Sunday, February 24, 2013

Licorice

Licorice is a temperate zone herb long used by ancient Greeks, Chinese and native American Indians for medicinal purposes. The major active ingredient is glycyrrhizin or glycyrrhizic acid derived from the Licorice root. A special licorice extract known as deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) is used to treat gastric issues. Beware that Licorice flavored candy does not work for medicinal purposes. 

Effective for:
Oral
  • Allergies 
  • Antacid for heartburns 
  • Anti inflammatory 
  • Anti microbial (bacterial, viral, parasites) 
  • Bronchial disorders 
  • Chronic fatigue 
  • Cough expectorant 
  • Estrogen and progesterone like effects 
  • Liver disorders 
  • Menstrual and menopausal disorders 
  • Prevents dental plaque formation 
  • Rheumatoid arthritis 
As deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL)
  • Canker sores 
  • Peptic ulcers 
Topical glycyrrhetinic acid
  • Eczema 
  • Herpes 
  • Impetigo 
  • Psoriasis 

Supplements:
The use for Licorice for therapeutic purposes can be divided into three categories, oral preparations using glycrrhetic acid, topical preparations using glycyrrhetinic acid and use of deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL).

Recommended Dose:
  • For ulcers DGL taken before meal 2-4 tables of 400 mg each 
  • For glycyrrhetinic acid powered root 1-2 gms, fluid extract 2-4 mls or dry powered extract 250-500 mg three times daily.

Side effects and precautions:
  • Licorice should not be taken for an extended period of time. Extended use may cause water retention, hypertension, loss of potassium. 
  • Licorice should probably not be used in people who are pregnant, have heart disease, high blood pressure, glaucoma, history of stroke, severe menstrual problems.

1 comment:

  1. Hi,
    Your post is very nice. The main purpose of using peeled licorice root is to increase the Glycyrrhizic acid rate and to reduce the ochratoxine and remove the impurity in order to have pure licorice root.

    ReplyDelete