permaculture

[venaurafarm <venaurafarm@bellsouth.net>]

On 8/16/2012 5:27 PM, Heenan Doherty wrote:

> We are avid users of Chinese Medicine as well and I've noticed many
> of their preparations have a Glycyrrhiza spp. component in them which
> is interesting. The other information that Lawrence has provided is
> very interesting and the same duty of care should be applied to any
> herbal remedy.

University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC)
Home > Medical Reference > Complementary Medicine
Licorice
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/licorice-000262.htm

Licorice
Overview:

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) has been used in food and as medicine for 
thousands of years. Also known as "sweet root," licorice root contains a 
compound that is about 50 times sweeter than sugar. Licorice root has 
been used in both Eastern and Western medicine to treat a variety of 
illnesses, ranging from the common cold to liver disease. It acts as a 
demulcent, a soothing, coating agent, and as an expectorant, meaning it 
helps get rid of phlegm. It is still used today for several conditions, 
although not all its uses are supported by scientific evidence.

Licorice that has the active ingredient of glycyrrhiza can have serious 
side effects. Another type of licorice, called DGL or deglycyrrhizinated 
licorice, doesn't seem to have the same side effects and is sometimes 
used to treat peptic ulcers, canker sores, and reflux (GERD). Whole 
licorice is still sometimes suggested for cough, asthma, and other 
breathing problems. Topical preparations are used for eczema and other 
skin problems.
Plant Description:

Licorice grows wild in some parts of Europe and Asia. A perennial that 
grows 3 - 7 feet high, licorice has an extensive branching root system. 
The roots are straight pieces of wrinkled, fibrous wood, which are long 
and cylindrical (round) and grow horizontally underground. Licorice 
roots are brown on the outside and yellow on the inside. Licorice 
supplements are made from the roots and underground stems of the plant.
Medicinal Uses and Indications:

Licorice root is often used for a variety of conditions.

Peptic ulcers

Deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) is often suggested as a treatment for 
stomach ulcers, although there's only mixed evidence about whether it 
works. A few studies have found that DGL and antacids helped treat 
ulcers as well as some prescription drugs. However, since antacids were 
combined with DGL, it's not possible to know how much of the benefit 
came from DGL alone.

One animal study found that aspirin coated with licorice reduced the 
number of ulcers in rats by 50%. (High doses of aspirin often cause 
ulcers in rats.) In one study, licorice root fluid extract was used to 
treat 100 patients with stomach ulcers -- 86 of whom had not improved 
with conventional medication -- for 6 weeks. Ulcers disappeared in 22 
people; 90% of participants got better. Other studies have found that 
DGL had no effect on peptic ulcers in humans.

Canker sores (Apthous ulcers)

One small study found that people with canker sores who gargled 4 times 
per day with DGL dissolved in warm water found pain relief.

Eczema

In one study, licorice gel, applied to the skin, helped relieve symptoms 
of itching, swelling, and redness. A gel with 2% licorice worked better 
than a gel with 1% licorice.

Dyspepsia (indigestion, GERD)

Some preliminary studies suggest that a specific herbal formula 
containing licorice, called Iberogast or STW 5, may help relieve 
symptoms of indigestion or GERD. This herbal formula also contains 
peppermint and chamomile, two herbs often used for indigestion.

Upper respiratory infections (cold, cough)

Licorice is a traditional treatment for cough and asthma. Studies have 
shown mixed results as to whether it works.

Weight loss

One study found that a preparation of licorice may reduce body fat. 
Fifteen people of normal weight consumed 3.5 g of licorice each day for 
2 months. Body fat was measured before and after treatment. Licorice 
appeared to reduce body fat mass and to suppress the hormone 
aldosterone; however, the people in the study retained more water.

Another study found that a topical preparation of glycyrrhetinic acid (a 
component of licorice) reduced the thickness of fat on the thigh in 
human subjects. A third study found that people who took 900 mg of 
licorice flavonoid oil daily for 8 weeks had decreases in body fat, body 
weight, body mass index, and LDL cholesterol levels. More studies are 
needed to say if licorice really helps reduce fat. In addition, taking 
licorice long term has a number of health risks.
Other

People who regularly take large amounts of licorice -- more than 20 
g/day -- may raise blood levels of the hormone aldosterone, which can 
cause serious side effects, including headache, high blood pressure, and 
heart problems. For people who already have high blood pressure or heart 
or kidney disease, as little as 5 g/day can cause these side effects. 
Further studies are needed.
Available Forms:

