Licorice

2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29

Licorice (Glyzyrchiza glabra), also known as licorice, licorice, licorice, licorice, boriana, dulce (Romanian), miam bala- (Turkish), licorice is a perennial herbaceous plant with a short, thick rhizome and highly branched root system.. Its roots reach several meters in length, and the stems are up to 1 m high and erect.

Licorice has short stalks, 5-20 cm long, elliptical to ovoid. It blooms with pale violet flowers, gathered in rare clustered inflorescences, with a fruit 2-3 cm long, representing a linearly elongated, flattened bean.

Licorice blooms in June and July. It grows best in dry grassy places. In Bulgaria, as a wild species of licorice, it is found mainly in Northern Bulgaria, along the Black Sea coast.

The roots of the plant are used for medicinal purposes, and they are bought unpeeled (Radix glycyrrhizae naturalis) or peeled (Radix glycyrrhizae mundata). Unpeeled roots are brownish on the outside, and peeled on the outside are light yellow or brownish-yellow. They have small remnants of bark, and the surface of refraction is light yellow and fibrous.

Both types licorice for odorless, and the taste is sweet, slightly irritating due to the presence of glycerol. It is believed that Avicenna treated licorice with diseases and complaints, as documented in the Bulgarian physicians of the 12-19 century.

Licorice is used in connection with its available ingredients in the food, beverage, confectionery, dyeing industries. Finely ground fine powder of licorice - the so-called. pulvis Liquiritiae, is still widely used in the pharmaceutical industry and practice as a basis for the manufacture of pills, to prevent adhesion between them and as a corrective agent of drugs.

Composition of licorice

Licorice contains 6-12% glycyrrhizin, which is due to the sweet taste of the root and its healing effect in general. Glycyrrhizin is about 50 times sweeter than sugar. It is the calcium-potassium salt of glycyrrhizinic acid, which belongs to the group of triterpene saponins.

Also in the drug of licorice A number of other substances such as flavonoids, glucose, sucrose, mannitol, starch (25-30%), essential oil, asparagine, sterols, etc. have been identified. It also contains liquidricin, whose aglycone has antispasmodic action, bitter substances, starch, tannins, coumarins.

In addition to the roots, the thickened and evaporated water extract from them - Succus Liquiritiae, which has a similar composition, is also used. The most important pharmacological property of licorice is the pronounced anti-inflammatory action, stopping the inflammatory reactions caused by histamine and serotonin.

Storage of licorice

Store the herb in a dry and cool place where there is no direct access to light and moisture.

Benefits of licorice

The usable part of the licorice is the roots and underground branches, which are taken out in spring, between March and April. Traditional medicine has used licorice for centuries for medicinal purposes. Licorice has an expectorant and emollient effect, accelerates the healing process of wounds, and has antispasmodic and antihistamine properties.

With licorice all types of bronchitis, bronchial dyspnea, ulcers of the duodenum and stomach, inflammation of the gastric mucosa or gastritis can be treated. The antiulcer activity of the drug (rhizome) is due to the glucoside glycyrrhizin contained in it.

In Bulgarian folk medicine, licorice root is also used for inflammation, sand and stones in the kidneys and bladder, for relaxation, hoarseness, initial tuberculosis and others. Mixed with a shepherd's purse, it is used for shortness of breath, constipation and difficult urination.

The licorice along with other herbs is drunk for coughs. Ground licorice root can be rubbed on gangrene wounds. In folk medicine, licorice is used for difficulty urinating due to the presence of prostate adenoma.

Safe dose: 1 tablespoon of crushed roots is poured with 500 ml of water and boiled for 10 minutes. Take 1 glass of wine before meals 4 times a day.

Licorice is used in the form of:

- Tincture - in rheumatoid arthritis or allergic conditions, such as a digestive stimulant or lung disease. It is prescribed for inflammation of the stomach or to stimulate the function of the adrenal glands after steroid therapy, and is also used to mask the taste of other drugs.

- Decoction - 2-3 spoons of the drug are added to 500 ml of boiling water. Boil for 15 minutes and leave to stand for 2 hours. The decoction is filtered and taken 3 times a day after meals. It is used to reduce stomach acidity in ulcers.

- Syrup - is made from the decoction and is used as a sedative, expectorant for asthma and bronchitis.

The licorice acts as a stimulant of the adrenal cortex and pancreas. All its health properties - anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic, antispasmodic, anti-ulcer, anti-malarial, antibacterial, antiviral, make it a valuable herb for health.

Licorice is an antioxidant and antidiuretic and it helps digestion by soothing the stomach lining. It acts as a stimulant of the immune system, lowers blood cholesterol. It has a mild laxative effect and protects the liver. Licorice is said to protect against radiation exposure.

Harm from licorice

Prolonged use of the roots of licorice leads to an increase in blood pressure, fluid retention, edema, the appearance of disorders in the genital area or in other words, a weakening of libido.

The drug from licorice may cause sodium retention in the body with edema, so it should not be used for a long time without medical supervision. However, if you use licorice, be careful not to retain liquids. The herb is contraindicated in the presence of chronic liver disease, severe renal failure and diabetes.