Licorice is more than just a sweet snack. True licorice or "Glycyrrhiza glabra" is a European plant belonging to the pulse family Leguminosae. The sweet substance that has made licorice famous is produced when the roots of the licorice plant are pressed or pounded. But there's much more to the licorice root, and it has been celebrated for its medicinal purposes since ancient times. Licorice root has been used as a laxative, and taken to treat coughs. When brewed, licorice produces the sweet flavor we love for candy, tobacco and other products.



The Licorice Plant

Licorice is a lovely perennial plant with pea-shaped, blue blossoms. While true licorice is primarily cultivated in the Middle East, a subspecies known as Glycyrrhiza lepidota or "wild licorice" is native to North America. There are currently fourteen known varieties of the licorice plant. Most types are found in Persia, Southeast Europe and several Asiatic regions.

A truly beautiful plant, licorice has long graceful stems and pinnate leaves that spread slightly. Their tiny leaflets, resembling False Acacia, take on an almost feathery appearance from a distance. The leaves hang down on either side of the midrib when night falls. Small flowers grow from the axils of the leaves. Licorice flowers can be blue, purplish, pale blue, violet or yellowish-white. When fully mature, small pods form that look something like peapods.

Licorice for Health

Licorice has enjoyed an extensive history in the annals of herbal medicine and folk healing. Legends of the use of licorice are long and varied. In Ancient China, licorice was considered to be one of the most important herbs in traditional medicine. Used primarily as a demulcent for its soothing and coating effects in the digestive and urinary tracts, Chinese folk healers also used licorice to cure an array of conditions and diseases including tuberculosis and diabetes.

Since ancient times, the plant has been commonly used in connection with the treatment for coughs, sore throats, and as a flavoring. As a matter of fact, it got its name from the Greek word for "sweet root."

According to recent studies, licorice contains compounds known as flavonoids and glycyrrhizin. Some studies suggest that glycyrrhizin has anti-inflammatory properties, and may provide actions that can inhibit or hinder the breakdown of cortisol, one of the body's important substances.

While it has not yet been proven to work with humans, licorice may also hold important anti-viral properties. The flavonoids found in this herb can act as powerful antioxidants that protect the liver and several other important organs. Closely related to flavonoids, chalcones are other components of licorice that may help treat digestive tract cells. Preliminary studies on the results of licorice have indicated that flavonoids can destroy ulcer-causing bacteria known as Helicobacter pylori, the bacteria responsible for many common stomach inflammations.

A licorice extract called liquiritin has been used as a treatment for a pigmentation disorder of the skin known as melasma. A study conducted by medical researchers indicated that a 70 percent improvement rate has been observed on melasma patients after a twice daily topical application of liquiritin cream over a four-week period.

How to Buy Licorice

If you're looking for licorice at the health food store, there are two main types on the shelves. "Standard" glycyrrhizin is the type of licorice used to treat chronic fatigue, respiratory conditions and herpes. De-glycyrrhizinated licorice is taken to relieve ulcers and other digestive concerns.

You can purchase licorice at the health food store in tablet or capsule form. De-glycyrrhizinated licorice is also sold in powder form, and is often used to treat canker sores.