Latin name: Glycyrrhiza glabra
Common name(s): Licorice, Licorice Root, Sweet Wood
Licorice is a sweet tonic herb that soothes and detoxifies the liver. It stimulates adrenocorticol hormones and it has anti-inflammatory effects. Licorice has rejuvenating effects on the body when it is used as a tonic which makes it useful in the treatment of colds, skin disorders and ulcers. It can be used to treat arthritis because of its anti-inflammatory properties.
Licorice is a perennial that has stoloniferous roots and downy stems. It has pinnate leaves which are quite often sticky leaflets. It blooms pale blue to a violet pea colored flowers in loose spikes which are followed by pods that are oblong in shape and contain two to four seeds that are kidney shaped. The roots are brown on the outside and yellow on the inside. The parts that are used in herbal healing are the roots and stolons.
Licorice is an adaptogen, alterative, anti-inflammatory, aperients, aphrodisiac, demulcent, diuretic, emollient, expectorant, hormonal-adrenal, hypertensive, laxative, pectoral, sialagogue, stimulant, tonic-glandular and sugar substitute. The parts of the licorice plant that are used in herbal healing are the roots according to “The Way of Herbs’ by Michael Tierra.
Licorice is useful in calming and relieving stress. A cup of licorice tea drank daily will improve indigestion, appetite and it will also stabilize nerve and muscle functions. Licorice is known to calm the nerves due to hysteria and emotional or mental breakdowns or fatigue. You can take two licorice capsules a day to treat hysteria or mental instability.
Licorice contains a natural hormone that can be used to replace cortisone in the human body. Licorice is useful in the treatment of colds and coughs. It is a very common ingredient in cold and cough drops and syrups. Licorice roots are made in to candy and can be found in almost any store.
Licorice is used as a flavoring in candies, beers, drinks, foods, liqueurs and herbal teas. It is used in pharmaceutical products such as laxatives and it is also used as a foaming agent in beers and fire extinguishers. Licorice is used as a colorant in stout which is a dark beer.
Licorice can be used to treat any of the following:
Abscesses, Addison’s disease, adrenal gland exhaustion, age spots, AIDS, allergies, arteriosclerosis, arthritis, asthma, Bell’s palsy, blood cleanser, bronchitis, cancer, canker sores, Celiac disease, chills, chronic fatigue syndrome, colds, constipation, coughs, Crohn’s disease, Cushing’s disease, diabetes, diaper rash, dizziness, dropsy, drug withdrawal, duodenal ulcers, ear infections, eczema, edema, emphysema, endurance, energy, estrogen, fatigue, female problems, food poisoning, gastritis, hepatitis, herpes, HIV, hoarseness, hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, influenza, longevity, lung problems, lupus, Lyme disease, measles, Meniere’s disease, menopause, peptic ulcers, phlegm, psoriasis, sexual stimulant, sores, sore throat, tonic, ulcers, vitality and voice.