In a new study, researchers found that a popular herbal tea called licorice tea can bring dangerous health risks.
They found that in some people, the tea could lead to high blood pressure emergency.
The research was conducted by a team from McGill University.
Licorice tea is popular in the Middle East and parts of Europe, and erk sous are especially popular in Egypt during Ramadan.
Previous research has shown that black licorice as a common snack could raise blood pressure.
In addition, the food can lower potassium levels in the body, which lead to abnormal heart rhythms and even paralysis.
In the current study, the team reported a case study. An 84-year-old man visited the emergency department for a high blood pressure emergency.
The researchers found that the condition was induced by consuming homemade tea made from licorice root.
The patient’s blood pressure was severely elevated, and he was suffering from a headache, light sensitivity, chest pain, fatigue and fluid retention in the calves.
The men had a history of high blood pressure, and he had been drinking 1 to 2 glasses daily of homemade licorice root extract for two weeks.
The researchers explain that food and drinks containing licorice root extract can raise blood pressure, cause water retention and decrease potassium levels.
The finding shows that consuming too many herbal products can have harmful side effects.
The team suggests that doctors need to consider screening for licorice root intake in patients with difficult-to-control high blood pressure.
The lead author of the study is Dr. Jean-Pierre Falet from Department of Neurology.
The study is published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
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