Licorice Benefits – The Positive Health Aspects of Licorice

Anthony Gucciardi
Natural Society

Kelsey Coy
NaturalSociety
August 6, 2012

Glycyrrhiza glabra, better known as licorice, has a long and extensive medicinal history, spanning from ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome and China to contemporary hospitals, pharmacies and research institutions not only in the east, but also in Israel, Europe and the U.S. While licorice benefits are more than plentiful, not many individuals think of licorice when considering boosting their health.

Native to Mediterranean and Asian regions, the plant is now cultivated worldwide in subtropical and temperate regions.As an herb, it is considered demulcent, pectoral and emollient; medicinally, it is also purported to be anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, antiviral and anti-spasmodic, and most recently, anti-cancer. No wonder it has been referred to as “a miracle medicinal herb.”

Licorice Benefits Everyone Should Know About

Specific licorice benefits experienced around the world include:

• Treating acid reflux and relieving other gastric problems, including:
  • Gastric ulcers
  • Counter gastrointestinal damage cause by NSAIDS
  • H.Pylori Infection
• Inhibiting viral replication in many viruses, including
  • Chronic Hepatitis
  • Varicella-Zoster (Herpes)
  • HIV
• Soothing Skin Issues (Topical Application)

• Soothing Sore Throat and Cough

While licorice benefits are plentiful, the use of licorice, however, is not without side effects, so it should not be used without proper precautions. Long term or excessive use can induce edema, hypertension, and hypokalemia in susceptible individuals. In appropriate dosages, however, risks are mitigated, and most formulations available today are deglycyrrhizinated, meaning the compound believed to be causing negative side effects has been removed. Used judiciously, and with proper monitoring, licorice offers some intriguing benefits to say the least and in some cases, just might live up to its ‘miraculous’ moniker.

Additional Sources:

Natural Medicine Journal

NYU Langone Medical Center

Wiley Online Library

ScienceDirect

UK PubMed Central

Encyclopedia of Dietary Supplements: Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra)