Licorice Health Facts

To the snail rolled up strings, coated sticks or pastille-shaped hard liquorice: No matter in which form – characteristic for liquorice is the black color, for which the juice of the liquorice shrub is responsible (which, however, is artificially helped today). That licorice also has medicinal effects is less known.

Production of licorice

For the production of licorice, the juice from the root of the licorice bush is used, which originally comes from Asia and the Mediterranean region. The plant belongs to the butterfly family (Fabaceae). The woody shrub grows to a height of about 1 to 1.5 meters and owes its name to the sweet taste of its roots. The root bark contains glycyrrhizin, a glycoside that gives licorice its flavor and has a sweetening power fifty times stronger than cane sugar.

Licorice against ailments

The root of the licorice bush has always been attributed beneficial effects. Thus one found in the grave of the famous Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankhamen this as grave addition. It was probably intended to quench hunger and thirst on the last long journey, and its healing powers were also already known to the Egyptians.

In any case, the Greeks and Romans used the sap of the licorice plant (succus liquiritiae) not only for sweetening, but also to treat stomach ulcers and asthma. Traditionally, licorice root was also used to treat upper respiratory tract diseases, liver disorders and skin diseases. Current science proves folk medicine right: many studies have confirmed the healing power of the sweet root.

Are licorice healthy?

The studies have shown that this multi-talent can even do much more than soothe the throat and stomach: for example, it is now believed to have anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, liver and heart-protective effects; it is said to stimulate the immune system, trap free radicals and protect against cancer.

The main player is glycyrrhizic acid contained in the root, besides other ingredients such as triterpenes and saponins, flavonoids and isoflavonoids, and chalcones exert their effects.

  • Glycyrrhetinic acid is thought to influence the labor hormone progesterone. Women who eat a lot of licorice during pregnancy give birth to their children on average 2.5 days earlier, Finnish scientists found.
  • Italian researchers, in turn, suggest that regular licorice consumption melts the fat pads. Possibly this is due to the appetite-suppressing effect of licorice.
  • Also from Italy come the results on licorice consumption and male potency. Allegedly, licorice inhibits enzymes responsible for the production of male hormones. Testosterone levels and the desire for sex decrease. In addition, it can lead to potency disorders.
  • According to a US study, the scent mixture of licorice and cucumber has a sexually stimulating effect on women. Allegedly, this mixture makes the blood flow in the genital area increase by 14 percent. Shaving lotion, on the other hand, is counterproductive.