Licorice "The Herb, The Tea, and its Benefits"

Licorice: (Glycyrrhiza glabra ) is a flavorful herb that has been used in food and medicinal remedies for thousands of years. Also known as "sweet root," licorice root contains a compound that is roughly 50 times sweeter than sugar. Licorice root has been used in both Eastern and Western medicine to treat a variety of illnesses ranging from the common cold to liver disease. This herb has long been valued as a demulcent (soothing, coating agent) and expectorant (rids phlegm and mucous from the respiratory tract) and continues to be used by health care professionals today to relieve respiratory ailments (such as allergies, bronchitis, colds, sore throats, and tuberculosis), stomach problems (including heartburn from reflux), inflammatory disorders, skin diseases, stress relief, as a laxative, and liver problems.
Emerging studies are beginning to suggest that licorice may also play a role in the treatment of heart disease. In one recent study, people with high cholesterol experienced a significant reduction in total cholesterol, LDL ("bad") cholesterol, and triglyceride levels after taking licorice root extracts for 1 month. The extract also reduced systolic blood pressure by 10%, although licorice may increase blood pressure in some individuals. These measures returned to their previous, elevated levels when the participants stopped taking the licorice supplements. Licorice root extract has also been shown to reduce the risk of atherosclerosis "hardening of the arteries".
Preliminary studies also suggest that licorice may play a role in the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). One early study of only 3 people with HIV suggested that intravenous glycyrrhizin may prevent replication of HIV, but larger studies have yet to duplicate these findings.
Another recent study found that a preparation of licorice may reduce body fat. Fifteen normal-weight subjects consumed licorice for 2 months (3.5 g a day). Body fat mass was measured before and after treatment. Licorice was able to reduce body fat mass and to suppress the hormone aldosterone. Another study found that a topical preparation of glycyrrhetinic acid (a component of licorice) was able to reduce the thickness of fat on the thigh in human subjects.
Licorice can be taken in the following forms:
·Dried root: 1 - 5 g as an infusion or decoction (boiled), three times daily
·Licorice 1:5 tincture: 2-5 ml, three times daily
·Standardized extract: 250-500 mg, three times daily, standardized to contain 20% glycyrrhizinic acid
·DGL extract: 0.4 - 1.6 g, three times daily, for peptic ulcer
·DGL extract 4:1: chew 300 - 400 mg, three times daily 20 minutes before meals, for peptic ulcer
Precautions:
The use of herbs is a time-honored approach to strengthening the body and treating disease. Herbs, however, contain components that can trigger side effects and that can interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. For these reasons, herbs should be taken with care, preferably under the supervision of a health care provider in the field of botanical medicine.