For a long time, people have been aware of the benefits of licorice root. In the ancient era, the plant was used to treat a variety of ailments, and references to such recipes are in the works of Hippocrates and the surviving works of Galen. In various eastern countries, it is simply impossible to imagine a pharmacy in which licorice root preparations would not be sold, and in the North there are sweets and sweets with this plant in any store, but drugs can be bought at pharmaceutical points of sale.
In Tibet, licorice is known not only as a remedy for sore throat, but also as a powerful antidote. Others believe that this plant can grow younger, helps to clean organic tissues from accumulated metabolites, harmful substances. The Chinese call licorice the root of longevity, in other eastern regions the price for it is not lower than for ginseng. The confectionery industry actively uses licorice root, if only because in comparison with sugar, this natural product is as sweet as fifty times as much.
What is it about?
Before identifying what are the properties of licorice root, it is reasonable to understand what kind of plant it is in principle. Biologists classify it as perennial grass. Currently, there are about two dozen varieties on the planet. Some of them are listed in the Red Book, while others are actively used in industry. Traditional medicine pays special attention to licorice. As a rule, it is it that is implied when it comes to licorice root as a component of a therapeutic agent. Numerous encyclopedias of herbalists mention him. Licorice is widespread in scientific medicine, the pharmaceutical industry. Drugs from it can be found on the shelves of almost any pharmacy in various countries.
Naked licorice belongs to the Bean family, and got its name because of the peculiarity of the stem - it is naked, covered with a thin fluff, and sometimes reaches a meter and a half in height. Leaves are similar to lancets, arranged alternately, fall shortly before flowering. Inflorescences are purple brushes in the sinuses. The most valued are licorice roots, naturally strong, woody. The root system is highly branched, sometimes reaching five meters in depth.
What else are there?
Attention deserves the Ural variety of grass. It grows from the mountain range to the Transbaikalia, is found in the east of Central Asia. In comparison with the above-described variant, the inflorescences are larger, thicker, and the fruits resemble a sickle in shape.
Korzhinsky licorice roots are not used in industry. This plant is listed in the Red Book, it is rare and recognized as endangered. On the territory of our country grows only in several areas: near Arkhangelsk, Saratov, Volgograd and Chelyabinsk. It is known that Korzhinsky licorice is found in Kazakhstan and China. This plant is recommended by traditional medicine recipes, but for industrial purposes its use is officially prohibited, since there is a high risk of complete extinction of the variety. For the first time information about this variety of licorice was recorded in 1930.
In total, there are seven of them in our country (that is, about a third of the existing ones).
Where to find?
Of course, the easiest way is to buy licorice root in a pharmacy, but many people prefer to collect the product on their own. This allows you to be sure of its safety, reliability - no chemistry will be precisely used in the process of growing and harvesting. To provide yourself with raw materials, you need to know where to collect licorice. Typically, the plant is found in the steppes, deserts and semi-desert zones, sometimes in river floodplains. The regions of Central Asia are the richest in them, and in our country it is the Crimea, southern regions, sea coasts (Azov, Black Sea). For industrial purposes, licorice is grown by Spanish, French farmers, Italians and Greeks. There are considerable plantations in Turkmenistan, Iran. Licorice is also produced in China.
To achieve maximum benefit from the product, you need to properly prepare licorice roots. Dig them up in March or at the end of September, carefully clean, clean young shoots, dry. It is best to dry it under a canopy, providing an influx of fresh air, but you can use an electric dryer. The finished product becomes brittle: if it is bent, it immediately breaks. Shelf life of the medicine is a decade, but only if the correct conditions are met. The product must not get wet; the air in the storage must be dry. But in industry, the procurement process is slightly different. The juice is evaporated with special devices, and pressed sticks are obtained, which are then spent in production.
How will it help?
If you buy the drug in a pharmacy, the instructions for using licorice root extract that comes with it will mention that the drug stops inflammation, softens and helps cough up sputum, has a diuretic effect and cleanses tissues of accumulated poisonous components. The plant effectively relieves spasms, disinfects surfaces, alleviates pain and accelerates regenerative processes. Licorice is a natural laxative, while the plant is effective against viruses and bacteria, it allows you to cleanse the body of free radicals. It is believed that the active ingredients of licorice root rejuvenate the person and also help with tumors.
