LICORICE

Latin name : Glycyrrhiza glabra

Family:- Leguminosae /Fabaceae

Folk names: Lacris (Welsh), Lycorys, Reglisse (Welsh), Sweet Root.

Parts used: Dried roots.

Constituents: Glycosides (glycyrrhizin and glycyrrhizinic acid), saponins, flavonoids, isoflavonoides, bitter, volatile oil, coumarins, asparagine, oestrogenic substances, chalcones, sterols, starch (30%), sugars (up to 14%), amino acids, gums, wax, amines (asparagine, betaine, choline), resin, fat, calcium and potassium salts, liquiritoside, isoliquiritoside.

Uses: Licorice has a very marked anti-inflammatory effect similar to cortisone so it is very good for skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. The glycyrrhizin yields glycrhetinic acid which has a similar structure to the hormones of the adrenal cortex so it is very useful for anyone suffering adrenal failure or exhaustion.

It is also very useful for coughs, bronchitis and sore throats because of its anti-inflammatory properties and in colds, flu or catarrhal situations, as an expectorant. It is good as a laxative as it is mild (not cathartic) and it lowers stomach acid levels so it is useful for heartburn. It is also useful for peptic ulcers, gastritis and spasms of the large intestine. It has been used in herbal medicine to disguise and sweeten the taste of other herbal remedies which may be too disgusting to take. The oestrogenic compounds make it useful for hormonal treatments like menopause.

Contra : Large doses may cause sodium retention and potassium loss leading to water retention, hypertension headaches and shortness of breath. So it is always good to back it up with a herb to balance this e.g. Dandelion leaf.