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Licorice
Description:
Not to be confused with the anise-flavored North American candy, the licorice plant is a tall shrub with blue flowers, primarily cultivated in Greece and Turkey. The licorice herb is a member of the pea family. Its roots contain many therapeutic substances including phytoestrogens, flavonoids and glycyrrhizin.
The glycyrrhizin in licorice root stimulates the adrenal glands to produce certain hormones, increases interferon and reduces inflammation. Licorice can decrease the inflammation of the liver for those suffering with hepatitis. It’s often used to treat patients with chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia and other disorders affected by cortisol imbalances. Licorice is also effective in treating respiratory ailments by relieving sore throat, coughing, mucus buildup and fighting off viruses. Please note that the glycyrrhizin in licorice can raise blood pressure so avoid it if you have heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease, and hypertension or are pregnant. As always, talk with your doctor before taking this or any other herbal remedy.
There is another form of licorice that doesn’t contain glycyrrhizin and has a different medicinal effect on the body. Deglycyrrhizinated or DGL licorice is beneficial for the digestive tract. It improves the body’s production of substances that coat the stomach and esophagus, aiding conditions like heartburn, ulcers and inflammatory bowel disease. It works best when mixed with saliva, so take DGL licorice in chewable wafer form. This form can also help speed up the recovery of cancer sores.
The estrogen-like properties of licorice may be beneficial for menstrual and menopausal complaints, and licorice is currently being investigated for its ability to prevent or combat certain cancers. Topical licorice can be soothing for skin irritations like eczema.
Properties & Uses:
Aperient - a mild laxative used to stimulate the bowels.
Demulcent - an agent which smooths the mucous membranes on contact.
Diuretic - Diuretics form a class of drugs which increase the volume of urine produced by the kidneys. It can be used effectively to treat mild cases of edema when kidney function is good and when the underlying abnormality of cardiac function, capillary pressure, or salt retention is being corrected simultaneously. Diuretics are not an appropriate treatment for edema caused by inflammation of the kidneys, and are useless in cardiac edema associated with advanced kidney insufficiency.
Emollient - a skin dressing or soothing ointment.
Expectorant - an agent which stimulates the outflow of mucus from the lungs and bronchials.
Laxative - an agent which acts to loosen the bowels; it is therefore used to treat constipation. Laxatives may act by increasing peristalsis by irritating the intestinal mucosa, lubricating the intestinal walls, softening the bowel contents by increasing the amount of water in the intestines, and increasing the bulk of the bowel content.
Pectoral - an agent which relieves chest conditions such as a cough.
Sialogogue - an agent which stimulates the secretion of saliva.
Stimulant - an agent that temporarily increases activity or physiological processes. Stimulants may be classified according to the organ upon which they act; for example, an intestinal stimulant is that which stimulates the intestines.
Licorice works as a stimulant on the adrenal glands, and contains glycosides which can chemically purge excess fluid from the lungs, throat, and body, which makes it very useful for coughs and chest complaints. It works as a laxative, helps in inflammation of the intestinal tract, relieves ulcer conditions, and has stimulating action to counteract stress. Licorice root is a source of estrogen, and therefore useful for the female system.
It exhibits many pharmacological activities, including estrogenic activities in laboratory animals; it is anti-tumoral, anti-trichomonas, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergenic, anti-toxic, anti-tussive (comparable to codeine for severe coughing), anti-convulsive, and anti-bacterial.
It will relieve bronchitis, sore throat, and coughing. Its unique glycosides chemically purge excess fluid from the lungs and throat and eliminate them from the body through the urinary tract. It is a remarkable herb for endurance; since viral illnesses often weaken the patient, licorice can be used to supply the energy necessary to allow more activity during recovery.
It has been used clinically in the People's Republic of China in treating gastric and duodenal ulcers, bronchial asthma, infectious hepatitis, malaria, diabetes, contact dermatitis, and hypoglycemia. This herb owes most of its sweet taste to glycyrrhizin, which is the potassium and calcium salts of glycyrrhizinic acid. The yellow of the root is due to flavonoids.
There are several varieties of licorice on the world market, including Italian, Russian, Syrian, Anatolian, Turkish, Arabian and three kinds of Spanish. The average glycyrrhizin content of licorice is about 7%, with the general range between 6 - 13%.
Recent clinical investigation has shown various uses for glycyrrhizin in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, Addison's disease and various types of inflammation. Glycyrrhizin is very soluble in hot water and alcohol, but extremely incompatible with acids (this is somewhat modified when combined with other herbs). The glucosides which make up glycyrrhizin act as a form of natural glucose which, when combined with goldenseal, work on the pancreas to produce insulin. When combine with other herbs, glycyrrhizin serves as a vehicle for those herbs.
