Embarrassing Question - Liquorice - is it a laxative?

[crazydazy]

I am a great sufferer of constipation, I was in the Holland and Barrett shop today and bought myself a piece of liquorice, it was lovely.

However I started with pains in my stomach at 3.00 today and have just had a bout of the runs, now believe me when I say this that I think I have had runs about 5 times in my whole life, I just never ever get it.

I don't feel unwell - I was just wondering if anyone knows whether this is known for being a laxative or if I have had a reaction to it or something.

TIA

Yep, think so.

yes, i think it is......

By the way I didn't buy the liquorice to rid myself of constipation, I just live with that, I just fancied some but maybe it was on sale for its laxative purposes then.

Liquorice is a mild laxative and it can be used to relieve heartburn and stomach cramps.

I wouldn't have thought one piece would have had such an immediate effect though

Oh and to add.....as Californifrau knows I am emetophobic and just want reassurance that I don't have a bloody bug.

Yep, it's a laxative!

And you know sugar free sweets? The artifical sweetner they use in those is a laxative too, as my mother found out this week when she ate a whole pack of sugar free wine gums!!

Thanks californifrau, was starting to get seriously worried.....

yep, I always thought that it was a laxative

one stick of licorice wouldn't have that much of a laxative effect though. (i own a health shop, btw)
do you know what brand it was? if sorbitol, or similar, was one of the main ingredients that would be the cause of the problem. lots of brands of licorice have very little actual licorice in them and are just flavoured to taste like licorice

Afterthought - What do men and laxatives have in common? They both irritate the crap out of you!

PMSL ginmummy

Think it was either food poisoning or a bug cos still have crampy pains in my tummy

Thanks californifrau

If it is the kind you get in the health food shop 1 bit could ahve that effect, I quite often use constipation as an excuse to heat a whole bag of liquorice allsorts .

Yes it was and it tasted so nice.

What I should do is try it again some time and see if it has the same effect, then I will know.

yes. unfortunately for my friend she ate a whole bag of blackjacks one evening and shat herself at work the following day, with 2 seconds' warning. oh dear

Moomin

Well tbh I am amazed that it was the liquorice as I am one hard person to clean out!!!

The pain I felt was similar to when I took two senakot tablets, like a very sharp crampy feeling.

Oh well if it was the liquorice then I think I will try it again - its could to have a good clearout every now and then

CD

TMI young lady...............

Ooops sorry

I could go on all night about my bowel habits.....

...but I won't I promise

oh yes

Absolutely - every time I scoff a bag of licorice alsorts in one go I regret it...