Licorice
Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) is a root that is sweet to taste. It is known for its therapeutic and healing properties. Both China and India have been using licorice for ages.
Benefits
Licorice is useful in the treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcers. Deglycyrrhizinated licorice helps in the formation of tissues that protect the stomach and intestinal lining. This helps discourage the formation of ulcers. It is said to be more effective than antacids, as present day antacids work by controlling the secretion of gastric acids.
When licorice is deglycyrrhizinated through a chemical process, the pure extract is used to treat a large number of ailments. People, who are heavily into drinking alcohol, coffee, and taking medication that irritate the stomach lining need to take licorice. Studies conducted on people suffering from duodenal ulcers, show that success was registered in 91% of the cases. Depending on case to case basis, the treatment has to continue from 8 to 16 weeks.
Licorice is also said to have a direct bearing on the liver. Cirrhosis of liver and hepatitis patients too benefit from the intake of licorice. Herpes patients too have benefited from licorice owing to its property of stimulating the production of interferon in the body. Interferon is an immune system booster, which also helps the body combat against viral and bacterial infections, such as those that are responsible for cold, cough, asthma, and other respiratory ailments. Licorice has anti-allergenic qualities that help fight asthma, and allergies related to the respiratory system.
The anti-inflammatory property of licorice helps people suffering from arthritis. It has proved to be an effective reduction agent of arthritic inflammation.
Women suffering from premenstrual syndrome (PMS) may take licorice for its property of balancing estrogen and progesterone. It does help to take licorice 8 – 10 days before menstruation.
However, licorice should be avoided by people suffering from kidney problems and arterial hypertension. Excessive intake of the root can cause edema (water retention) and hypertension.
The per day recommended dose of licorice root is 1 to 2 grams or 0.25 to 0.5 grams of the extract.