Licorice Root (Glycyrrhiza glabra)
GNLD's Herbs For Wellness !!!
Licorice Root has been used in connection with
the following conditions:
- Bronchitis
- Cough
- Stomach inflammation
- Stomach ulcers
Both Licorice Root and Licorice Extract are used medicinally. Licorice Root has long been known for its ability to soothe respiratory inflammation. Licorice Extract is a proven treatment for stomach ulcers. The extract also seems to have a beneficial effect on viral infections of the liver.
In Asian medicine, the root has also been used for boils, dehydration, diarrhea, eye diseases, headache, sore throat, and swellings from infections. Its effectiveness for these disorders has not, however, been scientifically verified.
Although the glycyrrhizin in Licorice fights the effects of hepatitis, you should avoid Licorice root if you have chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis of the liver, or any disease that impedes the flow of bile from the liver. Avoid it also if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, heart irregularities, abnormal muscle tension, poor kidney function, or low potassium levels in your blood.
What It Is - Why It Works
Licorice contains glycyrrhetic acid, which helps heal stomach ulcers. Other ingredients - including glabridin, glycyrrhizin, and licoricidin - soothe inflammation. The glycyrrhizin in Licorice also appears to combat viruses such as hepatitis B, influenza, and HIV by boosting the immune system's T-cell count and stimulating production of protective compounds such as interferon.
A number of studies have confirmed Licorice's anti-ulcer effect, which typically equals that of prescription drugs such as Tagamet. The herb's protective effect on the liver has been confirmed by a 16-year study of patients with chronic hepatitis C. In this study, patients receiving a glycyrrhizin extract had a significantly lower rate of liver cancer.
The soothing action of Licorice has been known since antiquity. The plant was introduced to the Ancient Greeks by Scythians from the east, and it has been used in Europe since the Middle Ages. Today, several varieties of Licorice can be found in a region stretching from southeastern Europe to southwestern Asia and Iraq.
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