Liquorice root of a shrub native to south east Europe and south –west Asia and widely cultivated. It has been used as an herbal remedy in Chinese and Asian traditional medicine for thousand of years. In the West ,it is also used by herbalist, and commercially , mainly in the manufacture of liquorice sweets.
Properties: contains glychrrizin (a substance which tastes sweet) along with several other compounds.
Health benefits
In herbal medicine liquorice is well known medicine for respiratory complaints – coughs, bronchitis, catarrh, etc. as it is an expectorant. It is incorporated into lozenges, pastilles and cough remedies for these conditions. Liquorice has a soothing an d protective effect on the stomach and digestive system is helpful in easing the symptoms of ulcers. Chewing the root helps to protect teeth and gums decay.
This herb has been shown to be soothing to irritated membranes and acts as an anti-inflammatory.
Liqorice has anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties which explains its uses as an herbal remedy for athlete's foot, canker sores and dandruff.
Disadvantages: should not be eaten by people with high blood pressure as liquorice can disrupt the sodium/ potassium balance within the body and may exacerbate the condition.
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