Licorice
Avoid Licorice
Glycyrrhiza glabra
Glycyrrhiza uralensis
(Chinese licorice)
Avoid licorice. It can raise blood pressure, interact with certain blood pressure medications, be used by smokers to quit smoking. In excessive doses (like a bag of candy) licorice can cause liver toxicity. The sweetness in licorice comes from glycyrrhizin, a compound said to be 50 times sweeter than sugar. Licorice also can prevent high serum potassium for dialysis patients. On the other hand eating large doses of licorice can lead to a very low potassium in individuals not on dialysis. Licorice lowers potassium by inhibition of the enzyme 11-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, an enzyme that normally inactivates cortisol in the kidney. Cortisol acts at the same kidney receptor as the hormone aldosterone and mimics aldosterone excess. Ace inhibitors and diuretics -- If you are taking angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or diuretics for high blood pressure, do not use licorice products. Licorice could interfere with the effectiveness of these medications or could worsen possible side effects.
raises BP
interferes BP medications
diuretic
extract helps h. pylori
helps gastric ulcer
