What does licorice root syrup treat. Properties and uses of the herb licorice. The property of licorice to resist malignant neoplasms

And to this day, licorice is used not only in folk, but also used in official medicine for cooking various drugs, which have on human body medicinal effect.
The most valuable part of this representative of the flora is licorice root, it is in it that maximum amount valuable components that are important for our body.

Thanks to the beneficial properties of licorice, you can help the body cope with many pathological processes, for example, in the first place are respiratory diseases, including bronchitis, pneumonia, whooping cough, tuberculosis, bronchial asthma. It has a mucolytic effect, which contributes to the high-quality expectoration of sputum and the purification of the bronchi.

And also it helps to cope with anemia, with some diseases. digestive tract, urinary tract, it is also used in liver pathology, it is effective in infectious and inflammatory processes occurring in the body. Their beneficial features licorice has even with snake bites, it is used as an antidote.

About the composition of licorice

The beneficial properties of licorice are manifested due to its valuable composition. So the root of this
representative of the flora is rich in triterpene compounds, it contains starch, gums, essential oils, mucus, glucose, bitterness, ascorbic acid, pectin, as well as a number of minerals.

Among the flavonoids, the presence of neoliquirite, diquiritoside, uraloside, rhamnorquilitin, liquiritan, rhamnoisoliquiritan can be noted. All these substances have not only a medicinal effect on the body, but also a preventive one, therefore, they affect the prevention of the occurrence of certain diseases.

What is useful licorice

This plant has another name - licorice. AT medical purposes two types of it are used: Ural licorice and naked licorice. Moreover, not the whole plant is of value, but only its roots. They are dug up in autumn or spring, then washed or dried. However, it is recommended to harvest only large, at least 25 centimeters and not thinner than a centimeter roots, since they are considered healing. Let's take a closer look at what licorice is useful for.

Licorice root has an extremely rich composition. It contains mineral salts, organic acids, pectins, saponin, starch, gum, mucus, glucose, flavonoids, sucrose, asparagine, glycyrrhizin, vitamins and minerals. special value the plant is given unique compounds that have an effect similar to that of adrenal hormones, which are endowed with powerful anti-inflammatory properties. In addition, the benefits of licorice lies in the fact that it is able to have a wound-healing, antispasmodic, enveloping, antimicrobial, antipyretic, antiviral and expectorant effect.

However, medicine is not the only area using licorice. This plant has also been successfully used in Food Industry. Sugar surrogates, marinades, all kinds of extracts and syrups are prepared from it. In the West, those made from licorice are very popular. licorice candy. The plant plays the role of a foaming agent in low-alcohol and non-alcoholic drinks (cola, kvass, beer). Sometimes its leaves are added even to salads and soups.

Medicinal properties of licorice

Ancient Chinese healers believed that licorice root is able to prolong life, taking whose youth and beauty. Means based on it significantly reduce cholesterol levels, strengthen immunity, correct endocrine system, tone up and act on a person as an antidepressant.

The centuries-old practice of using licorice proves it high efficiency in the treatment of pneumonia, bronchitis, asthma, dry cough, tuberculosis and other diseases of the upper respiratory tract. This plant has a positive effect on the gastrointestinal tract. Its consumption contributes speedy recovery from ulcers, it helps to get rid of chronic constipation, improves intestinal motility and the secretion of gastric juice.

A decoction prepared from licorice roots normalizes the functioning nervous system helps in the fight against fatigue and chronic fatigue, normalizes sleep. The plant has a positive effect on hormonal system and increases the body's resistance to oxygen deficiency.

The medicinal properties of licorice root also consist in a beneficial effect on the liver and urinary system. It is recommended to take various pathologies kidneys, pyelonephritis, urolithiasis, inflammation Bladder. In this case, licorice will be especially effective in combination with other herbs - knotweed, horsetail, birch buds. This plant will help restore liver function. It reduces the risk of developing liver cancer and cirrhosis. In addition, licorice is an excellent detoxifier, so it can be used for poisoning, as well as to neutralize toxic action some medicines.

Licorice can be used to solve not only internal, but also external problems. She shows nice results in the fight against many skin diseases - dermatitis, eczema, fungus, allergic dermatitis, neurodermatitis, pemphigus, wounds and burns. In such cases, remedies from the plant are used for compresses and rubbing.

The use of licorice

At home, you can prepare infusions, teas, syrups and decoctions from licorice, and you can also extract healing juice from it.

Treatment with licorice should not last more than a month, after which you definitely need to take a break.

Licorice - can it hurt?

Although for several centuries licorice has been successfully used in medicine everywhere and successfully, this miracle plant has contraindications, and some are quite serious.

The first is personal intolerance to licorice and syrup components or other preparations based on licorice. At serious illnesses hepatitis, cirrhosis, severe kidney failure and diabetes - licorice from home first aid kit should also be removed. Do not get carried away with licorice treatment if you have hypertension - licorice always increases blood pressure.

While pregnant and nursing, licorice root is best avoided entirely, although some guidelines suggest just using the root or syrup "with caution."

And most importantly - before treatment with licorice root preparations, always consult your doctor and do everything according to the instructions. It is also not worth increasing the course of treatment on your own - an overdose of licorice can provoke nausea, swelling, and even allergies.

