Licorice - Monograph

Common Name – Licorice

Botanical Name – Glycyzrrhiza glabra

Parts Used – Root

Active Constituents – Triterpenes, flavonoids, coumarins, chalcones, polysaccharides and volatile oil.

So what is Licorice good for?

Therapeutic Properties – anti-inflammatory, anti-hepatotoxic, anti-spasmodic, demulcent, emetic, expectorant, laxative, rejuvenative, anti-allergenic, anti-viral and phytoestrogenic.

Licorice helps to support proper function of the adrenalin gland.

Respiratory tract – bronchitis, asthma and cough (both dry and productive).

Digestive tract – mouth ulcers, heartburn and stomach ulcers.

Licorice can also be taken for all forms of inflammation problems.

Licorice can be used to treat herpes can be used as part of treatment of aids and hepatitis C.

Licorice may be helpful in lowering high sugar levels.

In Chinese medicine licorice is believed to have a balancing effect on a herbal formula.

Licorice can be helpful in sweetening herbal formulas for kids.

Dosage   

Tincture – 20-40 drops two or three times a day.

Dry root – 1-4 grams three times a day.

How do you make licorice tea?

Boil 1-4 grams of the dry root in 1 cup of water for ten minutes and strain out the dry herb.

Contraindications

Licorice should not be taken by pregnant women. Licorice should not be taken in case of edema. Licorice should not be taken by people who suffer from high blood pressure.

Licorice should not be taken with medications for high blood pressure or steroids.

Licorice should not be taken for more than a two month period. Chronic ingestion of licorice root in any form can cause serious health issues.

Research articles with links

A Drug over the Millennia : Pharmacognosy, Chemistry, and Pharmacology of Licorice

 

http://ci.nii.ac.jp/els/110003648869.pdf?id=ART0004170950&type=pdf&lang=en&host=cinii&order_no=&ppv_type=0&lang_sw=&no=1309258438&cp=

Anti-Helicobacter pylori flavonoids from licorice extract

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0024320502018647