The medicinal and dietary use of liquorice goes back thousands of years. Traditionally, Liquorice has been used as an expectorant to help relieve mucous congestion in the upper respiratory tract and to assist healthy digestion. Liquorice extracts are now used extensively as ingredients in cough drops, syrups, tonics, laxatives, anti-smoking lozenges and other preparations.
Therapeutic Use
Most people will know Liquorice as a confectionary. It is interesting to note that although some Liquorice confectionary does contain extracts of Liquorice root, most Liquorice confectionary today is flavoured with anise oil or contains a combination of Liquorice and anise.
As well as being a popular confectionary, Liquorice is also one of the most widely used herbs throughout the world, in both the East and the West. Its use dates back several thousand years. The botanical name Glycyrrhiza is derived from the Greek glukos riza meaning sweet root, so named by Hippocrates for its sweet flavour and use as a flavouring agent.
Liquorice has a wide range of actions attributed to it including expectorant, demulcent, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory and laxative. It is an adrenotropic agent, assisting the action of the adrenal glands, which are responsible for a range of actions. These actions include releasing hormones involved in the stress response, helping to maintain blood sugar levels and assisting in the process of relieving inflammation.
Many of the modern uses for Liquorice are similar to those that were known to early writers, including the relief of respiratory disorders such as chronic coughs and catarrh. As an adrenotropic agent it can be useful in cases of lowered adrenal function and following times of chronic stress that have weakened the adrenal glands. The anti-inflammatory action can assist to relieve inflammation of joints. It has also been seen to have digestive benefits, helping to sooth the stomach and provide relief from some stomach disorders.