Licorice and pregnancy

And now, as it often happens, despite such wonderful properties and abilities of this plant, it is categorically contraindicated to use it during pregnancy. And there are two reasons for this.

Firstly, licorice significantly changes the water-salt metabolism in the body. And for the future mother, this is fraught with consequences. Indeed, with this order of things, edema may appear once or twice. And edema, as you know, is the first step towards late toxicosis of pregnant women, the most severe and threatening stage of which is eclampsia. In general, from licorice to eclampsia is not so far away. Therefore, the risks in this case are big enough.

Secondly, presumably licorice root causes hormonal (adrenocortic-like) activity in the body. And with hormones during pregnancy, you should not flirt at all. However, you have the right to know that in some countries licorice is still allowed for use during the period of bearing a child. If you dare to take a risk, it is still better to consult a doctor first.

Licorice (licorice) - perennial grass belonging to the legume family and having about 15 subspecies. Some varieties reach a height of two meters, but the average size- about half a meter.

The most popular is licorice or licorice. Its stems are erect, slightly branched, the leaves are oval-oblong, consisting of 3-10 small sticky leaves.

The roots of licorice are powerful, deeply embedded in the ground, on a break of yellow color. In June, white-purple flowers appear, collected in brushes of 5-6 individual pieces. By August-September, fruits ripen - brown, curved beans.

Licorice is common in the southern part of Russia, in the Caucasus, in Moldova, Ukraine, Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Successfully cultivated in areas with a temperate climate. Prefers sandy and clay soils. Traditional habitats are meadows, steppes, semi-deserts, roadsides and river edges. Unpretentious, propagated by seeds or rhizomes, grows rapidly over long distances.

In medicine, the underground part of the plant is used. This is the well-known licorice root. In early spring or in autumn, the roots are dug up, washed, in some cases peeled, cut into pieces and dried thoroughly. The resulting raw material is pressed. In this form, licorice root can be stored for up to ten years without losing its beneficial properties.

Licorice is a good honey plant, its root system strengthens sandy soils and can be used for landscaping.

Useful properties of licorice

The main benefit of licorice is that its root can not only heal, but also prevent the occurrence of diseases. It contains substances that are similar in structure and action to steroid hormones, which demonstrate a strong anti-inflammatory effect. These substances provide the body's resistance to the effects of many pathogens.

The anti-inflammatory property is one of the most powerful and valuable qualities of the plant. The use of licorice root along with other drugs enhances the effect of the latter, increasing the therapeutic effect.

Licorice root has antitumor properties Therefore, it is actively used in the treatment of oncological diseases.

It has also been found that licorice has antimicrobial, antihistamine and antispasmodic effects, which justifies its use in the treatment of intestinal and stomach ulcers, eczema, allergic dermatitis and other diseases.

The use of licorice root has a tonic and stimulating effect, helps relieve fatigue, reduce fatigue and thereby stimulate the protective functions of the body.

Useful properties of licorice are used in the treatment of organ diseases respiratory system accompanied by cough with the formation of viscous sputum, tuberculosis, diseases gastrointestinal tract, endocrine and immune systems.

The use of infusions and decoctions from the root of the plant helps to get rid of nausea, restore bowel function, reduce acidity, and cope with constipation. In addition, licorice is used as a strong antidepressant, an antidote for food, chemical and infectious intoxications.

Licorice root lowers cholesterol levels in the blood, has an antispasmodic effect, helps restore elasticity to blood vessels, calms the nervous system and nourishes the brain. And besides, the plant is used as a means of beauty: the infusion helps restore youthfulness to the skin, get rid of the mass cosmetic defects and alleviate the course of a host of skin diseases.

Contraindications to the use of licorice

Along with substances that positive influence on the body, licorice also contains substances that have Negative influence on the body. Therefore, it has licorice syrup and useful properties, and contraindications. Licorice syrup is contraindicated for adults:

• with a tendency to edema (analogues of mineralocorticoids in licorice retain water in the body);
• at arterial hypertension and reception antihypertensive drugs(fluid retention in the body increases the volume of circulating blood and increases pressure);
• with myocarditis, pericarditis, heart failure (an increase in the volume of circulating blood increases the load on a diseased heart);
• with glaucoma (excess fluid can increase intraocular pressure);
• with kidney diseases (the rate of blood filtration in the kidneys decreases);
• with diabetes (contains a lot of sugars);
• with liver disease ( gallstone disease, hepatitis, liver cirrhosis);
• taking diuretics (increased excretion of potassium in the urine);
• With reduced coagulability blood;
• with individual intolerance;
• for immunity (before epidemics or after infectious diseases).

In addition to the above, contraindications for taking licorice preparations for women are:

• pregnancy and lactation;
• hormonal disorders (mastopathy);
• female oncopathologies (uterine cancer, breast cancer);
• tendency to uterine bleeding;
• taking oral contraceptives.

When taking preparations from licorice root, doses should be strictly observed. With an overdose of licorice preparations, the following can be observed:

• violation of urination;
• lack of sexual desire;
• swelling of the mammary glands;
• baldness in the vulva;
• hyperproduction of gastric juice;
• swelling;
• nausea, vomiting;
• pain in the joints;
• dizziness.

