Black Licorice????

**IBNPAIN** · 06-26-2004, 11:55 AM

Hi,
I was just wondering if anyone else had found that eating black licorice helps their bladder pain and if so why do you think that is?

My daughter brought some home with her from some health store, it was called Austrailian Dark Licorice and normally I would have never touched it. Yuck. But she told me to try a piece just for her and I did and it was actually pretty good, so I ate another piece. I was in the midst of my normal awful flare and figured what the heck, I hurt already anyway (not a good attitude to have, I know) but within I would say about 20 minutes my bladder just stopped hurting. I mean no pain, burning or anything. It has not felt like this in almost 6 months. I'm not sure what happened but if it has to do with eating the licorice I will be the first on in line at the health food store on Monday.

Do you think there is any connection, or is this some kind of wierd fluke?

Carol

**classics** · 06-26-2004, 01:46 PM

If it helps, I say use it. There is some information you can search for on the internet on licorice, but in herb form. It is supposed to help lots of ailments. I hope it continues to help you. I love it, maybe I'll buy some and try it myself.

**Dixiefireball** · 06-26-2004, 02:49 PM

Weird but Hey if it works it works! I'm glad it helped you!!
If you continue to use it and it keeps helping you please let us know

sending you hugs and prayers
Rhonda

***ICNDonna*** · 06-26-2004, 03:01 PM

Be cautious about too much licorice. It can strip your body of needed potassium, as well as causing you to retain salt --- and it's bad for anyone with high blood pressure because it can cause an increase in blood pressure.

In limited amounts, I'm sure it's okay, but don't go overboard.

Warm healing thoughts,
Donna

***Sarojini*** · 06-27-2004, 02:29 PM

Hey, Carol, that is very weird, but if it worked for you, definitely keep going with it (in moderation of course).

I hate black licorice so I'm not sure I can try this. I even hate the spice anise, because it has a licorice-like flavor. However, my father and husband love it... they were always asking for all the black jelly beans in the bag....

**sleepyangel30** · 06-27-2004, 03:35 PM

Yep. I agree with donna. Be careful. I always read things before getting them.

**yvette** · 07-04-2004, 01:29 PM

I'v used both licorice and marmallow root drops to help cope with my IC...I forget what properties the licorice has but some people have used it as part of their IC treatment regiment.

y.

**butterfly79** · 07-08-2004, 06:18 PM

my guess is that it increases estrogen levels,
( I read this somewhere)
and might help with other hormones in your body
including stress hormones,
in fact all of ic might be related to unbalanced hormones from reproductive to stress hormones!
I hope this unfogs the mystery

**songbird7** · 07-23-2004, 06:54 PM

Watch out for regular "red colored" liquorish (spelling) It is red for a reason. It's got those dyes in there that irritate IC.

**IBNPAIN** · 07-24-2004, 03:48 AM

Thanks for letting me know about the dye in the red licorice. I have only eaten the black kind and it seems now whenever I feel a flair coming on I can run to the store and buy some Austrailain Black licorice and it's almost like a balm has been applied to my bladder. I asked my doctor about this and he said it was strange and for me to beware of black licorice in large amounts because it can raise my blood pressure, but I check my BP daily and have been steady at around 121/78, which is good for me. I am just gonna take this weird coincidence as a gift from God and be thankful for it.

Hope all of you are doing well.
Carol

**Jeanne D.** · 07-24-2004, 05:29 PM

Black licorice can also interact with some of the medications used to treat high blood pressure, making it a dangerous combination. If you are taking meds to control your B/P, please check with your MD to see if black licorice is safe for you to consume.

Jeanne

**sharon429** · 08-09-2004, 05:21 AM

Hi,

I read this post some time ago and thought Great! I love black licorice so lets try it. I bought the "nips" and would only have a little at a time. They didn't bother my IC but I don't know whether they helped me when I was flaring either. The thing is - I seem to have a kind of weird reaction to them. I have hypoglycemia and know I shouldn't be having sugar but once in awhile its O.K. for me. I'm also on a diet and lately my mood swings have become worse then ever.
Last night I had some black licorice - immediatly afterwards I felt really depressed, then when an incident happened with the kids I lost my temper really quickly and basically went crazy screaming and so on. I've been on and off again depressed lately and did some research on diet last night. It turns out that lack of certain food can make you depressed - less carbo's or more sugars. I don't know if I should go off my diet because I'm not making much progress(even by working out everyday) and like I said my mood swings have taken a turn for the worse.
I've recently gone off my Zolft (2 months ago) and my husband is yelling at me that I shouldn't be doing a diet at the same time I stopped my meds. I don't know but I'm throwing out my black licorice bag. I don't know whether its a coincedence(?) or not - is it possible that I could be having some sort of reaction to it?

Sharon