All About Licorice

Most of us know licorice as a tasty treat. But true licorice, officially known as Glycyrrhiza glabra, is actually a European plant belonging to the pulse family called Leguminosae. When pounded or pressed, the root of the licorice plant manufactures the sweet substance it's famous for. Since ancient times, licorice root has been revered for its medicinal purposes. The root has been used as a laxative and trusted as a cure for coughs. Of course, licorice is also brewed for candy and for flavoring tobacco and other substances.

Licorice Plant

The licorice plant is perennial, with blue, pea-shaped blossoms. True licorice is cultivated primarily in the Middle East, however there is a subspecies known as glycyrrhiza lepidota, or "wild licorice" that is native to North America. Most types of licorice are found in Persia, Southeast Europe and several Asiatic regions, and there are currently fourteen known varieties.

The licorice plant has long graceful stems and lightly spreading, pinnate leaves. From a distance, they display an almost feathery appearance because of their tiny leaflets which resemble those of the False Acacia. At night, the leaves hang down on each side of the midrib. The flowers are little, growing from the axils of the leaves. Licorice flowers are purplish in color and occasionally pale-blue, violet, or yellowish-white. At the peak of maturity, small pods are formed which somewhat resemble a partly grown peapod.

Health Advantages

You can find licorice in the histories of herbal medicine and folk healing. There are long and varied legends on the use of licorice. For example, Ancient Chinese healers considered licorice to be one of the important herbs in traditional medicine. Chinese folk healers primarily used licorice as a demulcent for its soothing and coating effects in the digestive and urinary tracts, as well as a cure for diseases including diabetes and tuberculosis.

More recently, the licorice plant has mostly been used to treat coughs and sore throats. Of course, licorice is also favored as a flavoring. "Licorice" is a word derived from the Greek word meaning "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.

Doctors have used a licorice extract called liquiritin as a treatment for melasma, a pigmentation disorder of the skin. In one study, medical researchers indicated that a 70 percent improvement rate was observed on melasma patients who applied liquiritin cream twice a day over a period of four-weeks.

How to Buy Licorice

When buying licorice for health benefits, remember that there are two types available on the market. "Standard" licorice glycyrrhizin and is used to treat respiratory infections, herpes and chronic fatigue syndrome. The other type, called "de-glycyrrhizinated" licorice, is used to relieve ulcers and other conditions in the digestive tract.

Licorice can be purchased in tablets or in capsule form. If you need to treat canker sores, you can also find de-glycyrrhizinated licorice in powder form.

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Author Joelle Applebe is happiest writing for numerous popular Internet sites, on health and wellness and health plans topics.