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Licorice - Uses and Benefits

Alternative Names:

licorice root, licorice, liquorice, sweet root, gan zao (Chinese licorice)

 

Herb Description

Licorice is a botanical an ancient herb (Glycyrrhiza glabra) that has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries. Licorice (often spelled "liquorice" in ancient herbals) is a member of the legume family, whose cousins include beans, peas and the herb broom. its roots have two primary desirable qualities: first, some varieties of licorice root are fifty times sweeter than sugar and may be chewed or eaten as a sweet and making it a useful component of candies and flavorings; second, licorice has been for thousands of years sought after for its reputed medicinal qualities. Licorice is one of those herbs that crosses the lines among fragrance, flavor and medicinal herb.

It is widely use in many parts of the world. In sanskrit, it is called sweet stalk. The Greeks named it sweet root. And the Chinese its gancao, which means sweet grass.The most familiar licorice is European licorice Glycyrrhiza glabra. The plant is often found under the name Liquiritia officinalis . The Latin name Liquiritia, is derived the English name Liquorice (Lycorys in the thirteenth century), is a corruption of Glycyrrhiza, as shown in the transitional form Gliquiricia. The Italian Regolizia, the German Lacrisse or Lakriz, the Welsh Lacris and the French Reglisse have the same origin. Licorice was so valued in ancient Egypt that even King Tutankhamen was buried with a supply. Licorice is the second most prescribed herb in China, where it is suggested for treatment of the spleen, liver and kidney.

 

Property

  • Anodyne
  • Antioxidant
  • Antispasmodic
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Demulcent
  • Depurative
  • Diuretic
  • Emollient
  • Estrogenic
  • Expectorant
  • Pectoral

uses and benefits

Powdered liquorice root is very effective in cough , mouth ulcers,peptic ulcers and has been used for this purpose since ancient times, especially in ayurvedic medicine where it is also used in tooth powders . Modern cough syrups often include liquorice extract as an ingredient. Naturopathic medicinal uses include treatment of peptic, oral ulcers, hypoglycemia, diabetes and Addison's disease, which is a malfunction of the adrenal glands.

Used in following Symptom:

  • Arthritis
  • Asthma
  • Bladder
  • Constipation
  • Depression
  • Fatigue
  • Fever
  • Intestinal Inflammation
  • Kidney Problems
  • Liver Problems
  • Sore Throat
  • Spasms
  • Ulcers
  • Edema (peripheral, pulmonary), secondary to increased extra cellular fluid from water retention
  • Hypertension
  • Spasms/tetany
  • Hyporeflexia, muscle wasting, weakness, flaccid paralysis
  • Myoglobinuria/rhabdomyolysis
  • Trousseau and Chvostek signs (from hypokalemia with alkalosis)
  • Cardiac arrest, dysrhythmias (rare)
  • Rales

Licorice used to strengthen and balance the female reproductive system. Some compounds found in licorice are thought to help the adrenal glands function more smoothly in conditions of stress and exhaustion. The adrenal glands are responsible for hormones that keep the body systems balanced.It is also used as an emulsifier to create foam in drinks and alcoholic beverages.

 

side effects

Licorice should not be used for more than four to six weeks in therapeutic doses otherwise it may cause deficiency in potassium.It could increase the risk of preterm labor if taken by Pregnant women.Some people feel muscle pain and numbness in the arms and legs. Too much licorice can also cause weight gain. These problems can probably be avoided if dosages are use under the recommended guidelines.

if taken in excess it leads to high blood pressure ,lack in salt , water & shows low potassium levels & cause a heart problems.More than 4 to 6 weeks has not been thoroughly studied.so should not taken in excess. licorice can affect the body's levels of a hormone called cortisol and related steroid drugs, such as prednisone,if taken in large amounts.

 

dosage

Take 2 capsules with a meal 3 times daily; ATC concentrated, take 1 capsule with a meal twice daily; liquid, take 20-25 drops with water 3 times daily.

Powdered root, 1/2 to 1 drachm. Fluid extract, 1 to 4 drachms. Comp. powder, B.P., 1 to 2 drachms. Solid extract, 1 drachm. Comp. lozenges, U.S.P. Solid extract in stick form, known as Liquorice Juice.

Licorice can be taken in the following ways:

  • Dried root: 1 to 5 g as an infusion or decoction three times per day
  • Licorice 1:5 tincture: 2 to 5 mL three times per day
  • DGL extract: 0.4 to 1.6 g three times per day for peptic ulcer
  • DGL extract 4:1: in chewable tablet form 300 to 400 mg 20 minutes before meals for peptic ulcer

drug interactions

Ace-inhibitors and diuretics
If you are taking angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or diuretics (except potassium-sparing diuretics) to regulate blood pressure, don't use licorice products

Aspirin
Animal studies shows that licorice may reduce stomach irritation as well as the risk of stomach ulcers associated with aspirin.

Digoxin
licorice may dangerously increase the risk of toxic effects from digoxin, So this herb should not be taken with this medication.

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