Overview:

Licorice is native to the Mediterranean region and central through southwest Asia. Licorice prefers warm sandy soil and warm weather. It is a perennial that reaches heights of between 3 and 7 feet with small yellow, blue or violet flowers.    It is its extensive branching root system that is harvested and dried.

Traditional medicine of both the Eastern and Western world have valued licorice root for its healing properties.  Its use has been documented as early as 2500 B.C. in Assyria and Egypt.  Licorice root has always been valued for treating respiratory problems such as coughs, colds, and bronchitis.  It can still be found in a number of over the counter cough and cold preparations.  The active ingredient in licorice is so sweet that it is often used to mask the taste of other unpleasant herbs in traditional herbal preparations.

Active Ingredients:

• glycycrrhizin-licorice roots main constituent and 50 times sweeter than sugar
• asparagine
• saponin
• sugars
• resin
• a bitter principle
• volatile oil

Traditional uses:

Because of its many healing properties, licorice root is valued by traditional healers all over the world.  Many of these uses are holding up to the close scrutiny of modern medicine practitioners.  Licorice is use in traditional medicine:

• as a demulcent to sooth and heal mucus membranes
• as an expectorant to loosen and help remove excess mucus
• as a laxative to treat constipation
• as a stomachic to treat and heal ulcers
• as a fever reducer
• as an anti-spasmodic to help relieve digestive upsets such as gas and bloating
• as a tonic for the liver and endocrine system
• as a diuretic

Clinical uses:

Licorice root has been studied extensively.  These studies not only confirm what traditional healers already knew but have found licorice root very beneficial in treating viral infections.  The use of licorice has proven effective for:

• the treatment of stomach ulcers.  Studies have shown that licorice root does help the stomach heal itself.  In fact, a constituent of glycycrrhizin, glycycrrhentinic acid is used in the commercial preparation of carbenoxolone.  Carbenoxolone is used as an anti inflammatory for treating stomach ulcers.
• reduces blood pressure.  Studies have shown that people taking licorice root for one month noted a 10% drop in their systolic blood  pressure
• lowering cholesterol. By taking licorice root extract, patients saw a significant drop in total cholesterol, LDL (bad cholesterol) and triglycerides.
• treating chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver.  The Japanese have used licorice root to treat patients who are suffering from chronic hepatitis.  Studies have shown that by treating patients with intravenous glycyrrhizin, cysteine and glycine for 10 years were less likely to progress to liver cancer or progressive liver failure.
• treating the symptoms of chronic respiratory and digestive system problems. 
• Treating the symptoms of skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema and herpes.

Recommended Dosage:

Pediatric

For treating sore throats in older children a piece of licorice root may be chewed or a tea made. Pediatric dosages are calculated by a child’s body weight.  Since adult dosages are calculated using a body weight of 150 lbs to calculate a pediatric dose simply take the child’s weight and divide by 150 lbs.  For example, if a child weights 50 lbs and the adult dose for a supplement is 150mg:

50lbs/150lbs=.33 or 1/3 of adult dose so take the 150mg adult dose and divide by 3 to obtain the child’s dose of 50mg.

Adult

• use 1-5 grams of dried root  in a decoction (strong tea) or infusion to be taken 3 times/day.  The decoction or infusion can also be made with milk
• Tincture (1:5) in 30% ethanol: 2 to 5ml three times a day.
• An ointment for the treatment of skin conditions should contain 2% licorice root and be applied 2 times/day.
• Tablets should contain 380mg and be taken before meals and at bedtime.

Contra-indications:

Taken high does of licorice may cause serious side effects.  Taking more that 20grams/day can lead to:

1. Pseudoaldosteonism.  This condition causes an individual to become overly sensitive to a hormone in the adrenal cortex.  This can lead to headaches, fatigue,  elevated blood pressure, and heart attacks.  It can also lead to water retention with the accumulation of fluid in the legs.
2. even a more moderate doses some people experience muscle pain in the extremities
3. weight gain
4. people with high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, kidney, heart, or liver conditions should avoid licorice.
5. It is not recommended that licorice be taken for longer than four to six weeks.

Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not take licorice in any form.  Men who suffer from sexual dysfunction should avoid licorice as well.

Drug interactions

Licorice has been found to interact with many medications.  Do not take licorice if:

• You are taking agiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or diuretics to control blood pressure. It can cause a dangerous depletion in potassium levels.
• You are taking digoxin.  Licorice may dangerously increase the toxic side effects of this medication and should not be taken if you are on this medication.
• Taking oral contraceptives.  Licorice in combination with oral contraceptives has been shown to raise blood pressure and lower potassium levels.
• It has been shown to enhance the adverse effects of insulin
• Cause substantial loss of potassium if a person in taking a stimulant laxative

Positive interactions:

• It has shown to protect the stomach against the ulcer risk of taking aspirin.
• It has been shown to increase the effects of topical corticosteroids in relieving skin irritations.

Web References

1. Flora Health
2. Holistic Online
3. UMM.edu

Printed Reference Material

1. Blumenthal M, Goldberg A, Brinckmann J 2000. Herbal Medicine: Expanded Commission E Monographs. Copyright American Botanical Council. Publ. by Integrative Medicine Communications, 1029 Chestnut Street, Newton, MA 02464. Pp. 233-239.
2. Duke, J. 1997: The Green Pharmacy, The Ultimate Compendium of Natural Remedies from the World's Foremost Authority on Healing and Herbs. Rodale Press. pp. 81-82; 85; 98; 106-107; 133; 142; 162; 169; 180; 190; 224; 247; 292; 323-324; 385-386; 393-94; 446, 447, 449; 455; 490; 529-30; 545; 561.
3. Khayyal MT, el-Ghazaly MA, Kenawy SA, Seif-el-Nasr M, Mahran LG, Kafafi YA, Okpanyi SN. 2001. Antiulcerogenic effect of some gastrointestinally acting plant extracts and their combination. Arzneimittelforschung 2001; 51(7): 545-53.

The publisher does not accept any responsibility for the accuracy of the information or the consequences arising from the application, use, or misuse of any of the information contained herein, including any injury and/or damage to any person or property as a matter of product liability, negligence, or otherwise.