Lenna Posted September 12, 2009 Report Share Posted September 12, 2009 Hi,My son started taking licorice root about 6 weeks ago. This is one of the few medications or supplements that has made a noticeable difference for him since developing POTS 2 years ago. (Florinef neither helped nor hurt.) His doctor gave him permission to try it, but didn't really have any recommendations about how much to take, or how often. The directions on the bottle says 1 - 2 per day. Right now, Danny takes 1 pill upon awakening, and another one in the mid-afternoon when he gets home from school. For those of you who have had success with licorice root, how much do you take, and how often? How long have you been taking it? Do you feel that its effects diminish over time, or does it continue to be effective? I'm wondering if 2/day is the safe amount for Dan to take, or can we increase it to 3/day? (He is 17 years old, 130 lbs.) The capsule he takes has 500 mg. licorice herbal extract, with 60 mg. glycyrrhizin. Thanks.Lenna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliegee Posted September 15, 2009 Report Share Posted September 15, 2009 Hi Lenna-I'm so glad you found something that helps Danny. I don't know anything about licorice, but I'd like to know HOW it works. Is it like florinef (expands blood volume)? I'd love to hear what you know. I hope someone else jumps in re. dosing. I know some members take it.JUlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lenna Posted September 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2009 Hi Julie,After I posted my question about Licorice Root, I realized that it's kind of a stupid question. Because it's a herbal remedy and not controlled by the FDA or whatever, there is so much variation in different brands that the amount you'd take of one brand isn't necessarily the right amount to take of another. Plus, it comes in so many different forms. So I'll stick with the recommendations on the bottle's label, and Dan will continue to take 2/day. Believe me, Dan still isn't dancing in the streets. He struggles to get to school every day. But the licorice root seems to have made just enough difference that he does in fact make it to school (well, school has only been in session for 8 days so far, but still...) I think it has helped improve his overall symptoms, but one thing I definitely have noticed is that is seems to have improved his ability to concentrate.Licorice Root with glycyrrhizin can cause high blood pressure, salt and water retention. These are what is noted as the "side effects" of licorice root. Every website I've looked at cautions about not taking it for more than a few weeks. I'm not sure what is supposed to happen if you take it long term. But until someone tells me otherwise, or its effectiveness seems to diminish, Dan will keep taking it. He physician knows that he's taking it and has given the okay. I would say that anyone thinking about taking licorice root should check with their doctors first. I just want to add that he's taking it INSTEAD of Florinef (which didn't seem to help him). I don't know if you can take Licorice Root along with Florinef. Please don't take them together without checking with your doctor.One other precaution about Licorice Root is that it can deplete your potassium. Dan is taking one potassium supplement a day, but again, I don't feel like I have enough guidance on this. I probably should bring him in to the doctor for a blood test to see if he's low on potassium.Today is Dan's 2nd anniversary of being sick. Yikes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliegee Posted September 17, 2009 Report Share Posted September 17, 2009 Those anniversaries are bittersweet....mostly bitter. He's surviving, hopefully making tiny improvements, finding his "new normal" AND, given his age, he may eventually grow out of this. Wow, licorice sounds exactly like florinef...pretty cool. Florinef does all of the things you list & it depletes the body of potassium. I wonder what the benefits of licorice over florinef would be? It seems more natural- I like that.Hugs to you both-Julie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramakentesh Posted September 19, 2009 Report Share Posted September 19, 2009 Licorice can be very helpful for me at times, but the last crash I was also very jittery more than dizzy and licorice actually made this symptom worse for me.Its good for the dizziness though and its the only thing that really helps for me with that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkweavers Posted September 20, 2009 Report Share Posted September 20, 2009 Ramakentesh,Do you take licorice root specifically because it helps your dizziness? My daughter has tried so many different meds for dizziness and nothing has helped yet. (She's had POTS for 2 and 1/2 years.) It would be nice if that worked for her so she can work on reconditioning her body more often. Have you taken it long term and do you take it every day or only when you feel you need it?Brenda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle Sawicki Posted September 20, 2009 Report Share Posted September 20, 2009 Hi,I have problems retaining water and licorice helps with this. It can also raise your blood pressure and help your body conserve salt, which is a plus for me. I don't take it all the time, but I do take it whenever I start to feel dehydrated. I also take it if I have a busy day ahead of me and know I will be very active. I usually just take one pill but will take another if I feel it is needed. Usually just one pill is enough to help me. I use the SolarRay brand. Here is some more info on licorice root.Michelle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsdmom Posted September 20, 2009 Report Share Posted September 20, 2009 Lenna,I don't remember if I posted this to you before or not, but America's Comounding Pharmacy in Newton has a great resource available. Irena is their 'nutraceutical' specialist and is actually a pharmacist from Germany (I think Germany). Anyway, she helped me with licorice a couple years ago (I couldn't tolerate it) but she has a TON of knowledge of this sort of stuff and may be worth meeting with. Their number is 617-527-1563 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramakentesh Posted September 21, 2009 Report Share Posted September 21, 2009 Licorice in either root form or even in lollies boosts my blood pressure so that I feel less faint and generally have more energy. So yes it helps with the dizziness but I can be sensative to it - too much and i get a migraine or get jittery., Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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