Posted by Larry Hoover on September 5, 2004, at 10:27:02
In reply to Licorice, posted by Simus on September 3, 2004, at 23:47:55
> Kara and Larry,
>
> Well today around 6pm I FINALLY got up the courage to try the licorice after a couple of years. (I have become leary of taking anything since a few BAD reactions.) Well... At around 9pm I had a slice of pizza (late and not great supper). I wasn't feeling well, but I attributed it to waiting so long for supper. Within minutes I was running to the bathroom and my stomach violently returned my dinner. Then the diarrhea started. I was so miserable that I was contemplating going to the hospital. I called my family physician and told him I took licorice. He wasn't surprised with the reaction, and said that licorice is toxic to a lot of people. He told me to just ride it out for about 12-24 hours, and it will be out of my system and I will feel better (and to stick to liquids).
>
> I was just wondering if either of you have any thoughts on this.
>
> SimusOh, most certainly, I do.
Licorice is an accepted treatment for stomach upset. It is not known to cause it.
Licorice can be toxic, if you take it for months on end. It causes pseudo-aldosteronism.
I think there are two reasonable explanations for your experience.
1. Coincidence. You were going to be sick anyway.
2. Allergy. That is a possibility, but it would be exceedingly rare, and I'd have thought you'd know about that already, unless you seldom eat licorice.If you think you can bear the risk, try taking some on another day, with a meal.
Challenge/rechallenge is an accepted way to consider coincidence as a possible explanation.
Lar
poster:Larry Hoover
thread:384584
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20040901/msgs/386643.html