Licorice root is very common folk remedy for treatment various diseases. Self-treatment is dangerous to health! Considering that taking licorice can bring both benefits and harms, it is necessary to consult a doctor before taking funds from it.

Useful properties of licorice root syrup

The syrup has the same beneficial effect like licorice root. AT chemical composition this drug contains glycyrrhizin, coumarins, polysaccharides, essential oils, glycyrrhizic acid.

Licorice syrup is considered a remedy that has anti-inflammatory, antiviral and expectorant effects. By using this medicine, you can avoid cough, which is a consequence of the complications of the disease. It improves the expectoration of sputum.

The syrup has a preventive effect during the spread of influenza. This is due to the fact that licorice syrup leads to strengthening of the immune system. It helps in the treatment of colds. The syrup is also used to treat diseases such as bronchitis, asthma, gastritis, tracheitis, pneumonia. Its benefit lies in the fact that it leads to the healing of ulcers, helps to get rid of staphylococcus aureus.

It is recommended to give licorice syrup to children who have some gastrointestinal problems. Taking it, you can neutralize the toxic effect that appears after the use of chemical drugs. The syrup affects metabolic processes.

It can also act on the body as a mild laxative in case of chronic constipation. In some countries, syrup from this plant is used to treat diabetes, as well as pancreatic lesions.

For people involved in sports, physical education, this excellent tool to recuperate after physical activity and suppress cortisol.

Licorice for children

As a rule, licorice root is prescribed for children in the form of decoctions or syrups for coughing (wet and dry), less often for some diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Depending on age single dose decoction for a child should be a dessert or a teaspoon. It should be taken warm, three times a day, thirty minutes before meals.

Children are treated with syrup much more readily than with decoction, because of its pleasant sweet taste. It helps to eliminate sputum, improves immunity, heals mucous membranes, has an analgesic, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effect. Syrup is recommended for children
give in the following doses:

• from 1 to 3 years - 2.5 ml;
• from 3 to 6 years - no more than 5 ml;
• from 6 to 9 years - no more than 7.5 ml;
• from 9 to 12 years - no more than 10 ml.

Syrup is usually taken three times a day, after eating no earlier than half an hour. However, it is recommended to drink it with water.

Licorice is contraindicated for children under one year old, for babies under three years old, it is possible to give funds from it only on the recommendation of a specialist.

Licorice root tincture

Most of the population has a weak immune system. Because of this, a person is constantly threatened by viruses and bacteria. From the root, extracts and tinctures are created that can increase the body's resistance to various infections.

Licorice root tincture has many medicinal properties, and at the same time has almost no contraindications. The cure has been found wide application in therapy against diseases of the lungs, skin ailments and constipation. It is also used to prevent bile ducts and food poisoning.

tincture recipe

Ingredients:

• dry root - 10 g;
• water - 200 ml.

Preparation and application

Grind the roots and place in an enamel bowl, add water. Heat in a water bath and keep covered for half an hour. Cool and strain. Store no more than two days in a cold place. Drink 3 times a day, one tablespoon.

Licorice during pregnancy

The use of licorice during the period of bearing a child is undesirable. This is due to the fact that its property to change water-salt balance, can provoke unwanted swelling. In addition, it can cause an increase in blood pressure, uterine bleeding, increased hormonal activity. An infusion, decoction or cough syrup during pregnancy, made from licorice, is allowed to be taken only in extreme cases when other drugs fail to cope with the problem. Moreover, they should be treated only after the permission of the doctor.

Traditional methods of treatment with licorice

AT folk medicine licorice has been used since ancient times and has proven to be an effective healing remedy in the fight against various diseases. In folk medicine, decoctions, infusions, powders, ointments are prepared from the roots, chest fees. In this article, we have selected for you best recipes, which can be easily prepared at home and used to treat various ailments.

Infusion for cough, bronchitis, colds:

Pour 1 tablespoon of chopped raw materials with 1 cup of boiling water, insist for 40 minutes. Then strain the infusion and take one tablespoon 4 times a day.

A decoction of the roots for acute respiratory infections and pneumonia:

1 tablespoon chopped root pour a glass hot water, prepare a decoction in a water bath, cover the saucepan with a lid and simmer over low heat for 20 minutes. Then the broth should be infused for 40 minutes, strain, add boiled water to the original volume and take a quarter cup three times a day before meals. The course of treatment is 10 -14 days.

Decoction for lowering cholesterol in the blood, from cholesterol plaques in vessels:

Pour 1 tablespoon of dry crushed licorice roots with 0.5 liters of cold water, bring to a boil, boil for 10 minutes over low heat. Infuse for 10 minutes, strain and take a decoction of half a cup 3-4 times a day after meals.

Decoction for diabetes:

Pour 2 tablespoons of chopped root with two cups of boiling water, simmer for 10 minutes, leave for 30 minutes. Then the broth should be filtered and taken 30 minutes before meals, half a glass 3-4 times a day.

