| Licorice |
| Parts Used The root |
|
| Common
Uses |
 |
Bronchitis, upper respiratory catarrh and
coughs. Licorice stimulates mucus production, and helps to loosen sticky phlegm making
coughs more productive. Licorice also contains a chemical called glycyrrhetinic that has
cough suppressant properties. |
|
Sore throats - licorice has demulcent
(soothing and coating) properties and is also anti-inflammatory. |
|
Heartburn, indigestion, and gastric and
duodenal ulcers. Licorice helps to reduce stomach acid. It also helps to increase mucus
secretion in the gastric tract, soothing irritation and inflammation. |
|
Licorice may shorten the healing time of mouth
ulcers. |
|
Licorice has anti-viral and anti-bacterial
properties |
|
|
Side Effects
Small amounts of licorice such as the amounts found
in candies and other foods do not pose a risk. However licorice is a powerful drug and
serious health problems can result from taking it at medicinal levels for long periods of
time. |
|
| Safety Issues |
| Do not take
licorice medicinally for more than four to six weeks without medical advice. |
Licorice should
not be taken medicinally if you have high blood pressure, glaucoma, diabetes, kidney or
liver disease, or if you are taking hormonal therapy (licorice may interfere with this).
It should also be avoided at medicinal amounts if you have rapid heartbeats or if you are
pregnant or nursing. |
| Anyone who is
taking digitalis or who has had a stroke or heart disease should not take licorice without
first consulting a physician. |
|
| History of
Licorice |
| Licorice is a shrub that grows in
subtropical climates. It has been used medicinally for more than 3000 years, and is often
called "The Grandfather of the Herbs". |
| It was used to treat a variety of
complaints including congestion, coughs, colds, rashes, constipation and arthritis. It was
also used to treat more serious problems like cancer and hepatitis. |
| The Chinese call it "the great
detoxifier" as it is thought to rid the body of poisons. Native Americans made a tea
from licorice, drank it as a laxative, and used it to treat earaches and coughs. |
