Licorice is a stick that you can chew on. That’s good for your teeth. It tastes very nice and sweet. It is sold as candy in some candy stores. It’s one of the few things from the candy store that isn’t bad for your teeth. Licorice contains a sweetener that is 50 times sweeter than sugar but has no adverse effects on teeth. Licorice is used as a flavoring or fragrance in tobacco, drinks, licorice, food and cosmetics. NB! This article is written from the personal view of the author and may contain information that is not scientifically substantiated and/or in line with the general view.

Contents:

• Ingredient of licorice
• Licorice and cortisol
• Healing power of licorice
• Traditional medicinal use of licorice
• Diseases against which licorice is used:
• Other scientific research
• How to use licorice?

Ingredient of licorice

The juice of licorice is used as an ingredient in licorice. In the English language, licorice is translated as liquorice which, in addition to licorice, means licorice. In Flanders they say kalisse or kalissehout for licorice. Licorice is a root of a tree that goes by the Latin name Glycyrrhiza glabra . The juice of licorice that is used as a raw material for licorice is called glycyrrhizic acid. This substance increases blood pressure. It is not recommended to eat licorice every day. People with a kidney problem should avoid licorice.Drawing licorice / Source: Curtis, Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

Licorice and cortisol

Glycyrrhizin is related to cortisol. Together they have a synergistic or mutually reinforcing effect. Chemically, cortisol and glycyrrhizin are somewhat similar. People who produce too little cortisol are sometimes prescribed licorice. In China it is used as a medicine for Addison’s disease. This disease is characterized by a poorly functioning parathyroid gland, resulting in less cortisol being produced in the body.

Healing power of licorice

In Japan, licorice root is used to treat hepatitis infections. Kaposi sarcoma, a human herpes virus disease that many AIDS patients get, is also treated with licorice. Nowadays, mouth and stomach ulcers are also treated with licorice. Licorice gives the stomach peace. A stomach acid reflux (dyspepsia) is counteracted by licorice. Because it calms the stomach, licorice is given after food poisoning. It is also given to people suffering from irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn’s disease.

Traditional medicinal use of licorice

In Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine, licorice is used in herbal mixes. It would help the other herbs to get to the right place and to harmonize the body, that is, get rid of disease. Licorice is used in Ayurveda and European traditional medicine to combat coughs. The mucus is released faster by licorice. Licorice helps against sore throat and asthma; it was already used for this purpose by physicians in ancient Greece and ancient Egypt. Licorice as an anti-sore throat remedy has been completely rediscovered in Germany in recent years, where 500 tons of licorice per year are imported for use as a sore throat medicine. In traditional European medicine, licorice has often been recommended as a medicine for colds and liver diseases.

Diseases against which licorice is used:

• Hepatitis,
• Young licorice tree / Source: Alessandro Antonelli, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-3.0)

Dyspepsia,

• Food poisoning,
• mouth ulcer,
• stomach ulcer,
• Addison’s disease,
• Crohn’s disease,
• Cough,
• A sore throat,
• Asthma,
• Colds and
• Liver diseases.

Other scientific research

Scientific research is being conducted into the effects of licorice on obesity and cancer. Scientists have suspected that the active substance in licorice, glycyrrhizin, has a medicinal effect. Licorice has an anti-inflammatory effect and scientists expect that results will soon be announced that licorice can fight obesity and cancer.Licorice is used as a means to support smoking cessation. 

How to use licorice?

Licorice may be used as a medicine and licorice may contain licorice, but that does not automatically mean that licorice is healthy. The medicinal effect of licorice is best achieved by taking it in its pure form, otherwise you will have to deal with the negative effects of sugar and other additives in licorice. You can chew licorice or drink licorice tea to combat respiratory problems. Modern scientific research has shown that licorice is effective against eczema. An ointment containing 2% licorice made eczema disappear, the University of Maryland reports on its website.

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