Licorice

Glycyrrhiza glabra

Licorice is a sweet and soothing herb and a native of the Mediterranean region as well as central and southwest Asia.

Licorice was named ‘glukos riza’or ‘sweet root’ by the first century physician, Dioscorides.

It has been used as both a food and a medicine since ancient times and was mentioned on Assyrian tablets and Egyptian papyri since 2500 BC.

Several species of this member of the Leguminosae, or pea family, are used medicinally. Glycyrrhiza glabra, also known as sweet wood or sweet licorice, is cited first in most herbals.

Chinese licorice, Glycyrrhiza  uralenis was known as ‘the peacemaker,’ and was included in the Chinese classic herbal Pen Tsao Ching over 2,000 years ago.  It is believed to promote longevity. An American variety, Glycyrriza  lepidota or wild licorice, was a common Native American remedy and was also used by early settlers.

Dominican friars brought the herb to England in the sixteenth century.  The abbess Hildegard of Bingen added licorice to her compendium of herbs and this well-loved herb was a favorite of German and English herbalists.
Licorice is used in both Traditional Chinese medicine, Western Herbal medicine and Ayurvedic medicine.
Traditionally it is viewed as an adrenal tonic which improves mental and physical stamina in chronic stress and adrenal insufficiency.  It is used as an anti-inflammatory in rheumatism and arthritis; and as an expectorant for bronchial catarrh, coughing and wheezing bronchitis.

Licorice is used in Western herbal medical for the relief of inflamed mucous surfaces in the urinary, respiratory and digestive tracts.  Thus it is useful in coughs, colds and bronchitis, cystitis, gastritis, peptic ulcer and colic.
The medical benefits of licorice root have been studied extensively, and its use in traditional medicine is well documented.

Licorice acts to reduce stomach acid and relieves heart-burn.  Licorice preparations have been used in the healing of peptic ulcers as the demulcent action of the root soothes and coats the ulcerated tissue.
The herb is also effective as a mild laxative, but conversely, is useful in diarrhoea to soothe the irritated lining of the gut wall.

Licorice is an expectorant, helpful in the treatment of upper respiratory tract catarrh.  It is commonly used to provide relief to a sore throat and for coughs.

Licorice is used as an anti-inflammatory medicine, useful in the treatment of arthritis.  Studies found that it exhibited an anti-inflammatory effect in arthritis that was comparable to cortisone.

Licorice also has a beneficial effect on the endocrine system and is helpful in treatment of problems with the adrenal gland.  Phytochemicals in the root act similarly to and stimulate the secretion of the body's natural adrenal cortex hormones and thus exert a powerful influence on human steroid metabolism.  It inhibits the conversion of cortisol in to it’s inactive components, leading to an increase in cortisol levels.

Many women's herbal formulas include licorice for its oestrogenic properties as an aid to normalise and regulate hormone production during menopause.  However, some recent studies indicate that licorice does not have the oestrogenic qualities that have been attributed to it.  Thus it’s known benefit in menopause may be due to it’s effect on the adrenal gland.

Studies have shown that licorice aids the immune response in that it stimulated the production of interferon and helped the white blood cell count recover after radiation.

Recently, licorice has been found to offer some protection against cardiovascular disease.  A team of Israeli researchers found that licorice root extract added to the diet lowers blood cholesterol levels as well as the rate of oxidation in cardiovascular tissue.

Deglycyrrinized licorice (DGL) is a licorice preparation from which most of the glyccyrrhin has been removed.
In animal studies DGL prevented development of ulcers and protected the stomache from damage when over-exposed to aspirin, ibuprofen, (an anti-inflammatory drug), and alcohol.

Cautions and Contraindications.
High doses long-term.
Liver and kidney disorders, heart disease, hypertension and pregnancy.
Concomitant use of digoxin, diuretics, laxatives and other sodium-depleting drugs.