Licorice products are made from peeled and unpeeled dried root. There 
are powdered and finely cut root preparations made for teas, tablets, 
and capsules, as well as liquid extracts. Some licorice extracts do not 
contain glycyrrhizin. These extracts are known as deglycyrrhizinated 
licorice (DGL), and do not seem to have the undesired side effects of 
other forms of licorice. Some studies suggest DGL may be better for 
stomach or duodenal ulcers. DGL may offer protection against ulcer 
formation when taken with aspirin.
How to Take It:

Pediatric

Older children who have a sore throat can chew a piece of licorice root 
or drink licorice tea. Ask your doctor to help you determine the right 
dose for your child. Don't give a child licorice tea for more than a day 
without talking to your doctor. Never give any licorice tea to an infant 
or toddler.

Adult

Licorice can be taken in the following forms:

    Dried root: 1 - 5 g as an infusion or decoction (boiled), 3 times daily
    Licorice 1:5 tincture: 2 - 5 mL, 3 times daily
    Standardized extract: 250 - 500 mg, 3 times daily, standardized to 
contain 20% glycyrrhizinic acid
    DGL extract: 0.4 - 1.6 g, 3 times daily, for peptic ulcer
    DGL extract 4:1: chew 300 - 400 mg, 3 times daily 20 minutes before 
meals, for peptic ulcer

Don't use these doses of licorice for longer than a week without talking 
to your doctor due to the risk of potentially dangerous side effects.
Precautions:

The use of herbs is a time honored approach to strengthening the body 
and treating disease. Herbs, however, contain components that can 
trigger side effects and that can interact with other herbs, 
supplements, or medications. For these reasons, you should take herbs 
with care, preferably under the supervision of a health care provider in 
the field of botanical medicine.

Licorice with glycyrrhizin may cause serious side effects. Too much 
glycyrrhizin causes a condition called pseudoaldosteronism, which can 
cause a person to become overly sensitive to a hormone in the adrenal 
cortex. This condition can lead to headaches, fatigue, high blood 
pressure, and even heart attacks. It may also cause water retention, 
which can lead to leg swelling and other problems.

Although the most dangerous effects mostly happen with high doses of 
licorice or glycyrrhizin, smaller amounts of licorice may cause side 
effects. Some people have muscle pain or numbness in the arms and legs. 
To be safe, ask your health care provider to monitor your use of licorice.

People with the following conditions should not take licorice:

    Heart failure
    Heart disease
    Hormone-sensitive cancers, such as breast, ovarian, uterine, or 
prostate cancer
    Fluid retention
    High blood pressure (hypertension)
    Diabetes
    Kidney disease
    Liver disease
    Low potassium (hypokalemia)
    Erecetile dysfunction

Pregnant or breastfeeding women should not take licorice.

Don't use any licorice product for longer than 4 - 6 weeks.
Possible Interactions:

Licorice may interfere with several medications, including the ones 
listed below. If you are taking any medication, ask your doctor before 
taking licorice.

    ACE inhibitors and diuretics -- If you are taking angiotensin 
converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or diuretics for high blood pressure, 
you should not use licorice products. Licorice could cause these 
medications to not work as well or could make side effects worse, 
including a build-up of potassium in the body. ACE inhibitors include:
        Captopril (Capoten)
        Benazepril (Lotensin)
        Enalapril (Vasotec)
        Lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril)
        Gosinopril (Monopril)
        Ramipril (Altace)
        Perindopril (Aceon)
        Quinapril (Accupril)
        Moexipril (Univasc)
        Trandolapril (Mavik)
    Digoxin -- Because licorice may dangerously increase the risk of 
toxic effects from digoxin, do not take this herb with this medication.
    Corticosteroids -- Licorice may increase the effects of 
corticosteroid medications. Talk to your doctor before using licorice 
with any corticosteroids.
    Insulin or drugs for diabetes -- Licorice may have an effect on 
blood sugar levels.
    Laxatives -- Licorice may cause potassium loss in people taking 
stimulant laxatives.
    MAO inhibitors -- Licorice may make the effects of this class of 
antidepressant stronger.
    Oral contraceptives -- There have been reports of women developing 
high blood pressure and low potassium levels when they took licorice 
while on oral contraceptives.
    Warfarin (Coumadin) -- Licorice may decrease the levels of this 
blood-thinner in the body, meaning it may not work as well.
    Medications processed by the liver -- Licorice may interfere with 
several medications processed by the liver, including celecoxib 
(Celebrex), diclofenac (Voltaren), fluvastatin (Lescol), glipizide 
(Glucotrol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), phenytoin (Dilantin), piroxicam 
(Feldene), phenobarbital, and secobarbital (Seconal).

