Top 5 Listicle
Liquorice or Licorice has been used as a flavouring agent in many cuisines from many years. Licorice is a perennial herb which originated in Southern Asia and then spread through the Middle East, Southern Europe and the rest of the world.
Licorice is mostly used as a sweetener in candies and beverages.
Botanical Name : Glycyrrhiza Glabra
Taste : Sweet and aromatic
Table of Contents
Licorice in Different Languages
- Licorice -American English
- Liquorice – British English
- Mulethi -Hindi
- Adhimadhuram – Tamil
- Irattimadhuram / Yashtimadhukam-Telugu
- Jeshtimadh – Marathi
- Yashtimadhu – Gujarati
- Atimadura/Jeshtamadhu – Kannada
Top 5 Health Benefits of Licorice Root
1. Anti-Aging
Licorice consists of potent antioxidants which can help with slowing down the aging process. Licorice root interrupts the production of melanin which is responsible for darkening skin thus acting as a natural and safest whitening agent.
It also helps with hyperpigmentation by reducing dark spots on your skin. Licorice root is a powerful anti-inflammatory herb that helps your skin by reducing any swelling or redness, helps improve acne scars, blemishes, whiteheads, and blackheads.
DIY Anti-Aging Facing Pack
Dry Skin
- Mix a tablespoon of Licorice powder with 10-15 drops of Kumkumadhi Thailam.
- Apply it evenly on your face and neck
- Leave it for 15 minutes, wash off with lukewarm water
Oily Skin
- Mix a tablespoon of Licorice powder and a tablespoon of red sandalwood powder with water to make a thick paste. The consistency should be like that of a toothpaste.
- Apply it evenly on your face and neck.
- Leave it for 5-15 minutes , wash off with lukewarm water.
2. Stomach Inflammations and Ulcers
They are most commonly caused by a bacteria called Helicobacter pylori. Research has found that Licorice compounds called flavonoids can help with killing this bacteria. In terms of stomach discomfort, Licorice helps by producing a stomach-protecting mucus that protects the stomach’s lining and neutralizes gastric acid.
It has been found that Licorice alleviates the irritating effects of acids in a better way than antacids.
Licorice Milk for Gastritis Recipe
Source : Easyayurveda
Ingredients :
- Licorice Powder ½ teaspoon approx)
- Organic Milk (25ml or 8 times the quantity of Licorice powder)
- Water (100ml or 32 times the quantity of Licorice)
Recipe:
- Take the above ingredients in a vessel and heat them.
- Keep heating until only milk remains so that all the medicinal qualities of Licorice is absorbed.
- Filter the contents and drink the hot milk
How to consume?
- In conditions of Gastritis and stomach related ailments, it is preferred to be consumed before food.
- It is always better to consult a certified Ayurvedic physician before taking any medicine.
Duration
It can be safely consumed for a period of 2-8 weeks, by doctor’s advice.
3. Potent Antiviral, Antimicrobial and Anti Fungal
A study found that Licorice helps damaged skin create bacteria-fighting proteins called anti-microbial peptides which is necessary to fight infections. Licorice is packed with about 25 different chemicals that are known as antifungals.
Increasing antibiotic resistance has resulted in an urgent need for alternative therapies to treat diseases. Licorice extracts have potent effects in inhibiting the activities of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria ( which antibiotics help with killing).
According to research, Licorice root extract has around 300 flavonoids which are well known for their beneficial effects on health attributed to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-mutagenic, and anti-carcinogenic properties.
Various diseases like Hepatitis C, Herpes Simplex Type 1, the ‘cold sore’ virus, hepatitis A virus (HAV); hepatitis B virus (HBV); human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), SARS, Influenza virus have been successfully treated.
Check out this post on Antibiotics to know more about gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.
4.Hormonal Regulation
Licorice has phytoestrogenic compounds that help with hormonal imbalances,menopause symptoms like hot flashes and exhaustion , mood swings etc. It is also found to have cortisol which helps in relieving premenstrual syndrome.Licorice powder acts as the traditional medicine for nursing mothers to regulate body hormones and aid in milk secretion.
It also helps to increase the secretion of thyroid hormones and can help with treating hypothyroidism. Check out this article to know the symptoms of hypothyroidism that should not be ignored.
5. Cognitive Abilities
Licorice is one such herb with brain-boosting properties. According to a study, the powerful antioxidants and flavonoids present in it are helpful in improving memory capacity, focus, and calmness. The study was conducted to see how Licorice benefitted people with neurodegenerative diseases. The results suggested a beneficial role for the protection and therapeutic effect of licorice on cognitive loss, for example in AD or neuroinflammation.
Licorice flavonoids may also prevent oxidative damage in the brain. Its antioxidant effects help decrease seizure-induced brain cell death in mice .
Another study showed that Licorice extract called Glabidrin helped reverse learning and memory deficiency in diabetic rats. It also increased antioxidant levels in the brain.
How to take Licorice for Cognitive Function
Take 2 grams of Mulethi powder by infusing it in warm milk to improve memory power and prevent the risk of several psychotic diseases like epilepsy, dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Side Effects of Licorice
Consuming too much licorice can cause potassium levels to drop. According to FDA, this can lead to :
- Abnormal heart rhythms
- High blood pressure
- Swelling
- Lethargy
- Congestive heart failure
- Pregnancy Issues: Pregnant women should not consume large amounts of licorice when pregnant as a study found that it could harm the developing brain of the fetus, leading to cognitive problems later in life.
Safe Dosage
The minimum dosage may range between 1-3 grams for adults, twice daily infused in lukewarm water or milk, before meals or as advised by doctor.
How to Make Licorice Powder At Home
- Cut the fresh roots of Licorice plant
- Wash them with water and remove soil and other dirt
- Cut the roots into pieces and allow it to dry under direct sunlight
- Keep it under the sun for a week so that there is no moisture left
- Grind the root into a fine powder and keep it under sunlight to remove any extra moisture
- Strain it using a sieve to remove impurities
- Store it in an airtight container.
Disclaimer
One must always consult a certified health professional before taking any supplements and he/she will thoroughly examine the indications and prescribe the effective dosage for the specific time period.
I have had licoroce green tea. And it was really good.may be the power of licorice
Very informative thanks
It’s nice and useful information
It’s really awesome tips for skin as well as overall body. I knew for skin one but it’s body segment is new to me…keep writing..
This information is really great! Thanks fo sharing!!
I love using licorice in my skincare. Thank you for sharing the benefits
I just love you blog… very informative and always helpful
Hey, this post is so much informative.
Amazing article
Like!! I blog frequently and I really thank you for your content. The article has truly peaked my interest.
Each one of your article is so informative that i always love reading them. keep sharing such valuable content that can help us in taking the best care of self.
I didn’t know mulethi have these much benefits! Thanks for listing this post. It’s really helpful and informative article. Thanks for sharing.
How do you know such things ? I didn’t know what licorice is .. m so outdated .. thanks dear .. I read it twice
Wow this is something new to me. In my house we use licorice root to treatment cold & throat infection. I will try to incorporate this in my daily routine.
I have heard about this but never knew about the benefits it has. These benefits really in courage me to include it in my diet. Thank you for sharing this with us.
Ohh wow I never know that mulethi have this much benifitial thnx for sharing dear ❤️
These were some good points. The powder method is amazing!
This is such a great post. I love liquorice. I usually use it for my face. Great post.