Licorice Update 2022-06-12

[Bolt_Upright]

Licorice Update 2022-06-12: Today I did a deep dive on Licorice for PD.

1: Why Take Licorice?

A: This 6 month trial with 39 participants showed improvements in UPDRS, motor tests, and rigidity: Efficacy of oral administration of licorice as an adjunct therapy on improving the symptoms of patients with Parkinson's disease, A randomized double blinded clinical trial 2019 sciencedirect.com/science/a... : 39 patients in the trial. Six weeks after intervention, total UPDRS, daily activities and tremor were significantly improved with a considerable effect size. A significant better motor test and rigidity scores were observed 4 months after licorice intake (p > 0.05). No electrolyte abnormality, significant changes in blood pressure or blood glucose levels were observed during the study. Each 5cc of syrup contained 136 mg of licorice extract with 12.14 mg glycyrrhizic acid, and also 136 μg of polyphenols.

2: Dangers of Taking Licorice:

A: There are hazards, like hypertension, if you are susceptible or take too much: KosAbility: Licorice - Candy Or Medication? 2020 dailykos.com/stories/2020/6... and Life-Threatening Complications of Excessive Licorice Consumption ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

3: Why Does Licorice Help PD?

A: We are not sure. One possibility is: “Licorice is an MAO-B inhibitor. Monoamine Oxidase B [MAO-B] breaks down dopamine. By inhibiting its activity, dopamine levels in the brain are increased. This is useful in Parkinson's, where there is a shortage of dopamine”: KosAbility: Licorice - Candy Or Medication? 2020 dailykos.com/stories/2020/6...

B: Or something in Licorice may be neuroprotective. Isoliquiritigenin (ISL) may protect dopaminergic cells under oxidative stress conditions by regulating the apoptotic process: Isoliquiritigenin Isolated from Licorice Glycyrrhiza uralensis Prevents 6-Hydroxydopamine-Induced Apoptosis in Dopaminergic Neurons 2012 jstage.jst.go.jp/article/bb...

4: How much glycyrrhizic acid is in Licorice Root Extract?

A: I'm not sure. I found this “The amount of glycyrrhizin varies from 7% to 10% or more depending on growing conditions. Glycyrrhizin, glycyrrhizic acid, and glycyrrhizinate amount to 10% to 25% of the root extract”. If “glycyrrhizin varies from 7% to 10%” and “Glycyrrhizin, glycyrrhizic acid, and glycyrrhizinate amount to 10% to 25% of the root extract”, that would seem to indicate that “glycyrrhizic acid, and glycyrrhizinate amount to 3% to 15% of the root extract”. I am going to throw a dart and put glycyrrhizic acid at 8% of the root extract. This is in the ballpark of “Each 5cc of syrup contained 136 mg of licorice extract with 12.14 mg glycyrrhizic acid” (which is 11% glycyrrhizic acid.

5: How Much Licorice Root Extract Does It Take to Get 12.14 mg Glycyrrhizic Acid?

A: My High School calculations tell me that 12.14mg / 0.08 = 151.75 mg licorice root extract.

B: But I am guessing at the 8% figure. GZA could be as low as 2%.

C: So (this is not medical advice) I am going to go with 600 mg of Licorice Root Extract twice a day. That could be anywhere between 12 and 48 mg of Glycyrrhizic Acid twice a day.

D: My Licorice Root Extract says 600 mg twice a day on the package, and 750 mg 1-3 times a day on Amazon. I understand that the people that sell Licorice Root Extract are frequently not qualified to give dosing advice. Organic Licorice Root Extract 20:1 Powder, 8 Ounce amazon.com/gp/product/B079N...

I have a PDF version of this post over on FB: facebook.com/groups/rbdpd

Thanks park_bear . You can see I leaned heavily on your KosAbility article.

[park_bear]

You are welcome, Bolt. It helped me a little at a dosage of 100 milligrams once or twice daily.

[Smittybear7 in reply to park_bear]

What things did it help? I wish you continued success heard

[park_bear in reply to Smittybear7]

Motor impairment, which is my most troublesome symptom

[Smittybear7 in reply to park_bear]

How do you know if it is safe to use with other medication and supplements?

[park_bear in reply to Smittybear7]

If you want to try this you would need to read the various links in Bolt_Upright's report above.

[Bolt_Upright in reply to Smittybear7]

mountsinai.org/health-libra...

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).

Diuretics, hormonal medications, and many other medications interact with licorice.

