Name: Licorice naked
Legumes – Fabaceae (Leguminosae).
Common name: licorice.
Parts used: root.
Pharmacy name: licorice root – Liquiritiae radix (formerly: Radix Liquiritiae), licorice juice – Liquiritiae succus (formerly: Succus Liquiritiae).
Botanical description. This perennial herbaceous plant, up to 1-1.5 m in height, has a developed root system with a main root, lateral and adventitious roots. The pinnate leaves consist of 9-17 oval-heart-shaped leaflets with short cusps. Peduncles emerge from the axils of the leaves and carry 20-30 bluish-lilac moth flowers collected in a brush. Blooms in early summer. Homeland licorice – the Mediterranean, primarily Spain, southern France, Italy, Greece. It also grows in Russia, Iran, Syria. Pharmaceutical goods come mainly from cultivated plantations: “Spanish raw materials” (from Spain, from the south of France and Italy) and “Russian raw materials” (from Turkmenistan, Iraq and China).
Collection and preparation. In late autumn, licorice roots are dug up, washed, probably cleaned and dried in the sun. Licorice juice is obtained from the roots by their digestion and subsequent drying in a vacuum; with all this, it is pressed into sticks, the so-called licorice.
Active ingredients: glycyrrhizin (50 times sweeter than sugar), sterols and numerous flavonoids (liquiritin, liquiritigenin). These are the main components of medicinal raw materials.
Healing action and application. The action of licorice root and the juice obtained from it can be defined as expectorant, anti-inflammatory and acti-spastic. Therefore, licorice root and juice are used to treat coughs, juice – for gastritis and stomach ulcers. In addition, it is included in numerous mixtures for teas and decoctions for coughs and expectorants, especially in stomach teas. But both licorice root and juice can be used as independent remedies. o Licorice juice for gastritis and stomach ulcers: dilute 100 ml of hot water within 1 g of juice. This solution should be drunk all moderately warm for 2-3 doses.
My special advice. I would like to name two mixtures (one against bronchitis, the other for gastric diseases), which have proven themselves very well in practice:
- Tea for cough: Licorice root 20.0 Icelandic moss 10.0 Plantain leaf 10.0 Rosehip (without seeds) 10.0
One teaspoon with a top (2-4 g) of the mixture or licorice root is poured with boiling water (150 ml), put on low heat for 5 minutes and, after cooling, filter through a tea strainer. If there are no special prescriptions, they drink a cup of tea after a meal.
Application in folk medicine.In folk medicine, for coughs and other colds, licorice root powder mixed with honey is often used: 1/2 teaspoon of the powder is mixed with 1 teaspoon of honey, taken 3 times every day. For stomach ulcers and other gastric diseases, it is recommended to chew small pieces of the root. It also helps in relieving hangovers. Finally, licorice root tea is used as a mild laxative. There is no doubt that licorice root is an excellent and effective medicinal raw material. However, when using it (we are talking about finished products from the root – juice, licorice), it will be necessary to comply with the conditions indicated by the German National Health Service and which are set out in the instructions for each pack, namely: to facilitate expectoration with catarrhs of the upper respiratory tract (bronchitis), for the treatment of spastic phenomena in inflammation of the gastric mucosa (chronic gastritis). Contraindications: chronic inflammation of the liver, cirrhosis of the liver, high blood pressure and potassium deficiency in the blood.
Side effectswith moderate consumption are unknown, with longer use of licorice root products, water retention in the body with slight swelling may occur, especially in the face and joints of the feet. Sodium excretion decreases and potassium excretion increases. An increase in blood pressure is possible. Use with other drugs in moderate use is unknown. Comment. Licorice root preparations should not be used long-term with potassium-releasing diuretics such as spironolactone, triamterene, or amiloride. In connection with the loss of potassium, the effect of cardiac glycosides may increase. Delay in the body of sodium and water can be regulated by drugs that reduce pressure. Treatment with licorice in large doses should be carried out no longer than 4-6 weeks. During this time, it will be necessary to add potassium-rich foods (for example, bananas, dried apricots) to food. Store licorice in a dry place protected from light.