Decoction for external use in eczema, dermatitis, for washing festering wounds, for washing with thrush:

Pour a tablespoon of crushed raw licorice with a glass of water, bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes. The broth must be insisted for 30 minutes, strain. Wash the sore spots with a decoction or apply lotions to the affected areas of the skin.

Decoction for the treatment of prostate adenoma:

1 tablespoon of chopped dry licorice root pour a liter of boiling water over the floor, bring to a boil, reduce heat and cook with the lid closed for ten minutes. When the broth has cooled, it must be filtered. Take a third cup three times a day before meals. You need to be treated for three weeks, then take a two-week break and repeat the treatment. There are six such courses per year.

A decoction for the treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, with constipation and poisoning, with arthritis:

1 st. pour a spoonful of crushed root with a glass of hot water, boil in a water bath with the lid closed over low heat for 20 minutes. Infuse for two hours, squeeze out the roots, strain well, take 5 times a day, one tablespoon of decoction.

Decoction for the treatment of gastritis with high acidity:

Pour 2 teaspoons of chopped root with a glass of hot water, boil in a water bath over low heat for 15 minutes. Insist for an hour, then strain the broth, add boiled water to the original volume. Take a decoction four times a day, one tablespoon.

Licorice root juice for the treatment of gastritis and stomach ulcers:

Rinse fresh licorice root well, grind and squeeze the juice out of it. One gram of juice should be diluted with half a glass of warm boiled water. Divide into three parts and drink in three doses throughout the day. The course of treatment is one month.

Collection with licorice root for the treatment of bronchitis:

Three parts of licorice root, 4 parts of mother and stepmother leaves, three parts of plantain leaves must be mixed. To prepare the broth, you need to take one tablespoon of the collection, pour one glass of boiling water and cook over low heat for 45 minutes. Leave the decoction for one hour. Strain and take half a glass of decoction (children 1 teaspoon) three times a day after meals.

Collection with licorice for the treatment of colds and lingering coughs:

AT equal parts take licorice root, marshmallow root, thyme grass, mix everything. Pour one tablespoon of the collection with one glass of boiling water, boil and insist in heat for 2 hours. Strain and drink a decoction of one third of a glass of honey 3-4 times a day before meals.

Cleaning the lymph with licorice

In case of violation of functions lymphatic system a disease occurs - lymphotoxicosis. It entails a burden on the liver, intestines, kidneys, and doctors sometimes make disappointing diagnoses: hepatitis, enteritis, colitis, dysbacteriosis. There is a slowdown in the release of metabolic products, bile stagnation, constipation, inflammation of the bladder (cystitis). Skin rashes, neurodermatitis, psoriasis, etc. appear.

All these troubles can be corrected by applying licorice root. If 1 tablespoon of syrup diluted in a glass of hot water is drunk on an empty stomach, the cleansing process can be felt within an hour.

Collection and preparation of licorice

Rhizomes with roots are medicinal raw materials that are to be harvested. They are harvested peeled from the bark, as well as together with the bark, in early spring or autumn. medicinal licorice and its root.

Rhizomes and roots are dug out of the ground, stems are cut and washed in cold water. After that, they are cut into pieces and dried in the sun or indoors, providing ventilation. Dry raw materials are pressed into bales.

The largest specimens of the roots are debarked and dried immediately after cleaning. Raw materials for harvesting are fragments of roots and rhizomes in the form of cylinders different lengths 5-50 mm thick. On the brown surface, the remains of rhizomes can be seen. At the break, the roots have a wavy texture, pronounced yellow. They have no smell, but the taste is very sweet, somewhat irritating to the throat.

The raw materials are aired in the air, after which they are dried under a canopy or in dryers at t no more than 60 degrees.

Dry raw materials break when broken with a crunch - this is a sign of its readiness. Licorice roots should be stored in dryness and darkness - in such conditions, raw materials are suitable for 10 years.

Licorice root has been used medicinally for over five thousand years. This plant was mentioned in ancient Chinese treatises, while it was widely used not only in folk medicine, but also in traditional medicine.

Today it is very useful to use this root if you want to cure 12PC or stomach ulcers.

The benefits of licorice root.

Licorice root contains glycyrrhizic acid, calcium and potassium salts, glucose and flavone glucosides, linveritic acid, cirrhizic bitterness, vitamins, asparagine, glycyrrhizin (and this substance is interesting in that it is fifty times sweeter than sugar, and acts like a steroid cortisone hormone).

Licorice root has antihistamine, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic effects on the human body, in addition, it helps to regulate water-salt metabolism in the body.

This plant also helps to strengthen the nervous and immune system, has a tonic effect. It will help to prevent or cure such conditions that are associated with inhibition of the activity of the central nervous system in a child. It is often used as an antidepressant.

The therapeutic effect of licorice root can be seen by its antispasmodic effect, by relaxing smooth muscles, by reducing the secretion of the digestive gland, by stimulating the production of gastric secretions. It can be used as an enveloping, bile - or diuretic.

A plant such as licorice root is good for soothing the throat if there is a cough. It helps to suppress growing tumors, it has antiviral action, as well as antitoxic and antibacterial. The plant helps to restore normal work stomach, stimulate the peristalsis of the gastrointestinal tract, strengthen the natural and natural forces of the body.

