|
: Regarding licorice is the toxicity rate been studied with more than : reaction from men and women chewing tobacco, because if there was I would like : to know about it. Anyone who would poison their bodies with high Yes. There have been reported cases of poisoning from licorice candy (most candy uses anise now rather than licorice) and from herbal cough remedies containing licorice extract. We also had a guy in here a couple of months ago who had a cardiac arrythmia from the tea (granted, he drank a fantastic deal of it). The dangers of tobacco do NOT contain pseudoaldosteronism, which is the root dilemma of the blood pressure rise along with the electrolyte imbalances. We are talking about a sudden dramatic rise in blood pressue which is accompanied by swelling of the face and feet and which stops when licorice is withdrawn and the electrolytes are balanced. This type of syndrome simply is not associated with tobacco. Here is what Tyler says: "Licorice consists of the underground parts, technically the rhizone and roots of varieties of Glycyrrhiza glabra L.which possess a sweet yellow wood. It is usually called licorice root or glycyrrhiza. The root has been used since extremely ancient times as a flavoring and for its expectorant and demulcent properties inside the treatment of coughs and colds.(1) A quite confusing scenario exists concerning significantly so-called licorice candy. A fantastic deal of it contains little or no licorice whatsoever, but derives its flavor from anise oil. The taste of licorice and anise do resemble 1 another, but in other respects, such as potential toxicity, they are very different. It is unfortunate the much more common, harmless anise flavor is practically often referred to as licorice. [deleted stuff] Much of the sweetness of licorice is due to glycyrrhizin, also known as glycyrrhizic acid, a saponin glycoside which occurs inside the root in concentrations averaging between 5 and 9%. It is about 50 times sweeter than sugar and is offered commercially in a form identified as ammoniated glycyrrhizin. Throughout World War II, a Dutch physician noted that adminstration of licorice extract produced marked improvement in patients suffering from peptic ulcer, but serious side effects in the form of swelling of the face and limbs were also observed.(2) Since then, numerous reports of toxic effects have been recorded inside the medical literature based on the observation of patients who ate large amounts of livorice candy over long periods of time. One man who had eaten two or 3 36-gram licorice candy bars every day for six to seven years became so weak he could not get out of bed. He needed hospitalization with intensive treatment for much more than one month prior to recovering.(3) Another person, previously in superb health, ate 700 grams (about 1.5 pounds) of licorice candy in a nine-day period. HIs condition necessitated four days of hospital treatment(4). In a controlled experiment, about 100 to 200 grans of licorice twists, (equivalent to 0.7 to 1.4 grans of glycyrrhizin) eaten every day for periods of one to four weeks produced serious symptoms in a group of volunteers. (5) Another fascinating case involved an elderly man who chewed eight to twelve 3-ounce bags of chewing tobacco every day and swallowed the saliva produced. He became so weak that he was unable to sit up or raise his arms above the horizontal position. There was a prompt improvement when he was hospitalized and denied chewing tobacco. Tests revealed that the brand he had been consuming contained extra than 8% of licorice paste and that his usage amounted to between 0.88 and 1.33 grams of glycryyhizin per day, well within the toxic range.(6) The medical literature refers to this condition as pseudoaldosteronism, meaning 1 comparable to that brought about by excessive secretion of the adrenal cortex hormone, aldosterone. In the case of licorice, the syndrome is caused by glycyrrhizin, the structure and physiological effects of which are related to aldosterone or desoxycorticosterone. Symptoms resulting from excessive quantities consist of headache, lethargy, sodium and water retention, excessive excretion of potassium, high blood pressure and even heart failure or cardiac arrest. (7) One common herbal cough remedy contains 1 ounce of licorice root in a quart of water. Directions suggest that one-half pint be drunk at bedtime with additional quantities as needed. (8). The half-pint dose could simply contain 0.5 gram of glycyrrhizin, and that daily amount might be doubled or tripled, depending on the fequency of use. At that rate of consumption, toxic effects could observed after a single week. For persons suffering from high blood pressure or heart trouble, these might be serious. Even though licorice does have a flavor pleasing to a lot of and could also have some utility in treating coughs too as many other conditions, (9), it must be remembered that it's also a potent drug. Large doses over extended periods of time are very toxic. (10)" References: 1. V..E. Tyler, L.R. brady, and J.E. Roberrs: Pharmacognosy, 9th Ed. Lea & Febiger, Philadelphia, 1988, pp 68-69 2. C. Nieman: Chemist and Druggist 177: 741-745; 1962 3. J.W. Conn, D.R. Rovner; and E.L. Cohen: Journal of the American Medical Assn 205: 492-496, 1968 4. T. J. Chamberlain: ibid 213: 1343, 1970 5. M.T. Epstein, E.A. Espiner, R.A.Donald, and H.Hughes: British Medical Journal 1: 488-490, 1977 6. J.D.Blachley and J..P. Knochel: New England Journal of Medicine 302:784-785, 1980 7. Anon: Medical Letter on Drugs and Theraputics 21(7); 30 1979 8. R.C. Wren and R.W. Wren: Potters New Cyclopaedia of Botanical Drugs and Preparations, New Ed, Health Science Press, Hengiscote, England, 1975 9. R.F Chandler: Canadian Pharmaceutical Journal 118: 420-424, 1985 10. Lawrence Review of Natural Products, June, 1989. I strongly recommend _The Honest Herbal_ by Varro Tyler to anyone who is contemplating or making use of herbal medicines. It is the 1 herb book that I have each and every found that relies solely on scientific studies as opposed to folklore *and* which gives references. Tyler himself has impressive credentials, being a tenured professor of pharmacognosy (the branch of pharmacy that deals with herbal medicine) inside the school of pharmacy at Purdue University. The ISBN # is 1-56024-287-6 and it's published by the Haworth Press, 10 Alice Street, Binghamton NY 13904-1580. It is in print, costs about $20 and I got mine via a normal bookstore which special ordered it for me. Shrine of the Cybernetic Madonna BBS 213-766-1356 "The board that Hates Rush Limbaugh *and* Newt Gingrich With A Passion"
|