Alternative Names:

Glycyrrhiza glabra; Spanish licorice; Sweet root

    Reviewed last on: 1/12/2012
    Steven D. Ehrlich, NMD, Solutions Acupuncture, a private practice 
specializing in complementary and alternative medicine, Phoenix, AZ. 
Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

Supporting Research

Armanini D, De Palo CB, Mattarello MJ, et al. Effect of licorice on 
reduction of body fat mass in healthy subjects. J Endocrinol Invest. 
2003;26:646-50.

Armanini D, Nacamulli D, Francini-Pesenti F, Battagin G, Ragazzi E, 
Fiore C. Glycyrrhetinic acid, the active principle of licorice, can 
reduce the thickness of subcutaneous thigh fat through topical 
application. Steroids. 2005 Jul;70(8):538-42.

Borrelli F, Izzo AA. The plant kingdom as a source of anti-ulcer 
remedies. [Review]. Phytother Res. 2000;14(8):581-591.

Cinatl J, Morgenstern B, Bauer G, et al. Glycyrrhizin, an active 
component of liquorice roots, and replication of SARS-associated 
coronavirus. Lancet 2003;361(9374):2045-2046.

Dhingra D, Parle M, Kulkarni SK. Memory enhancing activity of 
Glycyrrhiza glabra in mice. J Ethnopharmacol. 2004;91(2-3):361-5.

Dhingra D, Sharma A. Antidepressant-like activity of Glycyrrhiza glabra 
L. in mouse models of immobility tests. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol 
Psychiatry. 2006;30(3):449-54.

Fatima A, Gupta VK, Luqman S, Negi AS, Kumar JK, Shanker K, et al. 
Antifungal activity of Glycyrrhiza glabra extracts and its active 
constituent glabridin. Phytother Res. 2009 Jan 23. [Epub ahead of print]

Fiore C, Eisenhut M, Ragazzi E, Zanchin G, Armanini D. A history of the 
therapeutic use of liquorice in Europe. J Ethnopharmacol. 2005;99(3):317-24.

Fuhrman B, Volkova N, Kaplan M, et al. Antiatherosclerotic effects of 
licorice extract supplementation on hypercholesterolemic patients: 
increased resistance of LDL to atherogenic modifications, reduced plasma 
lipid levels, and decreased systolic blood pressure. Nutrition. 
2002;18(3):268-273.

Fujioka T, Kondou T, Fukuhara A, et al. Efficacy of a glycyrrhizin 
suppository for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C: a pilot study. 
Hepatol Res 2003;26(1):10-14.

Fukai T, Marumo A, Kaitou K, Kanda T, Terada S, Nomura T. 
Anti-Helicobacter pylori flavonoids from licorice extract. Life Sci. 
2002;71(12):1449-63.

Furusawa J, Funakoshi-Tago M, Mashino T, et al. Glycyrrhiza 
inflata-derived chalcones, Licochalcone A, Licochalcone B and 
Licochalcone D, inhibit phosphorylation of NF-kappaB p65 in LPS 
signaling pathway. Int Immunopharmacol. 2009;9(4):499-507.

Kamisoyama H, Honda K, Tominaga Y, Yokota S, Hasegawa S. Investigation 
of the anti-obesity action of licorice flavonoid oil in diet-induced 
obese rats. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2008 Dec;72(12):3225-31.

Kaye AD, Clarke RC, Sabar R, et al. Herbal medicines: current trends in 
anesthesiology practice -- a hospital survey. J Clin Anesth. 
2000;12(6):468-471.

Krausse R, Bielenberg J, Blaschek W, Ullmann U. In vitro 
anti-Helicobacter pylori activity of Extractum liquiritiae, glycyrrhizin 
and its metabolites. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2004;54(1):243-6.

Langmead L, Rampton DS. Review article: herbal treatment in 
gastrointestinal and liver disease -- benefits and dangers. [Review]. 
Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2001;15(9):1239-1252.