It is recommended to use licorice root as a medicine in the following cases - with various diseases respiratory tract (whooping cough, bronchitis, pulmonary and bronchial pneumonia), with chronic spastic colitis with an existing tendency to constipation, with peptic ulcers of the 12PK and stomach, with chronic gastritis, at skin diseases(psoriasis, dermatitis, allergic dermatitis), with hypofunction of the adrenal cortex, with acute chronic pyelonephritis, at chronic disease biliary tract and liver, with diabetes mellitus (especially childhood), with bronze disease(Addinson's disease), with radiation contamination, with poisoning, with obesity in childhood. Especially often this remedy has received its distribution in the treatment of cough in children.

However, this would seem to universal remedy such a wide range action has its own list of symptoms and diseases when it should not be used or is completely contraindicated.

Contraindications.

In addition to individual intolerance to this drug, you should avoid the use of licorice root if you have diabetes, serious illnesses liver and kidneys, arterial hypertension, hypokalemia, during lactation, with severe obesity.

Licorice root during pregnancy.

The body of a woman during pregnancy is very strongly rebuilt, against the background of which it is very reduced protective function immunity. This is why pregnant women get sick so often. Moreover, the diseases range from the usual thrush to a sore throat.

It is very important before starting any treatment to carefully read the instructions for use of any drug, whether there are any contraindications for the position in which the pregnant woman is located. In addition, any pregnant woman knows that the use of any medication in her position is highly undesirable, especially if you are in the first and last trimester of your pregnancy. It is in these cases that pregnant women come to the rescue. different herbs that can be used as a substitute for the standard drug.

Licorice root will help cure a person from coughing. In this case, syrup is usually used (it can often be found in pharmacies in the city) or a decoction. However, if a pregnant woman also wants to start treatment with this particular plant, then you need to find more safe ways treatment this disease. The thing is that licorice root, like, in fact, sage, hop cones and anise fruits, is strictly contraindicated during pregnancy.

Licorice root can affect the pregnant body very adversely, it can change the water-salt metabolism of a pregnant woman. If you consume this root, edema may appear in your body. And if you don’t know yet, then edema for pregnant women is one hundred percent late toxicosis in a pregnant woman. If the condition of a pregnant woman is running, then this leads to eclampsia. But that's not all. Pregnant woman takes on more more problems by using licorice root.

If she consumes this plant, her hormonal activity (called adrenocortic-like) begins to increase. It is also not recommended to consume it during the entire pregnancy, because it has an estrogen-like effect.

Remember that if you have the following diseases, then you are also contraindicated in the use of licorice root - hypokalemia, severe obesity, lactation, impaired liver and kidney function.

In any case, a pregnant woman should immediately consult with her doctor, even if she was overtaken simple cold because even the most harmless medicines in the normal state can become very harmful in a pregnant state.

Licorice, yellow root, licorice - these are all names of the same plant, the taste of which is familiar to everyone since childhood. The extract of this plant is widely used in the treatment colds accompanied by cough. Most popular in traditional medicine tincture of licorice root. But the action of this plant is not limited to the treatment of colds, about all areas of application of this plant and will be discussed in this publication.

Medicinal properties of licorice

The medicinal properties of this plant have been known since Ancient China, and in medical treatises it appeared that the extract of a sweet plant is an effective anti-aging agent.

Interesting! In ancient times, licorice extract was part of almost all herbal preparations, because the doctors of that time were firmly convinced that this plant was able to enhance the effect of other herbal preparations.

AT modern medicine This plant is also in demand and is widely used in complex treatment many ailments. The medicinal properties of licorice are due to high content it contains substances such as:

Important! It has been proven that glycyrrhizin is able to actively influence the growth and reproduction of pathogenic viruses, and the causative agent of herpes and herpes zoster completely inactivates in the extracellular state.

In traditional medicine, licorice root is most often used in the treatment of inflammatory diseases of the respiratory system. For patients of the younger age category, it is advisable to use not tincture, but candies or licorice syrup. It has been clinically proven that licorice extract is effective not only for tracheitis, bronchitis, but also for pneumonia and tuberculosis. The undeniable advantage of this drug is that in addition to the antibacterial and expectorant effect, it has a pronounced immunomodulatory effect. In folk medicine, preparations based on licorice root effectively eliminate the symptoms of intoxication with food poisoning, as well as after the bite of poisonous insects and even snakes.

Indications for use

Considering pharmachologic effect licorice, preparations containing it are indicated in the treatment of such pathological conditions, how:

• inflammatory processes of the bronchi of an acute or chronic nature;
• inflammation of the trachea;
• bronchiectasis of the lungs;
• pneumonia;
• complex treatment of asthma;
• tuberculosis;
• lung atelectasis.

In addition to the treatment of dry and wet cough, licorice extract is indicated for the treatment of gastritis and peptic ulcer stomach, but only in the remission phase.

Contraindications to the use of the drug

In spite of natural origin of this medicinal product, in the instructions for use of licorice root tincture there is a list of conditions under which it is forbidden to take this medicine:

• individual hypersensitivity to the components of the drug;
• acute diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (gastritis or peptic ulcer);
• children's age up to 1 year;
• hypertonic disease.