[Smittybear7 in reply to Bolt_Upright]

How do you find a dr to monitor that? My Pcp isn't in to alternative treatments. Thanks

[Bolt_Upright in reply to Smittybear7]

I'm sorry. I have no idea. I am kind of reckless with this stuff. You can search on "functional doctor" which will cost you a pretty penny. Or you can find places that test blood pretty cheap. I just wing it (I have a HS Degree, a fatalistic attitude, and poor impulse control).

[CaseyInsights in reply to Bolt_Upright]

“I have a HS Degree, a fatalistic attitude, and poor impulse control” 🤯

🥹😆🥹 I just screamed!

[AmyLindy]

Requested to join FB Group

[Bolt_Upright in reply to AmyLindy]

Approved.

[dvoranel]

Thank you Bolt. I just ordered some. I also sometimes have very low blood pressure and this may help that also.

[Marimar70]

So the licorice candy is no good? So what do you put licorice extract in? Pair it with something?

[Bolt_Upright in reply to Marimar70]

If the candy has GZA and you can figure out how much. Amazon sells hard licorice. I find the extract cheaper.

[Bolt_Upright in reply to Marimar70]

I make a peanut butter snack every morning.

Peanut Butter Snack

[Jacstar3]

Requested to join FB. 😊

[Bolt_Upright in reply to Jacstar3]

Approved and thanks.

[JustJeff]

Very interesting Bolt have you noticed an improvement ?

[Bolt_Upright in reply to JustJeff]

I have not been diagnosed with PD. I have REM Sleep Behavior Disorder, a sore left shoulder and leg, a poor sense of smell, and occasional involuntary muscle movements.

I take a lot of things.

In the last year of not having PD, my symptoms have improved marginally:

I can smell a little better.

Less involuntary movements.

Shoulder used to be sore down to my forearm, now it is down to halfway down my upper arm.

My RBD is much better. Not gone, but now about every fifth night and I am not talking, falling out of bed, punching, or throwing pillows. Mostly I just move a little (which is still not good enough. I want it gone).

I never had a tremor (maybe slight when holding a fork or a plate, but that could have been in my head), but lately I noticed a real calm in my hands. But like I said, I take a lot of things.

[PDWarrior1900 in reply to Bolt_Upright]

if you live in an area with lots of sun (like i do) -- get direct sunlight several times a week, for at least 10 minutes (i do 20 minutes, each side of me)

[PDWarrior1900]

excellent post, thank you

[Discogs_discogs]

I take DGL supplements instead. That is licorice root extract with the high blood pressure chemical removed, along with the risks associated with it.

[flyboypiper in reply to Discogs_discogs]

Is the DGL product missing the active ingredient needed? Deglycyrrhizinated

[kstavert]

I just got my package of licorice root from Amazon.

how are you consuming it?

[Bolt_Upright in reply to kstavert]

Sometimes I just put a quarter teaspoon in my mouth and stick it to the roof of my mouth.

Usually I have it in my peanut butter snack.

Peanut Butter Snack

[kstavert]

after i asked you, i looked into the package and my finger just stuck itself into the soft powder and plopped itself into my mouth.....

MY..... what an awesome flavour.. much more intense than the licorice sticks at the movies, eh!!

Since i am the only one eating it, i think i will go that route for a wee while. thank you so much for telling us about it...

only, I do not remember what it's supposed to help with.

[Bolt_Upright in reply to kstavert]

The reasons are in the original post (above)

[kstavert]

I am loving the taste of the licorice and went looking for more info. Because licorice has happy memories attached, i was not thinking that there could be very serious - to possibly life threatening side effects.

i saw 'the dangers of taking licorice ' above but for some reason, it didn't register... then i read this article: verywellhealth.com/the-bene...

Apparently, one should not "take licorice supplements for more than three to six weeks."

[Bolt_Upright in reply to kstavert]

I am not a doctor. I did follow a link from that article to this: winchesterhospital.org/heal...

"The standard dose of whole licorice is 5-15 grams per day. However, you should not use doses this high for more than a few weeks. Excessive use of licorice (not DGL) may increase blood pressure and cause fluid retention, headache, and loss of potassium.

A maximum adult dose of 0.3 grams of licorice root per day has been recommended by experts for long-term use. Larger doses should only be taken under the supervision of your doctor."

So... I take 600 mg twice a day. 1.2 grams a day. That is less than the 5-15 grams per day for short term use but more than the 300 mg a day for long term use. Thanks for sharing.

[flyboypiper]

Is the DGL form of product missing the active ingredient needed? DGL = Deglycyrrhizinated