Licorice root, medicinal properties and contraindications. Licorice is a medicinal sweet. Liquorice root. Application

Mar-12-2017

What is licorice

What is licorice root, medicinal properties and contraindications, what are the useful properties of the root of this plant, all this is of great interest to those who lead a healthy lifestyle, monitor their health, and are interested in folk methods of treatment, including with the help of medicinal herbs. So we will try to answer these questions in the following article.

Licorice is a medicinal plant, its rhizome is usually used for medicinal purposes. Oriental medicine 5 thousand years ago considered this plant a panacea for many diseases. Its therapeutic effect was known even before our era, as evidenced by the mention of licorice in the ancient Chinese "Treatise on Herbs". By the way, the second name of licorice (or smooth licorice, as it is also called) is licorice. Probably, many of you bought lollipops - sweets that a doctor prescribes for sore throats and coughs. And often they write on them not about licorice, but about licorice. Let's know it's the same.

It is noteworthy that licorice is used not only for pharmaceutical purposes. Licorice extract is used to flavor smoking or snuff tobacco. The decoction obtained from the rhizome of licorice has a dark color and coloring ability. This quality is used in Central Asia for dyeing wool. For culinary purposes, licorice is used as a foaming agent and sweetener, for example, for the manufacture of beer, kvass, soft drinks. As a flavoring additive, it is used in the preparation of halva, jelly, caramel and chocolate. In Japan, it is widely used as a biologically active food supplement, and in Kyrgyzstan it is generally brewed as tea.

Licorice (licorice root, sweet root, licorice, licorice root, smooth licorice) is a perennial herbaceous plant of the legume family (Leguminisae), about 1.5 m high. The rhizome is thick, woody, with shoots (stolons) extending from it and one rod root growing deep into the ground. The leaves are alternate, compound, petiolate, pinnate, with sticky speckled glands. The flowers are collected in axillary brushes, the corolla is pale purple in color. The fruits are naked, elongated beans. Blooms in June - August. The fruits ripen in August-September.

It occurs in the steppe and semi-desert regions of Russia, in the North Caucasus, in Dagestan, Central Asia, and Azerbaijan. Forms large thickets in the steppes and the banks of steppe rivers, on the sands, in the fields.

Collection of medicinal raw materials

For therapeutic purposes, 4-year-old licorice roots are used, which should be dug in November or March. The dug roots should be washed from the ground with cold water, cleaned of bark and dried in the sun or in ventilated rooms. Dried licorice roots should be yellow in color, break well, but not crumble.

Store finished raw materials in boxes or jars. The shelf life is 10 years.

Chemical composition

The roots and rhizomes of licorice contain up to 23% of saponin - glycyrrhizin (potassium and calcium salt of glycyrrhizic acid), which gives a sugary-sweet taste, as well as numerous derivatives of glycyrrhizic acid; about 30 flavonoids (liquiritin, likurazid, glabroside, uranoside, quercetin, apigenin, ononin, etc.); mono- and disaccharides (up to 20%), starch (up to 34%), pectins (up to 6%), resins (up to 40%), bitter substances (up to 4%), phenolcarboxylic acids (salicylic, synapic, ferulic) and their derivatives (salicylic acid acetate); coumarins (up to 2.6%), tannins (up to 14%), alkaloids, essential oil (up to 0.03%), organic acids - up to 4.6% (tartaric, citric, malic, fumaric). The aerial part contains saponins, tannins, flavonoids, essential oils, sugars, pigments and other substances.

The rhizomes and roots contain: ash - 7.88%; macronutrients (mg / g): K - 14.50, Ca - 11.50, Mn - 2.40, Fe -0.70; trace elements (CBN): Mg - 0.15, Cu - 0.31, Zn - 0.33, Cr - 0.07, Al - 0.53, Ba - 0.42, V - 0.28, Se - 12 .14, Ni - 0.63, Sr - 1.01, Pb - 0.03. B - 54.80 mcg / g. Not found So, Mo. Cd, Li, Ag, Au, I, Br. Concentrates Fe, Sr, Se.

