There will be few of you who have not enjoyed being children savoring a licorice twigthe palo dulce or palodul. Even less are those of you who have not ever taken pills or candies that contain this sweet plant.

Licorice is an often essential ingredient in infusions to counteract the bad taste of other plants, as well as in products for bad breath. Also It is used as a sweetener in bakingin drinks and liquors, and even to flavor tobacco.

But licorice also has its own medicinal properties and they are not few. It is worth knowing them and knowing how to use them, with their indications and contraindications.

A sweet and medicinal root

You will be surprised to know that licorice is a legume, like legumes. Its scientific name, Glycyrrhiza glabrais explicit: it derives from the Greek name glucose (sweet) and rhizos (root). The sweet flavor of the root is so powerful that it marks the name of the plant.

You may be very familiar with what the root looks like, but not so familiar with what the root looks like. licorice planta slender shrub, up to a meter high, with compound leaves, bluish flowers, gathered in dense clusters. It grows near waterways, in the Mediterranean area and in western Asia.

The root is, more precisely speaking, a long, smooth rhizome, yellowish color once cleaned.

For medicinal purposes, three or four year old rhizomes are harvested in October or November. In many cases they undergo a transformation process, cooking them over low heat or in steam chambers, until they form a black and consistent mass.

Licorice properties

In the composition of licorice, a saponoside stands out, glycyrrhinewhich is considered up to fifty times sweeter than sugar. Licorice also contains glycyrrhizinic acid, flavonoids such as glycirol, isoflavones, coumarins, malic and salicylic acids, proteins, mineral salts and vitamins C and B, among others.

The glycyrrhine It is the substance responsible for its sweetening power, but also for its anti-inflammatory, balsamic, antiviral, anti-allergic, antacid and anti-ulcer effects. Certain flavonoids also act as antispasmodics, digestive, carminative and antiulcer agents.

What does all this mean? Well, licorice is indicated for numerous disorders and discomforts, especially digestive ones. Thus, it is recommended first of all as a remedy:

• in digestion disorders
• to combat acidity or heartburn
• to relieve annoying gastroesophageal reflux
• in hyposecretory dyspepsia, that is, difficult digestion due to a lack or decrease in gastric juices
• against gastrointestinal spasms
• against gastritis
• to relieve stomach heaviness after a heavy or strong meal, gas, bloating and flatulence
• as a good support in case of gastric and duodenal ulcers

By exercising intense anti-inflammatory functionlicorice also becomes the best herbal remedy for gastric ulcer. In combination with certain medicinal plants laxative effect helps reduce constipation.

On the other hand, it has the ability to make bronchial secretions more fluid and stop infection. For this reason, it is recommended in case of flu, colds, laryngitis, bronchitis and as support in mild asthmatic attacks.

How to take licorice to take advantage of its benefits

There are two types of licorice:

• He standard It is intended primarily for the treatment of respiratory disorders, allergies and viral processes such as herpes.
• He deglycyrrhinated licoricewhich some laboratories sell, has less or no glycyrrhine content to avoid possible risks, as we will see. It is suitable for treating gastric ulcers and other digestion disorders.

The most common way to take it varies depending on the presentation:

• Powderedup to 10 g in three daily doses.
• in decoctiongenerally associated with other plants. Below you will find two examples: an infusion for gastritis and gastroesophageal reflux and an infusion for heartburn and stomach ulcers.
• In liquid extract, tincture and capsules. The extracts should be taken in amounts that do not exceed 500 mg daily in three doses.
• In herbalists you can also acquire pieces of licorice to suckchewable tablets and the famous lozenges to soothe the throat.
• In external uselicorice infusion or decoction can be used to soak compresses and apply them on small wounds and ulcersin mouth rinses, gargles and eye washes for conjunctivitis and on inflamed eyelids.

These are two effective infusions to relieve very common digestive disorders:

Infusion for gastritis and gastroesophageal reflux

You need licorice, mallow, cat’s tail (Sideritis Tragoriganum) and green anise in equal parts.

Preparation:

1. Separate 1 tablespoon of the mixture per cup of water.
2. Boil for about 3 minutes, let it rest for another 10 and strain.
3. Drink a glass of the herbal tea after meals.

Infusion for heartburn and stomach ulcer

This herbal tea helps relieve and heal stomach ulcers. You need equal parts licorice, pennyroyal, horsetail and shepherd’s purse.

Preparation:

1. Separate 1 tablespoon of the mixture per cup of water.
2. Boil for a minute, let it rest for another 10 and filter.
3. Drink a cup after meals.

To neutralize the acidity, you can also salivate a stick of licorice or sweet stick several times a day.

Some precautions and contraindications

It is advisable to take some precautions when consuming licorice. In 2004 the European Commission recommended do not eat more than 50 g of untreated licorice for more than seven days followed.

It is difficult to ingest that amount if it is consumed in the form of a herbal tea. or in some other herbal presentation, but perhaps when there is abuse of candies, pills, sweet sticks or chewing bars.

Excessive and continued consumption of licorice, due to the action of glycyrrhine, produces fluid retention and can inhibit the enzymatic activity that acts in the kidney, eventually leading to low levels of potassium in the blood and causing or aggravating a condition of high blood pressure.

Licorice is not recommended, therefore, if it exists kidney failure and heart disease, liver disease and type II diabetesas well as when taking medications with which it may interact.

In all these cases, you have to consult with the doctor.

Licorice and pregnancy

The use of licorice also is contraindicated in pregnancy and during lactation. Taking licorice during pregnancy has been associated with abortion and premature birth. It also has estrogenic and antiprolactin effects, so it could reduce milk production during the first weeks of the puerperium.

However, It is safe to consume as a treat by children.as a throat softener and as a sweetener in moderate quantities.

How to use licorice to sweeten

Licorice is used for flavoring in infusions, pastries and bakery. In infusions it is normally used to improve the flavor of other plants, as it provides sweetness and neutralizes bitterness. For this, the chipped licorice which is sold in herbal stores.

At home They can be used to sweeten and flavor exquisite ice creamsfor example strawberries and licorice. Or prepare a chocolate cream with licorice and pieces of fruitbiscuits with licorice, or strawberries with vegetable cream, licorice and rose petals.

For this it is used licorice powderwhich must be dissolved in a bain-marie.