Glycyrrhiza glabra

Common Name: Licorice root

Tincture: (1:3 @ 25%).
Constituents: Contains asparagin - converted to smelly methyl mercaptan in the urine; Also found in Asparagus officinalis and Althea officinalis and Atropa;
Saponins active against peptic ulcers by promoting a thick mucous protective layer; cholesterol?.
Note: neutralizes berberine.
Article: Licorice [Glycyrrhiza glabra]
Have you ever eaten a licorice stick? I doubt it.
Real licorice sticks are 100% licorice extract. They used to come primarily from Spain but now are not made for export to North America.
Licorice is a legume, like peas, beans, and lentils. However, its root is the part that is used and it is very strongly sweet. Licorice sticks are made from the juice extract of the root.
To make a real licorice stick, one takes licorice root and boils it up in water. In the old days, this was done in big copper kettles. After the soluble sugars have all been extracted from the root, the sweet solution is decanted
away from the root pulp and then reduced to a thicken consistency. Great care must be taken not to burn the reduced liquid which is now called licorice extract. The extract is poured into long cylindrical moulds and allowed to cool. Upon cooling the licorice forms a firm, brittle "stick."
Over time, additives such as flour or starch and black colorants have been added to the "stick" as bulking and cost saving measures. Now, licorice is all flour, sugar, and anise flavouring. No licorice at all is to be found in store-bought licorice. People seem to have forgotten what licorice is, just as they have forgotten what root beer was.
The extreme sweetness of licorice is commonly used to hide the taste of unpalatable herbs. Most herbalists no longer bother making the licorice extract "stick" but instead extract the licorice juice directly from the root
as a step in the making up of a liquid preparation. The powdered root is used in pill preparations both for adding stiffness and to hide disagreeable tastes.
Licorice is demulcent and pectoral. Demulcent means it is soothing and cooling. Pectoral means it is especially effective in problems of the chest. Combined, the two properties make licorice suitable for cough, sore throat, and chest and lung troubles.
A long-used remedy for repetitious, dry cough is:
linseed, whole 84 grams
licorice root 28 grams
Simmer in a litre of water to the consistency of
syrup. Strain. May be taken freely, warm or cold.
Licorice is a well-known lozenge for singers who use it to relax the throat and remove the inflammation of laryngitis. It is used for bronchitis and used to be used for consumption.
It is a pity these days that licorice has been replaced by coal-tar drugs and artificial flavourings. Only the lowly herbalists still use this natural product in their arduous struggle to overcome modern day illness.
A few of us still know the secret pleasures seeing a child enjoy a real licorice stick (hint: think very messy chocolate ice cream).

Purposes:   (See also Disease: Signs & Symptoms)

Used In:    (See Formulas)

Alterative Tonic #2DC84                            
Bladder Tonic #1DC161                                
Blood Purifying Tonic #2DC80                  
Chlorosis Tonic #1DC166                            
Cold Sore Tonic                                            
Cough Decoction/L #1DC140                        
Good General Tonic #1DC167                      
Heart Tonic                                                    
Lumbago Tonic #1DC163                                
Lymph Cleanser                                              
Neuritis Tea #1DC177                                  
Rheumatic Tonic #2DC80                              
Rheumatism Decoction #1DC178                  
Uteritis Tonic #1DC168                              

Properties:   

Anti-Allergy                          
Anti-Inflammatory                
Cathartic                                
Demulcent                                
Febrifuge                                
Hypoglycaemic                        
Pectoral                                  

Contraindication(s):   ACTH-like (oedema, hypokalaemia, anaemia, HPB).

Clinical:     5 ml per 100 ml tincture.

Clinicals:    

autoimmune                              
CANCER                                      

Constituents:   

Materia Medica:    (See Materia Medica.)