Medicinal properties of licorice root

Licorice roots contain glycosides, sucrose, glucose, asparagine, starch, proteins, mineral salts, pectin substances. Licorice roots have antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory and expectorant properties.

One of the most ancient medicinal plants, often mentioned in the Ebers Papyrus. Licorice was a favorite medicine of doctors in China, India, Tibet. Later, Greek doctors took it into service. The Scythians supplied them with licorice root, taking away gold jewelry, expensive fabrics, wine, olive oil in return. The root at that time was called "Scythian". At first, the root was used as a laxative and expectorant, then, with the advent of more effective remedies, licorice began to fade into the background, although Tibetan medicine remained true to it. In their treatise "Chzhudshi" it was indicated that licorice "nourishes", "gives a blooming appearance", "promotes longevity and a better use of the six senses."

Millennia have passed, and interest in licorice has increased again. Modern scientists, having studied the chemical composition and deciphering the structure of glycyrrhizic acid, which resembles the structure of hormones produced by the adrenal cortex, have created drugs for seemingly incurable diseases, such as Addison's disease (insufficient secretion of corticosteroid hormones by the adrenal glands).

Licorice preparations are used in folk medicine to this day for pulmonary tuberculosis, dry bronchitis, meat and mushroom poisoning, as a diuretic, for chronic constipation, for diseases associated with impaired water and mineral metabolism, for hemorrhoids, gastric and duodenal ulcers, with cancer.

What is useful licorice:

Respiratory treatment. Licorice increases the secretion of mucus, which helps to cough up a large number of microbes from the bronchi. Therefore, it is effectively used in the treatment of dry prolonged cough in pneumonia, tonsillitis, tuberculosis, to restore voice in laryngitis;
It has anti-inflammatory properties, enhances the therapeutic effect of other drugs, enhancing their therapeutic effect, so licorice root is added to many medicinal herbal preparations. Helps with feverish conditions;
It has an antispasmodic effect, relieves spasms of smooth muscles, stabilizes the work of the cardiovascular system, supports the work of the heart in pathologies, helps with low blood pressure, with diseases of the thyroid gland;
Helps restore pancreatic function by increasing the production of the body's own insulin, which is, in fact, one of the ways to treat diabetes, licorice-derived glycyrrhizic acid is used as a sweetener in diabetes;
Since ancient times, licorice root has been used as an antidote. Glycyrrhizin, which is part of it, neutralizes the action of many toxins that have entered the body;
Licorice is able to suppress the growth and development of cancer cells, which makes it indispensable in the treatment of cancer, as well as prostate adenoma;
In combination with other herbs, it is used to treat gastritis, gastric ulcer, as a mild laxative;
It is successfully used for the treatment of allergic diseases: eczema, allergic dermatitis, psoriasis, bronchial asthma, urticaria, lupus;
In small doses, licorice preparations effectively treat inflammatory processes in the kidneys and bladder;
Used in the treatment of rheumatism, arthritis and other diseases of the joints;
It has antidepressant properties, is successfully used to increase the tone of the central nervous system, especially in old age, reduces fatigue;
It is used to treat radiation damage to the body;
In the US and Japan, it is used to treat tobacco dependence.

Preventive properties:

It is used to prevent diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, regulate the secretion of gastric juice, prevent heartburn, and improve food digestion.
Regular consumption of small amounts of licorice root (in the form of powder, tea) normalizes blood sugar and cholesterol levels, prevents the development of atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, normalizes the pancreas and adrenal glands.
It has a positive effect on the hormonal system, increases the body's resistance to oxygen deficiency, stabilizes the water-salt metabolism in the body, relieves premenstrual pain in women, and normalizes the cycle.
It is successfully used for the prevention of liver diseases, including the prevention of cirrhosis.
Strengthens the immune system, helps in the prevention of depression. Ancient Chinese medicine equated licorice root with ginseng root, recommending that older people take it to increase vitality and mood, to prolong life.
Pieces of licorice root are recommended to be chewed to prevent caries and inflammation of the oral cavity.
In the villages, a decoction of licorice was taken as a contraceptive.

