Thanks, Alicia for pointing out another reason that one needs to be careful
about giving them licorice root beyond it being a real no-no for most
circulatory problems and why people SHOULD look into meds and side effects
(both traditional and alternative meds).  It always pays to be informed.
(Carla had me look up hawthorn, BTW, and that MIGHT hold some future
promise if it doesn't interfere with meds known to work since there is a
study showing that it does help lower blood pressure by dilating major
vessels -- don't know if anyone duplicated the study -- and appears to
have low toxicity; but the author said that further studies ARE needed.)
 
An example of how we are all always learning (A dear friend -- Thanks,
C!  -- reminded me of this learning experience.): I recall when Fritter
had insulinoma we were advised to give her honey to control it.  That was
BEFORE people were doing the surgeries, or giving prednisone or proglycem.
I remember how SHOCKED (not at all joking) I was when later work by expert
vets showed that sweets of any type are in the long run BAD for ferrets
with insulinoma except when a convulsion needs to be stopped!!!!!  Sure,
they control some symptoms but they stress the pancreas so they are
actually a really, really wrong thing to give except when breaking a
seizure.  Low and behold, we are most definitely getting extremely better
results now that we go with surgery when possible, meds when not, and no
sweets (including honey or fruit) except in emergencies.  Pays to read and
learn, and research and learn for the best results for a ferret.
[Posted in FML issue 2788]