Licorice (Adhimadhuram)

  

The Licorice plant is familiar for its flavoring in food and beverages. The root of the plant is used to make medicines. Licorice is used to heal a vast array of diseases. Licorice is commonly used for digestive disorders, including heartburn, stomach ulcers, and constipation. Individuals have made use of this herb as a shampoo to lessen oiliness in the hair.  Some people use it for reducing weight and control the cholesterol.

Licorice is used to cure malaria, liver disorders, food poisoning, tuberculosis, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Sometimes, it is used along with the herbs to improve the function of the adrenal glands, especially for the people who take steroidal drugs. Steroids tend to put down the activity of the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands generate the hormones that control the body’s response to stress. The Glycyrrhizic acid in the licorice root helps with nervousness and depression by encouraging the adrenal glands function.  

The adrenal glands regulate stress hormones including cortisol. Licorice root also has the Asparagine amino acid which is required to preserve equilibrium in the body’s nervous system.

In China, licorice is considered as an excellent harmonizing agent and is added to various herbal formulas. It is used to get relief from bronchitis, sore throat, control blood sugar, and reduce inflammation and infections caused by bacteria.

Licorice root is used as a remedy for asthma, baldness, body odor, chronic exhaustion, melancholy, influenza, dandruff, emphysema, viral infections, fungal infections, ulcers, psoriasis, shingles, tendinitis, arthritis, and yeast infections.

The sweet saponin glycoside glycyrrhizin in licorice gives its characteristic flavor.  It is to be noted that Glycyrrhizin is 30 to 60 times sweeter than sugar.

Licorice root is remarkable in the natural treatments. Ayurveda directs the root as beneficial in the treatment of colds, coughs, digestive problems and other bronchial irritations.

With all of these uses, it's no surprise that licorice finds its approach into numerous therapies.

 Research by NatturaBio