The word ‘licorice,’ probably brings to mind the black or red candy in long sticks or bite-sized pieces. To be honest, the candy has little or no licorice in it. But its namesake is rich in value - primarily the licorice root! The name comes from two Greek roots meaning ‘sweet root.’ Officially it is Glycyrrhiza glabra, Liquiritia officinalis but also known as Chinese Licorice, Sweet Licorice, Kuo-lao, Gan Cao, Kan-ts’ao, Sweet Wood, and Yasti Madhu, and others. When used in moderation, licorice is one of the most powerful herbs we have.
The licorice plant can grow to over four feet with bluish purple and white flowers that resemble the blooms of the sweet pea. The plants are found largely in the countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. To process the root, the dried licorice roots are cleaned, ground, and then boiled until the mixture is curdled. The strong tasting extract is dried again. This is given natural flavors, then dissolved in water and formed in molds.
Licorice has well documented history. Licorice has been discovered in the tombs of Egyptian pharaohs, including that of Tutankhamen. The ancient Hindus believed it increased sexual vigor when prepared as a beverage with milk and sugar. In Greece and Rome, licorice was employed as a tonic and also as a remedy for coughs, colds, and sore throats. Three thousand year ago the Chinese affirmed that eating the root would give them strength and endurance. They prepared a special tea of it for use as a medicine. In North American folk medicine, licorice was used as a cough suppressant, expectorant, laxative, and treatment for various cancers. Native Americans used licorice to alleviate pain for women experiencing a difficult childbirth. Early pharmacists used it as a sweetening agent and flavoring in many of their syrups and lozenges. Today, licorice extracts are used in sweeteners for diabetics and those suffering from hypoglycemia. Licorice stays potent for a long time too. A sample of licorice from 756 A.D. was found to retain its active ingredients. Licorice is so important in Pontefract, Great Britain, that they still celebrate a licorice harvest festival there.
The value of licorice starts in its work as an antibacterial immune system stimulant. Its two fold punch comes from its intrinsic value, and its ability to cause other herbs to reach their full potential as well. One potent ingredient is glycyrrhizin, a substance that is 50 times sweeter than sugar. This substance also seems to stop the growth of many bacteria and viruses such as influenza A. Licorice is especially useful for general fatigue, a mucous membrane infection, radiation treatment, cancer, or immune suppression.
Licorice extracts are used extensively as ingredients in cough drops, cough syrups, antismoking lozenges, tonics, laxatives, and other preparations. They are also used as flavoring agents to mask bad tastes in certain medicines. For this reason alone it is good to have around when children are sick.
Licorice is best known to some for its estrogenic effects, which make is a useful herb for menopause. Its antiulcer activity make it an herb of choice for both stomach and duodenal ulcer problems. Because it stimulates expectoration and heals mucous membrane systems, it has a long history of use for upper respiratory infections. Licorice is used in treating many ailments, including (in alphabetical order) arthritis, asthma, athlete’s foot, baldness, body odor, bursitis, canker sores, chronic fatigue, depression, colds and flu, coughs, dandruff, emphysema, fungal infections, gingivitis and tooth decay, gout, heartburn, HIV, liver problems, Lyme disease, menopause, prostate enlargement, psoriasis, shingles, sore throat, tendonitis, tuberculosis, ulcers, viral infections, and yeast infections.
Glycyrrhizin is not the only potent medication in licorice. Hundreds of other healing substances have been identified in licorice. Some are flavonoids and various plant estrogens (phytoestrogens). They stimulate and regulate the adrenal glands and the pancreas. This helps control insulin. Licorice acts as a natural cortisone or as a cortisone substitute. Licorice helps injured voice muscles and improves the voice when hoarseness or throat damage occur. Licorice works for the good of the intestinal tract. It acts as a mild laxative. It also strengthens the heart and circulatory system.
Licorice can be ingested as a tea or a tincture. You can also easily grind it up, and use it in capsules. It can also make other medications more palatable. Try sprinkling small amounts on dishes so as to add nutritional value to the dish without changing the flavor.
A few warnings are in order. It is best to use licorice is in combination with other bulk herbs. When used in excess, problems can occur. Licorice can cause water retention and can raise blood pressure. If you suffer from high blood pressure, prolonged use should be avoided. Licorice can also cause a mild unwanted adrenal stimulation. Avoid using too much licorice internally during pregnancy or nursing. Licorice also reacts with many prescription drugs. For this reason, if you are using other medication, consult with your doctor before taking licorice.
Those who regularly use Licorice Root receive natural cortisone, relief from hypoglycemia, strengthened circulatory and more health boosting benefits. To find out more about this and other bulk herbs, visit More Than Alive - an online store and trusted resource for family health information.