South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
DGL made from licorice root a helpful herbal remedy
Q: As I understand it, licorice is a valuable herbal remedy. However, it is not appropriate for people like me with high blood pressure.
I read somewhere that there is a process that can make licorice safer. What can you tell me about deglycyrrhizinated licorice?
A: DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice) is an herbal medicine made by removing the glycyrrhizin from licorice root. This compound is responsible for many of the side effects associated with natural licorice. Too much licorice can trigger headaches, low potassium levels, abnormal heart rhythms, reduced libido, edema (swelling) and high blood pressure.
People use DGL supplements to treat ulcers, canker sores and indigestion.
Q: I am suffering from a bum knee and hip arthritis. Going up and down stairs has become challenging. It takes me several days to recover from a vigorous walk.
Because I have high blood pressure, I am reluctant to take ibuprofen or naproxen. I don’t want to risk a heart attack. What natural approaches can I try that won’t give me a bellyache or affect my blood pressure?
A: You are wise to avoid NSAIDs with your medical history. Such drugs can be hard on the stomach, kidneys and heart.
There are arthritis remedies that might also help control blood pressure. One is tart cherry juice. It has anti-inflammatory
activity and has been shown to ease knee pain due to osteoarthritis (Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, August 2013). It can also help improve blood pressure, lower cholesterol and reduce fasting blood glucose (European Journal of Nutrition, April 2021).
Another option to ease joint pain without increasing blood pressure is Certo and grape juice. Grape juice can even help lower blood pressure (Journal of the American College of Nutrition, September-October 2017).
In addition, the yellow pigment curcumin from the Indian spice turmeric has powerful anti-inflammatory activity. It has also been shown to help lower systolic blood pressure in people with hypertension (Pharmacological Research, December 2019).
Q: When I read in your newspaper column that soap could help restless legs syndrome, I really didn’t believe it. But I was so desperate I was willing to try anything.
I sliced Ivory soap bars thin. Then I put the little pieces at the bottom of a full-body pillow, with
the soap bars near my feet. Scraps and any soap chips created from slicing the soap go in my socks while I wear them around the house. After three weeks, this crazy gimmick has worked. It even eliminated my leg cramps. Is it a placebo? I don’t know, but I like the results. Magnesium used to be my solution for RLS, but it really didn’t work that well. Ivory soap also has a mild clean smell.
A: People describe RLS as a creepy-crawly sensation that compels them to move their legs. It often interferes with sleep. Scientists still do not know exactly what causes this distressing condition.
A hypothesis as to how soap might work involves the fragrance limonene. There is some research to suggest that this volatile compound activates TRP channels in the skin. This may calm hyperexcitable nerves (European Journal of Applied Physiology, August 2017).