The licorice root from which licorice is made is not only the basis for a candy, but also a medicinal plant. As a tea and also as real licorice, it is particularly useful as a cough suppressant, but also helps against gastrointestinal diseases and inflammatory diseases.
Table of contents
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- Characteristics
- Liquorice – An Overview
- ingredients
- Licorice root – effect
- Folk medicine and medical history
- Medical applications
- Licorice root tea
- Cough tea
- Licorice tincture
- Other applications
- Side effects and contraindications
- Interactions
- Make your own licorice
- Plant licorice
Characteristics
- Scientific name: Glycyrrhiza glabra
- Common names: True licorice
- Family: Legumes (Fabaceae)
- Distribution: Mediterranean to Central Asia
- Plant parts used: The root
- Ingredients: Glycyrrhizin (and other saponins), flavonoids / isoflavones, coumarins and other glycosides such as glacric acid, oleanolic acid derivatives and liquiritin
- Areas of application: Cough, respiratory diseases, stomach ulcers, gastrointestinal problems, inflammation, increasing blood pressure, laxative and diuretic
Liquorice – An Overview
- Liquorice is best known to us as licorice, which is obtained from the root extract of the real licorice.
- What we commonly know as licorice are the root runners. These are harvested in autumn.
- The roots taste not only sweet, but also somewhat bitter, tart and like aniseed. They contain the typical licorice aroma.
- Licorice roots are around 50 times sweeter than cane sugar.
- The phrase to grate licorice means to compliment and flatter. The licorice root was once grated to make medicines or confectionery. “Sweet” is therefore equated with lovable.
- Licorice root loosens mucus and relaxes cramps, it relieves coughs and soothes them at the same time.
- Ancient Roman soldiers carried licorice made from licorice to stay healthy.
ingredients
Liquorice root contains up to 15 percent triterpene saponins, so-called soap substances. The largest proportion is glycyrrhizin, a potassium, magnesium or calcium salt of glycyrrhizic acid. This provides the licorice taste. Science discovered almost 400 ingredients, including various coumarins and flavonoids (isoflavones).
Licorice root – effect
A review (2018) summarized that various extracts and isolated components of licorice root showed a wealth of pharmacological activity: anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant and anti-diabetic.
The following effects are attributed to licorice root, but these are only partially scientifically proven: laxative, against bacteria, fungi and microbes, increases blood pressure, anti-inflammatory and promotes expectoration. The plant is said to drive urine and loosen mucus and relieve pain. Coumarin inhibits infections, calms and relieves spasms.
Another review (2021) sees licorice root as a potential candidate to support early or mild COVID-19 symptoms. As a herbal medicine, it works against symptoms such as shortness of breath, dry cough and fever.
Substances in licorice root stimulate the mucous membrane of the bronchi to release thin secretions. This makes it easier to cough up thick mucus if you have a cold or bronchitis.
In addition, other substances act against inflammation, prevent the formation of stomach acid and contain harmful bacteria. Studies showed effects against Heliobacter bacteria and herpes viruses. The anti-inflammatory effect probably helps against gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining).
Licorice root can help with stomach pain and inflammation in the stomach. It also relaxes cramps that occur with specific stomach ailments. Due to its mild laxative effect, licorice is also a remedy for digestive problems.
Liquorice root is also said to promote tissue cleansing and is therefore also used in blood purification therapies. It is intended to support the kidneys in removing harmful substances (excretion process). Chewing licorice sticks supports diets as it reduces cravings.
Most of the effects have not yet been examined and confirmed by studies in the human body. Since side effects can also occur, you should seek medical advice before taking it regularly.
Folk medicine and medical history
Licorice root is traditionally used against bronchitis and other inflammatory diseases of the respiratory tract, against cravings, duodenal ulcers, stomach ulcers, stomach cramps and gastritis, against migraines and headaches, against low blood pressure, heartburn and constipation, against rheumatism and gout.
