Licorice: A Treat for Good Health
by Joelle Applebe
Licorice, officially known as Glycyrrhiza glabra, is a European plant belonging to the pulse family, Leguminosae. The root of the licorice plant when pounded or pressed manufactures a sweet substance for which it was widely known. Since ancient time, the licorice root has been used for medicinal purposes. It was used as a laxative and as a cure for coughs. It was also brewed for candy and for flavoring, like in some tobacco.
Licorice Plant
The licorice plant is perennial, with blue, pea-shaped blossoms. True licorice is cultivated primarily in the Middle East, however there is a subspecies known as glycyrrhiza lepidota, or "wild licorice" that is native to North America. Most types of licorice are found in Persia, Southeast Europe and several Asiatic regions, and there are currently fourteen known varieties.
The licorice plant has long graceful stems and pinnate leaves that spread slightly. From a distance, the licorice plants display an almost feathery appearance because of their tiny leaflets resembling the False Acacia. When night falls, the leaves hang down on either side of the midrib. Flowers are small, growing from the axils of the leaves. Licorice flowers are usually purplish in color but may occasionally be pale blue, violet, or yellowish-white. When fully mature, small pods resembling peapods are formed.
Health Benefits of Licorice
You can find licorice in the histories of herbal medicine and folk healing. There are long and varied legends on the use of licorice. For example, Ancient Chinese healers considered licorice to be one of the important herbs in traditional medicine. Chinese folk healers primarily used licorice as a demulcent for its soothing and coating effects in the digestive and urinary tracts, as well as a cure for diseases including diabetes and tuberculosis.
Since ancient times, the plant has been commonly used in connection with the treatment for coughs, sore throats, and as a flavoring. As a matter of fact, it got its name from the Greek word for "sweet root."
More up-to-date studies have shown that licorice contains compounds, called glycyrrhizin and flavonoids. Glyccyrrhizin, according to some studies, has anti-inflammatory properties and may have inhibiting actions that hinder the breakdown of cortisol, an important substance produced by the body.
While it has not yet been proven to work with humans, licorice may also hold important anti-viral properties. The flavonoids found in this herb can act as powerful antioxidants that protect the liver and several other important organs. Closely related to flavonoids, chalcones are other components of licorice that may help treat digestive tract cells. Preliminary studies on the results of licorice have indicated that flavonoids can destroy ulcer-causing bacteria known as Helicobacter pylori, the bacteria responsible for many common stomach inflammations.
A licorice extract called liquiritin has been used as a treatment for a pigmentation disorder of the skin known as melasma. A study conducted by medical researchers indicated that a 70 percent improvement rate has been observed on melasma patients after a twice daily topical application of liquiritin cream over a four-week period.
Buying Licorice
When buying licorice for health benefits, remember that there are two types available on the market. "Standard" licorice glycyrrhizin and is used to treat respiratory infections, herpes and chronic fatigue syndrome. The other type, called "de-glycyrrhizinated" licorice, is used to relieve ulcers and other conditions in the digestive tract.
Licorice can be purchased in tablets or in capsule form. If you need to treat canker sores, you can also find de-glycyrrhizinated licorice in powder form.
Writer Joelle Applebe is a frequent contributor to numerous popular Internet sites, on health products and family health issues. Don't reprint this exact article. Instead, reprint a free unique content version of this same article.
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