Licorice root contraindications

hypertension;
pregnancy;
heart failure;
age up to a year;
increased activity of the adrenal glands;
serious liver disease;
blood clotting disorders;
predisposition to thrombocytopenia or bleeding.
licorice should not be taken together with drugs intended to reduce pressure and diuretics.

Licorice also has serious contraindications. First of all, it is contraindicated in case of increased activity of the adrenal glands. It should be remembered that licorice increases blood pressure, and this is unacceptable for hypertension. With prolonged and excessive use, diuresis is disturbed, swelling increases. With heart failure, licorice can not be used. In some patients, it causes irritation of the mucous membrane of the digestive tract.

In the treatment of licorice, there are also violations in the genital area - a weakening of libido, the development of gynecomastia, swelling of the mammary glands, limitation or disappearance of pubic hair. Licorice is able to retain fluid in the body. Do not use in obesity and pregnancy.

In addition, it should be remembered that the treatment of medicinal herbs requires compliance

Treatment of licorice root for various diseases:

Licorice roots are widely used in the treatment of cough, disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum, etc.

Licorice for constipation

Licorice root, which has a mild laxative effect, is prescribed to treat constipation, most often in combination with other herbs.

Recipe 1

Mix 1 tablespoon of chamomile flowers, marshmallow roots, couch grass rhizomes, licorice roots.

Pour 1 tablespoon of the mixture with 1 cup of boiling water. Strain for 30 minutes. Take 1 glass in the evening.

Recipe 2

Mix 2 tablespoons of herb licorice naked and 1 tablespoon herb mountaineer snake. Pour 1 tablespoon of the mixture with 1 cup of boiling water and insist for 1 hour. Take 0.5 cup 3 times a day before meals.

Licorice root for dry cough

Licorice is prescribed for dry cough.

Recipe 1

Mix 2 tablespoons of crushed licorice roots, 1 tablespoon of the herb of the tripartite herb and St. John's wort herb.

Pour 1 tablespoon of the mixture with 1 cup of boiling water. Infuse for 2 hours, then strain. Take 1 tablespoon 3-4 times a day 1 hour before meals or 1.5 hours after meals.

Recipe 2

Mix 2 tablespoons of crushed licorice roots, 1 tablespoon of centaury grass, 1 tablespoon of dandelion roots. Pour 1 tablespoon of the mixture with 1 cup of boiling water, boil for 5 minutes, then strain. Take 1 glass 3 times a day.

Licorice with nephritis

Recipe

Mix 1.5 tablespoons of licorice roots, marshmallow roots and large celandine herbs. Pour 1 tablespoon of the mixture with 1 cup of boiling water, leave for 30 minutes, strain. Take 1 glass 2-3 times a day.

Licorice for tuberculosis

Preparations made from licorice are an addition to the main treatment for tuberculosis.

Recipe 1

Pour 1 tablespoon of licorice roots with 1 cup of hot water, boil for 10 minutes, leave for 1 hour, strain. Take 1 tablespoon 4-5 times a day.

Recipe 2

Mix 1 tablespoon of licorice roots with 1 teaspoon of elecampane roots, 1 teaspoon of oregano herb.

Pour 1 tablespoon of the resulting mixture with 1 glass of water and heat in a water bath for 30 minutes. Strain the broth, cool. Take 2 tablespoons 3 times a day. The course of treatment lasts 1 month, after which it is necessary to take a monthly break.

Licorice root for stomach ulcers

Licorice root is one of the most effective remedies for the treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcers.

