Scientists talk about the deadly risks of licorice tea
Canadian scientists conducted research and discovered that licorice root tea causes high blood pressure.
Without a patient who happened to be admitted to the hospital with symptoms of unexplained high blood pressure, doctors would not have been able to note the health risks of herbal tea. The case history was described in the CMAJ Journal.
“Overuse of certain herbal products can have side effects,” says Dr. Jean-Pierre Falet of McGuill University. “These are products containing licorice root extract. They increase blood pressure, cause fluid retention, and decrease potassium levels.”
The “inventor” of the harmful effects of licorice tea was hospitalized with severe hypertension, as well as swelling in the calf area, headache, sensitivity to light and fatigue. The 84-year-old patient was rushed to the emergency room, after which he said he drank licorice root tea in the amount of 1-2 cups per day. This unexpected effect occurred after 2 weeks of drinking the herbal tea.
Dr. Jean-Pierre Falet says this tea is contraindicated for pregnant women, people with heart failure, liver and adrenal gland diseases, as well as children under 1 year old.
