Subject: Re: Licorice Cured My Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in Two Hours!!!!

From: Mark Gold <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 23 May 1996 12:08:58 -0401

>Date: 22 MAY 1996 23:26:01 -0700 
>From: Camilla Cracchiolo <[email-masked]>
>Newgroups: triangle.gardens, sci.med.immunology, sci.med.pharmacy,
>    alt.med.fibromyalgia, alt.folklore.herbs, misc.health.alternative,
>    sci.bio.botany, sci.med
>Subject: Re: Licorice Cured My Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in Two Hours!!!! 

>: Unfortunately, you heard inaccurate information.  Every few months, 
>: it seems, someone posts nonsense about how licorice will kill you or 
>: cause liver damage based on misreading the scientific literature.  Of 
>: course, the Chinese would all be dead having ingested the stuff
>: for thousands of years if it were true.

>But Mark: we're not talking about using licorice in the traditional
>Chinese fashion.  The Chinese use it in small amounts, in combination 
>formulas and with close supervision.  Any Chinese herbalist will be
>the first to tell you that one should not mess around with herbs
>unsupervised.  In fact, they're a lot more authoritarian about it
>that Western herbalists are.

Camilla,

First of all, you do not have the experience to say what "*any* Chinese 
herbalist" will say.  It is sad that are twisting words to imply that 
Chinese herbalists will advise against using any herbs except under
their constant supervision.  That's ridiculous of course.  Of course, 
if you have a serious or chronic illness, you are better off seeing a 
real herbalist.

>This IS dangerous, and it's not based on any misreading of the scientific 
>literature. It is, in fact, exactly what has caused the deaths and 
>serious illnesses.  

You are scaremongering again.  Post your evidence from the scientific 
literature (that you say you're not misreading) that *whole* licorice 
root (or extract from whole licorice root) is dangerous.  We're not
talking about single chemical extracts in licorice candy or ulcer
drugs -- the whole root.  I already posted refernces that people can 
followup on as far as research on whole licorice root.

If you came back to reality and said that abuse of licorice root is 
not a good idea and that regular use of significant amounts of 
licorice root by people with *particular* medical conditions is not a 
good idea, then you would be more in line with the advice of real 
herbalists and scientists who have studied the whole root.  To suggest 
that the average person should not use licorice root except under 
supervision is absurd and not supported by any herbalist I've every 
met.

There are many good books by experienced Western and Chinese 
herbalists out there where *legitimate* information about proper use 
(indications, contraindications, etc.) about licorice root can be 
obtained.  The scientific research using *whole licorice root* is 
limited, but it confirms what is generally known by herbalists that 
licorice is safe when used in reasonable amounts by the general 
population.

If you would clearly lay out and even critique the scientific research on
**whole licorice** (forgetting irrelevant abstracts on single chemical
extracts) and discuss the recommendations of experienced herbalists (i.e.,
real herbalists) that can be found in numerous books, that would make your
case more sensible and believable than simply saying "licorice root IS
dangerous" and hoping everyone believes you despite the extensive evidence
proving otherwise. 

Best Wishes,
                             - Mark
                          [email-masked]
             http://www.tiac.net/users/mgold/health.html
(Web Information on Food & Nutrition, Yoga, Detoxification, Emotional
    Healing, Conditions, Preventive Dentistry, Sweetener Resources,
       Stevia, Editorials, Highly Toxic Substances: Aspartame/
            NutraPoison, Toxic Carpeting, Mercury Amalgam
               rBGH, Fluoride, MSG. Much more to come
                  Links to Holistic-Related Sites
                   Usenet Groups, Mailing Lists 
                     No Web Access? Email Me