Recipe

Mix 1 tablespoon of licorice root, small-leaved linden flowers and chamomile flowers, add 1 teaspoon of garden dill seeds. Pour 2 tablespoons of the mixture with 1 cup of boiling water. Infuse for 1.5-2 hours, strain. Take 1-3 times a day for 0.5 cups.

Recipes from the book by Yulia Nikolaeva “We treat the body with herbs. Useful advice and recommendations.

More recipes:

Licorice root for the treatment of prostate adenoma

Pour 1 tablespoon of roots with 0.5 liters of water, bring to a boil, let it boil for 10 minutes on the lowest heat, strain after cooling. Take 23 cups 3 times a day 30-40 minutes before meals for 3 weeks. (Then they drink a decoction of burdock roots for 3 weeks - the preparation is the same, and again return to licorice, then alternate with a decoction of burdock root, and so the treatment is alternately carried out.)

Licorice for asthma and bronchitis

30 g of licorice root per 0.5 l of water, bring to a boil and hold on the lowest heat for 10 minutes, strain after cooling. Take 1 tablespoon 4 times a day.

Licorice for arthritis and eczema

Place 10 grams of the root in an enamel bowl, pour 200 ml of boiling water, heat in a boiling water bath under a tight lid for 15-20 minutes, leave for 40 minutes, strain, add boiled water to the original volume. Take 1 tablespoon 4-5 times daily with or without food.

Recipes from the book of Rim Bilalovich Akhmedov "Plants are your friends and enemies."

In this article, you can read the instructions for using the drug Liquorice root. Reviews of site visitors - consumers of this medicine, as well as opinions of doctors of specialists on the use of licorice root in their practice are presented. We kindly ask you to actively add your reviews about the drug: the medicine helped or did not help get rid of the disease, what complications and side effects were observed, perhaps not declared by the manufacturer in the annotation. Licorice root analogues in the presence of existing structural analogues. Use for the treatment of cough with phlegm, gastritis and ulcers in adults, children, and during pregnancy and lactation. The composition of the drug.

Liquorice root- means of plant origin. The licorice root contains glycyrrhizin (from 6 to 12%), glycyrrhizic acid and its salts, flavone glycosides (liquiritin, liquiritigenin, liquirithoside), isoflavonoids (formononetin, glabren, glabridin, glabrol, 3-hydroxyglabrol, glycyrrhizoflavone), coumestan derivatives (glycyrrhol, isoglycerol, liquocoumarin), hydroxycoumarins (including herniarin, umbelliferone, glycocoumarin, lycopyranocoumarin), steroids (sterols, including beta-sitosterol, sigmasterol), essential oils (in small amounts).

Glycyrrhizin stimulates the activity of the ciliated epithelium and enhances the secretory function of the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract, facilitates expectoration. It has antiulcer and anti-inflammatory effects, reduces platelet aggregation.

Licorice inhibits the enzyme 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in the kidneys, which leads to a decrease in the conversion of cortisol to cortisone. The mineralocorticoid activity of cortisol is due to a decrease in the concentration of potassium in the blood serum and an increase in the content of sodium, which leads to fluid retention in the body, weight gain and arterial hypertension. Glycyrrhizic acid and its metabolites inhibit the peripheral metabolism of cortisol and cause a pseudoaldosterone-like effect.

Liquiritozide has an antispasmodic effect on smooth muscles.

Compound

Licorice roots (licorice and Ural licorice roots with underground shoots) + excipients.

Indications

diseases of the upper respiratory tract, lungs (cough with sputum with bronchitis, laryngitis, pneumonia);
hyperacid gastritis;
peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum;
Addison's disease;
hypofunction of the adrenal cortex (as part of complex therapy).

Release form

Shredded vegetable raw materials (dry licorice root).

Thick extract.

