next, and why it might work for you
Most of what people try works on the nose, the throat or the acid. Everyone in our survey had just ordered something that works lower down, in your stomach, after you eat.
It's GR-9, a daily capsule we make. More than 15,800 people have ordered it since February.
Why would a capsule help my throat?
One person asked us exactly that: "I do question how a capsule can work on the esophagus?" It's a fair question.
GR-9 is 2 capsules a day made from brown seaweed, licorice root, ginger and zinc. The seaweed forms a natural layer on top of your meal that helps keep it down, so your throat can stay calm.*
The licorice, ginger and zinc support your stomach, your throat lining and your digestion.*
It adds to what you're already doing. Keep taking anything your doctor prescribed, and ask them if you're not sure.
What they want back
We also asked what would feel different in their everyday life if things went the way they hoped. About 4 in 10 answers were about talking, singing or being around other people.
Singing came up again and again. More than 50 people named it when we asked what they'd stopped doing or started avoiding, from church choirs to karaoke.
- Get my life back without being asked what's wrong with me
- I would feel comfortable around people again and I would be Blessed to not have the Cough and mucus situation.
- It would be amazing! Talking in front of people and singing in church would not be so embarrassing.
- I wouldn't have to make sure I had mints, water etc. on me every where I go.
- I wouldn't wake my husband up from caughing or clearing my throat.
Answers given right after ordering, before taking GR-9.
60 days to find out for yourself
If you're skeptical, that's fair. When we asked one person what made them trust us enough to order, they wrote: "I don't trust you yet. ask that question again after 2 months"
We liked that answer, because that's what the 60 days are for. It's also why this page sticks to things you can check for yourself: the full label, a 60-day guarantee and a real phone number.
Some people also asked how long GR-9 takes to work. Everyone's different, so we won't promise a number of days. Take it for up to 60 days, and if you're not happy for any reason, call or email us and we'll refund your order.
If you'd like to ask something first, call (973) 587-5304 or email info@rootsource.co.
You've spent years working on your throat. It might be time to look a little lower.
See how GR-9 worksOpens the GR-9 page. 60-day money-back guarantee and free US shipping.