The indicated positive effects of licorice root tincture are provided by the presence of active components, among which a rather large number of flavonoids, as well as sterols and an exceptionally sweet compound, in science called glycyrrhizin. The plant also contains sugars, bitter substances, starches, pigments and protein structures, vitamins and essential oils, saponins, tannins.
When will it help?
Licorice root tincture should be used when coughing. The product has a pronounced expectorant effect, relieves inflammation, therefore, shows a good effect in viral and colds, pulmonary inflammation and even tuberculosis. Licorice tincture is advised to take patients with tracheitis, bronchitis. Licorice will help with cough caused by allergies and asthma, if the patient does not have an increased sensitivity to the plant. With a dry cough, the drug allows you to quickly dilute sputum and stimulates its discharge. Usually just a couple of days is enough to transform from a non-productive cough into a wet one.
What other indications are there? Licorice root normalizes the digestive system. Active components envelop the mucous membranes of the digestive tract, activate the work of the biliary system, stop inflammatory processes in case of stomach diseases. Licorice shows a good result in diseases of the gallbladder, as well as pathologies affecting the liver. The tool is effective for hemorrhoids, stool disorders.
What other effects?
According to reviews, licorice root facilitates the condition of people suffering from metabolic problems. Doctors explain this by stimulating metabolic processes. Under the influence of active components, the thyroid gland is activated, the exchange of salts and water is normalized. Decoctions of licorice root are indicated for diabetics, but strictly under medical supervision. They are used if the adrenal cortex is not working effectively enough.
In addition, as follows from the reviews, licorice root significantly improves the condition of people suffering from pathologies of the vascular, cardiac system. Under the influence of the components of the rhizome, blood vessels become more elastic, fat metabolism returns to normal. Liquorice is indicated for excess cholesterol in the circulatory system, which helps alleviate the manifestations of atherosclerosis. At the same time, the drug activates the work of the kidneys, urinary tract. This is especially useful for inflammatory processes, prostate adenoma, and urinary retention.
Efficient and safe
Often, the parents of children with colds and flu seek out the age at which licorice root can be taken, and when not. In the form of a pharmacy syrup, the drug is allowed already one year old (and older). The tool is safe, although it has some limitations, contraindications. It is effective against a wide variety of viruses, activates the production of interferon by the cells of the body. In addition to flu and colds, licorice is useful for herpes and AIDS. In addition, the tool has the effect of a sedative and antidepressant, strengthens the body's own forces, tones. It is recommended to use infusions, syrups in conditions of increased physical exertion, stress, mental stress. Such a drug is safe, but shows a positive effect with persistently reduced mood.
You can drink licorice root as a remedy for poisoning: the active components remove chemical toxins, hazardous compounds ingested with food, and alcohol metabolism products. Roots clear internal systems of toxins. The combination of licorice and sorbents helps to improve the quality of lymph, strengthen the immune system. Properly selected at a consultation with a doctor, the course allows you to normalize the pressure, activate the kidneys, liver.
By the way, you can not only drink licorice root. As an external remedy, licorice is also not bad due to its anti-inflammatory qualities. With infusions, decoctions, pharmacy tinctures, you can make compresses, lotions and dressings. They are effective for the ulcerative process, eczema, and injury. It is possible to treat in this way lichen and inflammatory processes, even the organs of vision, as well as tumors. The drugs effectively stop the pain syndromes provoked by rheumatism, neuralgia, arthritis. Helps as an external remedy licorice root from pigmentation - used in the form of lotions.
Sometimes you can’t
Like any other plant, a tool that affects the human body, licorice is not allowed for use in some cases. You can not take the rhizomes of the plant to people suffering from high blood pressure, swelling of the heart muscle, rhythm disturbances of this organ. What other contraindications are there? Licorice root cannot be taken in conditions such as cirrhosis, chronic inflammation of the liver, lack of potassium. Plant-based preparations should not be used if an allergic reaction is detected to it.