With extreme caution, licorice root tincture is prescribed to patients who are diagnosed with bronchial asthma and diabetes. For women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, it is better to use licorice in the form of a syrup that does not contain alcohol base.

As practice shows, licorice-based preparations are well tolerated by patients of all age categories. Of the side effects, isolated cases of an allergic reaction in the form of rashes on the skin, as well as an increase in blood pressure with prolonged use.

Features of the procurement of natural raw materials

Licorice root tincture and syrup can be bought ready-made at pharmacy network but you can also make your own at home. For self cooking medicines, it is necessary to have high-quality harvested plant materials.

For medicinal purposes, the rhizome of this plant is mainly used. Harvesting time is early spring or late autumn, when the movement of juice in the plant itself is suspended. It is best to choose rhizomes whose thickness is not less than 1 centimeter. The prepared roots are washed under running water, cut into pieces, 25-30 cm long. For long-term storage, it is necessary to dry the workpiece with high quality in order to use it for many years.

Herbalists claim that with proper harvesting, licorice roots retain their beneficial properties for 10 years. It is best to dry the roots in a natural way, covering them with a cloth from direct sunlight. In case of emergency, you can dry them on a baking sheet in the oven. But, traditional healers and phytotherapists are categorically against this method of drying, since under the influence high temperatures in the plant material itself is destroyed most of useful natural compounds.

After complete drying, the finished roots are stored in glass containers with a tightly ground lid or in bags made of natural fabrics. It is best to use linen or cotton material for these purposes. With this method of storage, care must be taken that the room is not foreign odors, since vegetable raw materials are able to absorb not only odors, but also moisture and harmful chemical compounds.

The most effective recipes

Below are the prescriptions for medicines home cooking, which can be safely used to treat many diseases. The most popular is an alcohol tincture of licorice root, which is used in the form of drops for internal use, as well as to accelerate the processes of regeneration of the skin.

Alcohol tincture

To prepare this drug, you need to take crushed licorice root, as well as an alcohol base. As an alcohol part, you can use alcohol, vodka, high-quality home-made moonshine. The standard proportion is 1 to 5, that is, for 1 part of dry crushed roots, you need to take 5 parts of the alcohol component. To prepare the tincture, it is best to use a glass container, at the bottom of which crushed roots are placed and poured with alcohol. In order for the tincture to absorb healing components, it is necessary to keep it in a cool, dark place for 18-20 days. After this period, the finished tincture is filtered and stored in the refrigerator.

water infusion

For younger and older patients, take alcohol tinctures undesirable, so for such patients it is possible to prepare a special water infusion licorice root. To prepare it you will need:

• 1 tablespoon chopped licorice root;
• 0.5 liters of boiling water.

To prepare this remedy, it is necessary to lightly fry the chopped root in a dry frying pan and grind it in a coffee grinder. Pour into boiling water plant component. It is best to infuse the medicine in a thermos for 8 hours. After that, the agent is filtered and drunk 40 drops 2-3 times a day.

It is worth noting that despite vegetable origin active ingredient, long-term use licorice root tincture may be accompanied side effects in the form of edema, hypertension, a decrease in the level of calcium in the blood. If undesirable symptoms appear, it is necessary to stop taking and consult an experienced herbalist or doctor.

In the article we discuss licorice root. You will learn what useful properties it has, how to prepare various medicines based on it, how to use it for coughing, and what contraindications it has. You will also find out which dosage forms ah they produce licorice, and can it be used during pregnancy.

Licorice has long been used in folk and official medicine in many countries. AT medicinal purposes use the rhizome of licorice naked (smooth) or Ural. Appearance(photo) Licorice plants. Licorice - herbaceous plants from the Legume family, which are included in the State Pharmacopoeia of the Russian Federation as medicines. In the people, the root of the plant is also called licorice, licorice, licorice or yellow root.

Medicines based on licorice root have therapeutic effects:

• liquefy viscous sputum when coughing;
• relieve spasm smooth muscle;
• suppress the development of the inflammatory process;
• have a laxative effect on the intestines;
• increase the secretion of sebaceous and sweat glands;
• have a moderate irritant effect on the mucosa;
• heal wounds, ulcers and abscesses;
• inhibit the vital activity of pathogenic microorganisms;
• have an antiviral effect;
• reduce body temperature;
• stimulate the immune response of the body;
• have a diuretic effect;
• reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood;
• clean the vessels from atherosclerotic plaques.

The medicinal properties of the root are due to the content a large number organic acids, saponins, flavonoids, tannins and other biologically active natural compounds. Licorice is used in the treatment of respiratory diseases, accompanied by lingering cough with difficult expectoration. In addition, in folk medicine, licorice is used in the treatment of diseases of the urinary, endocrine, lymphatic and digestive systems.

chemicals in the root

The root of the plant has the following chemical composition:

• glycyrrhizic acid;
• succinic acid;
• fumaric acid;
• wine acid;
• Apple acid;
• salicylic acid;
• ferulic acid;
• essential oil;
• fatty acid;
• saponins;
• steroids;
• alkaloids;
• coumarins;
• tannins;
• plant polyphenols;
• aliphatic hydrocarbons;
• higher alcohols;
• natural disaccharides;
• starch;
• resinous substances;
• pectin substances;
• cellulose;
• vitamins;
• minerals.

