Licorice Herbs Isn't Just For Candy

The licorice plant is a legume, related to peas and beans. It isn’t related to anise, star anise or fennel although the flavors are similar. The sweet flavor from the licorice is extracted from the root. The flavor comes from a sweet tasting compound called anetole, an aromatic compound also found in anise fennel and other herbs. The additional sweetness in licorice comes from glycyrrhizin, which is sweeter than sugar. The extract is produced by boiling the root and evaporating most of the water. The extract may be in solid or syrup form. More and more people are finding out about the many uses of licroice herbs.

We all think of licorice for its use in candy. It is also in many soft drinks. It is sometimes mixed with mint, menthol or laurel. In Italy and Spain, it is dug up, washed and chewed as a breath freshener. I do not like the taste of licorice, but I suspect I am in the minority. Most people seem to love it. My mother in law always picked out all the black jelly beans from the bag and one of my good friends always has a bag by her computer to snack on.

Licorice is also used to flavor tobacco products, adding a sweet, woody fragrance to the smoke.

In Japan, the glycyrrhizic acid derived from licorice root is used for treatment and control of viral hepatitis. Testing in mice shows a strong anti-viral effect. It disrupts Kaposis sarcoma and herpesvirus infections in the active stage. It is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine as well. In herbalism, it’s used to treat auto-immune conditions such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and animal dander allergies. It may also be useful in treating mouth ulcers and peptic ulcers. It is a mild laxative and may be used as a topical treatment for shingles and herpes. Licorice eases respiratory problems and sore throat. Many cough drops contain licorice and it thins the mucous making the cough more productive. Licorice contains phytoestrogens that may make it useful in treating PMS.

Some recent studies have shown that licorice may help prevent heart disease by discouraging plaque formation, thus limiting the damage of high LDL cholesterol.

There are some side effects associated with long term use. Licorice herbs can cause fluid retention and raise blood pressure. If you like licorice candy, it is not a concern because the candy contains very little licorice root. It is more often flavored with anise. As with any herbal remedy, consult your doctor before use if you have any health issues. The licorice herb has more uses than just for flavoring. Your local herb shop can provide you with the information about other uses.


 

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