Licorice Side Effects May Be Related to High Blood Pressure
Licorice has been used since Roman times, probably as a sweets' sweet. It was thought to have medicinal uses too, though not in the quantities traditionally prescribed by the ancients. Today licorice (or licorice root) is still popular with health-food devotees and is used in many home sweetener recipes. Sweet licorice has a distinctive smell - a smell that some experts compare to cherry or chocolate - though others think it more like the smell of ripe grapes. Regardless of its actual scent, licorice has a wide variety of health benefits; licorice root extract is especially valuable in the treatment of diabetes, where it helps regulate the body's sugar output.
Licorice's sweetness is what draws most people to its healing properties. Its anti-inflammatory properties are particularly encouraging for those with chronic inflammation, such as those who have arthritis or osteoarthritis. Licorice may also have potential benefits for the treatment and management of asthma. Because of licorice's ability to inhibit the production of inflammatory chemicals in the body, it has been used for treating the inflammation associated with both asthma and cystic fibrosis.
One important caveat about licorice may be its potential side effects. Licorice may cause mild stomach upset, a condition called "sleeping gumbo". In very rare cases, it may cause a serious allergic reaction known as "ergy" - a severe and potentially life-threatening reaction to any substance that you are sensitive to. If you are uncertain whether you may have a sensitivity to licorice, it is strongly recommended that you consult with your doctor before taking any herbal supplement.
Licorice has positive effects on kidney health, but there is some doubt as to whether it is an effective treatment for high blood pressure or congestive heart failure. There are a number of possible reasons for this. Licorice may lower blood pressure by altering the normal function of the valves in the vessels that transport blood from the heart to the various parts of the body. For example, one of the properties of licorice - its anti-oxidant - might interfere with the ability of the kidneys to remove excess sodium from the bloodstream, causing a rebound increase in sodium levels, which can lead to both hypertension and congestive heart failure.
Licorice side effects are not limited to high blood pressure or congestive heart failure. Long-term use of licorice (up to four cups per day) can cause a form of kidney disease called "lethargy". This is a condition in which the kidney loses its ability to rid the body of toxins. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, weakness and pain in the upper abdomen, and fever. It is not believed that licorice causes legg-calentosis, a condition in which the kidneys slowly lose the ability to process the glucose in the blood, but a study involving dogs in Europe found that dogs that drinking licorice showed higher than normal levels of cystine, an amino acid, in their livers.
Licorice, like most natural dietary supplements, should be used with caution. Some studies have shown that licorice may help lower high blood pressure, but the benefits are believed to be due to potassium levels in the body rather than blood pressure. Because the symptoms of legg-calentosis are similar to those of hypertension, and because the treatments for these two conditions are often similar, the potential for adverse side effects is also likely. If you experience any of the aforementioned symptoms, it is best to contact your health care provider right away. Your health care professional will be able to recommend alternative medications or, in the most severe cases, recommend you to see a specialist in cardiology. Even if the problem goes away, it is important to take measures to prevent it from recurring.
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