The benefits and harms of licorice root

In addition to the benefits, preparations with licorice root, if used incorrectly, can have harmful effect on the body. First of all, this negative impact on the hormonal background - long-term treatment with the help of licorice can cause weakening erectile function in men, since glycyrrhizic acid suppresses the production of testosterone.

Among women given acid increases the level of the hormone prolactin, which can lead to a shift menstrual cycle, weight gain and difficulty conceiving a child.

Preparations with licorice, if taken uncontrolled, can cause the accumulation of a large amount of fluid in the body, increase blood pressure and reduce the concentration of potassium ions in the blood.

For this reason, licorice is contraindicated in patients with cardiac dysfunction. However, even when healthy heart, when taking licorice root for more than 1 month, it is necessary to strictly control the level of blood pressure.

For more information about the dangers of using licorice, see the following video:

Also, licorice can cause the following side effects:

• headache and dizziness;
• nausea and vomiting;
• partial violation motor function muscles;
• decrease in visual acuity.

Licorice root - instructions for use

Appearance (photo) of licorice root. From fresh and dried licorice root, decoctions and infusions are prepared, which are taken for diseases of the upper respiratory tract and lungs, gastritis, gastrointestinal ulcers and arthritis, as well as a diuretic and laxative.

Licorice should not be used for dry cough, as its action is primarily aimed at liquefying stagnant sputum.

Licorice root is usually prescribed when the cough has become productive.

Dried root is sold in the form of crushed raw materials in 50 g packaging or in filter bags. average price- 50 rubles for a crushed root and 70 rubles for a pack of filter bags.

How to use licorice root for cough

When coughing, a decoction is prepared from the roots of the plant.

Ingredients:

1. Licorice root - 10 g.
2. Drinking water - 200 ml.

How to cook: Boil water, pour medicinal raw materials with boiling water, cover with a lid and put on water bath for 20 minutes. Remove from heat and let steep for 2 hours. Squeeze out the roots, filter through cheesecloth and make up boiled water up to 200 ml.

How to use: Take 1 tablespoon half an hour before meals 3-4 times a day. The course of treatment is 10 days. Children give syrup 0.5-1.5 teaspoon, depending on age.

The decoction is also taken for constipation and rheumatoid arthritis. Dosage for adults - 1 tablespoon 4-5 times a day. The time of taking the decoction does not depend on the time of eating.

From gastritis

For the treatment of gastritis, juice from fresh root licorice.

Ingredients:

1. Licorice root (fresh) - 1 pc.
2. Drinking water - 100 ml.

How to cook: Grind the root with a blender, place it in a gauze napkin and squeeze out the juice. Boil and cool water until room temperature. Mix 1 g of juice with water.

How to use: Divide the remedy into three doses and drink throughout the day between meals. The course of treatment is 1 month.

Licorice Root Syrup

Licorice root syrup is used for wet cough and stagnation of sputum in the upper respiratory tract in children and adults. The drug is available in dark glass bottles of 100 ml. Some pharmaceutical manufacturers sell syrup with a measuring spoon included. The average price is 50 rubles.
Appearance (photo) of licorice root syrup. The composition of the drug includes the following substances:

• licorice root extract - 4%;
• sugar syrup - 86%;
• ethyl alcohol 90% - 10%.

Indications for use

The drug is prescribed for the following diseases respiratory system:

• bronchitis;
• laryngitis;
• acute and chronic tracheitis;
• bronchial asthma;
• tuberculosis;
• pneumonia;
• abscess pneumonia;
• bronchogenic pneumonia.

Syrup is also used in the composition complex therapy at hyperacid gastritis, gastric ulcer and duodenum, as well as in violation of the secretion of corticosteroids by the adrenal glands.

pharmachologic effect

The action of cough syrup is as follows:

• saponins have a moderate irritant effect on the mucous membrane, due to which the secretion of the upper respiratory tract increases;
• glycyrrhizic acid stimulates the activity of ciliated cells of the ciliated epithelium of the mucosa and facilitates sputum discharge;
• plant polyphenols have an anti-inflammatory effect and relieve spasm of the smooth muscles of the bronchi.

Instruction for adults

Adults are prescribed 15 ml of syrup 3-4 times a day after meals. The course of treatment depends on the severity of the disease. Usually the medicine is taken for 10 days, then the doctor may extend the course of treatment.

Instruction for children

When treating cough in children, observe the following age dosage syrup:

• from 1 year to 3 years - 2.5 ml;
• from 4 to 6 years - 2.5-5 ml;
• from 7 to 9 years - 5-7.5 ml;
• from 10 to 12 years old - 7.5-10 ml;
• from 12 years old - 10-15 ml.

Give syrup to children three times a day 30 minutes after meals. The medicine must be washed down with a large amount of liquid - tea, boiled water or juice. The course of treatment should not exceed 10 days. Before using the syrup, consult your pediatrician.

