Licorice Root - General Uses & Benefits

Licorice has been used in China and Tibet for thousands of years. It was an essential ingredient of many soups and broths, and also appeared in the famous poem The Book of Friends (or The Ginseng Connoisseur's Guide to Literature). In the west it is often added to tea and is now part of many health drinks. Licorice roots are highly valued for their energy-giving qualities. Licorice, the Greek word for joy, has also become synonymous with springtime, probably because its scent reminds us of the joyous return to the earth and warmth of the sun.

Licorice, as the name suggests, is a plant, and like most plants it grows on the ground. However, the species of licorice which we use in candy form (the 'licorice plant') is a tropical plant from southern Europe and Asia and is now becoming established in much of North America. Licorice comes in a variety of colors and tastes: it has a distinctive sweet flavor, which is often described as "sour". Licorice roots can be eaten just as they are sprinkled over foods as they are or eaten as a garnish. You can add licorice to smoothies, ice creams and smoothies made from fruit, yogurt and cereal.

Licorice root products can help treat a number of respiratory conditions. Licorice contains glycyrrhizin (glycyrrhizic acid) that has a soothing effect on the mucous membranes and so can help relieve inflammation of the bronchial tree. It may also help reduce symptoms in individuals who suffer from asthma.

Licorice can also be used to treat high blood pressure, because it appears to normalize both elevated and normal blood pressure levels. Licorice has also been shown to normalize high blood sugar levels, which can help diabetic people to control their blood sugar. Licorice can also lower LDL cholesterol levels, which is a type of risk factor for heart disease. If you're at risk for heart failure or have had other kinds of heart problems in the past, take licorice to raise your good cholesterol levels and decrease your bad cholesterol, which can help you prevent heart failure and its associated side effects such as stroke, heart valve disease and heart problems, and even some types of cancer.

Studies have also shown that licorice root can reduce viral infections of the stomach, esophagus, throat, kidneys, gallbladder, and liver. Some types of viral infections respond well to a daily supplement of licorice root. One of these is ulcerative colitis, which can cause inflammation of the colon. Other conditions that licorice root may be able to help are chronic fatigue syndrome, anemia, poor digestion, osteoporosis, menopausal syndromes, irritable bowel syndrome, herpes outbreaks and other immune system problems.

Licorice root is considered quite safe to use, and it contains only a small amount of caffeine. One plant-related side effect that has been reported is increased blood pressure when used in conjunction with caffeine. However, this should not be a concern for healthy adults who are using licorice as a dietary supplement, and it usually does not cause any side effects when taken alone. It's important to note that licorice root and glycyrrhizin (the natural sweetener) are considered to be harmless when used as directed. When used as a part of a weight loss program, licorice root may cause certain changes in body weight, but continued use of the supplement is not known to affect bone mineral density or cause fatigue.

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