Instructions for use and dosing regimen

Syrup

Inside, for adults, 1 dessert spoon in 1/2 cup of water 3 times a day. Children under 2 years old - as many drops as a child years old several times a day, 2-12 years old - 1/2 teaspoon in 1/4 glass of water, over 12 years old - 1 teaspoon 3 times a day , the duration of the course is 7-10 days.

dry root

The prepared infusion (10-15 g of raw materials per 200 ml of water) is taken orally 1 tablespoon 3-5 times a day.

Side effect

increase in blood pressure;
the appearance of edema;
disorders of the reproductive system.

Contraindications

chronic hepatitis;
liver disease with cholestasis;
cirrhosis of the liver;
severe renal failure;
diabetes;
heart rhythm disturbances;
arterial hypertension;
hypokalemia;
pregnancy;
hypersensitivity to licorice.

Use during pregnancy and lactation

Licorice preparations are contraindicated for use during pregnancy.

Use in children

It is possible to use the drug in children in age dosages.

special instructions

With prolonged use, hypokalemia, hypernatremia, edema, arterial hypertension, functional disorders of the heart are possible.

It is not used to treat dry cough, as it has an expectorant effect.

drug interaction

Hypokalemia due to prolonged use of licorice can potentiate the toxic effect of cardiac glycosides.

With the simultaneous use of licorice and glucocorticosteroids (GCS), an increase in the half-life of cortisol is possible.

Analogues of the drug Licorice root

Structural analogues for the active substance:

Licorice roots briquette round;
licorice root syrup;
Licorice syrup;
Licorice extract thick;
Licorice dry extract;
Licorice root extract thick.

Analogues for the therapeutic effect (drugs for the treatment of bronchitis):

Azitral;
Ambroxol;
Amoxicillin;
Ampicillin;
Ascoril Expectorant;
Bactrim;
Bioline Cold;
Biseptol;
Bromhexine;
Bronchalamin;
Bronchicum;
Bronchipret;
Broncholitin;
Bronchosan;
Vibramycin;
GeloMyrtol;
Mustard plaster;
Breast collection;
Breast elixir;
grunamycin syrup;
Grunamox;
Dexamethasone;
doxycycline;
Zitrolide;
Zitrolide forte;
IRS 19;
Carbocysteine;
Clarithromycin;
Klacid;
Clindamycin;
Codipront;
Coldrex broncho;
Linkas;
Mukaltin;
Mukosol;
Oksamp;
Olethetrin;
Ospamox;
expectorant collection;
Ofloxacin;
Paxeladin;
Pulmex;
Rulid;
Salbutamol;
Sextaphagus;
Solutan;
Sumamed;
Travisil;
Tusuprex;
Umckalor;
Fluifort;
Fluditec;
Hemomycin;
Cefazolin;
Cephalexin;
ceftriabol;
Erespal;
Erythromycin phosphate;
Ermiced.

In the absence of analogues of the drug for the active substance, you can follow the links below to the diseases that the corresponding drug helps with and see the available analogues for the therapeutic effect.

Licorice root syrup is a medicinal preparation based on vegetable raw materials. Get it from the roots and rhizomes of the drug. The roots and rhizomes of the plant contain glycyrrhizic acid and glycyrrhizin, which have a pronounced therapeutic effect. To get to know the medicine better, let's take a closer look at what licorice root syrup is, how to use it, and how to use it.

The composition of licorice root syrup is very rich. The content of active substances in the root of the plant reaches 27 flavonoid compounds (flavonoids, chalcones, and their isoforms). In addition, licorice roots contain polysaccharides and essential oils. One vial of the drug (per 100 g) contains:

licorice root extract (4 g.),

96% ethyl alcohol (10 g),

sugar syrup (86 g)

Thanks to this composition, licorice root syrup is a modern herbal preparation with a high therapeutic effect.

Licorice root (syrup) - instructions:

The syrup is a thick brown liquid with a tart peculiar smell and sweet taste.

It has antiviral activity, due to which it suppresses pathogenic microorganisms, staphylococci, mycobacteria. Also, licorice root syrup has a pronounced antitumor effect.