LaValle JB, Krinsky DL, Hawkins EB, et al. Natural Therapeutics Pocket 
Guide. Hudson, OH:LexiComp; 2000: 470-471.

Lee JW, Ji YJ, Yu MH, Bo MH, Seo HJ, Lee SP, Lee IS. Antimicrobial 
effect and resistant regulation of Glycyrrhiza uralensis on 
methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Nat Prod Res. 
2009;23(2):101-11.

Madisch A, Holtmann G, Mayr G, et al. Treatment of functional dyspepsia 
with a herbal preparation. A double-blind, randomized, 
placebo-controlled, multicenter trial. Digestion. 2004;69:45-52.

Melzer J, Rosch W, Reichling J, et al. Meta-analysis: phytotherapy of 
functional dyspepsia with the herbal drug preparation STW 5 (Iberogast). 
Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2004;20:1279-87.

Ofir R, Tamir S, Khatib S, Vaya J. Inhibition of serotonin re-uptake by 
licorice constituents. J Mol Neurosci. 2003;20(2):135-40.

Olukoga A, Donaldson D. Liquorice and its health implications. J R Soc 
Health. 2000;120(2):83-9.

Shibata S. A drug over the millennia: pharmacognosy, chemistry, and 
pharmacology of licorice. [review]. Yakugaku Zasshi. 2000;120(10):849-862.

Sigurjonsdottir HA, Franzson L, Manhem K, et al. Liquorice-induced rise 
in blood pressure: a linear dose-response relationship. J Hum Hypertens. 
2001;15:549-52.

Somjen D, Knoll E, Vaya J, Stern N, Tamir S. Estrogen-like activity of 
licorice root constituents: glabridin and glabrene, in vascular tissues 
in vitro and in vivo. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2004;91(3):147-55.

Strandberg TE, Jarvenpaa AL, Vanhanen H, McKeigue PM. Birth outcome in 
relation to licorice consumption during pregnancy. Am J Epidemiol. 2001 
Jun 1;153(11):1085-1088.

Tamir S, Eizenberg M, Somjen D, et al. Estrogenic and antiproliferative 
properties of glabridin from licorice in human breast cancer cells. 
Cancer Res. 2000;60(20):5704-5709.

Tamir S, Eizenberg M, Somjen D, Izrael S, Vaya J. Estrogen-like activity 
of glabrene and other constituents isolated from licorice root. J 
Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2001;78(3):291-298.

Tominaga Y, Nakagawa K, Mae T, et al. Licorice flavonoid oil reduces 
total body fat an visceral fat in overweight subjects: A randomized, 
double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Obesity Research & Clinical 
Practice. 2009;3(3).

van Rossum TG, Vulto AG, Hop WC, Schalm SW. Glycyrrhizin-induced 
reduction of ALT in European patients with chronic hepatitis C. Am J 
Gastroenterol. 2001;96(8):2432-2437.

Read more: 
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/licorice-000262.htm#ixzz23kQCjdk6

<>

http://voices.yahoo.com/black-licorice-health-risks-10330865.html
A recent announcement by the Food and Drug Administration advises
consumers of the potential health risks of eating too much black licorice.

The issue is due to glycyrrhizin, a sweetening compound found in
licorice root. This compound can cause the body's potassium levels to
drop, which may lead to high blood pressure and abnormal heartbeat. It
can also lead to water retention and swelling. These conditions could
potentially land a person in the emergency room.

Because of this risk, the FDA has advised that people over the age of 40
should not eat over 2 ounces of black licorice a day.

Despite this warning, consumers should not be overly concerned since
this is not a widespread risk. Only one black licorice case was reported
in the last year.

Licorice-lovers can also find relief in knowing that once you stop
consuming licorice, your potassium levels go right back up and there are
no permanent health effects. Plus, many licorice-flavored products don't
contain any actual licorice, but rather flavored with anise-oil.

For several years, licorice root has been used as a remedy for a wide
variety of health problems, such as heartburn, stomach ulcers, sore
throat, cough, and some viral infections. However, there is no evidence
for these health benefits.

Consumers should also keep in mind that black licorice can interfere
with some medications. These include birth control pills and heart
medications. It can also effect many dietary and herbal supplements, so
consumers should contact their doctor for any concerns.

Sources:
FDA Warns Against Too Much Black Licorice
http://healthland.time.com/2011/10/28/trick-or-treat-fda-warns-against-too-much-black-licorice/