A 2021 review mentions that licorice root has been historically used medicinally by various cultures, such as Chinese, Indian, Roman and Egyptian cultures. In Indian Ayurvedic medicine, the medicinal plant is widely used to cure various diseases.
Medical applications
Real licorice is made from licorice syrup (thickened root juice/root extract). A tea made from licorice root is also very popular. There are also tinctures made from the plant.
Liquorice sticks are also chewed, for example to stop smoking or to curb the appetite.
The effects of the medicinal plant are based on a variety of ingredients in the licorice root. This contains a relatively high proportion of glycyrrhizin. (Image: Luis Echeverri Urrea/stock.adobe.com/own editing heilpraxis.de)
Licorice root tea
For a licorice root tea, calculate two teaspoons of crushed licorice root per cup of hot water. You let the root steep for fifteen minutes and then strain. Then drink the tea in small sips.
This tea is particularly drunk for inflammation of the respiratory tract, which is associated with coughing and thick mucus. It helps against inflammation, liquefies mucus and makes it easier to cough up. The tea is also drunk against loss of appetite, flatulence and a feeling of fullness. It helps reduce stomach acid and in this way relieves heartburn.
Liquorice root tea has the advantage that, compared to some other medicinal teas, it also tastes very good. Because of its bitter-sweet aroma, licorice is also added to tea blends that are not explicitly used medicinally.
Cough tea
A classic cough tea with licorice consists of around 40 grams of licorice root, around 30 grams of fennel seeds, around 15 grams of anise seeds and 15 grams of plantain leaves.
These ingredients are poured with boiling water as needed (around two teaspoons per cup) and drunk in small sips after steeping for around 15 minutes.
Licorice tincture
A tincture can also be prepared from licorice root. To do this, pour licorice root with alcohol or strong, clear schnapps and cover all parts of the plant with the alcohol.
This mixture steeps in a sealed container for around four weeks. Take around ten to 50 drops of the tincture three times a day for treatment.
Other applications
For coughs and stomach problems, you can mix one part licorice powder with two parts honey and take it by the spoonful.
The roots are chewed to combat stomach ailments, cravings and the after-effects of excessive alcohol consumption. You can buy real licorice sticks in pharmacies, health food stores and health food stores. These have a similar effect to a tea made from the root. However, this does not apply to industrially produced licorice products, which, in addition to licorice, contain various substances such as sugar, sugar and glucose syrup.
Side effects and contraindications
Taking licorice roots in large quantities or over a long period of time can lead to unwanted side effects. Ingredients can affect the body’s hormones, especially aldosterone and cortisol, and have a negative impact on blood sugar.
If you suffer from high blood pressure, you should not consume licorice as it increases it further. You should also avoid this plant if you have kidney problems. Liquorice root is not recommended during pregnancy.
With long-term and excessive use, water retention (edema) is a possible consequence. Liquorice inhibits the excretion of sodium and increases the excretion of potassium.
Interactions
You should not consume licorice if you are also taking medications that cause potassium loss. These include particularly diuretic preparations. If too much potassium is withdrawn from the body, a possible consequence is cardiac arrhythmia.
Make your own licorice
You can also make your own licorice. To do this, boil licorice roots and let the simmering juice thicken. You can pour this syrup into licorice sticks and let them dry out. The taste here is much more intense than with industrially produced licorice sweets.
Plant licorice
Liquorice is a plant of Mediterranean latitudes and West Asian climates and requires sun and warmth to grow. In addition, the plant is robust and also thrives in Central Europe.
It needs a well-drained soil with lots of nutrients and a deep bottom, because licorice forms a taproot that grows steeply downwards. The plant does not like compacted soil. If necessary, you can loosen heavy clay soil with sand and gravel before planting licorice.
If these basic conditions are met, you will hardly have any problems with licorice. In nutrient-rich soil, it is sufficient to fertilize once a year, preferably in spring. The best thing for such fertilization is mature garden compost. However, you should not use commercially available herbal fertilizers. These usually contain much more phosphorus than licorice can tolerate. (Dr Utz Anhalt)