MTX tends to have a nasty effect on me, causing constipation.
I find that pure hard liquorice relieves it but you do not need to suck more than half a piece.
It was a strong flavour to get used to but if stuck to the roof of the mouth and sucked gently at intervals, I got used to it.
Some people are practically addicted to the stuff!
Doesn't have that effect on me but I do love it! Thank you for post x
Is it the same as I posted?
I absolutely love ordinary soft liquorice eg Australian, but quit eating seeet things like that. 
Yes! But I have bowel issues so could be diff for me. I just wanted to say thank you because it's a great tip! X
Oh, that’s nice of you!
I have some bowel issues too, after surgery nearly three years ago. But probably different cause to yours, and anyway we are all different.
Thanks for your replies.
Do you mind me asking what surgery? I have had severe constipation since I was a child- muscles don't work. I'm looking at an ACE/ Mace procedure or possibly a colostomy. It's scaring me a bit! I'm waiting for an appointment... X
I am glad it was nothing like that, though had I delayed in getting treated it might have been.
It was a very big rectocele ie bulge of bowel pushing against wall of vagina. A&P repair and other procedures done together. Constipation is the last thing I need if no repeats of that surgery/failure of its effectiveness caused by straining. Unpleasant!
I tend to be the other way with mxt
But love liquorice!
Hi Matilda!
I was too, and if the dose is changed it starts over... First the looseness then the dry stools. Nuisance, never know what to expect!
But then it settles and is ok with Dulcoease or the rock hard pure liquorice; latter tends to be gentler and effective for me.
When I was constipated as a child my mum used to give me a piece of the hard liquorice, the one that's like glass & when you hit it with a hammer it breaks into shards. Nowadays I've to limit myself to half a dozen Pontefract cakes (or Pomfret depending on where you're from) otherwise I'll be running to the loo! Still love chewing on licorice root, one of my favourite treats as a child, love Tics too. My h's family come from near Broken Bridge (Pontefract) & Castleford too where it's grown, they were brought up on licorice as it was plentiful in the area.
Be careful not to eat too much at one time as it can be toxic so if anyone's thinking of trying it for constipation eat it in moderation.
Good advice!
The rock hard stuff does come with the same warning. X
Oh good.
There are several sweetie factories in Pontefract and the smell that wafts over the town sometimes is mouthwatering. They still make pontefract/pomfret cakes here. Mmmm
On that sweet note, good night! Need my bed. X
Do they still grow it there Jan?
Not for industrial sweet-making now. There are a few specimens as feature plants in speciality gardens but its mostly imported as I understand it. I wanted to buy a plant but the roots get big and are very invasive.
J
That's such a shame. I know licorice can be a thug, could you not keep a plant in a pot, or plant in it the ground in a plant pot to stop it from spreading? That's what we do with mint & bamboo. It'd be a shame not to if only for it being a perennial & having differing foliage from most other plants, it's a flowerer too. It reminds be a bit of a low growing eucalyptus, we have one of those in the porch.
A thug indeed. Those roots used to be harvested after five years and they went down 6 feet. No thank you. I may invest in a mulberry, as in the nursery rhyme (based on events at Wakefield gaol), just to show willing.
telegraph.co.uk/gardening/g...
J
Ah, perfect. Touching too if anyone knows the gaol's history.
Yes I love licorice !
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