The term licorice refers to the root of the licorice plant. The root is used as a spice and remedy. The Würzburger Studienkreis declared the licorice plant the medicinal plant of the year in 2012 because of its many uses.
Occurrence and cultivation of licorice
Naturopathy uses licorice for food cravings, low blood pressure, obesity, rheumatism and blood purification. The licorice plant belongs to the butterfly family of plants. These are woody or herbaceous plants. Its botanical name is Glycyrrhiza glabra. It requires full sun and deep well-drained soil. The plant can grow up to one meter high, is perennial and has purple flowers in the form of spikes. Its original home is in the Mediterranean region and western Asia. Meanwhile, it can also be found on the American and Australian continents. Related species are Glycyrrhiza inflata and Glycyrrhiza uralensis. Both species are mainly used in the manufacture of pharmaceutical products. Glycyrrhiza uralensis is known in German as Chinese licorice or Ural licorice root. Germany is one of the largest consumer countries. Most of the imported product comes from Iran, China and countries in Central Asia. Spain, France and Italy are other growing areas. Much of the licorice harvest is from wild collections, which have the advantage of being free of fertilizer or pesticide traces. One of the few cultivation areas in northern Europe is Bamberg: there, an initiative is resurrecting the cultivation originally known in Germany on a small scale.
Effect and application
Licorice contains up to four hundred previously recorded ingredients. Scientists have not yet clarified all the modes of action of these substances. Included are saponins, flavonoids and coumarins. Saponins are substances that protect plants from bacteria or fungal attack. Flavonoids are mainly flower pigments and have an antioxidant effect for the human organism. The most important component for use is the saponin glycyrrhizin: it produces the taste typical of licorice and is many times sweeter than cane sugar. Of the entire plant, only the root is suitable for further processing. Harvesting in autumn is manual work and the root branches grow back. The degree of processing varies: root pieces, powder or the solidified juice from the roots boiled down to pulp and filtered. The best-known way of processing licorice in Germany is to make licorice: this candy consists of the solidified juice and softeners such as gelatin. In all imaginable forms and various gradations of licorice concentration, this confectionery is intended for children and adults. Above a quantity of two hundred milligrams of glycyrrhizin per one hundred grams of licorice, this product is labeled as strong licorice in Germany and is no longer recommended for children. Under the synonym licorice, the processed root is found as a spice in drinks and dishes. There are liquors, beers and soft drinks that are spiked with licorice. In Egypt, a traditional drink during Ramadan is Erq Sous, which is stirred with licorice powder. In Asian cuisine, licorice is an ingredient in spice blends and soy sauces. Another field in which licorice is important is pharmacy: the plant’s constituents have cough-relieving, expectorant, anti-inflammatory and stomach-calming properties. In the form of teas and extracts, doctors and pharmacists recommend licorice for various diseases. The cosmetics industry has taken advantage of its anti-inflammatory properties: it is included in some products for sensitive skin and is said to protect against skin irritation. The tobacco industry uses licorice as a flavoring and to regulate moisture.
Importance for health, treatment and prevention.
Licorice has many health benefits: It is anti-inflammatory, expectorant and antispasmodic. As a therapeutic agent, it helps with the common cold symptom cough, bronchitis and various stomach ailments. Glycyrrhizin has a positive effect on mucus loosening and facilitates expectoration. Licorice extracts reduce gastric acidity, serve as an aid in heartburn and can normalize disturbed mucus compositions. Since glycyrrhizin inhibits the breakdown of the body’s own cortisone, it helps the immune system fight inflammation. An old household remedy is chewing licorice for toothache.The antimicrobial ingredients are directed against the bacteria in the plaque. Chewing the root pieces can help prophylactically against tooth decay and gingivitis. As the chewing causes the piece to fray, it is a natural toothbrush that removes gross impurities. Naturopathic medicine uses licorice for food cravings, low blood pressure, obesity, rheumatism, and blood purification. Various studies are investigating the other uses of the root’s constituents: American scientists have discovered that glycyrrhizin makes inactive herpes viruses visible to the human immune system. However, this treatment requires a harmful high dose and is not yet applicable. A similarly promising approach is the discovery that blood sugar decreased in animal experiments with the ingredients of licorice. The cosmetics industry uses glycyrrhizin and the acid it produces to reduce hyperpigmentation, inflammatory skin conditions, and to soothe the skin. In addition, when used externally, licorice is considered an aid against dandruff and greasy hair. Licorice as a food should be consumed in moderation. Taking extracts and medicinal teas for longer than six weeks at a time is not recommended. This is because excessive and prolonged intake can have adverse health effects. Pregnant women, diabetics and people with high blood pressure or kidney disease are not advised to use licorice. Since the ingredients reduce the excretion of sodium and promote that of potassium, extracts and teas affect electrolyte balance and promote water retention. Another side effect of excessive doses is high blood pressure and headaches.
