Licorice led to hospital visit

August 22, 2017 at 12:00a.m.

Q. My mother was just released from the hospital. She went in when her potassium dropped to 1.2. She could have died, and doctors were surprised that she didn’t.

I looked online and found a case study of a man who ate a lot of licorice cough drops; his potassium dropped to 1. I asked my mother and found out that she has been taking a licorice root supplement for quite some time.

The doctors never asked her about anything she was taking. They just pumped her full of potassium. Three days in a hospital could have been avoided.

A. Normal potassium levels in the blood should range from 3.6 to 5.2. If potassium drops below 2.5, it is considered a medical emergency. Symptoms may include weakness, muscle cramps, irregular heart rhythms and confusion.

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) is known to deplete the body of potassium. Too much, either in candy or as a supplement, also can lead to high blood pressure, fluid retention, headaches and hormonal imbalance.

Another reader shared this experience: “I take meds for high blood pressure. I started eating licorice candy for about a week, and my blood pressure went from 135/80 to 180/98!”

Q. Psoriasis is an inflammatory condition, and capsaicin fights inflammation. I use chili oil on the psoriasis on my elbows. (You can find it in Asian markets, sold for cooking.) Apply it with a cotton swab every night (not your fingers!). The itching goes away almost immediately, and the dry patch fades in about two weeks.

A. You have discovered something dermatologists have been writing about for decades (Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, September 1986). Topical capsaicin (the hot stuff in chili peppers) can help ease psoriasis and its itch. A recent review of botanical treatments for psoriasis confirmed this (American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, August 2017).

Your method of applying capsaicin is unusual, though. Some people utilize a drugstore product such as Capzasin-HP or Zostrix, used to ease the pain of arthritis, muscle strain or shingles.

The hot oil you found in the Asian market is toasted sesame oil infused with hot peppers. We’ve never heard before of anyone using it for the itch of psoriasis. Your caution to use a swab is well-taken: Capsaicin on sensitive tissues such as eyes can burn for a long time.

Q. I take metformin to control blood sugar because I have Type 2 diabetes. Unfortunately, it produces an alarming amount of gas, bloating and bellyaches. Sometimes I have diarrhea, and other times severe constipation. I am at my wits’ end. Do you have any remedies that might work?

A. People often attribute their flatulence to dietary factors, but many medications also can lead to unpleasant problems with gas. Metformin is one of these.

We are sending you our “Guide to Digestive Disorders” in which we discuss remedies for flatulence, constipation and diarrhea. Many people report success against gas with fennel, probiotics like Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, ginger or peppermint. Coconut may help against diarrhea. The guide has a recipe for “Power Pudding” to treat constipation.