Indications for the use of the drug "Licorice Root Syrup"

Instructions for use of licorice root syrup indicate the possibility of its use in acute and chronic bronchitis, tracheitis, atelectasis in the presence of a mucous plug, pneumonia, bronchial asthma, gastritis and gastric ulcer without the acute stage. Licorice root syrup is also used to treat dry and wet coughs.

Licorice root contraindications

Licorice root syrup is contraindicated in the presence of gastritis, peptic ulcer in the acute stage of the disease.

The drug should not be used in case of hypersensitivity to the components of the drug. Licorice root syrup during pregnancy, lactating women, patients with diabetes, people with bronchial asthma can be used for medical reasons and as prescribed by a doctor. If there are none, consider that it is contraindicated for admission.

Possible side effects

When using the drug, manifestations of allergies, increased blood pressure are possible.

How to take licorice root syrup?

When taking any drug, you need to know the measure in order to get a therapeutic effect. Has the same requirements and licorice root syrup. Dosage at three single doses per day, the following:

* Adults - 1 des.l., dissolved in half a glass of boiled water

* Children over 12 years old - 1 tsp dissolved in a quarter cup of boiled water

* Children from 2 to 12 years old - half 1 tsp dissolved in a quarter glass of water

* Licorice root syrup for children under 2 years old - 2 drops per 1 des.l. boiled water.

The course of treatment is from a week to 10 days. Very carefully give licorice root syrup to children, remembering that it contains 96% ethyl alcohol. Also remember that prolonged use of licorice can cause swelling!

The official instructions enclosed in the box regulate how much to take licorice root syrup, the method of using the drug. All the above figures, indications and contraindications are also reflected in it.

The drug is stored for 2 years, in a cool, dark place. Do not self-medicate, before taking licorice root syrup, consult your doctor, carefully read the official instructions.

Licorice - also known worldwide as "licorice" - is one of the most unusual medicinal plants. Due to the variety of healing properties, ancient Chinese healers included it in the list of 50 main medicinal herbs, and the bright taste, sweetish with an anise tint, makes the treatment with licorice preparations a rather pleasant process.

The main miraculous part of licorice is its root. In ancient times, physicians in China, India, and Greece consistently used licorice root in the treatment of constipation and as an expectorant, as well as for general health and a "blooming appearance." For several centuries, licorice was just a sweet medicine, but at the end of the 19th century there was a revolution in the pharmacy industry and in the minds of Europeans. One ingenious English pharmacist made licorice lollipops that became the hallmark of Great Britain, and later the Scandinavian countries, candies that still do not give up their positions, saving coughs and quenching the thirst for “something sweet”.

But even in addition to sweets, licorice is still actively used as a medicine - mainly in the form of syrup and root extract (dry, less often thick).

What is licorice famous for?

Licorice has a diverse chemical composition - these are vitamins, and valuable elements (micro- and macro-), a lot of sugars and acids. But the main wealth is a unique set (about 30 compounds), which makes licorice just a universal remedy.

Flavonoids in licorice actively fight for our health: they strengthen capillaries and reduce their fragility, relieve spasms, help remove various inflammations and accelerate tissue regeneration. The antioxidant properties of licorice help fight allergies and infections, as well as more actively resist stress. Licorice also relieves pain and has been used successfully in the treatment of gastritis and ulcers.

In the treatment of cough, licorice has also been successfully used for a long time - its medicinal properties help with inflammation of the lungs and bronchitis (as an expectorant), dry cough.

Another value of licorice root is the substance glycyrrhizin, which provides an unusual sweetish taste. Studies in recent decades have shown that glycyrrhizin is similar in structure to the adrenal hormone, due to which licorice is used in the treatment of several serious diseases of the adrenal glands.

Licorice root - how to use it correctly?

