Beautiful benefits from Licorice

The herb's natural sweetness and flavor – it is 50 times sweeter than sucrose (table sugar) – are due to its high content of glycyrrhizin. Glycyrrhizin is also responsible for most of licorice's medicinal properties, including its ability to reduce inflammation, soothe throat tissues and reduce allergy symptoms. The ulcer-healing compounds in licorice are thought to be flavonoids. They apparently work by promoting the overall health of the gastrointestinal system rather than reducing the secretion of stomach acid that triggers ulcers. Additional compounds with therapeutic effects include sterols and gums.

Because of its sweetness, licorice is still often used as a masking agent for various vitamin/mineral mixes as well as a sweetener and flavoring for teas, tinctures and other supplement products. Glycyrrizin has a similar structure to adrenal steroids and has been used successfully in treating adrenal insufficiency, fatigue, various skin problems, as well as female hormonal regulation.

Deglycyrrizinated licorice (DGL) is an excellent treatment for peptic and gastric ulcers and has no hypertensive side-effects. Licorice root and licorice root extracts are used in many types of supplemental formulas such as: female hormonal products, energy products, lung/demulcent products, and adrenal support products. It may also be found as a flavoring or sweetener in a variety of powders and tablets.

Instructions Because glycyrrhizin can cause high blood pressure and other problems, it should only be taken on the advice of a health care practitioner.

Warning information for you if you would consider using licorice: Do not use licorice on a daily basis for more than five days at a time, as it can elevate blood pressure. Do not use licorice at all if you have high blood pressure.

Side-Effects; Counter-Indicators and Warnings Taking high or repeated doses of licorice extracts containing glycyrrhizin may cause adverse health effects related to salt and water retention (including elevated blood pressure), which goes away when licorice is stopped