An overdose of licorice is somewhat similar to the side effects of licorice root observed in those to whom it is contraindicated. Concerned about the fluid retention in the tissues, there are swelling, especially noticeable on the limbs and face. Potassium is actively washed out of the body, sodium accumulates, and pressure rises. Do not use licorice and diuretics, as these groups of drugs increase the leaching of potassium from the body.
Application: right - only for the benefit!
Given the above contraindications of licorice root, you can use the plant to improve the body. It is best to consult a doctor first. Licorice is included in breast collections and gastric, laxatives, it is part of some antispasmodics. Rhizomes are used for the preparation of extracts, powders and syrups, juice is extracted from them for therapeutic use. You can prepare an infusion, tincture, decoction at home, and with gastric pathologies or intestinal diseases it is useful to chew pieces of dried rhizome without any additional processing of the product.
On sale, licorice is most widely represented by syrups that are allowed to be used already in tender childhood. The manufacturer always encloses the instructions for use with the drug, it is important to familiarize yourself with it before starting to use the composition. Syrups are especially often used in the treatment of childhood diseases, including widespread bronchitis. Liquorice is indicated for inflammatory processes, cough, triggered by asthma, tracheitis. Syrups are prescribed if the focus of inflammation is found in the digestive tract.
Tablets and extracts
Licorice rhizomes can be taken in tablets. As in the case of syrups, the manufacturer's instructions go to them, telling you how to drink the composition correctly. The most popular liquorice-based drug is called Glyciram. This is an antispasmodic, laxative and expectorant - all in one bottle. The remedy is often prescribed to asthmatics, allergy sufferers, people suffering from dermatitis, asthenia. "Glycyram" is prescribed if adrenal cortex insufficiency is detected . The classic course of treatment is up to four times a day for a pair of tablets, the duration is one and a half months. Sometimes the doctor recommends using the medication daily six times. You can not use the composition before reaching the age of twelve.
Licorice root extract is sold not only in bags, but also in kilogram jars. This is an antispasmodic and expectorant product that effectively fights viruses, pathological microbes. The drug is effective against staphylococcus. Before use, the powder is diluted in liquids in accordance with the instructions and consumed at the dose recommended by the doctor.
Finally, on the shelves of pharmacies there is a dry licorice root. This is a powder made from rhizomes, packaged tea.
Licorice decoction
Such a drug can be easily prepared at home. It is made both on liquorice and with the addition of other medicinal herbs. A tablespoon of rhizome needs a glass of boiling water. The mixture is boiled for no more than three minutes, after which it is insisted for a couple of hours. Use a decoction should be in food for a tablespoon before a meal three times a day. If a very strong cough bothers, the frequency is increased up to five times daily.
Liquorice goes well with plantain, wild rose. These products take 10 g each, licorice - twice as much, add 10 g Icelandic moss. Boil a glass of water on a teaspoon of herbal mixture, boil together for at least five minutes, then allow to cool at room temperature. Prepared broth for food is used in a quarter cup shortly before a meal. The optimal program is three times a day until the cough weakens.
Liquorice for the stomach
For 20 g of rhizome powder, take the same amount of chamomile inflorescences, introduce into the mixture 5 g of centaury, mint leaves, lemon balm. Herbs are mixed with boiling water (take a glass of water on a teaspoon). After this, the composition is boiled for five minutes, allowed to cool and used in half a glass immediately before meals three times a day.
An alternative is to use the powder in dry form. A single dose is half a teaspoon. Plant abundantly washed down with water. But with a cold, you can use the same tool, but mixed with honey.
Goodbye cough!
Perhaps the most effective recipe for cough with licorice involves the use of rhizomes of plants and senna (20 g each). Also take dill and purified sulfur (10 g each), mix everything and add sugar. A serving of sugar is twice as much as a serving of licorice. In dry form, such a composition is used three times a day for a teaspoon, until the symptoms subside.
Licorice and sulfur are often prescribed to treat pinworms. It is a powerful antiseptic, laxative, as well as an effective mixture against seborrhea and psoriasis.