What is Licorice Root
Licorice is a sweet herb that is known for its medicinal qualities for thousands of years. It is a purple and white flowering perennial, native to the Mediterranean region and central and southwest Asia. Licorice root has been used traditionally as a general tonic and respiratory support. It acts as a powerful anti-oxidant in the body. It has also been used to sooth coughs and skin. Licorice root is used in many herbal preparations to treat stomach and intestinal ulcers, lower acid levels and coat the stomach wall with a protective gel. It is rarely used alone and is a common component in herbal teas as a mild laxative, diuretic, and for flatulence.
Health Benefits of Licorice:
- Used to relieve coughs and sore throats
- Aids in digestion and helps to ovecome other stomach problems
- Eases menstrual cramps in women
- Used to treat constipation, bronchitis, inflammation, and arthritis
- Used to treat peptic ulcer, and chronic gastritis
- Increases the libido and sexual power
- helps in seasonal allergies and congestion
- Good for lungs
- Supports the adrenal glands
- Useful for conditions of fatigue
- Gives lymphatic energy
- Maintains proper sugar balance
- Used in candy making. And as a flavoring in beer, soft drinks and tobacco
- Used traditionally to treat tuberculosis and diabetes in China
- Its extract - Liquiritin, is used for the treatment of a skin pigmentation disorder called melasma
- Used by Bodybuilders as a supplement
- Used by Singers to ease throat irritation and strengthen the voice
- More recently, studies are being conducted to explore the possibility of protection against cardiovascular disease. Licorice also shows promise as a possible chemo-preventive against cancer
Precautions
Always consult your doctor before using licorice or its supplements. Avoid using licorice in large doses for long periods of time. Do not use it for longer than 4 to six weeks, without medical advice. Pregnant and nursing women should not use Licorice. People with high blood pressure, heart disease, cholestatic liver disorders, liver cirrhosis, hypertonia, hypokalemia, or kidney problems should not use licorice. Do not give it to children.
And never exceed the recommended dosage prescribed by your doctor. Exceeding the dose may actually be detrimental to your health. These precautions apply to all sources of licorice, including capsules, lozenges, tablets, tinctures, teas or dried herbs.
Side Effects
Excessive use of licorice may raise your blood pressure. Even a lot of licorice candy can raise your blood pressure. It can also cause water retention, headache, potassium loss, hypertension, edema, hypokalemia, and in rare cases, myoglobinuria. Even chewing licorice or licorice flavored products can put you at risk for licorice toxicities and other possible side effects.
Possible Drug Interactions
When used with thiazide diuretic medications, this may result in potassium loss. Sensitivity to digitalis glycosides may also increase with loss of potassium.