Dried licorice root is a cheap and natural natural medicine, in pharmacies it is usually sold either in loose form in packs (50 g) or already packaged in convenient bags. This miracle drug will definitely not hit your wallet, the cost of licorice root is within 50 rubles.

The spectrum of action of licorice root is quite wide. First of all, it is an excellent and centuries-old expectorant for all kinds of bronchitis and pneumonia. Licorice root also relieves inflammation and spasms in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, relieves pain in arthritis, licorice root is also used in the complex treatment of tuberculosis.

A decoction of the sweet root will also help with delicate health problems - it is a mild natural laxative, as well as a long-standing remedy for hemorrhoids.

The life-giving and invigorating powers of licorice, which were so valued in ancient China, are also not forgotten - a decoction of the root is sometimes used today as a light natural antidepressant. And lotions from a decoction of licorice root will save you from skin inflammation - with eczema and various dermatitis. Sometimes, in the treatment of external inflammations and wounds, licorice root powder is used - sore spots are sprinkled on them.

How to apply?

If you have chosen licorice root as your home doctor, the instructions for use will depend on the disease.

For coughs, pains and spasms, an infusion of licorice root is usually drunk.

Pour two tablespoons of the dried root with a glass of cool clean water and keep for half an hour in a boiling water bath. Then 10 minutes cool and filter. If you have a root in filter bags, the process is much simpler: pour three bags with a glass of boiling water and leave for 20-25 minutes.

We drink an infusion of licorice root in a tablespoon in a warm form 3-4 times a day, ideally half an hour before meals. The course of treatment with licorice root is traditionally 2-3 weeks.

To get rid of skin rashes, it is better to use a decoction only from the loose root. A slight subtlety - after the broth has been infused, squeeze the remaining root and pour the liquid into the finished drink.

In the treatment of arthritis, we prepare the infusion in the same way, only we insist not for 10 minutes, but for 40, and we drink at least 4 times a day.

Licorice syrup - for adults and children

It is believed that people are divided into 2 camps - those who love the specific taste of licorice, and vice versa - they simply cannot stand it. If you are a licorice lover, then you are in luck - you always have a tasty, cheap and natural cough medicine - licorice syrup at your disposal.

Licorice syrup is a universal remedy. It is equally effective for dry and wet coughs, if there is no cough, but the pain in the throat is tortured, it will relieve discomfort. Licorice syrup is also prescribed for gastritis and ulcers (if there is no exacerbation), and it is also an excellent immunostimulant. They drink licorice syrup for a general strengthening of the body in a course of 10 days.

One of the main advantages of licorice syrup is safety for babies. Pediatricians prescribe licorice syrup to children from 2-3 months old (of course, in a very small dosage), and the sweetish taste of licorice will help to avoid children's cries and whims when taking the medicine.

How to use?

So, licorice syrup - the instruction requires drinking the medicine diluted, usually no longer than 8-10 days. We dilute the drug in half a glass of water, for adults - a dessert spoon of licorice syrup, for children after 12 - a teaspoon, from 2 to 12 years old - half a teaspoon. For babies up to two years old - 1-2 drops of fragrant syrup in half a glass of water.

Licorice - can it hurt?

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

Personal intolerance to licorice and syrup components or other preparations based on licorice.
Forget about licorice treatment if you have hypertension. Licorice retains fluid in the body, constricts blood vessels, and leads to increased pressure. In addition, when using licorice root at the same time as drugs that reduce blood pressure, the pressure will not decrease. You should know about this.
Do not use licorice root along with diuretics - this can lead to the destruction of striated muscles (rhabdomyolysis).
In diseases of the heart and blood vessels, you should also forget about this drug - it can lead to heart rhythm disturbances.
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. Better watch this video:

Moreover, the plant itself has about thirty steroids, flavonoids, saturated with essential oils, ascorbic acid, asparagine, estriol, and even has some resin and gum. These substances have a beneficial effect: wound healing, anti-inflammatory and spasmodic.

