Experts have
warned people against eating too
much liquorice.
It follows the case of a
56-year-old woman who was admitted
to hospital after overdosing on
liquorice.
The woman from Yorkshire went
into muscle failure, a potentially
fatal condition, after eating too
much Pontefract cake.
Writing in the Postgraduate
Medical Journal, doctors said she
had been eating the liquorice sweets
to relieve chronic constipation.
Dangerous condition
"She had been eating a packet of
sweets a day, about 200g," said Dr
Raja Hussain of Pontefract General
Infirmary.
"Her potassium levels were
dangerously low and her muscles were
very weak. She also had high blood
pressure, which is dangerous because
it can lead to stroke."
Dr Hussain and
colleagues at the hospital restored
the woman's potassium levels, using
an intravenous drip and tablets.
"She was up and walking about
within four days," Dr Hussain told
BBC News Online.
The active ingredient in
liquorice, glycyrrhizic acid, is
found in a variety of products,
including herbal remedies.
Manufacturers claim it can
relieve constipation, cold, flu and
allergy symptoms and may even help
people with chronic fatigue or
ulcers.
It is also found in smaller
quantities in confectionery,
toothpaste and some herbal teas.
Cigarette and drugs manufacturers
sometimes use it to improve the
taste of their products.
Some brands of chewing gum can
contain 24mg of glycyrrhizic acid
while some herbal teas can contain
up to 450mg per litre.
A report by the European
Commission published earlier this
year suggested that people should
not consume any more than 100mg of
glycyrrhizic acid a day.
Studies have shown that it can
increase blood pressure or cause
muscle weakness and chronic fatigue.
Other problems include headaches or
swelling.
Recent research suggested it can
also lower testosterone levels in
men, affecting their mood and sex
drive.
"Like everything else, liquorice
is good for you in moderation," said
Sinead O'Hara, principal pharmacist
at the Royal London Homeopathic
Hospital. "But too much of it is
quite toxic."
Haribo, one of the companies that
manufacture Pontefract cake, said
people shouldn't eat too much of it.
"Haribo advises, as with any
other food, liquorice products
should be eaten in moderation," said
marketing manager Christian Freund.
Licorice is from the latin word "liquiritia",
is known for its sweetening
characteristic. Chinese ranked
licorice as "superior", which means
it could be used over a long period
of time with no toxic effect, it is
being used by the Chinese for more
than 5,000 years. Its roots have
tremendous therapeutic properties.
Hippocrates called it sweet root.
Its root contains a substance that
is 50 to 100 times sweeter than
table sugar.
The Greeks used licorice as thirst
quencher and to relieve swelling
caused by water retention.
Medicinal Uses:
-
To treat stomach ulcer -
licorice stimulates the body's
defenses to prevent the
formation of ulcers, it is more
effective than antacids.
According to studies there is a
91% success in the treatment of
stomach ulcer by using licorice.
Treatments should be continued
for 8 to 16 weeks, depending on
how fast or slow the recovery of
the patient. Licorice should be
taken 20 to 30 minutes before
meals in order for it to be more
effective in the treatment of
ulcer, licorice will act as a
lining in the stomach, to help
protect it.
-
Helps in weight control
treatments since licorice helps
to maintain stomach acid levels.
-
Helps for Respiratory Illnesses
- licorice contain anti-allergic
properties that is essential for
the treatment of respiratory
disorder.
-
Anti-inflammatory - licorice
acts on the tissue much the same
way as cortisone but without the
negative side effects.
-
Tonic to help combat fever
Liquorice is good
for you in
moderation