Compatibility with other drugs

Treatment with licorice should not be combined with the following medicines:

• antitussives;
• diuretic;
• antiarrhythmic;
• laxatives;
• cardiac glycosides;
• adrenocorticosteroids.

Other Uses for Licorice Root

Licorice root is also used to cleanse the lymphatic system, get rid of puffiness and excess weight. Below are recipes that will help in the treatment of these ailments.

Prescription for edema

To eliminate puffiness, an aqueous infusion is prepared on medicinal herbs with licorice root. This recipe should not be used in case of stagnation of fluid in the body associated with acute heart or kidney failure.

Ingredients:

1. Licorice root - 10 g.
2. Stalnik (root) - 10 g.
3. Juniper (dried fruits) - 10 g.
4. Lovage (root) - 10 g.
5. Drinking water - 200 ml.

How to cook: Mix and grind medicinal herbs in a mortar. Boil water and cool it to room temperature. Take 1 tablespoon of the collection and fill it with water. Cover and let steep for 6 hours. Pour the infusion into an enameled ladle and put on medium heat. Boil the infusion under the lid for about 15 minutes. Cool and filter.

How to use: Take 50 ml 4 times a day. The course of treatment is prescribed by the attending physician.

Recipe with enterosgel for cleaning the lymphatic system

To cleanse the lymphatic system, licorice root syrup is used in combination with enterosgel. Licorice contributes to the liquefaction of the lymph, thereby increasing its circulation in lymphatic vessels, and toxins accumulated in the tissues enter the circulatory system. Enterosgel, in turn, adsorbs and removes these toxic compounds from the body.

The course of purification lasts 2 weeks. Carry out the treatment according to the following scheme:

1. Dilute 1 tablespoon of syrup in a glass of boiled water and take 30 minutes before meals.
2. 1.5 hours after eating, take 1.5 tablespoons of enterosgel in its pure form, drinking plenty of boiled water.
3. Take the drugs according to this scheme three times a day.

Before a course of cleansing, be sure to consult a doctor and take necessary tests to detect disorders of the lymphatic system. If you feel unwell during the course, stop treatment immediately and consult a doctor.

Another way to cleanse the lymphatic system, see the following video:

Recipe for weight loss

To get rid of excess weight, an infusion is prepared. It should be taken only in the absence of contraindications, as well as in combination with a dairy-vegetarian diet and complete failure from foods containing fast carbohydrates - sugar, products from wheat flour, fast food, carbonated drinks, etc.

Ingredients:

1. Licorice root - 1 tsp
2. Drinking water - 200 ml.

How to cook: Boil water, pour medicinal raw materials with boiling water and let it brew for 1 hour. Filter the infusion.

How to use: Take 1 tablespoon before each meal.

Recipe for the face (for pigmentation)

Licorice is also used in cosmetology. With the help of a lotion based on licorice root, you can get rid of age-related age spots on the face and hands, as well as lighten freckles.

Ingredients:

1. Licorice root - 1 tsp
2. Food alcohol (40%) - 50 ml.
3. Distilled water - 200 ml.

How to cook: Place medicinal raw materials in a glass container, fill with alcohol, tightly close the lid and let it brew for 14 days in a dark, cool place. Filter the infusion through cheesecloth and mix it with distilled water. Store lotion in the refrigerator.

How to use: Wipe areas of skin with unwanted pigmentation daily - morning and evening.

Additional dosage forms of the root

Licorice root is also available in extract and tablet form. Indications for the use of these dosage forms are the same as for other drugs based on licorice.

Licorice root extract

Licorice extract is a highly concentrated infusion of licorice root. It is used as a medicine, and is also used in cooking as a sweetener. Before use, the extract in the required dosage is diluted in boiled water.

Licorice root extract is sold mainly in packages of 1 kg or more. The average price is 2600 rubles. You can buy it in online stores specializing in the sale of medicines and food additives vegetable origin.

Licorice root tablets

The tablets are made from compressed licorice powder, sometimes with extracts from other medicinal plants. Take 1 tablet 3-4 times a day before meals. The average price is 120 rubles per pack.

Can Licorice Root Be Used During Pregnancy?

Medicines with licorice are contraindicated at any period of bearing a child, since glycyrrhizin from licorice root can cause accumulation excess fluid in the body and cause swelling of the extremities. Also, licorice can disrupt the hormonal background of a pregnant woman and increase blood pressure.

At breastfeeding preparations with licorice can be used only on the recommendation of the attending physician and with extreme caution. During lactation, all drugs are selected individually so that the treatment does not harm the child who is on breastfeeding.

Contraindications

Medicines based on licorice root have the following contraindications:

• individual intolerance;
• pregnancy at any time;
• hypokalemia;
• violation of cardiac activity;
• arterial hypertension;
• diabetes mellitus type 1 and 2;
• dysfunction of the adrenal glands;
• liver failure, cirrhosis;
• acute or chronic form diarrhea
• acute renal failure;
• thrombocytopenia.

Where to buy licorice root

All medicines (except extract) based on licorice root can be purchased at a pharmacy.

What to remember

1. Licorice root is not used to treat dry barking cough.
2. Licorice is contraindicated during pregnancy.
3. Before treatment with licorice, consult your doctor.