Toxicity Levels:
Licorice root contains glycyrrhizin, the source of most of the pharmacological effects of licorice root and rizome. Glycyrrhizin is about 50 times sweeter than sugar; it has a powerful cortisone-like effect which may result in minor "poisoning" if overconsumed. Glycyrrhizin increases extracellular fluid and plasma volume and induces sodium retention and loss of potassium, often leading to edema or water retention. Licorice extracts produce estrogenic activity due to the phenolic compound clycestrone which is 1/533 of the potency of estrone. Too much licorice can cause cardiac depression and edema
Recommended Dietary Allowances:
There are two types of licorice, “standard” licorice and “de-glycyrrhizinated” licorice (DGL). Each type is suitable for different conditions. The standard licorice containing glycyrrhizin should be used for respiratory infections, chronic fatigue syndrome or herpes (topical). Licorice root in capsules, 5–6 grams per day, can be used. Concentrated extracts, 250–500 mg three times per day, are another option. Alternatively, a tea can be made by boiling 1/2 ounce (14 grams) of root in 1 pint (500 ml) of water for fifteen minutes, then drinking two to three cups (500–750 ml) per day. Long-term internal use (more than two to three weeks) of high amounts (over 10 grams per day) of glycyrrhizin-containing products should be attempted only under the supervision of a doctor. Licorice creams or gels can be applied directly to herpes sores three to four times per day.
DGL is prepared without the glycyrrhizin in order to circumvent potential safety problems (see below), and is used for conditions of the digestive tract, such as ulcers. For best results, one 200–300 mg tablet is chewed three times per day before meals and before bed.9 For canker sores, 200 mg of DGL powder can be mixed with 200 ml warm water, swished in the mouth for three minutes, and then expelled. This may be repeated three or four times per day.
Food Sources:
Originally from central Europe, licorice now grows all across Europe and Asia. The root is used medicinally.
Side Effects & Interactions:
Licorice products that include glycyrrhizin may increase blood pressure and cause water retention.10 Some people are more sensitive to this effect than others. Long-term intake (more than two to three weeks) of products containing more than 1 gram of glycyrrhizin (the amount in approximately 10 grams of root) daily is the usual amount required to cause these effects. Consumption of 7 grams licorice (containing 500 mg glycyrrhizin) per day for seven days has been shown to decrease serum testosterone levels in healthy men by blocking the enzymes needed to synthesize testosterone.11 However, in another study, a similar amount of licorice had only a small and statistically insignificant effect on testosterone levels.12 As a result of these possible side effects, long-term intake of high levels of glycyrrhizin is discouraged and should only be undertaken if prescribed by a qualified healthcare professional. Consumption of plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables to increase potassium intake is recommended to help decrease the chance of side effects. According to the German Commission E monograph, licorice is inadvisable for pregnant women as well as for people with liver and kidney disorders.13
De-glycyrrhizinated licorice extracts do not cause these side effects since they contain no glycyrrhizin.
References:
1. Whorwood CB, Shepard MC, Stewart PM. Licorice inhibits 11ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase messenger ribonucleic acid levels and potentiates glucocorticoid hormone action. Endocrinology 1993;132:2287–92.
2. Soma R, Ikeda M, Morise T, et al. Effect of glycyrrhizin on cortisol metabolism in humans. Endocrin Regulations 1994;28:31–4.
3. Beil W, Birkholz C, Sewing KF. Effects of flavonoids on parietal cell acid secretion, gastric mucosal prostaglandin production and Helicobacter pylori growth. Arzneim Forsch 1995;45:697–700.
4. Amer M, Metwalli M. Topical liquiritin improves melasma. Int J Dermatol 2000;39:299–301.
5. Morgan AG, McAdam WAF, Pacsoo C, Darnborough A. Comparison between cimetidine and Caved-S in the treatment of gastric ulceration, and subsequent maintenance therapy. Gut 1982;23:545–51.
6. Kassir ZA. Endoscopic controlled trial of four drug regimens in the treatment of chronic duodenal ulceration. Irish Med J 1985;78:153–6.
7. Bardhan KD, Cumberland DC, Dixon RA, Holdsworth CD. Clinical trial of deglycyrrhizinised liquorice in gastric ulcer. Gut 1978;19:779–82.
8. Das SK, Das V, Gulati AD, Singh VP. Deglycyrrhizinated licorice in aphthous ulcers. J Assoc Physicians India 1989;37:647.
9. Murray MT. The Healing Power of Herbs. Rocklin, CA: Prima Publishing, 1995, 228–39.
10. Blumenthal M, Busse WR, Goldberg A, et al, eds. The Complete Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Boston, MA: Integrative Medicine Communications, 1998, 161–2.
11. Armanini D, Bonanni G, Palermo M. Reduction of serum testosterone in men by licorice. New Engl J Med 1999;341:1158 [letter].
12. Josephs RA, Guinn JS, Harper ML, Askari F. Liquorice consumption and salivary testosterone concentrations. Lancet 2001;358:1613–4.
13. Blumenthal M, Busse WR, Goldberg A, et al. (eds). The Complete Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Boston, MA: Integrative Medicine Communications, 1998, 161–2.