What is licorice used for? Contraindications We have been asked about licorice or licorice and here are some of these questions. What diseases does licorice cure? What are the contraindications of licorice? Does licorice have contraindications? What is sweet licorice? Could you post the licorice what it is for?
In this sense, we will explain these aspects, but first let’s see what is licorice?
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General features
Licorice or licorice, whose scientific name is Glycyrrhiza glabra, is a flowering herbaceous perennial native to Europe, parts of Asia, and most of North America. Prefers open, dry areas with rich soil. It was first harvested from the wild until it was cultivated a thousand years ago. The name of its genus derives from the Greek, which means «sweet root».
the plant of licorice it is erect, about 1.5 meters tall with spikes bearing lilac flowers with bean-shaped pods containing three or four seeds.
The taproot (taproot) descends up to one meter into the ground and sends up a network of rhizomes. These roots and rhizomes are harvested after three to five years.
The rhizomes have a woody appearance with a brown skin and a fibrous yellow interior. Licorice requires deep, well-cultivated soil that retains moisture for good root production and prefers sandy soil with plenty of moisture. It does not thrive in clay.
Slightly alkaline conditions produce the best plants. It can tolerate strong winds, but not salty coastal winds or clay soils. Plant growth is initially slow, but once established the species can become weedy and difficult to eliminate if not kept in check by regular harvesting.
Plants with a similar flavor but botanically unrelated are anise, fennel, and star anise.
The sweet compound is glycyrrhizin and it is 50 to 170 times sweeter than sugar (sucrose). The extract has antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antimutagenic properties. The oldest record of the use of this plant for medicinal purposes is from the year 2100 BC.
Parts of the plant used: the taproot and rhizomes are used in medicinal and flavoring applications.
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What is it used for and diseases it cures
To give answers to the questions: What diseases does licorice cure? and Could you publish the licorice for what it is used?, we can indicate that:
Licorice is one of the most widely used medicinal plants in both Western and Eastern herbal medicine and has at least 3,000 years of history as a medicinal plant.
The plant contains several substances with different mechanisms of action. The saponins found in the herb act both as thinners of the mucus and expectorant.
The viral inhibitory action of licorice is due to the substance glycyrrhizin that increases the formation of interferon, and the inhibitory effect on the growth of bacteria is caused by the isoflavonoids hispaglabridin A and B and glabridin.
Glycyrrhizic acid has an antispasmodic effect on the gastrointestinal tract, due to which bacteria in the intestines are converted into a substance that acts as a protective agent for the liver by neutralizing free radicals.
The herb has also been shown to relieve rheumatism and arthritis.
Scientific research shows that when glycyrrhizin is broken down in the stomach, it exhibits arthritis-relieving and inflammatory effects similar to hydrocortisone and other corticosteroid hormones.
It balances the production of hormones (cortisol and adrenaline) in the adrenal gland and decreases the breakdown of steroids in the liver and kidneys.
Japanese research conducted in 1985 showed that glycyrrhizin can be used in the treatment of chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis.
Since licorice root can stimulate the adrenal glands, the herb may be helpful in treating Addison’s disease (failure of the adrenal cortex in the production of hormones).
Licorice root reduces the acid level in the stomach and relieves heartburn and indigestion. Reduces the secretion of digestive juices and helps create protective mucus in the stomach.
This makes licorice a good remedy for ailments of the gastrointestinal system, from irritation, spasm, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammation of gastric and duodenal ulcers.
Some countries have experimented with licorice-coated aspirin to help reduce ulcers caused by aspirin use.
The herb has a beneficial effect on the liver and increases bile secretion and lowers cholesterol levels. Additionally, it is used as a medicinal herb for hypothyroidism, menstrual cramps, and regulation of menstruation.
Licorice root contains a substance that prevents the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone. Dihydrotestosterone is the substance that stimulates cell division in the male prostate gland.
Therefore, it may be useful in reducing the growth of the gland and helping to prevent some of the symptoms associated with the benign enlarged prostate.
Licorice root is used internally as an herbal remedy for sore throats, coughs, allergic disorders, and viral infections.
Glycyrrhizin is one of the best documented antiviral substances derived from the plant kingdom and has been shown to be effective against a variety of viruses, including those that cause influenza and the common cold.
The herb’s antiviral properties stem from its ability to promote the body’s resistance to viruses and naturally boost the immune system.
Licorice root has been used as an herbal remedy for bronchitis and whooping cough due to its expectorant ability (used to relieve congestion in the upper respiratory tract).
It can also stimulate mucus production and secretion in the trachea. Both glycyrrhizin and glycyrrhizic acid are substances with anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic properties, and this may explain the herb’s use as a remedy for hay fever, allergic nasal catarrh, conjunctivitis and asthma.
The herb works so well for high fever and as a pain reliever.
Glycyrrhizin has been shown to inhibit several of the processes that allow viruses to multiply in the body, and some laboratory experiments have shown that glycyrrhizin can also inhibit the growth of the HIV virus, but no clinical studies have confirmed that it is. a viable treatment for HIV.
Glycyrrhizin also appears to decrease some of the side effects of the conventional antiviral drugs currently used to treat AIDS and HIV.
Licorice extract and powder are widely used in sweets and tobacco flavorings, tobacco, beer, chocolate, soft drinks, and some pharmaceuticals (especially laxatives). Along with anise (Pimpinella anisum), it is an important ingredient in many cough syrups found in pharmacies today. The flavor often associated with licorice is actually anise.
Externally, the herb has been used against dermatitis, eczema, herpes and Herpes zoster.
It has antifungal and antibacterial properties which explain its use as an herbal remedy for athlete’s foot, thrush, and dandruff.
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Dosage and administration
Licorice can come in extract or root form. The extract can come in teas, capsules, tablets, and in combination with other herbal remedies.
Since licorice root side effects are primarily related to the substance glycyrrhizin, most of the clinical research done on the herb is done with modified licorice extract from which most of the glycyrrhizin has been removed.
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Deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) is generally standardized to contain no more than three percent naturally occurring glycyrrhizin.
The glycyrrhizin content in pure licorice root can be between one and 24 percent, but is generally between six and 14 percent.
The German Commission E accepts an intake of an average daily dose of 200 to 600 mg of glycyrrhizin, which corresponds to five to 15 g of licorice.
As a treatment for ulcers, a daily dose of 1.5 to 3 g of licorice root is recommended. The maximum dose of glycyrrhizin licorice when used as a flavoring ingredient in foods and beverages, should not exceed 100 mg per day. Let’s see, then, the licorice contraindications.
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Side effects and contraindications
Licorice contraindications # 1 Licorice root or licorice should not be used by people with anemia, high blood pressure, severe liver or kidney disease, or those taking digoxin-based heart medications, diuretics, or digitalis glycosides.
Licorice contraindications # 2 Its consumption in high doses is toxic.
Oorozuz contraindications #3 The herb should not be used in hypokalemia, cirrhosis of the liver, hypertension, and severe renal failure.
Licorice contraindications #4 Large amounts of licorice root taken over a long period of time can interfere with sodium/potassium balance and cause fluid retention (edema), high blood pressure, headaches, dizziness, and heart problems. The herb should not be used therapeutically for more than 4-6 weeks without the supervision of a qualified healthcare professional.
Licorice contraindications #5 Licorice root is not recommended during pregnancy, but there have been no studies on the use of licorice root while breastfeeding.
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