Licorice, or licorice, is a perennial herb with a long stem, which is a natural substitute for sugar. Even in ancient Egypt and China used its healing properties, it is widely known to this day.
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Liquorice is usually found in the steppe regions, near roads, along the banks of rivers and seas, in semi-deserts. This plant belongs to the legume family. It grows well with temperate and subtropical climates, tolerates a lack of moisture quite easily, and is often used to strengthen sand.
Licorice sweets, called licorice, began to be produced in England in the 18th century, and in Finland they are considered a national delicacy. In China, licorice is included in almost all Tibetan medicine recipes. In Russia, licorice can be found in the southern regions, in the Caucasus, in Western Siberia and on the coast of the Sea of Azov. All healing properties are contained in the roots of the plant, which are collected in spring or late autumn, dried and crushed.
Licorice root contains B, C vitamins, flavonoids, pectin, polysaccharides, fatty acids, essential oil, tannins and mucous substances, mineral salts, carotene, coumarins, amino acids, protein, alkaloids, etc.
The sweet taste of licorice is due to the glycyrrhizin content. This substance, which is ten times sweeter than sugar, is often used as a natural sweetener. Due to the glycyrrhizic acid content, licorice has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergenic properties.
Licorice root is part of various expectorant collections, syrups, lozenges and cough syrups. Licorice effectively helps with various respiratory diseases such as bronchitis, asthma, tuberculosis, laryngitis, pneumonia, dry cough, smoker's cough.
It helps to restore the body with cardiac pathologies, with hypotension, with vascular and thyroid diseases. In addition, licorice root has an enveloping effect on the gastric mucosa, being a mild laxative. It also helps with diabetes, increasing the production of insulin, being a natural sweetener.
A decoction of licorice roots is taken for ailments of the gastrointestinal tract. Liquorice is effective for skin diseases, and it is also used as a cosmetic product. It has whitening, anti-aging properties, and also stimulates the production of collagen by the skin.
The anti-inflammatory properties of this plant have a protective and healing effect on hepatitis, cope with diseases of the bladder and restore the pancreas.
Licorice is rich in flavonoids, antioxidants, so doctors advise taking it for oncological diseases.
Liquorice root has long been considered an excellent antidote, due to which it is used for various intoxications and poisonings. It perfectly relieves fatigue, improves brain activity. In addition, licorice helps with joint diseases, gout and rheumatism.
Licorice is contraindicated in people with impaired water-salt balance, hypertension and kidney problems. It is able to retain water in the body, therefore it is not recommended for pregnant women. Children under two years of age are also not shown licorice.
Liquorice is prohibited with increased adrenal gland activity.
People suffering from hypertension and taking a diuretic are shown to take drugs that do not contain glycyrrhizin. When taking licorice-based products, include foods containing potassium in your diet. This is due to the fact that the substances contained in the licorice root can significantly reduce the level of potassium in the body. This ultimately leads to muscle weakness and renal failure. Licorice is categorically contraindicated in patients with myocardium and pericarditis, as well as with cirrhosis.
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