For those who saw my post about getting pins and needles in my feet and legs and then going numb, and then me collapsing, I have a possible answer which I have run past a well respected, leading Australian pharmacist and herbalist and will speak with my EP and GP about.
Two or three hours before heading to bed I cleaned up the kitchen and saw a packet of Liquorice Allsorts there that someone had given us. I decided to have a treat and have 3 or 4 with my peppermint tea. I didn’t eat any liquorice when I was on a strong cocktail of heart drugs as I know there can be interactions and that liquorice isn’t as innocent as we may think.
This week I have been reading medical texts and newspapers articles about numbness, paralysis and even death from liquorice overdoses. I wouldn’t have thought the amount I ate could have any impact but who knows. They checked my electrolytes in the hospital but that was about 12 hours later.
Anyway my pharmacist contact said, whilst it’s very rare he has seen papers about things like this and told me to go the cupboard and put the rest of the packet in the bin immediately.
It’s a hypothesis 🧐 at this stage and I’ll be interested to see what my doctors say. I’ll let you know.
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Kaz747
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Wow. Interesting thought, let us know what comes of your research. Hope you are feeling ok now. An answer is needed though, its been an unsettling an event for you. Best wishes,
Howw interesting. As a young teanager we used to buy liquorice sticks from a local shop and chew them all day long till our tongues were black such was our want. Probabaly not allowed to sell them now!
As far as I know those liquorice sticks don't contain liquorice at all. They're made with treacle ...if they're the ones that are kind of brown when you bite into them and spongey. I didn't know liquorice all sorts had any liqorice either I thought it was treacle and anaseed. I think annaseed also can do things to people. Forget what now. But your safe with those Barrets bars or the fat brown inside ones. Its just treacle here in Ireland anyway. Different countries are different.
About ten years ago I had a flu jab. I went home, made a cup of tea and ate a doughnut. Very shortly afterwards I developed a mild breathing problem, went back to the surgery, they kept their eye on me for an hour or so and told me not to have another flu jab.
Oh that's bad! But depending on your age and vulnerability as a person, surely you could find out why you had this reaction to your flu jab! How long ago was that Physalis????🙏🥰
Yes, Kaz it certainly will be interesting to hear what your doctor says.
I too like liquorice, but have tried not to eat any sweets at all since my gallbladder last kicked off. Before that happened I had eaten a pack of those liquorice wheels (over a few days). My daughter had bought them for me along with a lot of other sweets at Christmas. I guess the sugar and fat content can't be good for us either.
Yes I try not to have too many sweets because of the sugar as well. I just thought I’d have a treat. It could be total confidence so will see what the doctors say.
I have to avoid liquorice, very plausible theory. Liquorice root is different to the sweets though so before you do throw away - check the wrapper for ingredients & make a note.
Yes I did check the packet and it does contains liquorice extract which contains glycyrrhizin which is the compound that can cause a problem (usually in large doses).
Hi Kaz there is very little liquorice in 3 or 4 liquorice alsorts , I think you would need to eat more than that to have an effect and a lot to overdose .I speak as someone who loves the aniseed taste and could down a packet of Pontefract cakes in one go in the days when I ate sugar ...
Only way you'll know is by eating them again at a different time. I am allergic to rosemary and it makes me hallucinate which is mad... I got a herbal tincture one time and had told the lady I was allergic to rosemary but for some reason she gave me something with rosemary in it and other unlabelled things... I had had the reaction after drinking rosemary tea once and it was horrid. I felt aweful taking the tincture she gave me... So stopped. I kept the bottle and a bout a year late rwhen I was feeling well took a small bit and noted the same reaction but thankfully at a lower level just mild...and obviously then I poured it down the sink. It was only then I was sure it was indeed the tincture that had caused the reaction. There may have been a safer way but I wanted to know for sure and that was the only way I could know. Now I avoid anything with rosemary in it, even lamb.
That’s very interesting to know .just before Christmas I bought a bag of Australian liquorice in Lakeland store and ate a good bit of it and felt so bad later that day I had to lie down felt like I was going into af but didn’t ,never would have made the connection until now thanks for that glad you are feeling better.
I don't buy any Sweets at all, accept as a treat now and then for my grandkids! I used to love Haribo jelly babies, but now can't remember last time I had any to be honest! Also was borderline diabetic so it's best to be avoided! Well I do have a sweet tooth but I decided no sweet treats from the shop or supermarket! I feel better for it!! 👌
I know that liquorice can affect blood pressure, but perhaps it's even more evil than that! I love liquorice but will now treat it with a bit more suspicion. Hope you're okay now.
Several years ago I had spent the day in a nearby town shopping and hadn't eaten all day, every time I looked all the cafes and restaurants were packed. I was ravenous, and at closing time I hurriedly bought a large bag of Pick and Mix (that included some liquorice). I ate the whole bag on the bus home. My heavily pregnant daughter came to see me that evening and I had a really alarming funny turn, I was very clammy and practically losing consciousness. She ended up calling an ambulance and I was taken to Charing Cross Hospital where they ran all sorts of tests, and later I was checked for pheochromocytoma and insulinoma tumours. Everything was clear, and now I assume I had a massive sugar slump. The episode totally cured me of my very sweet tooth, and these days I think twice about even having a couple of squares of chocolate (and now liquorice as well). I am still very careful and carry a small snack when I am out walking my dog.
That’s very scary too Irene. I often have a couple of squares of dark chocolate and some almonds when I want something sweet. I’ll have to stick to that in future.
That’s interesting Kaz. Have heard it doesn’t do your bp any favours, and haven’t eaten any for years, but used to gorge on it as a child, and loved it.
It’s very tasty 😋 It was always a big treat when dad bought home a packet of liquorice allsorts when we were kids.
Oh well done you. I have liquorice in my cupboard. the natural kind like a stick. I was also reading about them and chewed one. It was horrible. I'm glad I spat it out as I get pins and needles in my legs and have low bp ...very glad I didn't go any further than tasting them. A lot of things herbal I've had a strong negative reaction to...Siberian ginseng ..and even rosemary... Rosemary makes new hallucinate there's something called thujone in it that's hallucinogenic and I'm obviously super sensitive to it. Sometimes simple things in your cupboard or not in your cupboard can have a huge impact on your health and wellbeing. Thats why it annoys me that its so overlooked.
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there is very little liquorice in 3 or 4 liquorice alsorts , I think you would need to eat more than that to have an effect and a lot to overdose .I speak as someone who loves the aniseed taste and could down a packet of Pontefract cakes in one go in the days when I ate sugar ...
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