Benefits of the Herb Liquorice or Licorice

For Coughs, Acid Reflux, Sore Throats and Other Health Uses

Jul 8, 2009

Liquorice is a popular flavour for sweets but this little known herb has many health benefits and is used in more everyday foods and products than we know.

Liquorice, or Licorice usually brings to mind black jelly beans or liquorice candy. These sweets don’t usually contain real liquorice, but this understated herb has many health benefits and is used in many foods and products.

What is Liquorice?

Real liquorice (which has nothing to do with “liquor”) is derived from the root of the Glycyrrhiza glabra plant. It’s distinct taste, smell and intense sweetness comes from a substance called Glycyrrhizic acid which is extracted from the root and used as a scent and flavouring in food, pharmaceutical medications, gum, tobacco, drinks and even cosmetics.

However, glycyrrhizic acid, which makes up 4 to over 20% of the root, is not the only medicinal or biological component in the liquorice root. Further study is needed for the approximately 300 other extracts from the root, many of which are thought to be suspected antioxidants and perhaps even cancer-fighting compounds.

Health Benefits

Licorice has been used by indigenous civilizations for thousands of years; its roots and rhizomes are used to treat a multitude of ailments including stomach ulcers, bronchitis, coughs, sore throat and viral infections.

It is a mild expectorant for the treatment of coughs and increases the production of protective mucous in the stomach for acid reflux pain and inflammatory stomach conditions. Tea made from licorice and other anti-spasmodic herbs is often recommended for menstrual cramps.

Recent clinical trials also suggest that liquorice derivatives may reduce complications from hepatitis C in some patients, though more research is required to confirm these findings.

According to the National Institute of Health in the US, higher doses of liquorice has also been linked to side effects in some individuals. These include salt and water retention and an increase in levels of cortisol, a hormone linked to high blood pressure and reduction in testosterone levels in men. Like all herbs and supplements, liquorice should be taken only as recommended by health specialists and physicians.

Check ingredients to find real liquorice extracts in sweets or purchase liquorice supplements, sweeteners and teas from a health food shop. When it comes to liquorice sweets, it’s the sugar you need to worry about; avoid overeating any sweets.

Liquorice has a long history of uses and its rich and complex chemistry may yet give us more health benefits as it is researched.

The copyright of the article Benefits of the Herb Liquorice or Licorice in Natural Medicine is owned by Noreen Kassem. Permission to republish Benefits of the Herb Liquorice or Licorice in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.