At first glance, licorice roots are not attractive in any way, but their taste is very pleasant and even children like it. The juice that is secreted from the root is very sweet, its natural composition is 50 times sweeter than sugar.

The roots of the plant are harvested only in autumn and spring. The rhizome should be thick and not young, thin roots do not have nutrients and nutrients. Only a thick root, as a medicine, will be useful and practical.

Composition, dosage

Based on licorice root - a medicinal preparation of plant origin. It is available in a vial or bottle, in sachets, in tablets and in the form of a cream. 100 grams of syrup contains:

10 grams of ethyl alcohol (96 percent)
4 grams root extract
27% flavonoid compounds
86 grams of sugar syrup

The syrup has a thick consistency of brown or brown color. The taste and smell are very pleasant. In addition to anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties, the drug also has an antitumor effect, immunostimulating, antiviral, laxative and regenerating effect.

In order to quickly feel the result after taking, it is important to drink the drug at the indicated dosage:

Adults need to drink 1 tablespoon, you can dilute the syrup in boiled water (1 tablespoon in half a glass of water).
Children who have reached the age of 12 are given 1 teaspoon per ¼ cup of boiled water.
Child from 2 to 12 years old - 1 teaspoon of syrup, diluted in half a glass of water.
Children under 2 years old should be given no more than two drops of tincture mixed with 1 tablespoon of water.

Useful properties of licorice root for women

Licorice root is rich in beneficial properties and has many useful components. Some of these components are: mineral salts, pectin and glycoside. But, what is very important, it contains phytoestrogen, in its composition it is identical to the female sex hormones. With a lack of this substance, you can have big problems with the genitourinary and reproductive systems.

The drug is especially useful for women:

who have problems with irregular menstrual cycles
suffering from
during menopause
for women with ovarian hypofunction and androgen overproduction

Sometimes, to enhance the effect, the root is used in combination with other medicinal herbs. For example, to restore the menstrual cycle, you can prepare a tincture of licorice root, rue, yarrow, juniper fruit and St. John's wort. Take 1 tbsp. a spoonful of chopped and already mixed herbs with each other in a glass of water and cooked in a steam bath for twenty to thirty minutes. The syrup is drunk warm, the recommended dose is 2 glasses per day.

If a woman has a problem with infertility, then the tincture is done differently: for 100 grams of licorice, half a liter of alcohol is taken, or vodka. Leave the container in a dark place for 14 days. It is taken twice a day for 30 drops.

Adult Application

Most often, licorice root is used as a remedy. However, the root has much more healing effects. For adults, it can be used to treat such diseases:

The use of licorice for children

In pediatrics, syrup based on licorice rhizome is actively used as a cough remedy, and is also used to treat gastrointestinal pathologies.

The syrup is a natural product that contributes to the rapid recovery of the child, raises immunity and improves the mucous membrane. The treatment lasts no more than ten days, but it is worth taking only if the drug has been prescribed by a doctor. If after taking the child has hives, redness, diarrhea or swelling, then you can not continue to drink the drug, the allergic reaction may intensify.

The licorice plant is very sweet, so children drink syrup with great pleasure, it is allowed to be used for babies from 2 months. The dosage for young children will be minimal, for each child the amount of the drug will be individually set.

Main contraindications

While licorice root has a number of benefits, it should be taken with caution. The plant contains substances that can cause irreversible, especially after an overdose of the drug. A medicine based on licorice root is categorically not recommended for people who have such diseases or tendencies to them:

Edema of the arms, legs and larynx, arterial hypertension. The stem contains a mineralocorticoid, an enzyme that retains fluid in the body.
Heart failure, disposition to pericarditis and myocardium.
Glaucoma - the drug can significantly increase intracranial pressure.
Various pathologies of the kidneys, as the cleaning and filtering of the blood slows down.
Diabetes.
Poor blood clotting.
Allergic reaction and individual intolerance to some components.
It is not recommended to use the medicine for gallstones.